KIER MITCHEL PITOGO

Species Described / ressurected

Platymantis habagatan Pitogo, Hoskin, Tesfazion, Meneses, Cannon, Supsup, Decena, Sanguila, & Brown 2026

This is a new species we describe that has been cryptically co-occurring with Platymantis laticeps. To the untrained eye, both species look very similar; however, they sound very different, and upon closer examination, one can discern distinct differences in their morphology. This species is more widespread throughout Mindanao Island, except in the southern region. We named the species after the Cebuano word habagatan, meaning 'south' or 'southern,' referring to its distribution in the southern Philippines. This species is more closely related to—in fact, the sister species of—Platymantis jagorii than P. laticeps.

Pitogo KME, Hoskins K, Tesfazion FH, Meneses CG, Cannon HW, Supsup CE, Decena SCP, Sanguila MB, Brown RM (2026a) Southern Philippine forest frogs (Anura; Ceratobatrachidae; Platymantis) confused with P. dorsalis: validation and resurrection of P. jagorii (Peters, 1863) and P. laticeps (Taylor, 1920), and description of a new species. Zootaxa 5884(2): 271-300. Link

Platymantis laticeps (Taylor, 1920)

We formally resurrect this species from the synonymy of Platymantis dorsalis based on a combination of morphological, genetic, and acoustic evidence. Originally described by Taylor (1920) from Bunawan, Agusan del Sur Province, this name has historically been applied to P. dorsalis-like populations on Mindanao Island. Although previously synonymized under P. dorsalis alongside P. jagorii, we here revalidate the taxon, providing a detailed diagnosis and comprehensive comparisons with other ground-dwelling Platymantis frogs from the Mindanao biogeographic region. This species is known only from northeastern Mindanao.

Pitogo KME, Hoskins K, Tesfazion FH, Meneses CG, Cannon HW, Supsup CE, Decena SCP, Sanguila MB, Brown RM (2026a) Southern Philippine forest frogs (Anura; Ceratobatrachidae; Platymantis) confused with P. dorsalis: validation and resurrection of P. jagorii (Peters, 1863) and P. laticeps (Taylor, 1920), and description of a new species. Zootaxa 5884(2): 271-300. Link

Platymantis jagorii (Peters, 1863)

We resurrect this species from the synonymy of Platymantis dorsalis based on morphological, genetic, and acoustic evidence. Peters (1863) originally described the species from a single specimen collected on Samar Island, distinguishing it primarily by its smaller body size. In our paper, we formally resurrect the taxon, providing a detailed diagnosis and comprehensive comparisons with other ground-dwelling Platymantis frogs from the Mindanao biogeographic region. The species is distributed across the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Siargao, and Dinagat.

Pitogo KME, Hoskins K, Tesfazion FH, Meneses CG, Cannon HW, Supsup CE, Decena SCP, Sanguila MB, Brown RM (2026a) Southern Philippine forest frogs (Anura; Ceratobatrachidae; Platymantis) confused with P. dorsalis: validation and resurrection of P. jagorii (Peters, 1863) and P. laticeps (Taylor, 1920), and description of a new species. Zootaxa 5884(2): 271-300. Link

Platymantis guiting Meneses, Pitogo, Decena, Supsup, & Brown 2026

The second miniature frog described in the Philippines and the smallest so far, averaging just 14 mm! For a long time, it was thought to be part of the widespread pygmy forest frog from Luzon. But when we took a closer look—using genetic, morphological, and acoustic data—it turned out to be an evolutionarily distinct lineage and a species of its own. We named it after Mt. Guiting-guiting, the highest peak in the Romblon Island Group and the species’ last bastion.

Meneses CGM, Pitogo KME, Decena SCP, Supsup CE, Brown RM (2026). A new miniaturised Platymantis (Amphibia: Anura: Ceratobatrachidae) from Sibuyan and Tablas islands, Romblon Island Group, Philippines. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 74: 197-219. Link