A colorful new species of albericus (Anura: Microhylidae) from Southeastern Papua New Guinea

Abstract

We describe a new species of Albericus from the northern slope of Mt. Simpson, in the Owen Stanley Range of south eastern Papua New Guinea. The new species differs from all other known species of the genus in having pale blue or pale green dorsal coloration with red punctations (light metallic green and burnt orange in preservative). It is further distinguished from its congeners in its combination of oblique lores, granular skin with a few tubercles, broadhead, large distance separating the external nares from the eyes, and in features of its call. We also provide comparative morphological measurements for most other species of Albericus to supplement the paucity of such data in original descriptions and to assist with future diagnoses of other new species.