Just Accepted Manuscripts
Articles

Leptobrachella nokrekensis is a junior synonym of the supposedly range-restricted, Critically Endangered Leptobrachella khasiorum (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae): Leptobrachella nokrekensis is a junior synonym of Leptobrachella khasiorum

PDF
  • Naveen R S
Naveen R S
Pondicherry university
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17681

Published 2026-01-16

How to Cite

R S, N. (2026). Leptobrachella nokrekensis is a junior synonym of the supposedly range-restricted, Critically Endangered Leptobrachella khasiorum (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae): Leptobrachella nokrekensis is a junior synonym of Leptobrachella khasiorum. Acta Herpetologica. https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17681

Copyright (c) 2026 Naveen R S

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Abstract

Leptobrachella khasiorum, previously considered range restricted and hence Critically Endangered in the Khasi Hills, is now found to be more widespread. Based on a molecular phylogeny using 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragment and an examination of the external morphology of topotypic specimens, I demonstrate that Leptobrachella nokrekensis syn. nov. from Garo hills is a junior synonym of L. khasiorum. Genetic evidence suggests that L. tamdil from Lushai hills may also be conspecific, warranting further investigation. A reassessment of its threat status is required based on this taxonomic revision and the consequent extension of L. khasiorum's distribution and elevational range.

PDF

References

  1. Badavath, N., & Sahoo, S. (2025). Geospatial assessment and mapping landslide susceptibility for the Garo Hills Division, Meghalaya, India. Geological Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.5166
  2. Chandramouli, S. R., Naveen, R. S., Sureshmarimuthu, S., Babu, S., Karunakaran, P. V., & Kumara, H. N. (2021). Catalogue of herpetological specimens from Meghalaya, India at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(11), 19603–19610. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7318.13.11.19603-19610
  3. Das, I., & Deuti, K. (2011). Notes on date of publication and generic identity of Leptobrachium nokrekensis Mathew and Sen, “2009” 2010 (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae). Current Herpetology, 30(1), 69–73. https://doi.org/10.5358/hsj.30.69
  4. Das, I., Lyngdoh Tron, R. K., Rangad, D., & Hooroo, R. N. K. (2010). A new species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the sacred groves of Mawphlang, Meghalaya, north-eastern India. Zootaxa, 2339, 44–56. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2339.1.2
  5. Decemson, H., Vanlalsiammawii, Biakzuala, L., Vabeiryureilai, M., Malsawmdawngliana, F., & Lalremsanga, H. T. (2021). Occurrence of Tamdil Leaf-litter Frog Leptobrachella tamdil (Sengupta et al., 2010) (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from Manipur, India and its phylogenetic position. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(6), 18624–18630. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7250.13.6.18624-18630
  6. Hoang, C., Luong, A., Nguyen, T., Nguyen, T., Ninh, H., Le, L. T., Ziegler, T., & Pham, C. (2024). A new species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Lai Chau Province, Vietnam. Biodiversity Data Journal, 12, e136491. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e136491
  7. Kocher, T. D., Thomas, W. K., Meyer, A., Edwards, S. V., Pääbo, S., Villablanca, F. X., & Wilson, A. C. (1989). Dynamics of mitochondrial DNA evolution in animals: Amplification and sequencing with conserved primers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 86, 6192–6200. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.86.16.6196
  8. Lalronunga, S., Lalhmangaiha, K., Zosangliana, I., Lalhmingliani, E., Gower, D. J., Das, A., & Deepak, V. (2021). A new species of Stoliczkia Jerdon, 1870 (Serpentes: Xenodermidae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa, 4996(3), 555–568. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.3.9
  9. Lin, S.-S., Li, Y.-H., Lu, Y.-H., Su, H.-L., Wu, S.-B., Zhang, Q.-Q., Mo, M.-J., Xiao, S.-J., Pan, Z., Pan, H.-J., Zeng, Z.-C., & Wang, J. (2022). A new species of the genus Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from northwestern Guangdong Province, China. Herpetozoa, 35, 165–178. https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.35.e89981
  10. Luo, T., Zhao, Z.-F., Wang, Z.-L., Lan, C.-T., Xiao, M.-Y., Deng, H.-Q., Xiao, N., & Zhou, J. (2025). Diversification outbreaks and dynamics of Asian leaf-litter frogs, genus Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae), with the description of a new species from Guizhou Province, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 101(1), 223–243. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.137392
  11. Mathew, R., & Sen, N. (2009). Description of a new species of Leptobrachium Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Meghalaya, India. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 109(3), 91–108.
  12. Mirza, Z. A., Bhardwaj, V. K., Lalmuanwma, J. C., Choure, G., Lalremsanga, H. T., Vabeiryureilai, M., Captain, A., Zagade, A., & Patel, H. (2024). A new species of Smithophis Giri et al. 2019 from the Indo-Burma region. Diversity, 16(8), 480. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080480
  13. Muansanga, L., Malsawmdawngliana, F., Vabeiryureilai, M., Bualchhuak, T., & Lalremsanga, H. T. (2022). Color polymorphism in Jerdon's Treefrog, Nasutixalus jerdonii (Günther 1876), from Northeast India with notes on diet and distribution in Mizoram, India. Reptiles & Amphibians, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v29i1.16209
  14. Naveen, R. S., Tapley, B., Chandramouli, S. R., Jervis, P. A., Babu, S., Meetei, A. B., & Karunakaran, P. V. (2024). A new species of Bufoides Pillai and Yazdani 1973 (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from Mizoram (India) and the delimitation of the distribution range of Bufoides meghalayanus (Yazdani & Chanda 1971) to the Khasi Hills, Meghalaya (India). Biodiversitas. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d240901
  15. Nguyen, L. T., Tapley, B., Nguyen, C. T., Luong, H. V., & Rowley, J. J. L. (2021). A new species of Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from Mount Pu Ta Leng, northwest Vietnam. Zootaxa, 5016(3), 301–332. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5016.3.1
  16. Tamura, K., Stecher, G., Peterson, D., Filipski, A., & Kumar, S. (2013). MEGA6: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 6.0. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 30(12), 2725–2729. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mst197