ABSTRACT The taxonomic validity of the East African reed frogs Hyperolius mitchelli Loveridge, 1953 and Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Schiøtz, 1975 has been questioned in the literature, with the latter having been recognised as a distinct lineage, but also synonymised as a colour variant of H. mitchelli. The recent description of a new closely related congener from Mozambique, Hyperolius stictus (Conradie et al., 2018), along with evidence of genetic differentiation within H. mitchelli has suggested that this widely distributed species might be a species complex. In this study, we reassess the relationships of these closely related species with new field sampling, molecular, morphological and bioacoustics analyses with the aim to assign the correct taxonomic identity to H. cf. mitchelli from northern Tanzania. Our results demonstrate that there are four distinct lineages within this group: H. stictus from Mozambique; H. rubrovermiculatus from southern Kenya; H. mitchelli sensu stricto from central and southern Tanzania and Malawi and H. cf. mitchelli from north-eastern Tanzania. Based on our combined analyses we assign H. cf. mitchelli as a new population of H. rubrovermiculatus with distinct colouration, extending the range of this species from Kenya into northern Tanzania. We also clarify the genetic, morphological and acoustic variation within and between all lineages to further knowledge of this group and provide direction for future study into this fragmented and variable lineage.

中文翻译：

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Hyperolius mitchelli Loveridge, 1953 和 Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Schiøtz, 1975 (Anura: Hyperoliidae) 的系统学和来自坦桑尼亚北部的种群分配

摘要 东非芦苇蛙 Hyperolius mitchelli Loveridge, 1953 和 Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Schiøtz, 1975 的分类有效性在文献中受到质疑，后者被认为是一个独特的谱系，但也被认为是 H. mitchelli 的颜色变体. 最近对来自莫桑比克的一种新的密切相关的同源物 Hyperolius stictus（Conradie 等人，2018 年）的描述以及 H. mitchelli 内部遗传分化的证据表明，这种广泛分布的物种可能是一个物种复合体。在这项研究中，我们通过新的现场采样、分子、形态学和生物声学分析重新评估了这些密切相关物种的关系，目的是为 H. cf. 分配正确的分类学身份。来自坦桑尼亚北部的米切利。我们的结果表明，该组中有四个不同的谱系：来自莫桑比克的 H. stictus；H. rubrovermiculatus 来自肯尼亚南部；H. mitchelli sensu stricto 来自坦桑尼亚中部和南部以及马拉维，H. cf. 来自坦桑尼亚东北部的米切利。根据我们的综合分析，我们指定 H. cf. mitchelli 作为具有独特颜色的 H. rubrovermiculatus 的新种群，将该物种的范围从肯尼亚扩展到坦桑尼亚北部。我们还阐明了所有谱系内部和之间的遗传、形态学和声学变异，以进一步了解该群体，并为未来对该支离破碎和可变谱系的研究提供方向。mitchelli sensu stricto 来自坦桑尼亚中部和南部以及马拉维和 H. cf. 米切利来自坦桑尼亚东北部。根据我们的综合分析，我们指定 H. cf. mitchelli 作为具有独特颜色的 H. rubrovermiculatus 的新种群，将该物种的范围从肯尼亚扩展到坦桑尼亚北部。我们还阐明了所有谱系内部和之间的遗传、形态学和声学变异，以进一步了解该群体，并为未来对该支离破碎和可变谱系的研究提供方向。mitchelli sensu stricto 来自坦桑尼亚中部和南部以及马拉维和 H. cf. 米切利来自坦桑尼亚东北部。根据我们的综合分析，我们指定 H. cf. mitchelli 作为具有独特颜色的 H. rubrovermiculatus 的新种群，将该物种的范围从肯尼亚扩展到坦桑尼亚北部。我们还阐明了所有谱系内部和之间的遗传、形态学和声学变异，以进一步了解该群体，并为未来对该支离破碎和可变谱系的研究提供方向。