Melanoscirtes kibonotensis subsp. kibonotensis Sjostedt 1909

Melanoscirtes kibonotensis kibonotensis (Sjöstedt, 1909)

(Fig. 5 F)

Distribution. Tanzania; endemic to Mt Kilimanjaro.

Described as Xiphidion kibonotense from Mt Kilimanjaro by Sjöstedt (1909).

Habitat. See Hemp C. 2005. Montane rain forest, plantation belt SW-Kilimanjaro (Sjöstedt 1909); in the undergrowth of shady plantations in the submontane zone, grassy patches in plantations of the montane zone and Bulbostylis grasslands, montane forest edge and montane forest clearings.

Song. Long continuous sequences of syllables, typical for all species of the genus Melanoscirtes, mostly in the ultrasonic range (Hemp et al. 2010b).

Molecular phylogeny: The genus Melanoscirtes (four described species) is confined to the Eastern Arc Mountains and the inland volcanoes Kilimanjaro and Meru (latter, Hemp, unpubl.). The sister taxa on one side are the genera Phlesirtes, Acanthoscirtes and Fulvoscirtes, on the other Karniella and Chortoscirtes more basally in the phylogenetic tree. The geologically ancient North Pare Mountains situated adjacent to Mt Kilimanjaro harbour the other subspecies of M. kibonotensis, suggesting speciation of the past 1–2 Ma years (geological age of Mt Kilimanjaro, Hemp et al. 2010b, Hemp et al. 2012).

Altitudinal range at Mt Kilimanjaro: 1400–1800– 2000–2200 m.

Records: 53