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Bufoides kempi (Boulenger, 1919) Bufoides meghalayanus (Yazdani & Chanda, 1971) in Naveen, Chandramouli, Kadam, ... et Parthasarathy, 2022. photos: S.R. Chandramouli & R.S. Naveen. |
Abstract
Bufoides kempi (Boulenger, 1919) known only from the two historical syntype specimens until now was rediscovered after more than a century from near its type locality in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya, northeastern India. Analysis of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene reveals congenericity between B. kempi and B. meghalayanus with an inter-specific genetic divergence of 4.67%. Description of B. kempi is expanded based on the six male and two female specimens collected during this study. We provide the first description of calls for this genus, notes on their breeding biology and larval morphology. Additional specimens of B. meghalayanus collected during this study are described to supplement its characterization.
Keywords: Amphibians, breeding biology, calls, Garo Hills, Khasi Hills, larval morphology, new records, syntype specimens.
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| Bufoides kempi (male―left & middle and female―right) in life from Eman Asakge, Garo Hills. left and middle: S.R. Chandramouli, right: R.S. Naveen. |
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| Axillary amplexus between one female and three males of Bufoides kempi observed in a phytotelmata at Eman Asakgre, Garo Hills. photo: R.S. Naveen |
Bufoides kempi (Boulenger, 1919)
Nectophrryne kempi Boulenger, 1919
Pedostibes kempi – Barbour, 1938
Bufoides kempi – Chandramouli & Amarasinghe, 2016
Syntypes: Two specimens; an adult (29.8 mm SVL) and a subadult (17.4 mm) (ZSI 18481 a&b, respectively)
Diagnosis: (after Chandramouli & Amarasinghe 2016)
A semi-arboreal to rupicolous Bufoides from the Garo Hills diagnosed by: small to medium body size (SVL 24.1–32.36 mm); presence of irregular, non-keratinized cranial ridges (pre and post orbital); short, ovoid parotoid glands; absence of an externally visible tympanum; moderate degree of webbing between toes (two phalanges of toe IV free); partial webbing between fingers, and the presence of small, slightly dilated, rounded terminal digital discs at the tips of both fingers and toes. Dorsum black with mossy green shade along the flanks in males, females predominantly green with black reticulations; a pale white venter; eggs partially pigmented and laid in strings within water-filled tree holes (phytotelmata).
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| Adult male Bufoides meghalayanus in life (dorsal and ventral views). photos: S.R. Chandramouli. |
Bufoides meghalayanus (Yazdani & Chanda, 1971)
Ansonia meghalayana Yazdani & Chanda, 1971
Holotype: ZSIC A 6969, an adult from Mawblang, Cherrapunji, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.
Diagnosis and comparison: A semi-arboreal to rupicolous Bufoides from the Khasi Hills diagnosed by: small–medium body size (SVL 31. –33.5 mm); presence of irregular, non-keratinized cranial ridges (pre and post orbital); short, elongated parotoid glands (vs. ovoid in B. kempi); absence of an externally visible tympanum; well-developed webbing between toes, with only half a phalange free of webbing on toe IV (vs. relatively poor, with two phalanges free of webbing on toe IV in B. kempi); partial, but better developed webbing between fingers than B. kempi and the presence of small, slightly dilated, rounded terminal digital discs at the tips of both fingers and toes. Dorsum black with mossy green along the flanks in males, females predominantly green with black reticulations; a dark grey venter with small white spots (vs. pale white in B. kempi).
R.S. Naveen, S.R. Chandramouli, Gautam Kadam, S. Babu, P.V. Karunakaran, H.N. Kumara and N. Parthasarathy. 2022. Systematics of the Enigmatic and Narrowly Endemic Toad Genus Bufoides Pillai & Yazdani, 1973: Rediscovery of Bufoides kempi (Boulenger, 1919) and expanded Description of Bufoides meghalayanus (Yazdani & Chanda, 1971) (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) with Notes on Natural History and Distribution. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 14(12); 22277-22292. DOI: 10.11609/jott.8040.14.12.22277-22292
