Friday, July 13, 2018

[Herpetology • 2018] Megophrys lancip • A Megophrys Kuhl and Van Hasselt (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from southwestern Sumatra, Indonesia


Megophrys lancip 
 Munir, Hamidy, Farajallah & Smith, 2018 


Abstract
Megophrys lancip sp. nov., from the Bukit Barisan mountain range of southwestern Sumatra, Indonesia, is described on the basis of molecular and morphological evidence. The new species is distinguished from its congeners in Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Philippines by having a medium-sized body, snout with an extremely pointed rostral appendage, a medium-sized triangular eyelid appendage, a dorsolateral fold extending from just behind the eye to the groin, vomerine teeth, vocal slits, nuptial pads on the dorsomedial surface of the first and second fingers in males, and in lacking a Y, X, or H-shaped fold on the dorsum. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to M. montana, but it has a longer rostral appendage, shorter eyelid appendages, and less developed toe webbing. We also evaluate the taxonomic status of M. parallela and comment on the occurrence of M. aceras in Sumatra.

Keywords: Amphibia, Megophrys lancip, new species, Sundaland

FIGURE 3. Holotype of Megophrys lancip sp. nov. in life (adult male; MZB Amph 22233), dorsolateral view.
Photos by E. N. Smith.

Megophrys lancip sp. nov.

Etymology. The species name lancip is the Indonesian word for “pointed”, used as an adjective, and reflects the extremely pointed rostral appendage of the new species.

Suggested English common name. Pointed Horned Frog.
Suggested Indonesian common name. Katak-tanduk lancip.

Distribution and Natural History. The new species is known from the provinces of Lampung and Bengkulu in southwestern Sumatra. Larval, acoustic and other ecological data are unknown. The holotype was collected from a coffee plantation near the edge of secondary forest..... This new species of Megophrys can be found sympatrically with M. nasuta in Kubu Prahu, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. Habitat loss and exploitation for the pet trade are likely be the main threats for the new species.


Misbahul Munir, Amir Hamidy, Achmad Farajallah and Eric N. Smith. 2018.  A New Megophrys Kuhl and Van Hasselt (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from southwestern Sumatra, Indonesia. Zootaxa. 4442(3); 389–412. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4442.3.3