A molecular phylogeny of moss frogs from the Western Cape, South Africa, with a description of a new species

Moss frogs of the genus Arthroleptella from the mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa are morphologically identical, and were once placed in a single species. Previous fieldwork on these cryptic animals inhabiting seepage areas has shown the presence of allopatric populations on isolated mountains. We present a molecular phylogeny and describe a new species that is sympatric with Arthroleptella villiersi. It has a unique advertisement call, and the skin is smoother, with nostrils placed slightly wider than the other species.