Showing posts with label Tadpole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tadpole. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

[Herpetology • 2018] Scinax caprarius • A New Frog with Green Bones of the Genus Scinax (Anura: Hylidae), associated with the sub-Andean Forests of the Magdalena River Basin, Colombia


Scinax caprarius Acosta-Galvis, 2018


Abstract 
As a result of the exploration of post-conflict areas in the Colombia BIO project, a new species of green bones frog of the genus Scinax, assignable to the clade Scinax ruber, is described. The species is endemic to the peripheral sub-Andean forests of the middle Magdalena valley in Colombia. This biological entity was previously identified in the scientific literature as Scinax “A”. The new species is recognizable by its average size 28.6-31.1 mm, chromatic pattern and its particular mating call that is similar to the sound of a goat bleating; each vocalization has a duration of 0.21-0.47 s, with a dominant frequency between 2184-3218 Hz.; its larval characteristics were evaluated, which altogether made it possible to clearly differentiate it from other species in the genus in the trans-Andean region of Colombia. With the description of this species, 18 frogs of the genus Scinax are currently recognized in the Colombian territory.

 Keywords. Amphibia. Bioacustics. Tadpoles. Scinaxinae. Taxonomy. 





Scinax caprarius sp. nov. 


Resumen: Como resultado de la exploración de áreas en postconflicto enmarcada en el proyecto Colombia BIO, se realizó la descripción de una nueva especie de Scinax con huesos verdes, asignable al clado de S. ruber. Esta nueva especie es endémica de los bosques subandinos periféricos del valle medio del río Magdalena en Colombia. Esta entidad biológica fue previamente identificada en la literatura científica como Scinax “A” y se caracteriza por su tamaño mediano (28,6-31,1 mm), su patrón cromático y su vocalización, similar al balido de una cabra, con una duración de 0,21-0,47 s, y frecuencia dominante entre 2184-3218 Hz. Sus características larvales en conjunto, permiten diferenciarla claramente de otras especies del género en la región transinterandina de Colombia. Con esta, ascienden a 18 las especies de Scinax documentadas en el territorio colombiano. 

Palabras clave: Amphibia. Bioacústica. Renacuajos. Scinaxinae. Taxonomía. 


Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis. 2018. Una nueva rana de huesos verdes del género Scinax (Anura: Hylidae) asociada a los bosques subandinos de la cuenca del río Magdalena, Colombia [A New Frog with Green Bones of the Genus Scinax (Anura: Hylidae), associated with the sub-Andean Forests of the Magdalena River Basin, Colombia] . Biota Colombiana. 19 (Suppl. 1); 131–159. DOI: 10.21068/c2018.v19s1a11 

Friday, September 7, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Ptychadena mutinondoensis • A New Grass Frog (Anura: Ptychadenidae) with Rupicolous Tadpoles from northern Zambia


Ptychadena mutinondoensis 
Channing & Willems, 2018


Abstract
We describe a new species of Ptychadena from Mutinondo Wilderness in northern Zambia. It has rupicolous tadpoles that develop in a film of water. The species is distinguished on morphology, advertisement call and DNA sequences from other grass frogs and was found to be most closely related to P. broadleyi. It has no contrasting longitudinal bands on the posterior thigh, the foot is longer than half SVL, it has no light triangle on the snout, three phalanges of the fourth toe free of web and the snout has no skin folds. The species should be considered Near Threatened in terms of the IUCN Red List criteria given its limited extent of occurrence and population size.

Keywords: Amphibia, Ptychadena mutinondoensis sp. nov., rupicolous tadpole, Mutinondo, Zambia


FIGURE 3. A—Lateral view of holotype of Ptychadena mutinondoensis (ZMB 88379). B—Sharp snout of Ptychadena mutinondoensis (ZMB 88380) compared to C—snout of Ptychadena broadleyi (ZMB 88389).
 Scale bars = 10 mm.

Ptychadena mutinondoensis sp. nov. Channing and Willems
Mutinondo Grass Frog

Etymology. The species is named for the Mutinondo Wilderness area.


Alan Channing and Frank Willems. 2018. A New Grass Frog with Rupicolous Tadpoles from northern Zambia (Anura: Ptychadenidae). Zootaxa. 4462(3);  349–366. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4462.3.3


Friday, June 8, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Ololygon goya • A New Species of the Ololygon catharinae species group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado Biome, State of Goiás, Central Brazil


Ololygon goya
Andrade, Santos, Rocha, Pombal & Vaz-Silva, 2018


Abstract
We describe a new species of Ololygon from the Cerrado biome, Central Brazil. The new species is assigned to the Ololygon catharinae species group based in morphological attributes. Ololygon goya sp. nov. in known only from type locality—Sítio d’Abadia municipality, State of Goiás—and associated with riparian environments connected to seasonal dry forest on the banks of the Corrente river, a tributary of the Paranã river basin. The new species is characterized by the combination of the following characters: medium size (24.4–38.8 mm SVL); snout subovoid in dorsal view; canthus rostralis well defined; males with hypertrophied forearms and nuptial pads; inguinal region and hidden surfaces of thigh with irregular dark brown spots on pale yellowish background. We also describe the external morphology and oral morphology of tadpoles, and the advertisement calls of the new species.

Keywords: Amphibia, Scinaxinae, Ololygon goya sp. nov., Advertisement call, Tadpoles


FIGURE 3. Color patterns in live of specimens of  Ololygon goya from the type locality at municipality of Sítio d'Abadia, State of Goiás, Brazil.
Males (A and B), Females (C and D). Specimens not collected.

Photos by E. P. Victor-Junior.

 Ololygon goya sp. nov. 

Etymology. Goyá is a Tupi indigenous name, here used as a noun in apposition, being a corruption of guayá (composed by guay + ) meaning similar people (Sampaio 1901). The name evokes the morphological similarity of the new species with the Ololygon skaios. The State of Goiás received its name due to the legendary population of natives called goyá, who lived in this region (Siqueira & David 2014).


 Sheila Pereira de Andrade, Danusy Lopes Santos, Cezar Filho Rocha, José P Pombal and Wilian Vaz-Silva. 2018. A New Species of the Ololygon catharinae species group (Anura: Hylidae) from the Cerrado biome, State of Goiás, Central Brazil. Zootaxa. 4425(2);  283–303.
DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4425.2.5
 instagram.com/p/Bjn3psuBgu7/?taken-by=SheilaNFBio
researchgate.net/publication/325433679_A_new_species_of_the_Ololygon_catharinae_species_group_from_the_Cerrado_biome_State_of_Goias_Central_Brazil

Saturday, June 2, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Phasmahyla lisbella • A New Species of Spotted Leaf Frog, Genus Phasmahyla (Anura, Phyllomedusidae) from Southeast Brazil


Phasmahyla lisbella
 Pereira, Rocha, Folly, da Silva​ & Santana,​. 2018

   DOI:  10.7717/peerj.490

Abstract

Based on concordant differences in male advertisement call, tadpole morphology, and absence of haplotype sharing in the barcoding 16S mitochondrial DNA, we describe here a new species of spotted leaf frog of the genus Phasmahyla from Atlantic Forest, State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil. The new species is most similar to P. cochranae (type locality) and P. spectabilis (type locality). It differs from these species by the size of the calcar, moderate-sized body (snout-vent length 30.4–34.4 mm in adult eight males), and in the advertisement call. The tadpoles of Phasmahyla lisbella sp. nov. differ from P. exilis, P. spectabilis, P. timbo, P. guttata and P. jandaia because they do not have row of teeth in the anterior part; differ from P. cruzi by the shape of the anterior end of the oral disc. Through genetic data (phylogenetic distance and haplotype genealogy) we diagnosed the new species where the genetic divergences among its congeners is about 3–6% in a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene, which is above the threshold typically characterizing distinct species of anurans. However, the new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species based on an integrative approach (molecular, bioacoustics, larval, and adult morphology).


Figure 3: Phasmahyla lisbella sp. nov. in life from the type locality (ZUFMS-AMP 8803).
(A) Nocturnal and (B) diurnal coloration.

Images: (A) D.J. Santana and (B) by H. Folly.

Phasmahyla lisbella sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: The new species, Phasmahyla lisbella, is characterized by: (1) grainy dorsal skin; (2) calcar well developed and broad at the base; (3) presence of rounded purple patches in hidden areas of the arm, forearm, thigh, tibia, tarsus, and toes; (4) inner parts of legs and flanks orange colored, with numerous round violet blotches in life; (5) reduced laterodorsal glands; (6) Canthus rostralis slightly distinct; (7) eyes large, and the palpebral membranes translucent over their entire area; (8) forearms slender in males; (9) tarsus large, outer margin smooth or slightly crenulated; (10) fingers medium sized; (11) advertisement call composed by one pulsed note with only one pulse; (12) tadpoles with oral disc large and wide, with a deep recess in the dorsal margin and a less sharp recess in the ventral margin; (13) tadpoles with tooth row formula 0/2(1).






Figure 5: Tadpole. (A) Tadpole (stage 37) in lateral view; (B) in dorsal view; (C) in ventral view; (D) oral disc and (E) tadpole (stage 39) in life (ZUFMS-AMP08879).

Images: (A, B, C and E) H. Folly and (D) D.J. Santana.

 Figure 8: Habitat. (A) Habitat where the specimens was found; (B) Melastomataceae leaf; (C) Egg clutch with transparent jelly found on the leaf of the family plant Melastomataceae.
 Images: D.J. Santana.

Distribution: The new species is known only from its type locality (Fazenda Ventania, Área de Proteção Ambiental Ventania, Miracema municipality, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil).

Etymology: The specific name is a noun, honoring Lis Alves Pereira de Oliveira da Rocha and Bella Alves Pereira Custódio da Rocha, nieces of L.C.L. Rocha. Citizens of Miracema, and future representatives for nature conservancy in the region.


Elvis Almeida Pereira, Lucas Custódio Lomba Rocha, Henrique Folly, Hélio Ricardo da Silva​ and Diego José Santana​​. 2018.  A New Species of Spotted Leaf Frog, Genus Phasmahyla (Amphibia, Phyllomedusidae) from Southeast Brazil. PeerJ. 6:e4900.  DOI:  10.7717/peerj.4900

Saturday, March 10, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Sumaterana gen. n. • Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of A Taxonomically Unstable Ranid from Sumatra, Indonesia, reveals A New Genus with Gastromyzophorous Tadpoles and Two New Species


[a] Sumaterana crassiovis (Boulenger, 1920) 

[b] Sumaterana dabulescens  
 [c] S. montana
Arifin, Smart, Hertwig, Smith, Iskandar & Haas, 2018


Abstract

The presence of an adhesive abdominal sucker (gastromyzophory) allows tadpoles of certain species of anurans to live in fast-flowing streams. Gastromyzophorous tadpoles are rare among anurans, known only in certain American bufonids and Asian ranids. To date, Huia sumatrana, which inhabits cascading streams, has been the only Sumatran ranid known to possess gastromyzophorous tadpoles. In the absence of thorough sampling and molecular barcoding of adults and larvae, it has remained to be confirmed whether other Sumatran ranid species living in similar habitats, i.e., Chalcorana crassiovis, possesses this larval type. Moreover, the taxonomic status of this species has long been uncertain and its taxonomic position within the Ranidae, previously based exclusively on morphological characters, has remained unresolved. To study the diversity and relationships of these frogs and to establish the identity of newly collected gastromyzophorous tadpoles from Sumatra, we compared genetic sequences of C. crassiovis-like taxa from a wide range of sites on Sumatra. We conducted bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses on a concatenated dataset of mitochondrial (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and tRNAval) and nuclear (RAG1 and TYR) gene fragments. Our analyses recovered C. crassiovis to be related to Clinotarsus, Huia, and Meristogenys. The DNA barcodes of the gastromyzophorous tadpoles matched adults from the same sites. Herein, we provide a re-description of adult C. crassiovis and propose “C. kampeni” as a synonym of this species. The molecular evidence, morphological features, and distribution suggest the presence of two related new species. The two new species and C. crassiovis together represent a distinct phylogenetic clade possessing unique molecular and morphological synapomorphies, thus warranting a new genus.

Key Words: Clinotarsus, Huia, Meristogenys, Morphology, Molecular systematics, Ranidae, Species diversity, Taxonomy

Figure 2. Bayesian (on the right) and Maximum Likelihood (on the left) trees showing the phylogenetic relationship of the crassiovis-group. A, B, C are distinct lineages within crassiovis-group. Black circles represent well supported nodes (PP ≥ 0.95 and BS ≥ 70). Red branches represent relationship between Clinotarsus and Huia melasma. Tadpole sequences named with specimen number_Tad_locality (province). Adult sequences named with specimen number_locality (province). MZB.AMPH.29336 and ZMH.A14197 were collected from the type locality of C. kampeni and C. crassiovis, respectively.

Figure 3. Comparison of three lineages within Clade 1 based on the coloration of iris, the coloration of rear of thigh, and nuptial pad. Clade 1A (a–c), Clade 1B (c–d) and Clade 1C (g–i). Photographs were taken from ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat (a–c); ZMH.A14194, female, Provinsi Bengkulu (d–e); MZB.AMPH.23524, male, Provinsi Sumatera Utara (f); and MZB.AMPH.29396, male, Provinsi Aceh (g–i). Photos by U. Arifin.


Sumaterana gen. n.

Type species: Rana crassiovis Boulenger, 1920,
Syntypes: two adult females, BMNH1947.2.3.99 and BMNH1947.2.4.1.


Diagnosis: Sumaterana gen. n. belongs to a group of ranid torrent frogs, along with Huia and Meristogenys that possess gastromyzophorous larvae (Inger 1966, Inger and Gritis 1983, Inger 1986, Yang 1991). Sumaterana gen. n. species can be diagnosed by a combination of: (1) gastromyzophorous tadpole; (2) larval upper jaw sheaths thick, smooth, broadly arched, with thinner medial section; (3) lower jaw sheaths undivided, smooth, and V-shaped; (4) Labial Tooth Row Formula (LTRF): 8(5–9)/8(1) to 9(5–9)/9(1); (5) infraorbital and postorbital gland clusters present; (6) adult frogs medium sized (SVL males = 27.94–48.87 mm; females = 40.98–83.99 mm); (7) dorsum finely granulated, with or without scattered tubercles; (8) supratympanic fold present (skin fold above the tympanum, starting behind the eye); (9) posttympanic fold absent (vertical skin fold immediately posterior to tympanum); (10) dorsolateral fold absent or present; (11) tibia length 58.08–79.67% SVL; (12) outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (13) inner metatarsal tubercle present; (14) Finger I relatively shorter or subequal to Finger II; (15) width of finger discs larger or subequal to width of toe discs; (16) vocal sacs and nuptial pads present; (17) humeral gland absent.

Etymology: Sumaterana is a compound generic epithet created from the Indonesian proper noun Sumatera, the Indonesian name for the island of Sumatra, and rana, the feminin Latin word for frog. Sumatera itself is named after the kingdom of Samudra Pasai, which was located along the coast of Aceh, Sumatra from the 13th to the 16th centuries CE. Samudra is a sanskrit word that means gathering of the seas, a place where the Andaman, Java, and South China seas meet the Indian Ocean. Rana, was also the very first generic name to be assigned to a member of the S. crassiovis group, endemic to the island of Sumatra.

Common name: Sumatran Cascade Frogs (English) and
Katak Jeram Sumatra (Bahasa Indonesia).

Phylogenetic definition and content: Sumaterana gen. n. is a node-based genus that consists of three known species: Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n. (Fig. 2 Clade A, Fig. 5a), S. montana sp. n. (Fig. 2 Clade B, Fig. 5c), and S. dabulescens sp. n. (Fig. 2 Clade C, Fig. 5b), and their most recent common ancestor. Chalcorana kampeni is considered a junior synonym of S. crassiovis comb. n. based on Inger and Iskandar (2005) and the new molecular evidence. The monophyletic clade of Sumaterana gen. n. is restricted to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Our phylogenetic analyses and morphological examination supports these taxonomic recognitions (uncorrected p-distances in Suppl. materials 3).

Distribution and habitat: Species of Sumaterana gen. n. inhabit riparian habitats in primary or secondary forest in Sumatra, Indonesia. Inhabited streams are typically fast flowing, 5 m wide or less, dominated by big rocks (diameter > 1 m). The known elevational range is from 314–2033 m a.s.l.. Adult frogs of these genus usually perched on rocks or vegetation at the stream. Tadpoles of these frogs can be found in groups attached to the top or sides of rocks in fast moving water.



Figure 5. Sumaterana gen. n. species:
(a) Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n., ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat; (b) S. dabulescens sp. n., MZB.AMPH.29396, male, holotype, Provinsi Aceh; (c) S. montana sp. n., ZMH.A14194, female, paratype, Provinsi Bengkulu. Photos by U. Arifin. 

Figure 8. Morphological variation within Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n.
(a) MZB.AMPH.29196, female, Provinsi Aceh, (b) Provinsi Sumatera Utara, (c) MZB.AMPH.29200, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (d) ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat. Photos by U. Arifin, except for (b) by A. Irawan.

Figure 8. Morphological variation within Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n.
 (e) MZB.AMPH.29320, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (f) MZB.AMPH.29277, young male, Provinsi Bengkulu, (g) ZMH.A14151, male, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan, (h) ZMH.A14185 and MZB.AMPH.29296, male and female, Provinsi Lampung.

Photos by U. Arifin. 

Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n. 
Rana pantherina Van Kampen, 1910.
Rana crassiovis Boulenger, 1920.
Rana (Hyloranakampeni Boulenger, 1920.
Rana (Hyloranacrassiovis Boulenger, 1920.
Rana (Hylaranakampeni Van Kampen, 1923.
Rana (Hylaranacrassiovis Van Kampen, 1923.
Rana (Chalcoranakampeni Dubois, 1992.
Rana (Chalcoranacrassiovis Dubois, 1992.
Hydrophylax kampeni Frost et al., 2006.
Hydrophylax crassiovis Frost et al., 2006.
Hylarana kampeni Che et al., 2007.
Hylarana crassiovis Che et al., 2007.
Chalcorana kampeni Fei et al., 2010; Oliver et al., 2015.
Chalcorana crassiovis Fei eal., 2010; Oliver et al., 2015.

Common name: We propose Kerinci Cascade Frogs as the common English name (to replace the old spelling in “Korinchi Frog”, Iskandar and Mumpuni 2004) and Katak Jeram Kerinci as the Indonesian name.

Figure 8. Morphological variation within Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n.
(a) MZB.AMPH.29196, female, Provinsi Aceh, (b) Provinsi Sumatera Utara, (c) MZB.AMPH.29200, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (d) ZMH.A14197, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (e) MZB.AMPH.29320, male, Provinsi Sumatera Barat, (f) MZB.AMPH.29277, young male, Provinsi Bengkulu, (g) ZMH.A14151, male, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan, (h) ZMH.A14185 and MZB.AMPH.29296, male and female, Provinsi Lampung. Photos by U. Arifin, except for (b) by A. Irawan.



Sumaterana montana sp. n.

Diagnosis: (1) medium sized frog, SVL males (n = 10) 27.94–31.56 mm and females (n = 7) 50.11–63.37 mm; (2) dorsum skin finely granulated, color generally brown with scattered light spots; (3) tympanum distinct and translucent, slightly deep, supratympanic fold present, posttympanic fold absent; (4) dorsolateral fold present, thin, continuation of supratympanic fold to the level of pelvic joint, uninterrupted or broken; (5) venter smooth, white or yellowish; (6) tibia length 69.63–79.67% SVL; (7) Finger I 87.67–10.18% Finger II; (8) width of disc of Finger III 73.68–120.00% width of disc of Toe IV; (9) rear of thigh mottled; (10) approx. a quarter of the upper part of iris golden brown and the remaining iris with dense bright red stippling on black background; (11) webbing formula: I(0+―11/2)II(0+―2)III(0+―3+)IV(3-―0+)V; (12) outer metatarsal tubercle absent, inner metatarsal tubercle present; (13) males with paired vocal sacs, undivided nuptial pad, humeral gland absent.

Etymology: The specific epithet is the Latin adjective montana in allusion to the distribution of this species at high elevations of the Bukit Barisan mountain range of Sumatra.

Common name: We propose Mountain Cascade Frogs as common English name and Katak Jeram Gunung in Bahasa Indonesia.



Sumaterana dabulescens sp. n.

Diagnosis: (1) medium sized frog, SVL males (n = 27) 34.69–40.86 mm and females (n = 3) 48.03–66.60 mm; (2) dorsum finely granulated with scattered round, distinct tubercles; generally gray with dark gray spots on tubercles; (3) tympanum distinct and translucent (not transparent), supratympanic fold present, posttympanic fold absent; (4) dorsolateral fold absent; (5) venter smooth, granulated posteriorly, white; (6) tibia length 58.08–68.81% SVL; (7) Finger I 58.57–94.16 Finger II; (8) width of disc of Finger III 105.13–144.53% width of disc of Toe IV; (9) rear of thigh mottled; dark blotches on light background; (10) iris silver-gray with dark netting, slightly yellow to orange golden in the upper part; (11) all toes fully webbed to base of discs (I(1+/-―1+/-)II(1+/-―1+/-)III(1+/-―1+/-)IV(1+/-―1+/-)V); (12) outer metatarsal tubercle absent, inner metatarsal tubercle present; (13) males with paired vocal sacs, divided nuptial pad, humeral gland absent.


Etymology: The species epithet dabulescens is an artificial construct of “dabul”, “gray” in Gayo language, combined with the Latin ending “-escense”, here in the sense of “tending to be”, in allusion to the gray appearance of this species. The Gayo are a local tribe in the Aceh region of Sumatra and after which the Gayo highlands have been named.

Common name: We propose Gayo Cascade Frogs as the English common name and Katak Jeram Gayo as name in Bahasa Indonesia.

Figure 10. (a–b) Typical cascading stream habitat of Sumaterana crassiovis comb. n. at Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser, Provinsi Aceh. Sumaterana dabulescens sp. n. inhabits similar stream habitats. (c) Specimen of S. dabulescens sp. n. on a rock near a small cascade in its natural habitat at Taman Buru Linge Isaq, Provinsi Aceh. Photos by U. Arifin.


 Umilaela Arifin, Utpal Smart, Stefan T. Hertwig, Eric N. Smith, Djoko T. Iskandar and Alexander Haas. 2018. Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of A Taxonomically Unstable Ranid from Sumatra, Indonesia, reveals A New Genus with Gastromyzophorous Tadpoles and Two New Species. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 94(1): 163-193. DOI:  10.3897/zse.94.22120

Abstrak: Pada beberapa jenis katak tertentu yang hidup di sungai berarus deras, di bagian abdomen berudunya terdapat semacam alat perekat sebagai mekanisme adaptasi pada kondisi habitat tempat tinggalnya. Tipe berudu seperti ini dikenal dengan nama gastromyzophorous dan sangat jarang ditemukan, hanya diketahui pada beberapa jenis bufonid di Amerika dan katak ranid di Asia. Hingga saat ini, hanya Huia sumatrana, dengan habitat sungai berarus deras, yang diketahui memiliki tipe berudu seperti ini di Sumatra. Tanpa survey menyeluruh dan tanpa DNA barcoding untuk katak dewasa dan kecebong, dugaan mengenai keberadaan katak jenis lain dengan tipe berudu serupa di pulau ini, misalnya Chalcorana crassiovis, masih harus dibuktikan. Di sisi lain, status taksonomi jenis ini hingga kini masih belum dapat dipastikan, dan posisi taksonominya dalam famili Ranidae hanya berdasarkan karakter morfologi saja. Oleh karena itu, untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman dan hubungan kekerabatan dari katak-katak jenis tersebut, serta untuk memastikan identitas koleksi berudu gastromyzophorous dari Sumatra, kami membandingkan data genetik dari semua taxa yang mirip dengan C. crassiovis dari berbagai lokasi di Sumatra. Kami merekonstruksi pohon filogeni dengan menganalisis sekuens DNA dari gabungan fragmen gen mitokondria (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, dan tRNAval) dan gen inti (RAG1 dan TYR) menggunakan metode Bayesian dan Maximum Likelihood. Hasil penelitian kami membuktikan bahwa C. crassiovis berkerabat dekat dengan Clinotarsus, Huia, dan Meristogenys. Sekuens DNA dari berudu gastromyzophorous memiliki kecocokan dengan sekuens DNA katak dewasa dari lokasi yang sama. Dalam paper ini, kami menyajikan deskripsi ulang untuk C. crassiovis dan menyarankan agar “C. kampeni” menjadi junior synonym dari C. crassiovis. Bukti molekuler, karakter morfologi, dan kisaran distribusi menunjukkan bahwa terdapat dua jenis baru yang berkerabat dengan C. crassiovis. Ketiganya menunjukkan perbedaan filogenetik yang signifikan, yang dibuktikan dengan adanya synapomorphy pada karakter molekuler dan morfologi yang unik. Oleh sebab itu dibentuk genus baru untuk ketiga jenis ini.

Kata Kunci: Clinotarsus, Huia, Meristogenys Morfologi, Molekular sistematik, Keanekaragaman spesies, Taksonomi

Thursday, March 1, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Leptolalax rowleyae • A New Species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from Son Tra Peninsula, central Vietnam


Leptolalax rowleyae
Nguyen, Poyarkov, Le, Vo, Phan, Duong, Murphy & Nguyen, 2018

    DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4388.1.1 

Abstract

Morphological, acoustic and molecular analyses result in the description of Leptolalax rowleyae sp. nov., a new species of frog in the Megophryidae, belonging to the L. applebyi Rowley & Cao species group from central Vietnam. It differs from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) adult SVL 23.4–25.4 mm in males and 27–27.8 mm in females; (2) presence of distinct dark/brown dorsolateral markings, including black spots on flanks; (3) pinkish milk-white to light brown chest and belly with numerous white speckles; (4) tympanum distinct; (5) absence of webbing or lateral dermal fringes on fingers and toes; (6) pectoral glands comparatively small (3.3–4.7% of SVL); (7) ventrolateral glands indistinct; and (8) iris bicolored with copper tint in upper half fading to golden in lower third of iris. The male advertisement call of the new species consists of 4–6 notes, lacking a distinct introductory note, with an average dominant frequency of 3.2–3.5 kHz. The description of the tadpole constitutes the first description of larval morphology for a member of the L. appleybi species group. Genetically, an uncorrected sequence divergence of 7.4% for 16S rRNA separates the new species from its two closest relatives, L. ardens and L. melicus in the L. applebyi species group.

Keywords: Amphibia, Acoustics, Leptolalax applebyi species group, tadpole morphology, Son Tra Nature Reserve








Luan Thanh Nguyen, Nikolay A. Jr. Poyarkov, Dzung Trung Le, Ba Dinh Vo, Hoa Thi Phan, Tang Van Duong, Robert W. Murphy and Sang Ngoc Nguyen. 2018. A New Species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from Son Tra Peninsula, central Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 4388(1); 1–21. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4388.1.1


Tuesday, February 27, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Siamophryne troglodytes | อึ่งถ้ำตะนาวศรี • A Striking New Genus and Species of Cave-dwelling Frog (Anura: Microhylidae: Asterophryinae) from Thailand


Siamophryne troglodytes
Suwannapoom, Sumontha, Tunprasert, Ruangsuwan, Pawangkhanant, Korost & Poyarkov, 2018

Tenasserim Cave Frog  • อึ่งถ้ำตะนาวศรี   |   DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4422 

Abstract

We report on a discovery of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov., a new troglophilous genus and species of microhylid frog from a limestone cave in the tropical forests of western Thailand. To assess its phylogenetic relationships we studied the 12S rRNA–16S rRNA mtDNA fragment with final alignment comprising up to 2,591 bp for 56 microhylid species. Morphological characterization of the new genus is based on examination of external morphology and analysis of osteological characteristics using microCT-scanning. Phylogenetic analyses place the new genus into the mainly Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae as a sister taxon to the genus Gastrophrynoides, the only member of the subfamily known from Sundaland. The new genus markedly differs from all other Asterophryinae members by a number of diagnostic morphological characters and demonstrates significant mtDNA sequence divergence. We provide a preliminary description of a tadpole of the new genus. Thus, it represents the only asterophryine taxon with documented free-living larval stage and troglophilous life style. Our work demonstrates that S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. represents an old lineage of the initial radiation of Asterophryinae which took place in the mainland Southeast Asia. Our results strongly support the “out of Indo-Eurasia” biogeographic scenario for this group of frogs. To date, the new frog is only known from a single limestone cave system in Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi Province of Thailand; its habitat is affected by illegal bat guano mining and other human activities. As such, S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. is likely to be at high risk of habitat loss. Considering high ecological specialization and a small known range of the new taxon, we propose a IUCN Red List status of endangered for it.

Keywords: Kanchanaburi Province, Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov., Tadpole, Troglophilous life style, Tenasserim, Sundaland, mtDNA, Biogeography, microCT-scanning


Taxonomy
Based upon the results of phylogenetic analyses of 12S rRNA–16S rRNA mtDNA fragment sequences, the Microhylidae frog from Kanchanaburi Province represents a previously unknown highly divergent mtDNA lineage, clearly distinct from all other members of Microhylidae for which comparable genetic data were available. This lineage falls into the Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae and with high values of node support is reconstructed as a sister group to the genus Gastrophrynoides that inhabits Borneo and the Peninsular Malaysia. Subsequent analyses of osteology and external morphology (see below) clearly indicate that the recently discovered population of Microhylidae Gen. sp. from Kanchanaburi Province represents a new previously undescribed genus and species which we describe herein as:

Amphibia Linnaeus, 1758
Anura Fischer von Waldheim, 1813

Microhylidae Günther, 1858
Asterophryinae Günther, 1858



Figure 5: Male paratype of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. (ZMMU A-5818) in life in dorsolateral aspect. Photo by N. A. Poyarkov.

Siamophryne Gen. nov.

Diagnosis: A medium-sized (19 mm < SVL < 30 mm) member of the Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae (family Microhylidae), with the following combination of morphological attributes: (1) both maxillae and dentaries eleutherognathine, no maxillary teeth; (2) vertebral column procoelous with eight presacral vertebrae (PSV) lacking neural crests; (3) no sagittal crest on cranium; (4) frontoparietals conjoined, connected by long suture; (5) nasals wide, calcified, but not contacting each other medially; (6) vomeropalatines small, not expanded, vomerine spikes absent; (7) cultriform process of parasphenoid comparatively narrow; (8) clavicles present as slender tiny bones, lying on the procoracoid cartilage not reaching scapula or the midline; (9) omosternum absent; (10) sternum large, anterior portion consists of calcified cartilage, xiphisternum cartilaginous; (11) weak dorsal crest present on urostyle, absent on ilium; (12) terminal phalanges large T-shaped; (13) all fingers and toe discs with terminal grooves; (14) subarticular tubercles weak, discernible only at digit basis; (15) toe webbing absent; (16) tympanum distinct; (17) two transverse smooth palatal folds; (18) pupil round; (19) snout rounded, equal to EL; (20) development with a larval stage, tadpole with peculiar dorso-ventrally compressed morphology.

Type species. Siamophryne troglodytes sp. nov.
Other included species. None are known at present.

Distribution: To date, S. troglodytes sp. nov. is only known from a small cave system in a karst region of Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand (see below the description of the species) (see Fig. 1).

Etymology: The generic nomen Siamophryne is derived from “Siam”—the old name of present-day Thailand; referring to the range of the new genus, which to date is only known from western Thailand; and the Greek noun “phryne” (φρÚνη; feminine gender), meaning “toad” in English; this root is often used in the generic names in Asterophryinae microhylid frogs. Gender of the new genus is feminine.

Figure 10: Breeding habitat of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. at the type locality—Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand.  (A) Entrance to the limestone cave where the frogs were recorded; (B) female in situ sitting on the limestone wall of the cave; (C) male in situ sitting in a water-filled crevice; (D) female in situ on the wall of the cave (photos by M. Sumontha);  

  

Figure 10: Breeding habitat of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. at the type locality—Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand.
 (A) Entrance to the limestone cave where the frogs were recorded; (B) female in situ sitting on the limestone wall of the cave; (C) male in situ sitting in a water-filled crevice; (D) female in situ on the wall of the cave (photos by M. Sumontha); (E, F) tadpole in situ in a water-filled crevice (photos by T. Ruangsuwan).


Figure 8: Tadpole of  Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. in life (AUP-00509; Gosner stage 36).
 (A) In dorsal and (B) in ventral aspects. Scale bar equals to 5 mm. Photos by N. A. Poyarkov. Tadpole of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. in preservative (AUP-00509; Gosner stage 36). 

Figure 9: Tadpole of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. in preservative (AUP-00509; Gosner stage 36). (A) In lateral, (B) in dorsal, and (C) in ventral views. Scale bar equals to 5 mm. Photos by T. Ruangsuwan.

Figure 10: Breeding habitat of Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. at the type locality—Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, northern Tenasserim Region, western Thailand.
 
 (C) male in situ sitting in a water-filled crevice; (D) female in situ on the wall of the cave (photos by M. Sumontha); (E, F) tadpole in situ in a water-filled crevice (photos by T. Ruangsuwan).

Siamophryne troglodytes sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific name “troglodytes” is a Latin adjective in the nominative singular meaning “cave-dweller”, derived from the Greek “τρωγλoδύτης”, with “trogle” meaning “holemouse-hole” and “dyein” meaning “go indive in”; referring to the troglophilous biology of the new species, which was recorded only in a limestone karst cave system.

Suggested common names: We recommend the following common names for the new species: “Tenasserim Cave Frog” (English); “อึ่งถ้ำตะนาวศรี - Eung Tham Tenasserim” (Thai).

Natural history notes:  
Siamophryne troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. has a troglophilous life style and to date is only known from a small limestone cave system in western Thailand. All specimens were collected within a narrow area inside a limestone cave located on elevation 440 m a.s.l. in a polydominant tropical forest in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand (Fig. 10A). The cave was examined twice on the 1st of August and the 27th of October, 2016. In both cases, adult specimens of S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. were only recorded inside the cave, at a distance of more than 25 m from the entrance, sitting on walls of the cave (Figs. 10B and 10D) or hiding inside small caverns in limestone (Fig. 10C) or under flat stones. Despite the thorough search, no animals were recorded near the cave entrance or in the forest close to the cave. Animals were active from 23:00 to 24:00, when the air temperature inside the cave was 28 °C in August and 26 °C in October, in both cases with 100% humidity. No calling activity was recorded during both surveys. Diet and enemies of the new frog are unknown.

Three tadpoles (one of which was collected) were observed during the survey on the 1st of August, 2016, in a small water-filled cavity in the limestone on the floor of the cave, ca. 10 m from the cave entrance (Figs. 10E and 10F). The cavity was filled with water, the average depth was 4–5 cm; mosquito larvae (Chironomidae) were also observed in the same water body. Four other tadpoles (not collected) were discovered in another similar water-filled cavity inside the cave (30 m from the cave entrance).

The cave system where S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. was discovered is inhabited by several species of bats which produce significant amount of guano that accumulates on the cave floor. According to a local guide, the locals mine this guano and that affects the ecosystem of the cave.

Distribution: As for the genus. At present, S. troglodytes Gen. et sp. nov. is known from a single limestone karst cave in Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi Province in western Thailand. To date, numerous surveys in the nearby karst massifs have not yielded discoveries of additional populations of the new species. However, further fieldwork in Kanchanaburi Province of Thailand and the adjacent parts of Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar are required.


Conclusion: 
Siamophryne troglodytes, a new genus and species of microhylid frogs from western Thailand, belongs to the subfamily Asterophryinae, which is most diverse in Australasia. Siamophryne and its sister genus Gastrophrynoides are the only two asterophryine lineages found in the areas derived from the Eurasian landmass. Our work demonstrates that S. troglodytes represents an old lineage of the initial radiation of Asterophryinae which took place in the mainland Southeast Asia. Our results strongly support the “out of Indo-Eurasia” biogeographic scenario for this group of frogs. To date, the new frog is the only known asterophryine with a free-living tadpole and troglophilous life style. Further studies might reveal new members of Asterophryinae in the mainland Southeast Asia.


 Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Montri Sumontha, Jitthep Tunprasert, Thiti Ruangsuwan, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Dmitriy V. Korost and Nikolay A. Poyarkov. 2018. A Striking New Genus and Species of Cave-dwelling Frog (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae: Asterophryinae) from Thailand.  PeerJ. 6:e4422.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4422

           

Monday, February 12, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Scinax ruberoculatus • A New Species of Amazonian Snouted Treefrog (Hylidae: Scinax) with Description of A Novel Species-habitat Association for An Aquatic Breeding Frog


Scinax ruberoculatus 
Ferrão​, de Fraga, Moravec, Kaefer & Lima, 2018 


Abstract
The genus Scinax is one of the most specious genera of treefrogs of the family Hylidae. Despite the high number of potential new species of Scinax revealed in recent studies, the rate of species descriptions for Amazonia has been low in the last decade. A potential cause of this low rate may be the existence of morphologically cryptic species. Describing new species may not only impact the taxonomy and systematics of a group of organisms but also benefit other fields of biology. Ecological studies conducted in megadiverse regions, such as Amazonia, often meet challenging questions concerning insufficient knowledge of organismal alpha taxonomy. Due to that, detecting species-habitat associations is dependent on our ability to properly identify species. In this study, we first provide a description of a new species (including its tadpoles) of the genus Scinax distributed along heterogeneous landscapes in southern Amazonia; and secondly assess the influence of environmental heterogeneity on the new species’ abundance and distribution. Scinax ruberoculatus sp. nov. differs from all nominal congeners by its small size (SVL 22.6–25.9 mm in males and 25.4–27.5 mm in females), by having a dark brown spot on the head and scapular region shaped mainly like the moth Copiopteryx semiramis (or a human molar in lateral view, or a triangle), bicolored reddish and grey iris, snout truncate in dorsal view, bilobate vocal sac in males, by its advertisement call consisting of a single pulsed note with duration of 0.134–0.331 s, 10–23 pulses per note, and dominant frequency 1,809–1,895 Hz. Both occurrence and abundance of the new species are significantly influenced by silt content in the soil. This finding brings the first evidence that edaphic factors influence species-habitat association in Amazonian aquatic breeding frogs.




Figure 6: Variation in the colouration of living specimens of the paratypes of Scinax ruberoculatus sp. nov.
(A) INPA-H 34607, female, SVL 25.4 mm. (B) INPA-H 34602, male, SVL 22.6 mm. (C) INPA-H 34603, male, SVL 23.3 mm. (D) INPA-H 34604, male, SVL 25.8 mm. (E) INPA-H 34623, male, SVL 23.9 mm. (F) INPA-H 34602, male, SVL 22.6 mm. Photos: AP Lima (B, F) and R Fraga (A, C, D, E).

Scinax ruberoculatus sp. nov.
Scinax sp. 7 Ferrão et al. (2016), p. 7, 9, Figs. 2–3.

Diagnosis. A small species of the genus Scinax characterized by the following combination of characteristics: SVL 22.6–25.9 mm in males and 25.4–27.5 mm in females; snout truncate in dorsal view and rounded in lateral view; tarsal tubercles indistinct; tubercles on the lower jaw, knee, and heel absent; diameter of disc on fourth finger represents 60% of tympanum diameter; skin on dorsum smooth; dentigerous processes of vomers triangular; bilobate vocal sac and nuptial pads in males; Finger III<V; in life, ground colour of dorsum light grey or light brown; a large brown or grey spot on the head and scapular region shaped like the moth of the species Copiopteryx semiramis (Cramer, 1775), or a human molar in lateral view, or a triangle; dorsal or dorsolateral stripes absent; whitish cream stripe in the lower portion of the flanks; anterior and posterior surfaces of thighs brown; webbing between toes light to dark grey; belly white to greyish-white with light brown to brown blotches laterally; males with vocal sac semi-translucent white; iris bicolored, upper half reddish, lower half grey; advertisement call consisting of a single pulsed note, with note duration of 0.134–0.331 s, 10–23 pulses/note, dominant frequency 1809–1895 Hz; tadpoles with labial teeth formula 2 (2)/3, absence of labial arm, and presence of dark brown blotch on the distal part of the tail.

.....

Etymology. The specific epithet ruberoculatus is composed of two words in Latin, “ruber” (red) and “oculatus” (having eyes). The name is an adjective in concordance with the masculine gender of the genus Scinax and refers to the reddish colour of the upper part of the iris. 
Suggested English common name: ‘Red-eyed Snouted Treefrog’.

Notes on the natural history. Individuals of Scinax ruberoculatus sp. nov. were observed mainly in primary and old-growth secondary lowland rainforests (39–68 m a.s.l.) where they occupied edge situations. Its breeding season was correlated with the rainy season in the northern PMRI (November–March). Active males vocalized while sitting on the vegetation in horizontal position 1–2 m above the ground around temporary ponds. The number of calling males was higher on rainy nights. In two large temporary ponds (>25 m2) males of S. ruberoculatus sp. nov. shared calling sites with Dendropsophus minutus (Peters, 1872), D. rhodopeplus (Günther, 1858), D. sarayacuensis (Shreve, 1935), and Scinax sp. 1 (sensu Ferrão et al., 2016). Only males of S. ruberoculatus sp. nov. were found in small temporary ponds (<4 m2). During the day, inactive individuals were observed between leaves of palm trees.


Miquéias Ferrão​, Rafael de Fraga, Jiří Moravec, Igor L. Kaefer and Albertina P. Lima. 2018. A New Species of Amazonian Snouted Treefrog (Hylidae: Scinax) with Description of A Novel Species-habitat Association for An Aquatic Breeding Frog. PeerJ. 6:e4321.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4321