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| Megophrys (Xenophrys) numhbumaeng Mahony, Kamei, Teeling & Biju, 2020 |
ABSTRACT
Megophrys parva is currently considered to be among the most widely dispersed species within the genus, however, recent studies have provided compelling evidence that this species represents a complex of morphologically similar, deeply divergent taxa. The focus of this paper is to take a closer look at species from Northeast India (NEI) and Bangladesh that are currently, or were until recently, considered to represent M. parva, now comprising the M. (Xenophrys) megacephala species group. We investigate their troublesome taxonomic histories, identify hidden cryptic species diversity using morphological and molecular data, and resolve many of the historical misidentifications that have led to a proliferation of taxonomic confusion in this group. Molecular analyses extend the geographic distribution of the M. (X.) megacephala species group east into northern Myanmar based on available sequence data.
A detailed redescription of the paralectotypes of M. parva is provided to better define this poorly known species. The geographic distributions of the taxonomically obscure species, M. serchhipii and M. zunhebotoensis, are extended far beyond their respective type localities, and both are considerably better defined taxonomically based on detailed descriptions of referred specimens, and comparison with relevant congeners. Significant geographic range extensions are also provided for the recently described species M. oropedion and M. megacephala. Three new species from the Indian states of Nagaland and Manipur are identified using a combination of morphological characters, supported by significant genetic divergence. Examination of historical specimen collections and scrutiny of published literature provide sufficient evidence to remove M. parva and M. wuliangshanensis from the checklist of Indian species. Previous records of M. parva from Bangladesh are demonstrated to represent M. serchhipii. Recent reports of M. glandulosa and M. robusta from Meghalaya are also revised and are considered to be based on misidentifications of known species from the state. The revised distributions of NEI’s small-sized horned frogs provide insights into the biogeography of the group. One of the newly described species known only from the high-elevation Dzükou Valley, Nagaland, might require immediate conservation action due to increased tourist activity at its type locality.
KEYWORDS: Anura, taxonomy, systematics, molecular phylogenetics, conservation
Megophrys (Xenophrys) parva (Boulenger, 1893)
Etymology. The specific epithet is Latin, derived from ‘parvus’, meaning ‘little’.
Suggested common name. Many common names have been suggested for M. parva that either describe morphological characters not found on this species (e.g. Burmese Spadefoot Toad [Frank and Ramus 1995]; Brown Spine-Eyed Frog [Nutphund 2001]), or are ambiguously descriptive (e.g. Tubercular Breasted Frog [Chanda 2002]; see Frost [2019, online] for others). We suggest ‘Little Karen Hills Horned Frog’ as the common name for this species since it is currently the only small-sized species of Megophrys named from the Karen Hills.
Megophrys (Xenophrys) ancrae Mahony, Teeling & Biju, 2013
Suggested common name. We suggest ‘Namdapha Horned Frog’ based on the species’ type locality.
Distribution. This species is thus far known only from the type locality and surrounding foothill areas (330–790 m asl.) in Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Changlang district of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, NEI (Figure 2; Mahony et al. 2013).
Megophrys (Xenophrys) megacephala Mahony, Sengupta, Kamei & Biju, 2011
Suggested common name. Big Headed Indian Horned Frog (Mahony et al. 2011), since this species attains proportionately the largest head relative to body size of all Indian Megophrys species.
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| Megophrys awuh sp. nov. adult male (SDBDU 2007.111: SVL 35.7 mm) in life from Jakhama village, Kohima district, Nagaland state, India |
Megophrys (Xenophrys) awuh sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘awuh’ is treated as a noun in apposition taken from the Pochury language, meaning ‘frog’. The Pochury tribe are the native inhabitants of Meluri circle in Nagaland state, within which the type locality lies.
Suggested common name. We suggest ‘Naga Hills Horned Frog’ for this species based on its currently known distribution.
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Megophrys dzukou sp. nov. adult male holotype (BNHS 6072: SVL 34.2 mm) in life, from Kohima district, Nagaland state, India. |
Megophrys (Xenophrys) dzukou sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘dzukou’ is a toponym based on the type locality of Dzükou Valley. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.
Suggested common name. We suggest ‘Dzükou Valley Horned Frog’ as a suitable English language common name.
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| Megophrys numhbumaeng sp. nov. adult male holotype (BNHS 6075: SVL 34.6 mm) in life from Tamenglong district, Manipur state, India |
Megophrys (Xenophrys) numhbumaeng sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition, and the phonetic derivative of a portmanteau word ‘nwmbwmaeng’ from the Rongmei (N-ruangmei) language, the dominant tribal language in the Tamenglong district of Manipur state. The word ‘nwm-’ means forest, and ‘bwmaeng’ means spirit, alluding to the species’ phantomish nature eluding the field researchers on at least three visits to the locality in the presumably (early) breeding season. For correct pronunciation of the species epithet, ‘numhbumaeng’ (pronounced noom-boo-meng) would be the phonetic spelling of the name.
Suggested common name. We suggest ‘Tamenglong Horned Frog’ based on the species’ type locality being in the Manipur state, Northeast India.
Megophrys (Xenophrys) oropedion Mahony, Teeling & Biju, 2013
Suggested common name. Since this species is currently endemic to Meghalaya state, and is the smallest species found there, we suggest the common name ‘Little Meghalayan Horned Frog’
Megophrys (Xenophrys) serchhipii (Mathew & Sen, 2007)
Etymology. According to Mathew and Sen (2007), the specific epithet ‘serchhipii’ is a toponym after the locality where the holotype specimen was collected, but it is unclear how the name was coined. If the locality name was to be treated as a noun in apposition, it would be given as ‘serchhip’, otherwise a typical genitive termination for this toponym would be -ensis (e.g. ‘serchhipensis’ meaning ‘from Serchhip’). However, the suffix -i or -ii are typically used in cases of names formed from personal names. The locality name, Serchhip, means ‘citrus[trees]-on-top [of the first hill of the then Serchhip village, which now included New Serchhip and Chhiahtlang villages]’, and so the specific epithet spelling appears to be a case of incorrect Latinisation. Since it is essentially without meaning, the name falls within the category of an ‘arbitrary combination of letters’ (ICZN 1999: Article 11.3). In any case, the original spelling cannot be emended to correspond with its originally proposed etymology (e.g. to ‘serchhipensis’), and must be retained as the ‘correct original spelling’ according to the Code (ICZN 1999: Articles 11.3 & 32.5.1).
Suggested common name. The previously suggested common names ‘Serchhipii Horned Frog’ Dinesh et al. (2009) and ‘Serchhip’s Horned Toad’ (Mathew and Sen 2010) are based either on an arbitrary combination of letters (i.e. ‘Serchhipii’), or confusingly indicate that the name might be based on a genitive, as the spelling of the species epithet suggests (see ‘Etymology’ section above). To avoid such confusion, we suggest ‘Common Warty Horned Frog’ as a suitable and simple alternative common name for this species since it is widespread in northeast India south/east of the Brahmaputra River and is so far the only Megophrys species confirmed from Bangladesh. It is also the most tuberculate (or ‘warty’) species found in the region
Megophrys (Xenophrys) zunhebotoensis (Mathew & Sen, 2007)
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘zunhebotoensis’ is a toponym after the locality where the type specimens were collected.
Suggested common name. ‘Zunheboto Horned Frog’ has been suggested by Dinesh et al. (2009).
Stephen Mahony, Rachunliu G. Kamei, Emma C. Teeling and S. D. Biju. 2020. Taxonomic Review of the Asian Horned Frogs (Amphibia: Megophrys Kuhl & Van Hasselt) of Northeast India and Bangladesh previously misidentified as M. parva (Boulenger), with Descriptions of Three New Species. Journal of Natural History. 54(1-4 - Amphibian taxonomy: Early 21st century case studies); DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1736679
Three new species of horned frogs discovered from the forests of Northeast India
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