Sunday, July 10, 2016

[Herpetology • 2015] Taxonomic Reassessment of the Arboreal Toad Genus Pedostibes Günther 1876 (Anura: Bufonidae) and Some Allied Oriental Bufonid Genera


FIG. 3.— Dorsal aspect of the bodies of five species of arboreal toads collected from southern and Southeast Asia:
(A) holotype of Rentapia hosii BMNH 1947.2.19.29; (B) holotype of R. everetti BMNH 1947.2.18.27; (C) holotype of Rentapia rugosa (junior synonym of R. everetti) FMNH 81297; (D) a syntype of Pedostibes tuberculosus BMNH 1947.2.22.70; (E) a voucher specimen of Bufoides meghalayanus (WII uncatalogued); and (F) a syntype of Nectophryne kempi (ZSI 18481A).
In each panel, bar 5 5 mm. 
Chandramouli & Amarasinghe. 2016.  DOI 10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-15-00053

Abstract 
We reassessed the taxonomic status of an Asian genus of arboreal bufonids, Pedostibes, based on examination of preserved material of the two species currently attributed to this genus. Analysis of their morphological, morphometric, and geographic distribution data revealed that Pedostibes tuberculosus, the type species of this genus from the Western Ghats, southwestern India, is morphologically distinct from the geographically separated member, P. kempi, which is distributed in northeastern India. Hence, the generic nomen Pedostibes is restricted to the type species, rendering it a monotypic genus from the Western Ghats of peninsular India. A re-examination and detailed comparisons of the types of P. kempi with other bufonid genera revealed morphological similarities with another geographically proximate toad, Bufoides meghalayanus, from northeastern India. Hence, this taxon is formally transferred herein to Bufoides with a redescription. The composition of the recently described Southeast Asian toad genus Rentapia is reevaluated and the name-bearing type specimens of the currently ascribed taxa are redescribed. A detailed examination of the types of Rentapia everetti and R. rugosa revealed morphological congruence coupled with geographic sympatry. Hence, the latter nomen is synonymized with R. everetti in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature principle of priority.

 Keywords: Arboreal anuran, Morphometric analyses, Northeastern India, Western Ghats




S.R. Chandramouli and A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe. 2016. Taxonomic Reassessment of the Arboreal Toad Genus Pedostibes Günther 1876 (Anura: Bufonidae) and Some Allied Oriental Bufonid Genera.
 Herpetologica. 72(2): 137-147.  DOI 10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-15-00053

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