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Description of a New Frog Species of Gephyromantis (Subgenus Laurentomantis) with Tibial Glands from Madagascar

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Description of a New Frog Species of Gephyromantis (Subgenus Laurentomantis) with Tibial Glands from Madagascar ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München/Verlag Friedrich Pfeil; download www.pfeil-verlag.de SPIXIANA 34 1 121-127 München, September 2011 ISSN 0341-8391 Description of a new frog species of Gephyromantis (subgenus Laurentomantis) with tibial glands from Madagascar (Amphibia, Mantellidae) Frank Glaw & Miguel Vences Glaw, F. & Vences, M. 2011. Description of a new frog species of Gephyromantis (subgenus Laurentomantis) with tibial glands from Madagascar (Amphibia, Mantel- lidae). Spixiana 34 (1): 121-127. We describe a new species of frog from Madagascar, assigned to the subgenus Laurentomantis in the genus Gephyromantis. The new species is known from a single male specimen from about 1300 m elevation in Marojejy National Park in north- eastern Madagascar, and from a second specimen with uncertain locality data. It differs from the other four described Laurentomantis species by a combination of its unique life colouration, presence of tibial glands, broad head, and substantial ge- netic differentiation. In line with the arguments used in the conservation assess- ments of other potential Marojejy endemics from similar altitude, we suggest a conservation status of Vulnerable for this new species. The possible function of the enigmatic tibial glands is discussed. We also provide new data on Gephyromantis horridus from its type locality Nosy Be island suggesting that the type locality of this species is not in error. Frank Glaw (corresponding author), Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] Miguel Vences, Division of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstr. 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] Introduction Several subclades in the mantelline genus Gephy- romantis reproduce independently from water, and The anuran family Mantellidae, endemic to Mada- direct development has been assumed for some of gascar and Mayotte island, currently consists of them (Blommers-Schlösser 1979, Glaw & Vences the three subfamilies Mantellinae, Boophinae and 1994). More recently, some Gephyromantis have been Laliostominae (Glaw & Vences 2006). The species demonstrated to possess generalized or nidicolous of the latter two subfamilies have a generalized tadpoles (Randrianiaina et al. 2007). Gephyromantis reproductive mode: males have nuptial pads and is subdivided in five subgenera, Gephyromantis, the eggs are laid in open water during an axillary Duboimantis, Laurentomantis, Phylacomantis, and amplexus. In contrast, all representatives of the Vatomantis (Glaw & Vences 2006). subfamily Mantellinae seem to lay their eggs out- The poorly known subgenus Laurentomantis was side of water, females not being amplected during revised by Vences et al. (2002) who recognized a mating. Mantellines show an impressive diversity total of four species (G. horridus, G. ventrimaculatus, in species numbers and morphology, and especially G. malagasius, and G. striatus) but already assumed in tadpole morphology and reproductive modes. the existence of further species which, however, were 121 ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München/Verlag Friedrich Pfeil; download www.pfeil-verlag.de not described due to the absence of convincing evi- Taxonomy dence and the small number of specimens available at that time. In the meantime, additional collections Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) ranjomavo of Laurentomantis have become available to us, and spec. nov. Vieites et al. (2009) have provided molecular evi- Fig. 1 dence for the existence of further candidate species within this subgenus. We here scientifically name Remark. This species has been considered before as and describe one of the unnamed candidate species Gephyromantis spec. aff. horridus “Marojejy” by Glaw listed by these authors which is morphologically & Vences (2007) and as confirmed candidate species distinct and has a strong molecular differentiation Gephyromantis spec. 11 by Vieites et al. (2009). to all other nominal species of Gephyromantis. We Holotype. ZSM 222/2005 (field number FGZC 2843), furthermore discuss the possible function of tibial adult male, from Camp Simpona (14°26.199' S, 49° glands in Laurentomantis species and provide new 44.601' E, 1326 m above sea level), Marojejy National data on the related species Gephyromantis horridus. Park, northeastern Madagascar, collected on 16 Febru- ary 2005 by F. Glaw, M. Vences and R. D. Randriani- aina. Study site, materials and methods Paratype. MNHN 1976.250, adult male, locality and collector unknown, but possibly from the Marojejy The holotype of the new species was discovered during massif as well. a herpetological expedition to the Marojejy National Park, a rainforest massif in northeastern Madagascar Diagnosis. A member of the subfamiliy Mantellinae that is known to harbour a rich herpetofauna with nu- based on the presence of intercalary elements be- merous endemic species (Raselimanana et al. 2000). tween terminal and subterminal phalanges of fingers Three field camps were installed at different altitudes. and toes (verified externally), and on the absence of Around the highest campsite, called Camp Simpona, nuptial pads and presence of femoral glands in males. frogs were searched opportunistically and by localizing calling males, mostly at night, using torches and head Assigned to the genus Gephyromantis (subgenus Lau- lamps. Most individuals were collected near the camp- rentomantis) based on the presence of tibial glands; site, along a small trail to the top, and along two streams strongly granular dorsum; a single subgular vocal of c. 50 cm and 3 m in width, respectively. Locality in- sac, absence of foot webbing, and completely con- formation was recorded with GPS receivers. Morpho- nected lateral metatarsalia. Gephyromantis ranjomavo logical measurements (in mm) were taken by MV with differs from all four hitherto described Laurentoman- a calliper to the nearest 0.1 millimeter. tis by its unique life colouration (ground colour of Morphological abbreviations used are: SVL (snout- dorsum blackish without vertebral stripe, hindlimbs vent length), HW (greatest head width), HL (head yellowish, ventral side of thighs and venter without length), ED (horizontal eye diameter), END (eye-nos- red colour); in addition it differs from G. ventrimacu- tril distance), NSD (nostril-snout tip distance), NND latus, G. malagasius, and G. striatus by the presence (nostril-nostril distance), TD (horizontal tympanum diameter), HAL (hand length), HIL (hindlimb length), of tibial glands in the male sex; from G. horridus, TIBL (tibia length, actually referring not to the tibia bone G. ventrimaculatus, and G. striatus by a lower number but to the shank), FOL (foot length), FOTL (foot length of granules in the femoral glands (1 versus 3-9); from including tarsus), FORL (forelimb length), RHL (rela- G. horridus and G. ventrimaculatus by less granular tive hindlimb length), FGL (femoral gland length), dorsal skin; from G. horridus by smaller male size FGW (femoral gland width), FGD (distance between (23.5-26 mm versus 26-28 mm SVL). Furthermore, femoral glands on opposite thighs), TGL (tibia gland G. ranjomavo differs from all four other species in length), and TGW (tibial gland width). the subgenus Laurentomantis by substantial genetic Institutional abbreviations are as follows: MNHN differentiation (see below). (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris); NMW (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien); ZSM (Zoologische Description of the holotype Staatssammlung München). Terminology for the de- scription of femoral glands follows Glaw et al. (2000). Adult male, fixed in ca. 90 % ethanol, preserved in The terminology of tibial glands and the scheme of the 70 % ethanol, in good state of preservation, muscles description of the new species follows Vences et al. from right thigh removed as tissue sample. Body (2002). slender; head longer than wide, distinctly wider than body; snout rounded in dorsal and lateral views; nostrils directed laterally, distinctly protuberant, nearer to tip of snout than to eye; canthus rostralis rather indistinct, concave; loreal region concave; 122 ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München/Verlag Friedrich Pfeil; download www.pfeil-verlag.de A B Fig. 1. Gephyromantis ranjomavo spec. nov., holotype in life in dorsolateral view (A) and ventral view (B). 123 ©Zoologische Staatssammlung München/Verlag Friedrich Pfeil; download www.pfeil-verlag.de tympanum distinct, rounded, 44 % of eye diameter; of cream-white. Iris grey-brown with a dark mark- supratympanic fold recognizable, but superimposed ing ventrally. Throat brown with a series of silvery by tubercles; tongue ovoid, distinctly bifid posteri- flecks along upper jaw and in center, and a larger orly; vomerine teeth absent; choanae rounded. No greyish area laterally. Belly grey-brown with indis- dermal fold is recognizable along the lower jaws tinct silvery spots laterally. Ventral sides of arms (the inflatable parts of the vocal sac). Arms slender, and hindlimbs orange-brown; femoral glands not subarticular tubercles single; very poorly developed darker than surrounding limb surfaces. outer and inner metacarpal tubercle recognizable, respectively; fingers without webbing; relative length Variation. Measurements of the single male para- of fingers 1 < 2 < 4 < 3, second finger distinctly shorter type were given in Vences et al. (2002, tab. I). SVL than fourth finger; finger disks distinctly enlarged, (25.8 mm) is greater than in the holotype. However, especially on fingers 3 and
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