[Herpetology • 2018] Boophis masoala • Eye and Webbing Colouration As Predictors of Specific Distinctness: A Genetically Isolated New Treefrog Species of the Boophis albilabris Group from the Masoala Peninsula, northeastern Madagascar

 Boophis masoala

 Glaw, Scherz, Prötzel & Vences, 2018

 SALAMANDRA. 54(3)

Abstract

 We describe a large and distinctive new treefrog species with blue webbing from the west coast of the Masoala peninsula in northeastern Madagascar. Boophis masoala sp. n. is morphologically similar to the other species of the Boophis albilabris group but can be distinguished from them easily by several chromatic characters of the eyes. Despite its similar morphology, it is genetically highly differentiated (10.5–13.3% pairwise p-distance in a segment of the 16S rRNA gene) from all other species in the B. albilabris group including the morphologically most similar Boophis praedictus. Both species share the blue webbing between toes and are distributed on the Masoala peninsula, but so far were not found in close sympatry. Although we recorded the new species only from the unprotected areas near the coast, we are confident that it also occurs within the adjacent Masoala National Park. We discuss the importance of eye colouration as a predictor of specific distinctness in the genus Boophis and that of webbing colouration as taxonomic characters of large treefrogs. Based on a micro-CT scan we provide a comprehensive description of the osteology of the new species, which is the first for any Boophis species, and furthermore describe its distress call which consists of three distinct sections corresponding to (1) the starting phase with closed mouth, (2) the opening of the mouth and (3) the final section with an open mouth. 

Key words: Amphibia, Anura, Mantellidae, Boophis masoala sp. n., biogeography, distress call, osteology

Boophis masoala sp. n. 

Diagnosis: Assigned to the genus Boophis based on the presence of an intercalary element between ultimate and penultimate phalanges of fingers and toes (verified by external and osteological examination), enlarged terminal discs of fingers and toes, lateral metatarsalia separated by webbing, absence of outer metatarsal tubercle, molecular phylogenetic relationships (Fig. 1), and overall similarity to other Boophis species. Assigned to the Boophis albilabris group based on the following combination of characters: large size (snout–vent length of holotype 82.4 mm); well developed webbing between fingers; presence of vomerine teeth; presence of a white line along upper lip; molecular phylogenetic relationships; and overall morphological similarity to B. praedictus and B. albilabris.

....

Figure 3. Boophis masoala sp. n.:
 (A) Holotype in dorsolateral and (B) ventral view.
Two additional individuals were sampled and sequenced but not collected: (C) ZSM-DNA 00289 and (D) ZSM-DNA 00290, both representing different colour morphs.

Habitat and habits: The holotype was discovered at night perching on branches ca. 3 meters above the ground, in close proximity (ca. 30 m) to the sea shore, but not close to any other water body. Another individual was discovered at night in a tree, ca. 4–5 m above the ground at the edge of the trail that leads from the shore to the EcoLodge, just above a small stream and likewise not more than ca. 50 m distance from the shore. The third individual was found in the same area, but only ca. 2 m above the ground.

....

Etymology: The specific epithet masoala is used as a noun in apposition and is composed of the Malagasy words ‘maso’ (meaning eye) and ‘ala’ (meaning forest), and is usually translated as ‘eye of the forest’ (e.g. Rübel 2003). In contrast to many other new Boophis species (e.g. B. feonnyala, meaning ‘voice of the forest’) which we noticed first by their distinctive advertisement calls, we discovered B. masoala by its large eyes shining many meters in the torchlight at night, and we did not hear its advertisement calls (in the dry season). In addition, its eye colour turned out to be species-specific, allowing us to distinguish B. masoala from all other species. The specific name furthermore refers to the known distribution of the new species, which might be endemic to the Masoala peninsula. 

Available names: The problems with the identity of the Boophis albilabris holotype were extensively discussed in Glaw et al. (2010) and since then, no new data have become available that would challenge its attribution to the widespread species which occurs mostly at higher elevations of eastern Madagascar. Since the type locality of B. albilabris (‘eastern Imerina’) is in central eastern Madagascar, where B. masoala most likely does not occur, conspecificity of B. masoala and B. albilabris can be excluded with very high probability.

  

Frank Glaw, Mark D. Scherz, David Prötzel and Miguel Vences. 2018. Eye and Webbing Colouration As Predictors of Specific Distinctness: A Genetically Isolated New Treefrog Species of the Boophis albilabris Group from the Masoala Peninsula, northeastern Madagascar. SALAMANDRA. 54(3); 163–177. 

Researchgate.net/publication/327075241_a_genetically_isolated_new_treefrog_species_of_the_Boophis_albilabris_group_from_the_Masoala_peninsula_northeastern_Madagascar

  

[Herpetology • 2018] Molecular Phylogeny and Diversification of Malagasy Bright-eyed Tree Frogs (Mantellidae: Boophis)

in Hutter, Lambert, Andriampenomanana, et al., 2018

  DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.027 

Highlights

• We estimated the first multi-locus phylogeny of Boophis frogs.

• Found that the B. ulftunni group was nested within the B. majori group.

• We erect the new B. blommersae group, composed of small, brown stream breeding frogs.

• We illustrate examples of correlated and repeated evolution in coloration and ventral transparency.

• Boophis diversified within the Eastern highland forests of Madagascar.

• Adaptation to these highland areas was important in their diversification.

Abstract

We investigate the molecular phylogeny of Boophis, a group of arboreal frogs from the Malagasy-Comoroan family Mantellidae. Based on newly acquired DNA sequences of five mitochondrial and five nuclear markers (7444 base pairs), we infer a phylogeny of Boophis with complete species-level taxon sampling. We reconstruct the phylogeny using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood and estimate divergence dates for the major clades of the genus. The phylogenetic analyses together support the monophyly of the two subgenera (Sahona and Boophis), and provide strong support for most previously identified species groups, except that the B. ulftunni group is nested within the B. majori group. We also erect a new species group related to the B. mandraka group, the B. blommersae group, composed of small-sized, brown stream-breeding frogs previously included within the B. majori group. Finally, we use the resulting phylogeny to illustrate striking examples of repeated evolution of coloration and ventral transparency and address the biogeographic history and broad pattern of species diversification in the genus. Ancestral area reconstructions provide evidence that Boophis diversified within the Eastern highland forests of Madagascar, and we suggest that adaptation to these highland areas was important in their diversification.

Keywords: Amphibia; Anura; Biogeography; Dispersal; Madagascar; Phylogeny

Carl R. Hutter, Shea M. Lambert, Zo F. Andriampenomanana, Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences. 2018. Molecular Phylogeny and Diversification of Malagasy Bright-eyed Tree Frogs (Mantellidae: Boophis). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press.  DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.027

[Herpetology • 2017] Geckolepis megalepis • Off the Scale: A New Species of Fish-scale Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Geckolepis) with Exceptionally Large Scales from the Limestone Karst of Ankarana in northern Madagascar

Geckolepis megalepis  

Scherz​, Daza, Köhler, Vences & Glaw, 2017

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2955 

Abstract

The gecko genus Geckolepis, endemic to Madagascar and the Comoro archipelago, is taxonomically challenging. One reason is its members ability to autotomize a large portion of their scales when grasped or touched, most likely to escape predation. Based on an integrative taxonomic approach including external morphology, morphometrics, genetics, pholidosis, and osteology, we here describe the first new species from this genus in 75 years: Geckolepis megalepis sp. nov. from the limestone karst of Ankarana in northern Madagascar. The new species has the largest known body scales of any gecko (both relatively and absolutely), which come off with exceptional ease. We provide a detailed description of the skeleton of the genus Geckolepis based on micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) analysis of the new species, the holotype of G. maculata, the recently resurrected G. humbloti, and a specimen belonging to an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) recently suggested to represent G. maculata. Geckolepis is characterized by highly mineralized, imbricated scales, paired frontals, and unfused subolfactory processes of the frontals, among other features. We identify diagnostic characters in the osteology of these geckos that help define our new species and show that the OTU assigned to G. maculata is probably not conspecific with it, leaving the taxonomic identity of this species unclear. We discuss possible reasons for the extremely enlarged scales of G. megalepis in the context of an anti-predator defence mechanism, and the future of Geckolepis taxonomy.

Geckolepis megalepis Scherz​, Daza, Köhler, Vences & Glaw, 2017 

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2955 

Figure 3: Specimens of Geckolepis megalepis sp. nov. in life.
 (A) A specimen observed by A. Anker (photograph used with permission); (B) a specimen observed by FG, and (C) a specimen photographed after scale loss, with inset indicating the transparent ‘tear zone’ at the base of a scale. None of the photographed animals were collected, but their attribution to G. megalepis is clear on the basis of the large size of their scales. Note that the tails of all three specimens are regenerated.

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2955

Diagnosis. A species of the genus Geckolepis based on its overall morphology and large, fish-like scales (similar to cycloid scales in terms of the extent of overlap), as well as its phylogenetic position (Lemme et al., 2013; Fig. 1). Geckolepis megalepis differs from all of its congeners by the possession of the following suite of characters: innermost pair of postmental scales in broad contact (condition A/B, Fig. 4), SVL ≤ 69.5 mm, infralabials to anterior margin of eye 4.5–4.8, 17–18 scales rows around the midbody, 27–31 ventral scales between the postmentals and the vent, and the absence of a dark lateral stripe, and typical midbody dorsal scales measuring 7.3–8.3% of the SVL in length. Osteologically, G. megalepis is characterised by a narrow infraorbital fenestra, a bulging nasal cavity, nasals with straight sides, a well developed anterior extension of the subfrontal process, a notched premaxilla-vomer fenestra, scapular ray of scapulocoracoid not surpassing the clavicle, and posteriorly curved pubic tubercle of the pubis. Additionally, it is separated by an uncorrected pairwise genetic distance in the mitochondrial ND4 gene of ≥10.1% from all other lineages of Geckolepis and has a unique CMOS haplotype (Lemme et al., 2013).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the two Greek stems μέγας (mégas) meaning ‘very large’ and λεπίς (lepís) meaning ‘scale’, and refers to the large size of the scales of this species in comparison to its congeners and other geckos, which aids also in its diagnosis.

Habitat, natural history, and conservation status. Geckolepis megalepis was observed active at night both in the rainy and dry seasons, on trees (see Figs. 3A–3B) and tsingy limestone rock. When captured, these geckos showed a strong tendency to autotomize large parts of their scales, leading to partly ‘naked’ geckos without any visible (bloody) lesions (Fig. 3C). In a subjective comparison this tendency appeared to be even more developed than in other Geckolepis species.

Mark D. Scherz​, Juan D. Daza, Jörn Köhler, Miguel Vences and Frank Glaw. 2017. Off the Scale: A New Species of Fish-scale Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Geckolepis) with Exceptionally Large Scales.  PeerJ. 5:e2955. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2955

A new species of gecko with massive scales and tear-away skin!
 https://eurekalert.org/e/7hWp via @ThePeerJ @EurekAlert

New Gecko Sheds Skin on Demand, Looks Like Raw Chicken
http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/new-gecko-sheds-skin-on-demand-looks-like-raw-chicken.aspx

[Herpetology • 2016] Species Delimitation Methods Put Into Taxonomic Practice: Two New Madascincus Species, M. miafina & M. pyrurus, formerly allocated to Historical Species Names (Squamata, Scincidae)

Madascincus miafina sp. n., a species from dry areas of northern Madagascar, morphologically very similar to M. polleni    Madascincus pyrurus sp. n., a montane species endemic to the central highlands of Madagascar. Phylogenetically, M. pyrurus is the sister species of M. igneocaudatus

 Miralles, Köhler, Glaw & Vences, 2016. DOI: 10.3897/zse.92.9945 

Abstract
In a previous study, Miralles and Vences (2013) compared seven different methods of species delimitation applied to the genus Madascincus. While focusing on methodological aspects their study involved an extensive data set of multilocus DNA sequences and of comparative morphology. On this basis they emphasized the need of revising the taxonomy of Madascincus, and revealed the existence of at least two well-supported candidate species. The present paper provides formal descriptions of these two taxa: (1) Madascincus miafina sp. n., a species from dry areas of northern Madagascar, morphologically very similar to M. polleni (although both species are not retrieved as sister taxa), and (2) Madascincus pyrurus sp. n., a montane species occurring >1500 m above sea level, endemic to the central highlands of Madagascar (Ibity and Itremo Massifs). Phylogenetically, M. pyrurus is the sister species of M. igneocaudatus, a taxon restricted to the dry littoral regions of the south and south-west of Madagascar in lowlands <500 m above sea level. To facilitate future taxonomic work, we furthermore elaborated an identification key for species of Madascincus. Finally, some aspects of the biogeographic patterns characterising the different main clades within the genus Madascincus are provided and discussed for the first time in the light of a robust phylogenetic framework.

Key Words: Madascincus miafina sp. n., Madascincus pyrurus sp. n., Madagascar, phylogeny, morphology, integrative taxonomy, species complex, biogeography

Figure 4.: Photographic plate showing most of the recognized species of Madascincus (picture not available for M. macrolepis), highlighting the chromatic polymorphism (red tail and brown tail morphs) for M. miafina sp. n., M. pyrurus sp. n. and M. igneocaudatus. Picture I depicts the sole specimen known from Kirindy that in Glaw and Vences (2007) was assigned to a candidate species M. sp. “vitreus”, and O depicts a specimen that these authors assigned to a candidate species M. sp. “baeus”.

DOI: 10.3897/zse.92.9945

Aurélien Miralles, Jörn Köhler, Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences. 2016. Species Delimitation Methods Put Into Taxonomic Practice: Two New Madascincus Species formerly allocated to Historical Species Names (Squamata, Scincidae). Zoosystematics and Evolution. 92(2); 257-275. DOI: 10.3897/zse.92.9945

ResearchGate.net/publication/311455635_Species_delimitation_methods_put_into_taxonomic_practice_two_new_Madascincus_species_formerly_allocated_to_historical_species_names_Squamata_Scincidae

[Herpetology • 2017] Extended Molecular Phylogenetics and Revised Systematics of Malagasy Scincine Lizards

Fig. 1. Phylogeny of Malagasy scincine lizards, based on a 50% majority rule consensus tree inferred through Bayesian analysis of 12 concatenated loci (3 mtDNA, 9 nDNA) comprising 8060 bp (outgroups not shown). Node values represent posterior probability from BI and bootstrap support from ML and MP analyses, respectively (see Fig. SM2). Bootstrap values under 70 are not displayed and denoted with a dash. Dashed branches indicate the tentative placement of taxa with multiple missing data (as inferred with a second Bayesian analysis) and with posterior probabilities in parentheses. Clades characterized by quadrupedal taxa are highlighted in color, while the clades consisting of limb-reduced fossorial taxa are highlighted in grey. For Grandidierina fierinensis, Paracontias mahamavo and P. ampijoroensis, two individuals each were included in the analyses (see Table SM1) that showed very low intraspecific genetic divergence, and were collapsed in the tree to display all terminal taxa at the species level. The three candidate species of Amphiglossus are named according to provisional names used in Glaw and Vences (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.008

 Highlights

• A new phylogenetic hypothesis for Malagasy scincines based on an extended multilocus dataset.

• Phenotypic comparisons corroborate divergent molecular patterns of evolution.

• Three separate clades of Amphiglossus, characterized by different degrees of body elongation.

• Amphiglossus redefined into three different genera based on combined molecular and morphological findings.

Abstract

Among the endemic biota of Madagascar, skinks are a diverse radiation of lizards that exhibit a striking ecomorphological variation, and could provide an interesting system to study body-form evolution in squamate reptiles. We provide a new phylogenetic hypothesis for Malagasy skinks of the subfamily Scincinae based on an extended molecular dataset comprising 8060 bp from three mitochondrial and nine nuclear loci. Our analysis also maximizes taxon sampling of the genus Amphiglossus by including 16 out of 25 nominal species. Additionally, we examined whether the molecular phylogenetic patterns coincide with morphological differentiation in the species currently assigned to this genus. Various methods of inference recover a mostly strongly supported phylogeny with three main clades of Amphiglossus. However, relationships among these three clades and the limb-reduced genera Grandidierina, Voeltzkowia and Pygomeles remain uncertain, mainly based on maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony estimates. Supported by a variety of morphological differences (predominantly related to the degree of body elongation), but considering the remaining phylogenetic uncertainty, we propose a redefinition of Amphiglossus into three different genera (Amphiglossus sensu stricto, Flexiseps new genus, and Brachyseps new genus) to remove the non-monophyly of Amphiglossus sensu lato and to facilitate future studies on this fascinating group of lizards.

Keywords: Madagascar; Skinks; Phylogeny; Morphology; Taxonomy; Scincidae

Jesse Erens, Aurélien Miralles, Frank Glaw, Lars Chatrou and Miguel Vences. 2017. Extended Molecular Phylogenetics and Revised Systematics of Malagasy Scincine Lizards. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.008

[Herpetology • 2013] Palleon gen. nov. • A New Genus Name for An Ancient Malagasy Chameleon Clade

Palleon lolontany  (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995)
Figure 1. First published colour photograph of Palleon lolontany in life (male from the Sorata massif, a new locality for this species).
Figure 2. Skeleton of an adult female of Palleon lolontany from the left (ZSM 1679/2012, snout–vent length 33.4 mm, total length 52.9 mm).

Recent research has led to enormous progress in the understanding of chameleon phylogeny, and new genus names were introduced for most of the identified deep chameleon clades (Kinyongia, Nadzikambia, Rieppeleon), or available names were resurrected from synonymy (Archaius) or elevated from subgenus level (Trioceros). A remarkable exception is a deep lineage composed of the two morphologically distinct species Brookesia ­nasus and B. lolontany from Madagascar. Raxworthy et al. (2002) found this lineage to be the basal clade in the family Chamaeleonidae, but more recent studies regarded it (with limited support) as a sister group of all other Brookesia that split off in the Cretaceous or Palaeocene. Thus, the Brookesia ­nasus-lolontany clade split off much earlier than all other extant chameleon clades recognized today as distinct genera. In the present paper, we provide new data on B.­ lolontany (including an embedded 3D-PDF model of its skeleton) and a morphologi-cal diagnosis of the B.­ nasus-lolontany clade, and transfer the two species to a new genus. As already emphasized by Vences et al. (2013), this decision results in two clearly monophyletic genera with improved morphological diagnosability.

.......................

Palleon lolontany  (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995)
Figure 1. First published colour photograph of Palleon lolontany in life (male from the Sorata massif, a new locality for this species).
Figure 2. Skeleton of an adult female of Palleon lolontany from the left (ZSM 1679/2012, snout–vent length 33.4 mm, total length 52.9 mm).

Palleon gen. n. 

Type species: Brookesia nasus Boulenger, 1887 

Content: Palleon nasus nasus (Boulenger, 1887), 

Palleon nasus pauliani (Brygoo, Blanc & Domergue, 1972), 

Palleon lolontany (Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1995).

Etymology. The new genus name Palleon is derived from the Greek word “Palae-” (meaning “old”) and the Greek word “leon” (meaning “lion”; as used for other chameleon genera), referring to the very early separation of this clade. The resulting composite Palae-o-leon is shortened to Palleon for simplified pronunciation. The gender of the genus is masculine. 

Frank Glaw, Oliver Hawlitschek and Bernhard Ruthensteiner. 2013. A New Genus Name for An Ancient Malagasy Chameleon Clade and A PDF-embedded 3D Model of Its Skeleton. SALAMANDRA. 49(4) 237–238.

http://www.zsm.mwn.de/her/pdf/321_Glaw_et_al_2013_New_chameleon_genus_Palleon_and_embedded_pdf_model_SALAMANDRA.pdf

IUCN - A new genus name for an ancient Malagasy chameleon clade and a PDF-embedded 3D model of its skeleton http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/who_we_are/ssc_specialist_groups_and_red_list_authorities_directory/amphibians_and_reptiles/chameleon/?16054%2FPalleon-Chameleon

http://markscherz.tumblr.com/post/70629343762/palleon-gen-nov-a-new-genus-of-chameleons-from

[Herpetology • 2012] new species in Brookesia minima group • Discovery of Miniaturized and Microendemic New Species of Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar

Adult specimens of newly described species in life.

(A) male and (B) female of Brookesia tristis from Montagne des Français; 

(C) male and (D) female of Brookesia confidens from Ankarana; 

(E) male and (F) female of Brookesia micra from Nosy Hara; 

(G) male and (H) female Brookesia desperata from Forêt d'Ambre.

Abstract 

Background

One clade of Malagasy leaf chameleons, the Brookesia minima group, is known to contain species that rank among the smallest amniotes in the world. We report on a previously unrecognized radiation of these miniaturized lizards comprising four new species described herein.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The newly discovered species appear to be restricted to single, mostly karstic, localities in extreme northern Madagascar: Brookesia confidens sp. n. from Ankarana, B. desperata sp. n. from Forêt d'Ambre, B. micra sp. n. from the islet Nosy Hara, and B. tristis sp. n. from Montagne des Français. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on one mitochondrial and two nuclear genes of all nominal species in the B. minima group congruently support that the four new species, together with B. tuberculata from Montagne d'Ambre in northern Madagascar, form a strongly supported clade. This suggests that these species have diversified in geographical proximity in this small area. All species of the B. minima group, including the four newly described ones, are characterized by very deep genetic divergences of 18–32% in the ND2 gene and >6% in the 16S rRNA gene. Despite superficial similarities among all species of this group, their status as separate evolutionary lineages is also supported by moderate to strong differences in external morphology, and by clear differences in hemipenis structure.

Conclusion/Significance

The newly discovered dwarf chameleon species represent striking cases of miniaturization and microendemism and suggest the possibility of a range size-body size relationship in Malagasy reptiles. The newly described Brookesia micra reaches a maximum snout-vent length in males of 16 mm, and its total length in both sexes is less than 30 mm, ranking it among the smallest amniote vertebrates in the world. With a distribution limited to a very small islet, this species may represent an extreme case of island dwarfism.

Figure 1. Map of northern Madagascar showing distribution of species of the Brookesia minima group.

Type localities in bold, B. dentata, B. exarmata, B. karchei, B. peyrierasi, and B. ramanantsoai not included, because their ranges are located further south; see inset maps in Fig. 2. Orange (dry forest) and green (rainforest) show remaining primary vegetation in 2003–2006, modified from the Madagascar Vegetation Mapping Project (http://www.vegmad.org).

Figure 2. Phylogenetic relationships among species of the Brookesia minima group based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Figure 9. Life history and morphology of Brookesia desperata.

(A) Female (displaying stress colouration) with two recently laid eggs. (B) Figure showing well-developed pelvic spine (1) and lateral spines on tail (2).

Figure 8. Brookesia micra sp. n. from Nosy Hara, northern Madagascar.

(A) adult male on black background, showing orange tail colouration; (B) juvenile on finger tip; (C) juvenile on head of a match; (D) habitat along a small creek on western flank of Nosy Hara, where part of the type series was collected.

Figure 6. Hemipenes of species in the Brookesia minima group.

Glaw, F.; Köhler, J. R.; Townsend, T. M.; Vences, M. 2012. Salamin, Nicolas. ed. "Rivaling the World's Smallest Reptiles: Discovery of Miniaturized and Microendemic New Species of Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar". PLoS ONE 7 (2): e31314. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031314

Glaw, F., M. Vences, T. Ziegler, W. Bohme, and J. Kohler. 1999. 1999. Specific distinctness and biogeography of the dwarf chameleons Brookesia minima, B. peyrierasi and B. tuberculata (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae): evidence from hemipenal and external morphology. Journal of Zoology 247: 225-238.  http://www.zsm.mwn.de/her/pdf/64_Glaw_et_al_1999_Brookesia_minima_group.pdf