Tuesday, November 5, 2019

[Herpetology • 2019] Polypedates bengalensis • A New Species of Polypedates Tschudi, 1838 (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from West Bengal State, Eastern India


Polypedates bengalensis  
Purkayastha, Das, Mondal, Mitra, Chaudhuri & Das, 2019

‘Brown Blotched Bengal Tree Frog’ || DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4691.5.6 
 ‘Khoyeri Daag Gecho Bang’ ||  facebook.com/MailJayaditya

Abstract
A new species of frog belonging to the genus Polypedates Tschudi is described from the state of West Bengal, Eastern India. A mid-sized frog, SVL ranges from 47.9–53.6 mm in males and 72.0 mm in the single female. The species is diagnosable in showing the following suite of characters: digits lack webbing, inner and outer metacarpal tubercles present; no dermal fold on forearm; toes webbed, webbing formula I1–1 II0.5–2III1–2IV2–0.5V; an inner metatarsal tubercle present; tibio-tarsal articulation reaches between eye and nostril; and skin on forehead co-ossified to cranium. Additionally, males possess paired vocal sacs. The new species is compared with known species of the genus Polypedates.

Keywords: Amphibia, West Bengal, India, Polypedates, new species, 16s rRNA

FIGURE 2. Holotype of Polypedates bengalensis sp. nov. (V/A/NERC/1448) from 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India.

Polypedates bengalensis sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet bengalensis is proposed, referring on to the type locality of the species located in the West Bengal State of India. 
Suggested vernacular name. The vernacular names suggested for the new species are ‘Khoyeri Daag Gecho Bang’ and ‘Brown Blotched Bengal Tree Frog’, in Bengali and English, respectively. 


Jayaditya Purkayastha, Madhurima Das, Kingshuk Mondal, Shibajee Mitra, Anirban Chaudhuri and Indraneil Das. 2019. A New Species of Polypedates Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from West Bengal State, Eastern India. Zootaxa. 4691(5); 525–540. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4691.5.6


Researchers discover new frog species in West Bengal | India News, The Indian Express indianexpress.com/article/india/researchers-discover-new-frog-species-in-bengal-6102971/ via @IndianExpress