taxonID	type	description	language	source
3464AB2A571BFFF5FF3EFA57FC7A7BBC.taxon	description	Hyla dentata Keferstein W. 1868. Über die Batrachier Australiens. Archiv für Naturgeschichte Berlin 34, 253 – 290 [284]. Figs 9, 10	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A571BFFF5FF3EFA57FC7A7BBC.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. ZFMK 28808 (ex Zoologischen Museums Greifswald (ZMG) specimen ZMG 123 a), from New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The type does not have any nuptial pads, which are visible in both breeding and non-breeding adult male Litoria dentata, and therefore is likely to be a female. According to Harold Cogger (pers. comm.) the SVL of the holotype (41 mm) differs from that given in the original description (Körper = body 29 mm; Keferstein 1868) suggesting that the length stated in the original description was erroneous. Material examined. See Supplementary Table S 1 for details of all material examined. Revised diagnosis. Litoria dentata is distinguished from all species in the Litoria rubella group by a combination of (1) adult body size 28 – 42 mm in males and 29 – 42 mm in females, (2) relatively robust build, (3) the presence of a single, continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band, (4) the absence of light spots on the dorsum, (5) lack of a well-defined pale mid-dorsal stripe, (6) absence of distinctive pale markings above the groin, vent and along lower leg, (7) a dorsolateral line diffusing above insertion of the arm, and (8) adult males having a vocal sac that is black or very dark yellowish black when deflated and yellowish brown when inflated.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A571BFFF5FF3EFA57FC7A7BBC.taxon	description	Redescription of holotype. We redescribe the holotype from high quality images of the preserved specimen. SVL 41 mm (Cogger pers. comm.). Habitus relatively robust; head widest at eyes, slightly longer than wide; snout rounded in lateral view and bluntly rounded in dorsal view (Fig. 9); nostrils prominent in dorsal profile; tympanum circular and clearly visible. Legs short; fingers and toes with prominent terminal discs, fingers with basal webbing, toes half webbed; sub-articular tubercles prominent; nuptial pads absent; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent, approximately one third of the length of first toe. Pectoral fold present. Venter coarsely granular, especially posteriorly; dorsum smooth. Colour in life not described in original description by Keferstein (1868). Colour after more than 150 years of preservation medium brown dorsally, creamy yellowish brown ventrally, finely stippled dark brown laterally, with paler patches on dorsum and a pale dorsolateral stripe (Fig. 9). Variation. Male SVL 28 – 42 mm, females SVL 29 – 42 mm. Summary of variation in morphometric variables for each sex is presented in Table 5. Variation in colour is described from images taken in life (Fig. 10). Dorsal colouration varies from cream (e. g. Fig. 10 E) to warm medium brown (e. g. Fig. 10 A, B). All individuals have a distinct darker brown patch across head and down the back, narrowing in width over the axilla and then mid-dorsum, more diffuse posteriorly. A narrow, diffuse, medium-brown mid-dorsal line obvious in some individuals (e. g. Fig. 10 A) and absent in others. Distinctly darker brown dorsolateral line running from eye, over tympanum, and diffusing above insertion of arm, becoming indistinct (versus continuing to groin as distinct line) in all individuals. Dark-brown stripe between eye and snout distinct in some individuals. Bright white patch on upper lip between lower margin of eye and insertion of the arm present in all individuals. Dorsal surface of limbs brown, finger tips often paler brown; toe tips pale brown, cream or pale yellow (e. g. Fig. 10 F). Yellowish wash and / or paler cream patches in the groin region in some individuals, but both absent in most individuals examined. Back of thighs transparent pinkish orange with opaque, creamy yellow flecks; belly white; vocal sac in males black or very dark yellowish black when deflated and yellowish brown when inflated (Fig. 10). Iris copper-brown. Advertisement call. Call descriptions are based on the calls of nine individuals (Table 6, Figs. 6, 8). The advertisement call of L. dentata comprises a single, highly-pulsed note. Individuals had a mean call duration of 0.84 – 1.33 s and an average of 44 – 53 uniformly spaced pulses repeated at a mean rate of 37 – 57 pulses / s. Calls were amplitude modulated, increasing rapidly to a peak at approximately 10 % of the call duration. The mean dominant frequency was 2.9 – 4.0 kHz. Comparison with other species. The distribution of L. dentata potentially overlaps with that of L. rubella in the north and abuts that of L. balatus sp. nov. in the north and L. quiritatus sp. nov. in the south. It is allopatric with the other five members of the L. rubella species group (L. electrica in north-western Queensland, L. congenita and L. pygmaea in New Guinea and L. capitula on Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia). Litoria dentata can be morphologically distinguished from L. rubella by the presence of continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band and less robust body (versus head much narrower than body in L. rubella). It can be distinguished from L. electrica by the presence of continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band (versus two dark chocolate-coloured bars across the dorsum). It can be distinguished from the New Guinean species L. congenita and L. pygmaea by absence of light spots on dark dorsal background (versus large and conspicuous usually present in L. pygmaea; smaller and more variable usually present in L. congenita). It can be distinguished from L. capitula by the absence of distinctive pale markings above the groin, vent and along lower leg that are present in L. capitula. Litoria dentata can be distinguished from L. quiritatus sp. nov. by males having a vocal sac that is black or very dark yellowish black when deflated and yellowish brown when inflated (versus yellow when deflated and inflated). It can be distinguished from L. balatus sp. nov. by males having a vocal sac that is black or very dark yellowish black when deflated and yellowish brown when inflated (versus black when deflated and inflated), having a dorsolateral line diffusing above insertion of arm (versus continuing to groin) and having a less slender habitus (Fig. 5). From a genetic perspective, apomorphic nucleotide states at 28 sites in the mitochondrial ND 4 gene reliably diagnose L. dentata from L. balatus sp. nov. and L. quiritatus sp. nov. (Table 7).	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A571BFFF5FF3EFA57FC7A7BBC.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Found along the coast of northeastern NSW from Taree (location 9) and Upper Pappinbarra (location 12) to at least as far north as the NSW-Queensland border (Border Ranges National Park, Fig. 7). Determination of the species identity of populations along the border (e. g. Springbrook, Numinbah Valley, Girraween National Park, Durikai State Forest) will require collection of nuclear gene data. It is possible that L. dentata extends further north along the Great Dividing Range as there are records of this species complex from upland mesic forests at Main Range, e. g. Cunningham’s Gap and Goomburra (HBH unpublished data). Litoria dentata has also been introduced into Lord Howe Island (Plenderleith et al. 2015; Fig 2.). The known elevation range of the species is from sea level to ~ 1250 m.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A571BFFF5FF3EFA57FC7A7BBC.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. Litoria dentata calls from the ground or emergent vegetation associated with permanent or ephemeral water courses and ponds in both natural and disturbed habitats. Published descriptions of oviposition, egg and larval morphology, development and behaviour for L. dentata sensu lato (Anstis 2008) are based on L. quiritatus sp. nov. and have not been documented for L. dentata. The species is relatively commonly recorded via FrogID (> 1600 records from 10 November 2017 – 30 June 2021), and is relatively commonly heard calling in disturbed areas, with 17 % of FrogID records of the species documented as being in suburban or urban habitats and 43 % of records in rural areas. Litoria dentata has been detected calling from August to March, with single recordings in April and June, and a peak calling period of October to April via the FrogID project. Conservation status. Litoria dentata is a relatively widespread frog species, with an estimated Extent of Occurrence of approximately 94,000 km 2. There are no documented or suspected population declines, so the species is likely to meet the IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2012) for Least Concern.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	description	Figs 11, 12	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. QM J 91105. An adult male collected from a small drainage in the northeastern corner of Anstead Bushland Reserve, near the junction of Mt Crosby and Hawkesbury Roads, Anstead, south-eastern Queensland (- 27.5406, 152.8614) by Harry B. Hines on 2 February 2010. Material examined. See Supplementary Table S 1 for details of all material examined.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	description	Dimensions of holotype (mm). SVL 36.3; HL 10.2; HW 10.6; IND 2.4; EN 3.4; ED 3.5; IOD 6.4; TD 2.1; FLL 6.7; Fin 3 L 8.9; TL 14.8; Toe 4 L 13.7.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Litoria balatus sp. nov. is distinguished from all species in the Litoria rubella group by a combination of (1) adult body size 26 – 44 mm in males and 33 – 43 mm in females, (2) relatively slender build, (3) the presence of a single, continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band, (4) the absence of light spots on the dorsum, (5) lack of a well-defined pale mid-dorsal stripe, (6) absence of distinctive pale markings above the groin, vent and along lower leg, (7) presence of a distinct dorsolateral line continuing to groin, and (8) adult males having a vocal sac that is black.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	description	Description of holotype. Habitus slender; head widest at eyes, slightly wider than long (HW / HL 1.04); snout rounded in lateral and dorsal profiles; nostrils prominent in dorsal profile; vomerine teeth in single row running laterally anteriorly to choanae. Tympanum circular and clearly visible, about half the diameter of the eye (TD / ED 0.61). Fingers and toes with prominent terminal discs; fingers with basal webbing, toes half webbed. Relative lengths of fingers 3> 4> 2> 1; of toes 4> 5 = 3> 2> 1. Sub-articular tubercles present under fingers and toes but not prominent; inner metatarsal tubercles present and prominent, approximately one third the length of first toe. Nuptial pad oval, restricted to dorsal surface of proximal half of first finger, comprised of small granules. Legs short (TL / SVL 0.41). In life, all dorsal surfaces dark brown, contrasting strongly with pale ventral surfaces of body and limbs (Fig. 11). Continuous, irregularly edged, broad dark brown dorsal band from the snout to the vent, extending laterally to the dorsolateral margin. Flanks light brown. Dorsum weakly granular, becoming more granular laterally, on venter and on thighs. Upper surfaces of legs, arms and distal lower surfaces of legs and arms smooth. A dark stripe extends from snout, through eye, onto tympanum continues laterally above arm and then along lateral ventral margin of body to groin. White bar directly under eye and tympanum, immediately posterior to the tympanum. Ventral surface immaculate light cream. Single vocal sac and chin darkly pigmented, brownish-black, lower lip cream (Fig. 11 D). Variation. Male SVL 26 – 44 mm, female SVL 33 – 43 mm. Summary of variation in morphometric variables for each sex is presented in Table 5. Variation in colour in life is described from images (Fig. 12). Dorsal colouration varies from cream (e. g. Fig. 12 A) to a warm medium brown (e. g. Fig. 12 D), with a distinct darker brown or brownish-grey patch across head and down the back, narrowing in width over the axilla and then also on the mid-dorsum. Some individuals mottled (e. g. Fig. 12 F). Paler mid-dorsal line absent. Distinctly darker dorsolateral line running from snout, through eye, over tympanum, and down side of body to groin varies from medium- to dark- brown Bright white patch on upper lip between lower margin of eye and insertion of the arm. Dorsal surface of limbs medium-brown; finger and toe tips vary from medium-brown to pale yellow (e. g. Fig. 12 A, B). Back of thighs transparent pinkish-orange or yellow-orange with varying amounts of darker brown pigment and opaque, creamy yellow flecks (e. g. Fig. 5 A – C). Belly white; vocal sac in males black when deflated and grey when inflated (Fig. 12 G – J). Iris copper-brown (e. g. Fig. 12 E, F) to reddish-copper (e. g. Fig. 12 A). Advertisement call. Call descriptions are based on the calls of eight individuals, including the holotype (Table 6, Figs. 6, 8). The advertisement calls of L. balatus sp. nov. comprises a single, highly-pulsed note. Individuals had a mean call duration of 0.63 – 1.12 s and an average of 45 – 77 uniformly spaced pulses repeated at a rate of 57 – 89 pulses / s. Calls were amplitude modulated, increasing either smoothly or rapidly to a peak at approximately 10 – 20 % of the call duration, but with much variation. The dominant frequency was 3.4 – 4.3 kHz. Comparison with other species. The distribution of L. balatus sp. nov. overlaps with L. rubella and may overlap with L. dentata in the Scenic Rim area of Queensland, but it is allopatric with the other six members of the L. rubella species group (L. quiritatus from southern NSW and eastern Victoria, L. electrica from north-western Queensland, L. congenita and L. pygmaea in New Guinea and L. capitula on Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia). It can be distinguished from L. rubella by the presence of a continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band and a less robust body (i. e. head much narrower than body in L. rubella). In addition, the call of L. balatus sp. nov. is much higher pitched, of longer duration, with more pulses and a faster pulse repetition rate than that of L. rubella in south-eastern Queensland. Litoria balatus sp. nov. is widely sympatric with L. rubella, and with the two species often calling together these differences in advertisement call are readily apparent. Litoria balatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. electrica by the presence of a continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band (versus two dark chocolate-coloured bars across the dorsum). It can be distinguished from the New Guinean species L. congenita and L. pygmaea by absence of light spots (versus large and conspicuous in L. pygmaea, smaller and more variable in L. congenita) on dark dorsal background. It can be distinguished from L. capitula by the absence of distinctive pale markings above the groin, vent and along lower leg that are present in L. capitula. L. balatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. dentata by males having a vocal sac that is black when deflated and inflated (versus black or very dark yellowish black when deflated and yellowish brown when inflated). It can be distinguished from L. quiritatus sp. nov. by males having a vocal sac that is black (versus yellow when deflated and inflated). It can be distinguished further from L. dentata and L. quiritatus sp. nov. by having a distinct dorsolateral line continuing to groin (versus diffusing above insertion of arm), and more slender build (Fig. 5). From a genetic perspective, apomorphic nucleotide states at 28 sites in the mitochondrial ND 4 gene reliably diagnose L. balatus sp. nov. from L. dentata and L. quiritatus sp. nov. (Table 7).	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet, balatus, is a masculine Latin 4 th declension noun, meaning “ a bleating ”, used as a noun in apposition to the genus name.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Litoria balatus sp. nov. is known currently from south-eastern Queensland from the Maryborough district in the north (Biggenden, QM J 24056) to the foothills of the scenic rim (Barney View, QM J 96341), west to the Bunya Mountains. There are records of L. dentata sensu lato further north (e. g. Atlas of Living Australia), but there are no specimens or photographs available to verify these. The northernmost record of L. balatus sp. nov. in the FrogID project to date is in Maryborough. We are aware of a number of cases of Litoria rubella being misidentified as L. dentata sensu lato. Juvenile Litoria rubella, especially in the Gladstone region, often have extensive dark markings on the dorsum, causing confusion. We sequenced one such juvenile L. rubella (QM J 90515, ABTC 127683) from the Mount Larcom area, near Gladstone to confirm its identity (Fig. 2). Further surveys are required to ascertain the northern distributional limits of L. balatus sp. nov. Litoria balatus sp. nov. has a patchy distribution and is apparently absent from wallum habitats and from larger expanses of rainforest (Fig. 1). It occurs from near sea level, e. g., around the Woongoolba area (QM J 92771, ABTC 127802) to ~ 600 m in the Bunya Mountains and Conondale Range. The ranges of Litoria balatus sp. nov. and L. dentata are in close proximity in the Scenic Rim on the NSW-Queensland border. We found individuals with discordant mtDNA ancestry and phenotypes (body habitus) in this area (Fig. 7) for which we currently do not have nuclear genotype data to establish their species identity. The Scenic Rim is characterised by mountainous terrain rising steeply above the coast and floodplains. Consequently, rainfall, temperature and vegetation vary markedly over very short distances. These patterns strongly influence the distribution of many vertebrate species in this region, and it is recognised as an area of overlap between northern and southern faunal groups (Bryant & Krosch 2016). Within Anura, for example, Pseudophryne coriacea occurs in the Scenic Rim area but is replaced to the north by P. raveni (Ingram & Corben 1994). The Scenic Rim area is also the northern limit for the anuran genera Philoria and Australian Lechriodus (the latter also has species in New Guinea). Additional nuclear genotyping is required in the Scenic Rim area to better understand the distribution of the two Litoria species and in particular to assign species identity to records of this species complex from the Springbrook-Numinbah Valley, the O’Reilly’s Plateau-Christmas Creek-Canungra area or from the Great Dividing Range from Girraween National Park, through Main Range National Park to Toowoomba, and from Durikai State Forest.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5717FFF1FF3EFC77FCAC7E84.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. Most publications concerning L. dentata sensu lato do not include observations or data from Queensland, hence existing information on L. balatus sp. nov. is scant. Delvinquier (1986) recorded the protozoan parasite Myxidium immersum from Samford, Queensland, in a host now attributable to L. balatus sp. nov. Murray et al. (2007) list a single histological specimen of L. dentata from Belli Creek SEQ that was negative for the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: this record is now attributable to L. balatus sp. nov. The following information is from field observations (H. B. Hines & E. Meyer unpubl. data) or from FrogID as acknowledged. Litoria balatus sp. nov. is a species of open forests, woodlands and occasionally rainforest. It appears to be largely absent from the coastal wallum communities and has not been recorded from any of the large sand islands of south-east Queensland (Hines & Meyer 2011). Data from FrogID (> 630 records from 10 November 2017 – 30 June 2021) show that this species frequently calls from disturbed areas, with 14 % of records in urban habitats and 60 % in rural areas. The species has been recorded calling from September to March via the FrogID project. Males call occasionally from treetops and buildings during the day, particularly in hot and humid weather but persistent calling and congregations of calling males typically occur at night following heavy or prolonged rainfall during the warmer months. Amplexus has been observed in all months from October to March. Breeding occurs in shallow ephemeral drainage lines or wetlands with emergent vegetation, with small dams also regularly used. Oviposition, eggs and larval morphology, development and behaviour have not been documented. Conservation status. Litoria balatus sp. nov. is the most restricted of the three species, with an estimated Extent of Occurrence of 73,000 km 2. There were no ill or dead specimens of L. balatus sp. nov. in the study of Berger et al. (2004) that examined a large number of diseased wild frogs from south-eastern Queensland. The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has not been recorded in L. balatus sp. nov. (Murray et al. 2007) although screening is very limited (n = 1). There are no documented or suspected population declines. Given the large Extent of Occurrence, persistence in disturbed areas and a lack of evidence of population declines, the species likely meets IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2012) for Least Concern.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	description	Figs 13, 14	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. AMS R 185759. An adult male collected from Coalcliff, New South Wales (- 34.247, 150.975) by Richard Major on 6 October 2017. Material examined. See Supplementary Table S 1 for details of all material examined.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	description	Dimensions of holotype (mm). SVL 39.8; HL 10.8; HW 11.6; IND 2.5; EN 3.3; ED 3.4; IOD 7.7; TD 1.4; FLL 6.9; Fin 3 L 11.9; TL 17.1; Toe 4 L 16.2.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Litoria quiritatus sp. nov. is distinguished from all species in the Litoria rubella group by a combination of (1) adult body size 36 – 43 mm in males and 34 – 46 mm in females, (2) relatively robust build, (3) the presence of a single, continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band, (4) the absence of light spots on the dorsum, (5) lack of a well-defined pale mid-dorsal stripe, (6) absence of distinctive pale markings above the groin, vent and along lower leg, (7) a dorsolateral line diffusing above insertion of the arm, and (8) adult males having a vocal sac that is yellow when deflated and when inflated.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	description	Description of holotype. Habitus relatively robust; head widest at eyes, slightly wider than long (HW / HL 1.08); snout bluntly rounded in profile and obtusely pointed in dorsal view; nostrils prominent in dorsal profile; vomerine teeth in single row running laterally anteriorly to choanae; tympanum circular and clearly visible and twothirds the diameter of the eye (TD / ED 0.67). Fingers and toes with prominent terminal discs; fingers with basal webbing; toes half webbed. Relative lengths of fingers 3> 4> 2> 1; of toes 4> 5 = 3> 2> 1. Sub-articular tubercles present under fingers and toes but not prominent. Inner metatarsal tubercles present and prominent, approximately one third the length of first toe. Nuptial pad oval, restricted to dorsal surface of proximal half of first finger, comprised of small granules. Legs short (TL / SVL 0.43). All dorsal surfaces dark brown, contrasting strongly with ventral surface of body and limbs (Fig. 13). Continuous, irregularly edged, dark-brown dorsal band from snout to vent, extending laterally to the dorsolateral margin. Flanks light brown. Dorsum very weakly granular, upper surfaces of legs, arms and distal lower surfaces of limbs smooth. Broad irregular, lighter brown bands on each side, from back of eye. A dark brown stripe from snout, through eye, onto tympanum and continuing laterally above arm and along lateral ventral margin of body, diffusing above insertion of the arm. Groin with yellowish orange wash and distinct white patches. White bar directly under eye and tympanum and immediately posterior to tympanum. Ventral surface immaculate light cream. Single vocal sac and chin dark brownish-grey and yellow; lower lip cream. Variation. Male SVL 36 – 43 mm; female SVL 34 – 46 mm. Summary of variation in morphometric variables for each sex is presented in Table 5. Variation in colour is described from images taken in life (Fig. 14). Dorsal colouration varies from cream (e. g. Fig. 14 E) to warm medium-brown (e. g. Fig. 14 F), with a distinct darker brown patch across the head and down the back, narrowing in width over the axilla and then mid-dorsum, more diffuse posteriorly. Very narrow, diffuse paler brown mid-dorsal line present in some individuals (e. g. Fig. 14 D). Darker brown dorsolateral line running from snout, through eye, over tympanum, and down the side of the body, diffusing above insertion of the arm, more diffuse posteriorly; distinctness of this line varies. Bright white patch on upper lip between lower margin of eye and insertion of arm. Dorsal surface of limbs brown, finger and toe tips may be slightly paler brown (e. g. Fig. 14 F). White or pale yellowish patches in the groin (e. g. Fig. 14 C) almost always present but vary in size and number. Back of thighs transparent pinkish-orange or yellowish-orange with varying amounts of darker brown pigment and opaque, creamy yellow flecks. Belly white; vocal sac in males dark yellow when deflated and pale yellow when inflated (Fig. 14 B, C, F). Iris copper-brown (e. g. Fig. 14 D) to reddish-copper (e. g. Fig. 13 A). During the breeding season males become yellowish (e. g. Fig. 14 A, B). Advertisement call. Call descriptions are based on the calls of 16 individuals, including the holotype (Table 6, Figs. 6, 8). The advertisement call of L. quiritatus sp. nov. comprises a single, highly-pulsed note. Individuals had a mean call duration of 0.70 – 1.31 s and an average of 24 – 51 uniformly spaced pulses repeated at a rate of 30 – 53 pulses / s. Calls were amplitude modulated, and highly variable in the timing of their peak amplitude with respect to call duration. The dominant frequency was 3.1 – 4.1 kHz. Comparison with other species. The distribution of L. quiritatus sp. nov. is parapatric with L. dentata but is allopatric with the other members of the L. rubella species group (L. balatus sp. nov. in south-eastern Queensland, L. electrica in north-western Queensland, L. congenita and L. pygmaea in New Guinea and L. capitula on the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia). Litoria quiritatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. rubella by the presence of continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band (versus absence) and less robust body (versus more robust). It can be distinguished from L. electrica by the presence of continuous, irregularly edged, dark brown dorsal band (versus two dark chocolate-coloured bars across the dorsum). It can be distinguished from the New Guinean species L. congenita and L. pygmaea by absence of light spots (usually large and conspicuous spots in L. pygmaea, smaller and more variable in L. congenita) on dark dorsal background. It can be distinguished from L. capitula by the absence of distinctive pale markings above the groin, vent and along lower leg that are present in L. capitula. Litoria quiritatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. dentata by males having a vocal sac that is yellow when deflated and inflated (versus a vocal sac that is black or very dark yellowish black when deflated and yellowish brown when inflated). It can be distinguished from L. balatus sp. nov. by males having a vocal sac that is yellow when deflated and inflated (versus males having a vocal sac that is black) and having a robust build (versus slender build) (Fig. 5). From a genetic perspective, apomorphic nucleotide states at 28 sites in the mitochondrial ND 4 gene reliably diagnose L. quiritatus sp. nov. from L. balatus sp. nov. and L. dentata (Table 7).	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet, quiritatus, is a masculine Latin 4 th declension noun based on the verb quirito, meaning a shriek or scream, used as a noun in apposition to the genus name.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	distribution	Distribution. In the south from the Genoa River, 10 km NW Mallacoota, Victoria along the coast and eastern fall of the Great Dividing Range north to Mernot State Forest, NSW. The ranges of L. dentata and L. quiritatus sp. nov. approach to within 60 km of each other between Taree and Woko National Park respectively. The known elevation range of the species is from sea level to ~ 1100 m on the Newnes Plateau, Blue Mountains.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
3464AB2A5713FFCDFF3EF9C7FCAC7B90.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology. Litoria quiritatus sp. nov. calls from the ground or emergent vegetation associated with permanent or ephemeral water courses and ponds in both natural and disturbed habitats. Anstis (2018) described oviposition, egg and larval morphology, and development (as L. dentata) from Nowra, Darkes Forest, Watagan Mountains and the Blue Mountains. The species is the 24 th most commonly recorded species in the FrogID database (> 3400 records from 10 November 2017 – 30 June 2021) and appears relatively tolerant of disturbed areas, with 42 % of records documented as being in suburban or urban habitats and 37 % in rural areas. L. quiritatus sp. nov. has been detected via the FrogID project calling from August to May, with peak calling activity from September to February. Conservation status. L. quiritatus sp. nov. is a relatively widespread frog species, with an estimated Extent of Occurrence of 145,000 km 2. There are no documented or suspected population declines, so the species likely meets IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2012) for Least Concern.	en	Rowley, J. J. L., Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Myers, S., Price, L. C., Shea, G. M., Donnellan, S. C. (2021): Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia. Zootaxa 5071 (1): 1-41, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.1
