title: Microhyla laterite sp. nov., A New Species of Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from a Laterite Rock Formation in South West India.
abstract: In recent times, several new species of amphibians have been described from India. Many of these discoveries are from biodiversity hotspots or from within protected areas. We undertook amphibian surveys in human dominated landscapes outside of protected areas in south western region of India between years 2013-2015. We encountered a new species of Microhyla which is described here as Microhyla laterite sp. nov. It was delimited using molecular, morphometric and bioacoustics comparisons. Microhyla laterite sp. nov. appears to be restricted to areas of the West coast of India dominated by laterite rock formations. The laterite rock formations date as far back as the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary and are considered to be wastelands in-spite of their intriguing geological history. We identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of the genus Microhyla from the Indian subcontinent and suggest ways to bridge them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Block S3, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, B-14, Law Apartments, Karkardooma, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ramit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singal
authors.affiliation: Manipal University, Manipal, India.|Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur (P.O), Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Priti
authors.affiliation: Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Sriramapura, Jakkur (P.O), Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravikanth
authors.affiliation: Science Media Center, Gubbi Labs LLP, WS-5, I Floor, Entrepreneurship Center, Society for Innovation and Development, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Vidisha
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, A/103, Gokul, B. P. Road, Dahisar (W), Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saurabh
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, 3C/704, Whispering Palms, Lokhandwala Township, Kandivali East, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratik
authors.affiliation: Science Media Center, Gubbi Labs LLP, WS-5, I Floor, Entrepreneurship Center, Society for Innovation and Development, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Kotambylu Vasudeva
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Gururaja
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007194:India; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013045:Species Specificity; D014828:Vocalization, Animal