 |
| Limnonectes sirindhornae Rujirawan, Yodthong & Aowphol, in Rujirawan, Yodthong, Wanchai, Stuart et Aowphol, 2025. Tropical Natural History. Supplement 8; |
Abstract
We describe a new species of dicroglossid frog in the genus Limnonectes from the Phu Phan Mountain Range, Sakon Nakhon Province, northeastern Thailand. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene, revealed that Limnonectes sirindhornae Rujirawan, Yodthong & Aowphol, sp. nov. is closely related to L. lauhachindai but has mean uncorrected pairwise genetic divergences of 4.25%. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the combination of SVL 36.7–44.7 mm (n = 8) in adult males, 40.2–45.6 mm (n = 8) in adult females; adult males with hypertrophied heads; adult males with interorbital caruncle weakly developed, low-profiled, U-shaped, without free posterior margin; two enlarged odontoid processes on anterior margin of lower jaw, larger in males than in females; vocal sac opening in males absent; and yellowish coloration in life on ventral surfaces absent.
Keywords: phylogeny, morphology, fanged frog, Indochina, Khorat Plateau
 |
| Paratypes of Limnonectes sirindhornae sp. nov. in life. A. adult males B. adult females. |
Limnonectes sirindhornae Rujirawan, Yodthong & Aowphol, sp. nov.
Diagnosis.– Limnonectes sirindhornae sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Limnonectesbased on its phylo-genetic relationship (Fig. 2), the presence of fang-like odontoid processes on the lower jaw (Emerson et al., 2000; Lambertz et al., 2014), and adult males with hypertrophied heads (Lambertz et al., 2014). The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: SVL 36.7–44.7 mm (40.8 ± 3.0; n = 8) in adult males, 40.2–45.6 mm (42.7 ± 2.2; n = 8) in adult females; adult males with hypertrophied heads; adult males with interorbital caruncle weakly developed, low-profiled, U-shaped, without free posterior margin; two enlarged odontoid processes on anterior margin of lower jaw, larger in males than in female; vocal sac opening in males absent; and yellowish coloration in life on ventral surfaces absent.
Etymology.–The specific epithet is a matronym in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, recognizing her significant contributions to the conservation of Thailand's biodiversity and environment.
Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Pratyaporn Wanchai, Bryan L. Stuart and Anchalee Aowphol. 2025. A New Caruncle-bearing Limnonectes (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the Phu Phan Mountain Range in Northeastern Thailand. Tropical Natural History. Supplement 8; 258-275
