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| Gephyromantis pseudoasper, G. azzurrae, G. corvus
and Gephyromantis atsingy
Crottini, Glaw, Casiraghi, Jenkins, Mercurio, Randrianantoandro, Randrianirina & Andreone, 2011
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.81.1111 |
Abstract
We describe a new mantellid frog of the subfamily Mantellinae from the karstic Bemaraha Plateau, western Madagascar. The new species belongs to the genus Gephyromantis, subgenus Phylacomantis, which previously included Gephyromantis azzurrae, Gephyromantis corvus and Gephyromantis pseudoasper. Gephyromantis atsingy sp. n. has a snout-vent length of 35–43 mm and is a scansorial frog living among the Tsingy de Bemaraha pinnacles and inside the caves present in the area. A morphological analysis and biomolecular comparison revealed the degree of differentiation between these four species of the Phylacomantis subgenus. The new species seems to be endemic to Tsingy de Bemaraha.
Keywords: Amphibia, Gephyromantis atsingy sp. n., Madagascar, Tsingy de Bemaraha
Gephyromantis (Phylacomantis) atsingy sp. n.
Etymology: The specific noun “atsingy” (pronounced: “a-tseen-jě”) is a Malagasy word. The terms “atsingy” or “tsingy” are the common names used to refer to the pointed and sharp calcareous lime stone formations and pinnacles originated through rainfall erosion. Although present in several other localities in western Madagascar (e.g.: Ankarana), the outcrops of Bemaraha are typical of this area and the specific name is therefore associated with the locality of provenience of the types.
Remark: This species has been referred to as Gephyromantis sp. aff. corvus “Bemaraha” by Glaw and Vences (2007), as Gephyromantis sp. 10 “Bemaraha” by Vieites et al. (2009), and Gephyromantis sp. aff. corvus by Bora et al. (2010).
Holotype: MRSN A5487 (NFN), subadult male, collected at Tsingy de Bemahara National Park, western Madagascar, Andamozavaky (Bekopaka commune, Antsalova district, Melaky region, Mahajanga province), 19°01.86'S, 44°46.80'E; 122 m a.s.l., collected by J. E. Randrianirina on 23 May 2003.
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| Figure 1. Schematic map of Madagascar with images and distribution of the four described species of the genus Gephyromantis, subgenus Phylacomantis. |
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| Figure 2. Images of Gephyromantis atsingy sp. n. A MRSN A5487 (NFN), subadult male (holotype) from Andamozavaky, dorsal view (photo by J. E. Randrianirina) B–C ZSM 23/2006 (FGZC 0715), adult female (paratype) from Grotte Crystal, close to Andranopasazy, dorsolateral views (photos by F. Glaw) D ZSM 23/2006 (FGZC 0715), adult female (paratype) from Grotte Crystal, close to Andranopasazy, ventral view (photo by F. Glaw) E ZSM 37/2006 (FGZC 0746), juvenile (paratype) from Grotte Anjohimbazimba (photo by F. Glaw) F–G UADBA 39099 (RBJ 627), adult male (paratype) from Andranopasazy, dorsolateral and dorsal views (photos by C. Randrianantoandro) H UADBA 39099 (RBJ 627), adult male (paratype) from Andranopasazy, ventral view, with evident and developed femoral glands of “Type 2” (photo by C. Randrianantoandro) I ZSM 107/2006 (FGZC 0886), juvenile (paratype) from Bendrao Forest (“Camp 3”), dorsolateral view (photo by F. Glaw) J MRSN A5483 (BMR 031), juvenile (paratype) from Andamozavaky, dorsolateral view (photo by J. E. Randrianirina) K–L MRSN A5487 (NFN), subadult male (holotype) from Andamozavaky, dorsal and ventral views of the preserved specimen. |
Angelica Crottini, Frank Glaw, Maurizio Casiraghi, Richard K.B. Jenkins, Vincenzo Mercurio, Christian Randrianantoandro, Jasmin E. Randrianirina and Franco Andreone. 2011. A New Gephyromantis (Phylacomantis) Frog Species from the Pinnacle Karst of Bemaraha, western Madagascar. ZooKeys. 81: 51-71. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.81.1111
