Phylogenetic position and osteology of a population of Mysticellus franki Garg & Biju, 2019 (Anura: Microhylidae) from south of the Palghat Gap, Western Ghats, India

Phylogeny and osteology of Mysticellus from southern Western Ghats

Abstract

Mysticellus franki is a rare and a little-studied microhylid frog which was described in 2019 from the central Western Ghats. The species was originally described from the Wayanad hill ranges, north of the Palghat Gap. Here, we report a shallow divergent lineage from south of the Palghat Gap. Using a single specimen collected during 2012, we present osteological data along with phylogenetic and morphological data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this rare species.