taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	description	(Figs 6, 7, 11)	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. AMS R. 25922, a male collected from Point Lookout, New England National Park, New South Wales, between 4,250 and 4,750 feet altitude on 15 October 1965.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	description	Dimensions of holotype (in mm). SVL, 70; TL, 43; HL, 27; HW, 27; EN, 6; IND, 6; ED, 8; IOD, 17; TD, 7; FLL, 19; Fin 3 L, 14; MT, 6. Straughan (1968) recorded the SVL of the holotype as 75 mm. We are unable to explain this discrepancy other than measurement error by Straughan and note that none of the males that we measured had an SVL> 70.6 mm (Supplementary Table S 2). Straughan (1968) did not provide any other measurements of the holotype.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	materials_examined	Material Examined. Vouchers examined for morphological analyses are listed in Supplementary Table S 2.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mixophyes balbus is distinguished from M. hihihorlo by a interrupted vertebral stripe (vs. uninterrupted) and presence of dark triangular patch on upper lip in front of nostril (vs. absent); from M. iteratu s and M. carbinensis by absence of black colouration with numerous small rounded pale spots on posterior surface of thigh (vs. light brown without any pale spots); from M. coggeri by having posterior of thigh uniform (vs. with irregular pale blotches); from M. schevilli by having a discontinuous (vs. continuous) mid-dorsal stripe; from M. fleayi and M. fasciolatus by lack of prominent black spots on flanks and further from M. fasciolatus by occurrence of pigmented patches on maxilla; from M. australis sp. nov. by having five wider and more diffusely marked cross bands on thigh (vs. up to ten thin dark cross band in M. australis sp. nov.); male advertisement call comprises one to four notes with mean number of pulses in first and second notes being more than in M. australis sp. nov. (mean 12.24 vs. 7.24) with more double pulses in these notes. In the field M. balbus is most likely to be confused with M. fasciolatus and M. iteratus which occur sympatrically. In addition to the features listed above, M. balbus can be distinguished from M. iteratus by the webbing on the toes reaching only to the second joint on the third toe, compared to distal joint in M. iteratus; from M. fasciolatus by the occurrence of a metallic silver-blue crescent in the top quarter of the iris (vs. absent in M. fasciolatus), and the absence of sharply demarcated cross bands on the limbs that form distinct triangular markings on the posterior surfaces of the arms and legs (vs. presence in M. fasciolatus).	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	description	Description including variation. Straughan’s (1966, 1968) description of variation in M. balbus included material from the southern group which we show is a new species. Here we provide detailed images of the type (Fig. 11) and a revised description of variation in M. balbus that excludes material from the range of the new species. A moderate sized frog, sexually dimorphic, females larger (up to 83 mm SVL) than males (up to 71 mm SVL). Females are an average of 1.2 times the SVL of males (Table 5), but they are otherwise similar in body proportions (Table 5), colour in preservative and patterning. Tympanum large, conspicuous (TD / ED mean = 0.79 ± 0.07, 0.62 – 0.96), oval shaped with longer axis vertical. Eyes prominent, pupil vertical, iris in life silver-blue or brown above, brown below. Head flattened, length slightly shorter than or equal to width (HL / HW mean = 0.93 ± 0.05, 0.70 – 1.03); snout prominent (ED / EN mean = 1.4 ± 0.1, 1.2 – 1.7), gently rounded when viewed from above and in profile; nostrils more lateral than superior; canthus rostralis well defined, slightly concave; loreal region nearly flat, inclined laterally; eye to naris distance slightly smaller than or approximately equal to internarial span (EN / IND mean = 0.88 ± 0.1, 0.71 – 1.13). Vomerine teeth relatively long, oblique rows angled from anterior margin of choanae to midline between choanae. Tongue approximately rectangular, not notched posteriorly. Dorsum smooth or finely granular, belly smooth. Hind limbs long and robust (TL / SVL mean = 0.6 ± 0.02, 0.55 – 0.65). Fingers moderately long, robust, unwebbed, relative length 3> 2 = 4 = 1. Subarticular and palmar tubercles prominent. Finely granular brown nuptial pad on first and second finger and extends ventrally to the inner palmar tubercle in breeding males. Toes moderately webbed; on outer side of toes webbing reaches penultimate subarticular tubercle on toes 1 and 2, penultimate tubercle on toe 3, and second subarticular tubercle on toe 4. Tips of toes slightly expanded but lacking obvious discs (Fig. 11). Relative lengths of toes 4> 5> 3> 2> 1. Prominent round or oval conical sub-articular tubercles present; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent relatively straight, with well-developed outer edge, approximately equal to length of toe 1, not sharp or keratinized, pigmentation same as plantar surface. Colour and Pattern in Life. Dorsal surfaces rich copper to tan or dark brown, sometimes with burnt orange or pink wash towards groin; a posteriorly oriented v-shaped inter-orbital bar that extends as a mid-dorsal stripe, finely edged in black and highly variable in length and shape with uneven edges terminating in mid-sacral region; remainder of dorsal surface either sparsely flecked with small black spots or a few larger blotches but not both (Fig. 7). A dark triangular patch on either side of snout with apex at external nostril does not incorporate area immediately surrounding nostril. A dark lateral head-stripe extends from slightly posterior of nostril, through eye, curves over tympanum, and extends posteriorly down anterior margin of tympanum, sometimes including upper third of tympanum, terminating above axilla; width variable but in all cases posterior margin is widest. Loreal region light-brown coloured with darker patches along upper jaw (maxilla). Lateral surfaces and groin flushed with reddish tan or peach, without spots or blotches, these surfaces noticeably lighter than dorsum, with colour diffusing gradually into ventral colouration. Venter including throat and ventral surface of thighs immaculate white, cream or with light lemon-yellow wash; lower jaw edged with diffuse brown wash. In adults, iris dark brown merging into golden brown above pupil with brown to iridescent pale blue dorsal crescent. Upper third of iris in juveniles may be as above or flame orange. Upper surfaces of legs, feet, arms and hands with dark transverse cross bars, not extending on to posterior thighs; posterior surface of thighs uniform brown to burnt orange brown and slightly mottled; anterior lateral edge of shank, posterior lateral edge of arms, and plantar surface of feet and of tarsal surface dark brown; lateral palmar surfaces of outer fingers dark brown to black. Reproductive call. The male advertisement call comprises one to four short notes repeated in rapid succession. Because of the variation in the number of notes in the call we provide means and ranges for measurements of call traits for the first two notes. Mean duration for a two note call is 0.45 s (range 0.45 – 0.48 s). The first note is of longer duration than the second (means 0.68 and 0.41 s, ranges 0.39 – 0.96 s, and 0.28 – 0.63 s respectively), with a short inter-note interval (mean 0.36 s), and with more pulses in the first than the second note (mean 12.8, and 9.1, ranges 9 – 17 and 3 – 12 respectively). Pulse duration is much shorter (mean 0.015 s, range 0.014 – 0.016 s) than inter-pulse interval (0.083 s, range 0.081 – 0.084 s). Pulse structure varies within notes, with single pulses produced initially, followed by a series of pulses produced in couplets (Table 2, Fig. 9). The second note has more couplets than the first note (Fig. 9). Pulse repetition rate in the first note is lower than the second note (16.1 pps vs 21.0 pps) (Table 2). Mean inter-call interval is 4 s (range 3 – 8 s) and males usually produce a series of calls before a period in which all calling ceases. Calling occurs during the spring and summer seasons when climatic conditions are suitable (MM pers. obs. Details of suitable conditions not reported here). Within the calling season, calling is initiated by a male, and this stimulates calling in nearby males and a chorus of calls with a short lag time or small overlap between the call of one male and a nearby male occurs. The male encounter call which is a single note of moderate duration (mean 0.23 s, range 0.24 – 0.48 s) is often uttered among advertisement calls and males may produce several encounter calls in succession (Fig. 9 C). The dominant frequency of the notes in the advertisement call differs slightly with the first note having a higher frequency than the second (817 Hz and 758 Hz, ranges 709 – 782, 659 – 961 Hz respectively). The dominant frequency of the encounter call (788 Hz, range 709 and 792 Hz) is higher than the advertisement call and shows an initial narrow band frequency that expands to a broadband pattern. Advertisement and encounter calls are not frequency modulated. Representative call recordings have been deposited with the Australian Museum as multimedia record AMS R. 188750.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD42A0FFF2F9290FB4EFD2A.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mixophyes balbus occurs in drainages that flow to the east of the Great Dividing Range from the upper reaches of the Timbarra River catchment in north-eastern NSW, south to the northern catchments of the Macleay River (Fig. 1). The majority of records occur between 600 – 1500 m asl, and the species occurs entirely within the upper North Coast Bioregion (Thackway & Cresswell 1995). Habitat and Ecology. Statistical modelling using presence and absence data and 24 environmental predictors sampled throughout the range of M. balbus and for northern populations of M. australis sp. nov., showed a preference for the interiors of large forest tracts in areas with relatively cool mean annual temperatures, at sites that were typically free from any disturbance with a thick canopy and relatively simple understorey (NSW NEFBS 1994). Tracking studies indicate that the adults spend the majority of their life in the riparian zone (Lemckert & Morse 1999), and adults are observed rarely in terrestrial survey transects away from the riparian zone (Knowles et al. 2015) but are sometimes observed on roads near riparian zones. Eggs and larvae. Embryonic development and larval morphology were described by Anstis (2013) from specimens collected at five locations that include two within the range of M. balbus (near Point Lookout, New England Range, Coombadjha Creek, Gibraltar Range) and three from within the range of M. australis sp. nov. (Tirrill Creek, Bulga State Forest, Sharpes Creek, Barrington Range, Gap Creek, Central Coast Range). No mention was made of morphological variation among the sites sampled that would indicate a difference between those from what is now known as M. balbus and M. australis sp. nov. (Anstis 2013), but reanalysis of these data based on our refined taxonomy is required. Larval morphology was described for specimens from Point Lookout NSW (type location) by Watson & Martin (1973) and are the same as described by Anstis (2013). Knowles et al. (2015) did not observe any differences in egg deposition mode at four locations for M. australis sp. nov. and one for M. balbus. Assessment of IUCN threat category for Mixophyes balbus. Following our systematic findings and taxonomic actions herein, it is necessary to assess the IUCN threat categories for M. balbus and M. australis sp. nov. because previous conservation assessments were based on the presumption of a single species (Supplementary Text). Based on the IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2019) and with information presented in other recent assessments (Gillespie et al. 2020, Geyle et al. 2021), we assess M. balbus to be Endangered, under category B 1 (a) (c) (Supplementary Text). The measured EOO (alpha-hull) is 1,477 km 2, which is well below the threshold score of <5000 km 2, and the distribution is fragmented (occurring in <5 locations). The Area of Occupancy (AOO) in the decade 2010 – 2020 is 880 km 2, which is well below the threshold level of 2000 km 2 for Endangered but above Critically Endangered (500 km 2) (Supplementary Text). While observed occupancy (EOO and AOO) place this species in the Endangered category, mapping of observation records for the past two decades shows no evidence of a continued decline in occupancy that can be inferred or projected, rather the occupancy has apparently stabilised during this time period, and the EOO and AOO have remained constant in the past two decades (Supplementary Text Fig. S 4). Field work indicates that the species can be found in each of the five locations, and there is no evidence of population reduction at these locations based on mapping of records over three generations (Supplementary Text Fig. S 1). There is evidence that declines occurred at many sites prior to 2000 (NSW NEFBS 1994), but after this time there is evidence of a gradual recovery at many sites apart from previously occupied high elevation sites, and the species occurs across its historic latitudinal range (Mahony 2007, 2013). A direct threat to M. balbus is the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis (Scheele et al. 2021). The available evidence is that M. balbus is an example of a species that is susceptible to chytridiomycosis, and that population declines can be precipitous at times when climatic conditions are suitable for disease transmission and progression. The observation of gradual recovery in population abundance and distribution in the past two decades indicates that some process of selective adaptation to combat the disease may be occurring and this provides several options for conservation recovery actions. The indirect effects of climate change such as drought and wildfires may also impact on the species. The extent of fragmentation and isolation may be increased by landscape scale catastrophic wildfires (Legge et al. 2022), which may exacerbate local and regional declines. However, an assessment of vulnerabilities to wildfires based on biological traits indicated some level of resilience because of the species’ burrowing behaviour and restriction to moist riparian habitats (Mahony et al. 2022). To understand and mitigate these threats we recommend that systematic monitoring be undertaken since there is good evidence of rapid declines in this species in the past.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD82A08FF2F9770FF4EFC7E.taxon	description	(Figs 6, 8, 12)	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD82A08FF2F9770FF4EFC7E.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype. AMS R. 188750 (ABTC 141374), adult male from Sharpes Creek, Gloucester Tops National Park, New South Wales, Australia, 32 ° 05 ’ S, 151 ° 68 ’ E, collected by Michael Mahony and Ross Knowles on 15 December 2015. Material examined. see Supplementary Table S 1.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD82A08FF2F9770FF4EFC7E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Mixophyes australis sp. nov. is distinguished from M. hihihorlo by the presence of a dark triangular patch on the upper lip in front of the nostril with its apex at the nostril (vs absence), and absence of an uninterrupted narrow vertebral stripe extending from between the eyes to just above the vent (vs. presence); from M. iteratus and M. carbinensis by absence of black colouration with numerous small rounded pale spots on the posterior surface of the thigh; from M. coggeri by having posterior of thigh uniform (vs. with irregular pale blotches); from M. schevilli by having a discontinuous (vs. continuous) mid-dorsal stripe; from M. fleayi and M. fasciolatus by the lack of prominent black spots on the flanks and further from M. fasciolatus by the occurrence of pigmented patches on maxilla; from M. balbus by the occurrence of up to ten thin dark cross bands on the thighs (vs. five wider and more diffusely pigmented cross bands in M. balbus); male advertisement call comprises one to four phrases with the mean number of notes in the first and second phrase fewer than in M. balbus (mean 7.24 vs. 12.24) with fewer double pulses in these phrases; and with a lower dominant frequency in both the advertisement (752 Hz vs. 773 Hz) and encounter (704 Hz vs. 788 Hz) calls. In the field, M. australis sp. nov. is most likely to be confused with specimens of M. fasciolatus and M. iteratus which occur sympatrically. In addition to the features listed above, M. australis sp. nov. can be distinguished from M. iteratus by less extensive webbing of the toes that reaches to the distal tubercle of the fourth toe in M. iteratus. From M. fasciolatus it can be distinguished by the occurrence of darker markings on the lateral margins of the maxilla and mandible, in M. fasciolatus the maxilla is unmarked and is lighter coloured than the general background producing a distinctive paler area; and the soles of the feet are not pigmented black versus pigmented brown to black in M. fasciolatus.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD82A08FF2F9770FF4EFC7E.taxon	description	Dimensions of holotype (in mm). SVL, 67; TL, 39.6; HL, 26.9; HW, 26.2; EN, 4.9; IND, 7.1; ED, 8.1; IOD, 12.8; TD, 5.9; FLL, 16.7; Fin 3 L, 16.1; MT, 4.8. Description of holotype. Head flattened, snout prominent, gently rounded when viewed from above and in profile; nostrils more lateral than superior; canthus rostralis well defined, slightly concave; loreal region nearly flat, inclined laterally (Fig. 12). Eye relatively large (ED / EN = 1.67), pupil vertical when constricted; eye to naris span longer than internarial span (EN / IND = 0.69); tympanum large, nearly three-quarters eye diameter (TD / ED = 0.73), conspicuous, oval with vertical long axis. Vomerine teeth relatively long, oblique rows angled from anterior margin of choanae to midline between choanae; tongue approximately rectangular, not notched posteriorly. Fingers robust, unwebbed. Subarticular and palmar tubercles prominent; relative length of fingers 3> 2 = 4 = 1. Hind limbs long (TL / SVL = 0.59); toes moderately webbed, on outer side of toes webbing reaches penultimate sub-articular tubercle on toes 1, 2 and 3, and second tubercle on toe 4, all toes with lateral flanges extending along toes to the terminal disc; tips of toes slightly expanded but not forming terminal disc (Fig. 12). Subarticular tubercles prominent, oval and conical; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent, slightly curved, with well-developed outer edge, approximately equal to the length of toe 1, not sharp or keratinized pigmented same as ventral surface of foot; relative length of toes 4> 5> 3> 2> 1. Dorsum finely granular with small tubercules, venter smooth. Series of raised conical tubercles on ventral surface of thigh form a triangular area in pelvic patch with the tubercles becoming larger toward the mid-line and cloaca. Several large conical tubercles around the cloaca opening. Variation. SVL of males 52 – 69 mm and females 64 – 81 mm (Table 5). Females are larger than males, being an average of 1.3 times the SVL of males (Table 5) but are otherwise similar in body proportions (Table 5), colour in preservative, and patterning. Hind limbs long (TL / SVL = 0.62 ± 0.03, range 0.56 – 0.70). Head approximately as long as broad (HL / HW = 0.92 ± 0.06, range 0.77 – 1.06; eye diameter greater than eye to naris distance (ED / EN = 1.53 ± 0.19, range 1.08 – 1.98), and eye to naris distance versus internarial span variable (EN / IND = 0.8 ± 0.1, range 0.62 – 1.16). Ventral surface is smooth. Brown glandular nuptial pad on first and second finger and inner palmar tubercle in breeding males. Colour in life. Dorsal surfaces rich copper to tan or dark brown or with green tinge, sometimes with burnt orange wash towards groin; a posteriorly oriented inter-orbital bar that extends as a mid-dorsal stripe, finely edged in black and highly variable in length and shape with uneven edges, often not continuous and usually terminating on the upper back but occasional extending to the mid-sacral region; remainder of dorsal surface either sparsely flecked with small black spots or a few larger blotches or a combination of both (Fig. 8). A dark triangular patch on either side of the snout with the apex at the external nostril but does not include the immediate area around the nostril. A dark lateral head-stripe extends from slightly posterior of the nostril, through eye, curves over tympanum, and extends posteriorly down anterior margin of the tympanum, sometimes including upper third of the tympanum, terminating above axilla; width variable but in all cases posterior margin is widest; bordered above and below by fine cream or fawn line that is sharply demarcated against the dark stripe. Loreal region is light coloured with darker patches along the upper jaw (maxilla). Lateral surface and groin flushed with a reddish tan or peach, without spots or blotches, these surfaces noticeably lighter than dorsum, with colour diffusing gradually into the ventral colouration. Venter including throat and ventral surface of thighs immaculate white, cream or with a light lemon-yellow wash; lower jaw edged with diffuse brown wash. In adults, iris dark brown merging into golden brown above pupil with an iridescent pale blue dorsal crescent. Upper surfaces of the legs, feet, arms and hands with dark transverse cross bars, not extending on to posterior thighs; posterior surface of thighs uniform brown to burnt orange brown and slightly mottled; unpigmented triangular area with distinct closely grouped tubercles beneath the cloaca; anterior lateral edge of shank, posterior lateral edges of arms, and plantar surface of feet and tarsus dark brown; lateral palmar surfaces of outer fingers dark. Reproductive call. The male advertisement call comprises one to four short notes repeated in rapid succession. Because of the variation in the number of notes in the call we provide means and ranges for measurements of call traits for the first two notes. Mean duration for a two note call is 1.34 s (range 1.29 – 1.35 s). There are commonly two notes in the call with the first of longer duration than the second (mean 0.69 and 0.45 s, ranges 0.30 0.70, and 0.18 – 0.45 respectively), with a short inter-note interval (mean 0.36 s), and with more pulses in the first note than the second (mean 8.6, and 6.2, ranges 5 – 11, 3 – 8 respectively). Pulse duration is much shorter (mean 0.015 s, range 0.011 – 0.017) than inter-pulse interval (0.083 s, range 0.080 – 0.088). Pulse structure varies within notes, with single pulses produced initially, followed by a series of pulses produced in couplets (Table 2, Fig. 9). The second note has more couplets than the first note (Table 2, Fig. 9). Pulse repetition rate is lower in the first note than the second (15.95 and 20.86 respectively) (Table 2). Mean inter-call interval is 4 s (range 3 – 5 s) and males usually produce a series of calls before a period in which all calling ceases. Calling occurs during the spring and summer seasons when climatic conditions are suitable (MM pers. obs. Details of suitable conditions not reported here). Within the calling season, calling is initiated by a male, and this stimulates calling in nearby males and a chorus of calls with a short lag time or small overlap between the call of one male and a nearby male occurs. The male encounter call is a single note of moderate duration (mean 0.23 s, range 0.24 – 0.48 s) composed of dense pulses and is often uttered among advertisement calls and males may produce several encounter calls in succession (Fig. 9 C). The dominant frequency of the notes in the advertisement call differs slightly with the first note having a higher frequency than the second (732 and 742 Hz, range 650 to 768 Hz). The DF of the encounter call (704 Hz, range 632 to 831 Hz) is slightly lower than the advertisement call. Advertisement and encounter calls are not frequency modulated. Call recordings have been deposited at the Australian Museum as a multimedia record attached to the database record for the holotype R. 188750.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD82A08FF2F9770FF4EFC7E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mixophyes australis sp. nov. is distributed from the Carrai Plateau on the southern side of the Macleay River in New South Wales south to the Cann River catchment in East Gippsland Victoria (Fig. 1). All records are from wet forest habitats in drainages that flow to the east of the Great Dividing Range. Its distribution includes three bioregions (Thackway & Cresswell 1995), the southern quarter of the North East Coast, the Sydney Basin and Southeast Corner bioregions. This species occurs across almost all available elevations in these bioregions. For example, in the Barrington Range it occurs from 390 m asl (Sharpes Creek) up to 1230 m asl (Dilgry River), and in the Sydney Basin from 50 m asl (Stanwell Tops) up to 1000 m asl (Blackheath, Mount Irvine and Mount Wilson). In the Southeast Corner bioregion, the highest altitude record is 810 m asl (Bombala), and the southernmost location, at Chandlers Creek, East Gippsland, is at 280 m asl. We note that genetic analysis of southern NSW and north-eastern Victorian populations of Mixophyes from spirit preserved vouchers should be considered. This region has a little appreciated biogeographic barrier immediately to the north of Nowra, which in some recent studies on frogs is manifested as a deep species level break that also may have an influence as a barrier to north – south movement more widely on the coastal fauna of southern coastal NSW and north-eastern Victoria (Mahony et al. 2020, 2021). Habitat and Ecology. The ecological requirements of adults and larvae of M. australis sp. nov. are reasonably well known. This species is found in association with first and second order permanent and ephemeral streams in temperate and sub-tropical rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, and also in moist gullies in dry forest (Gillespie & Hines 1999). Statistical modelling using presence and absence data and 24 environmental predictors from the northern portion of the range of M. australis sp. nov. (Barrington and Hastings Ranges) showed a preference for the interiors of large forest tracts in areas with relatively cool mean annual temperatures, at sites that were typically free from any disturbance with a thick canopy and relatively simple understorey (NSW NEFBS 1994). Adult males spend most of their lives in the riparian zone where they shelter under leaf litter or burrow into the topsoil or under debris such as logs when inactive during all seasons. Males leave these protected sites during active periods of calling from spring through to autumn, at which times they call from stream banks or among rocks next to the riffle zone where oviposition occurs (Knowles et al. 2015). Females move away from the riparian zone and, like males, shelter under leaf litter and burrow into the topsoil during periods of inactivity (Mahony pers. obs.). Larvae are nektonic and occupy pools between riffle zones in small streams (Daly 1998). Eggs and larvae. Embryonic development and larval morphology were described by Anstis (2013), from specimens collected at five locations that include three within the range of M. australis sp. nov. (Tirrill Creek, Bulga State Forest; Sharpes Creek, Barrington Range; and Gap Creek, Central Coast Range), and two within the range of M. balbus (near Point Lookout, New England Range, near type locality; Coombadjha Creek, Gibraltar Range). No morphological features that distinguished among these samples were reported (Anstis 2013), but it is possible that variation was present that was not reported since Anstis was not aware of the presence of two species amongst her samples. Mixophyes australis sp. nov. deposit eggs among small pebbles or debris in gently flowing shallow water (Knowles et al. 2015).	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
03D34843FFD82A08FF2F9770FF4EFC7E.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific Latin epithet australis refers to the species being the most southerly distributed member of Mixophyes. Assessment of IUCN threat category for M. australis sp. nov. We assess M. australis sp. nov. to be Endangered under category A 2 (a) B 2 (a) (b). There is an estimated population reduction of> 30 % over the past decade and the causes may not have ceased (Supplementary Text. Figs S 4 — S 6). The Area of Occupancy (AOO) in the decade 2011 - 2020 is 188 km 2, which is well below the threshold level of 2,000 km 2, and there is evidence of a continuing population reduction based on mapping of database records over three generations (Supplementary Text Fig. S 1). Mixophyes australis sp. nov. is known over a relatively large range (EOO for all records is a convex hull of 81,578 km 2, and an alpha-hull of 2,734 km 2). In the decade from 2001 - 2010, these values reduced to 33,003 km 2 and 1,495 km 2 respectively, which demonstrates the rate of contraction of the distribution. Mapping of the records reveals declines and disappearances of populations in the southern two thirds of the distribution (Supplementary Text Fig. S 1). Gillespie et al. (2014) reviewed the conservation status of the Victorian and southern NSW populations and noted that prior to 1983 only five specimens had been recorded in Victoria from three localities. To our knowledge there have been no observations of this species in Victoria in the past two decades. Field surveys in the south-eastern forest region and the Greater Blue Mountains area of NSW conducted in the past decade have documented the loss of populations in this large region (Daly & Craven 2011, Mahony unpubl. data). Fortunately, this decline has occurred only in the southern two thirds of the range and intensive surveys in the northern third including the Central Coast, Myall, Barrington and Hasting Ranges show that the species remains in these locations (this study, see Supplementary Text) and that populations have remained stable over the past decade (Mahony 2007, 2013). Because genetic evidence indicates that there are two subpopulations of M. australis sp. nov. that are separated by the Hunter River valley, a northern subpopulation equivalent to genetic clusters S 1, S 2 and S 3, and a southern subpopulation equivalent to cluster S 4, we also assess their threat status (Supplementary Text). The northern subpopulation (i. e., Myall Range, Barrington Range and Hastings Range), and the southern subpopulation (Central Coast Range, Blue Mountains and Illawarra region to east Gippsland) meet the conservation status assessment criteria for Endangered 2 B 1 a, b (Supplementary Text Table S 1). Threats considered to impact M. australis sp. nov. are the same as those for M. balbus but the extensive contraction of the species’ distribution in the southern portion of its former range is a matter of considerable conservation concern. The recovery of many populations in the northern third of its range provides an option for the return of this frog to the southern part of its former distribution. In support of such an action, successful captive husbandry of Mixophyes has been reported (Banks et al. 2014) and protocols for translocations and reintroduction for Bd affected species are available (Scheele et al. 2021). While the northern populations may provide frogs for reintroduction, it should be noted that northern and southern populations are genetically very divergent, and the northern populations occupy an environmental envelope where the organism x environment interaction could be more favourable to the frog than may occur in the southern part of the range. Given the above, a precautionary approach using an experimental evaluation of the survival of northern frogs in an environment that they have not experienced in their recent evolutionary history including a recent period of their exposure to Bd, may be an initial action.	en	Bertozzi, Terry, Guzinski, Jaro (2023): A new species of barred frog, Mixophyes (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from south-eastern Australia identified by molecular genetic analyses. Zootaxa 5297 (3): 301-336, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.3.1
