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| Amolops siju Saikia, Sinha, Shabnam & Dinesh, 2023 |
Abstract
Seventeen nominal species of the ranid frog genus Amolops, some of which are based on unverified historical records, are reported from India. Herein, we describe a new species of Amolops of the marmoratus group from a cave ecosystem. This is an uncommon habitat for this group of frogs, which is commonly found around cascades. The Siju Cave, from which four specimens of the new species were collected is a natural limestone cave located in the South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, Northeast India. The new species is separated from other congeners based on morphological and genetic differences and is also geographically isolated from it's sister species.
Keywords: Amolops siju sp. nov., cryptic species, Garo Hills, Siju Cave, subterranean frog
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| Siju Cave entrance photographed from the inside. |
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| The cave entrance and interiors of Siju and the Do·bak Khol stream. |
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| Field photo (in situ) of a female paratype (V/A/NERC/ZSI/1856) of Amolops siju sp. nov. |
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| Field photo (in situ) of the holotype (V/A/NERC/ZSI/1620) of Amolops siju sp. nov. |
Amolops siju sp. nov.
Siju Cascade Frog
Diagnosis
Amolops siju sp. nov. is a member of the marmoratus
species group isolated in geographical space from its
phylogenetic sister species and having a distinct set of
morphological characters. The new species can be
diagnosed based on the following set of morphological
characters: adult male size large (SVL 63.4 mm), adult
female size very large (SVL 84.5–94.4 mm); head wider
than long (HW > HL); snout rounded, longer than eye
length (SL > EL); inter-orbital distance less than both
upper eyelid width and inter-narial distance (IUE < UEW
< IN); tympanum distinct and very small, less than 20%
of eye length; fingers with circum-marginal grooves; tibia
slightly longer than femur and foot (TiL > ShL > FOL),
roughly 2/3rd of SVL; tibio-tarsal articulation reaches
slightly beyond snout; supra-tympanic fold visible;
dorsum smooth, lateral side with scattered warts.
Etymology
The species epithet is a toponym derived from the type
locality. The name ‘Siju’ is treated as noun in apposition.
Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha, A. Shabnam and K. P. Dinesh. 2023. Description of A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from A Cave Ecosystem in Meghalaya, Northeast India. Journal of Animal Diversity. 5(1); DOI: 10.52547/JAD.2023.5.1.2