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| Limnonectes kong Dehling & Dehling, 2017 |
Abstract
We re-examined the type series of Rana conspicillata Günther, 1872 from Matang in western Sarawak, Borneo and found it to consist of specimens of three distinct species that can be separated by qualitative morphological characters and morphometrics. We re-allocate one paralectotype to Limnonectes hikidai and another to a large-sized species from western Borneo that we describe as new. The new species is morphologically distinguished from all described species of the L. kuhlii group from the Sunda region by body size, extent of toe webbing, head size and odontoid shape. It differs genetically from all described species for which genetic information is available. In order to facilitate the further taxonomic revision of the L. kuhlii group on Borneo, we provide a detailed morphological redescription of the holotype of Rana conspicillata.
Keywords: Amphibia, taxonomy, morphology, Limnonectes hikidai, Limnonectes laticeps, 16 rRNA, sexual dimorphism, Sarawak, Malaysia, Indonesia
Limnonectes kong sp. nov.
Rana conspicillata: Günther, 1872 (partim)
Rana kuhlii: Günther, 1874 (partim)
Limnonectes conspicillatus: Matsui et al. 2013 (partim)
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| FIGURE 9. Limnonectes kong sp. nov.: (A) Female paratype (NMBE 1059918) calling from a cavity in the ground, Matang, Sarawak; (B) female paratype (NMBE 1059928) perched on a rock along a stream, Gading NP, Sarawak; (C) lateral view and (D) dorsal view of a male paratype (NMBE 1059924), Bako NP, Sarawak. |
Etymology. The species epithet is an allusion to the pronounced sexual dimorphism exhibited by the new species. It resembles the male-biased dimorphism in great apes which is most pronounced in gorillas (Gorilla spp.). Since the new species is also among the largest of the L. kuhlii group on Borneo we name it after the fictional giant gorilla. The name is used as an invariable noun in apposition.
J. Maximilian Dehling and D. Matthias Dehling. 2017. A New Wide-headed Fanged Frog of the Limnonectes kuhlii group (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from western Borneo with A Redescription of Rana conspicillata Günther, 1872. Zootaxa. 4317(2); 291–309. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4317.2.6
