ROGLOG FNewsletter of the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group Search for the Lost Frogs he search has begun! Over the next few months, the ASG together WHAT’S INSIDE Twith Conservation International and Global Wildlife Conserva- VOL 94 SEPTEMBER 2010 tion are supporting expeditions by amphibian experts in 20 countries Cover story across Latin America, Africa and Asia. Led by members of IUCN’s Am- Search for the Lost Frogs Page 1 phibian Specialist Group, the research teams are in search of around 40 Discovery species that have not been seen for over a decade. Although there is no Newly discovered miniature guarantee of success, we are optimistic about the prospect of at least one Microhyla from Borneo Page 2 rediscovery. Conservation Whatever the results, the expedition findings will expand our Darwin’s frog captive global understanding of the threats to amphibians and bring us closer rearing facility in Chile Page 6 to finding solutions for their protection. Bold conservation efforts are Extirpation not only critical for the future of many amphibians themselves, but also A growing market for frog meat for the benefit of humans that rely on pest control, nutrient cycling and Page 10 other services the animals provide. To join the search please visit www. Rediscovery conservation.org/lostfrogs Two endemic Honduran Craugastor species Page 12 Announcements: New Publications and CMH2 DAPTF Seed Grant Publications Page 15 Second Mediterranean Congress of Herpetology Page 16 Funds for Habitat Protection Support ASG Instructions to authors Page 18 1 DISCOVERY Newly discovered miniature Microhyla from Borneo among the world’s smallest frogs Indraneil Das & Alexander Haas he terms ‘diminutive,’ has an adult SVL range of Its small size made T‘minute,’ or ‘miniature’ 10.9–12.0 mm (Vences and specimen collection a chal- have been applied to a num- Glaw 1991). lenge, and most were col- ber of amphibian species that A new diminutive spe- lected by being made to are under 15 mm (see Estrada cies of microhylid frog, Mi- jump onto a piece of white and Hedges 1996; Biju et al. crohyla nepenthicola (Figures cloth, after males were 2007; Duellman and Hedges 1, 2 and 4), from the Sum- The smallest am- 2008). The smallest amphib- mit Trail of Sarawak’s Matang phibian species are ian species are members of the Range, in Malaysian Borneo genera Eleutherodactylus (fide was described by us recently members of the gen- Estrada and Hedges 1996), (Das and Haas 2010), and era Eleutherodactylus, Brachycephalus (fide Frost et al. matches the size range shown Brachycephalus, No- 2006), Noblella (fide Lehr and by the smallest of these frogs blella, and Stumpffia. Catenazzi 2009), and Stumpf- (adult males range SVL tracked down by their calls. Consequently, only a couple females were collected. Lar- vae were abundant in pitch- ers, and association between adults and larvae were made by DNA barcoding. This newly-described species can be diagnosed from its 30 congeners (known from the Indian Figure 1. Adult Microhyla nepenthicola on pencil © Indraneil Das subcontinent, Indo-Malaya fia (fide Vences and Glaw 10.6–12.8 mm). The Bor- and Indo-China) in show- 1991), and among Old World nean species is an obligate of ing dorsum with low tuber- frogs, the smallest member of the pitcher plant, Nepenthes cles that are relatively more the microhylid genus Stumpf- ampullaria, breeding in se- distinct on flanks; a weak, fia of Madagascar, S. pygmaea, nescent or mature pitchers. broken, mid-vertebral ridge, 2 DISCOVERY OF MINIATURE MICROHYLA FROM BORNEO Continued from previous page lel sided, as broad platelets in gut tissue, even at eye level as at in specimens with advanced mid-body level; limb development (Stages gut arranged in a 28–36) and reduced bran- short coil, often chial baskets, are here taken with only three as further evidence of endo- bends in lateral tropy. We collected pitchers view; ventral tail with fresh eggs, deposited on fin higher than the sides of the pitchers, and dorsal tail fin; observed that metamorpho- tail edges become sis is completed within ca. Figure 2. Adult M. nepenthicola on penny convex, forming two weeks. Up to 14 larvae © Indraneil Das a short acuminate (typically, 5–6) can be found starting from forehead and to flagellar tip; in a single pitcher, showing continuing along body; no vent embedded and opening different developmental stag- dermal fold across forehead; medially in lower tail fin; oral es, and indicative of multiple tympanic membrane and orifice terminal on snout and egg-laying in one pitcher. tympanic annulus absent; Fin- directed forward; oral disk Tadpoles remain almost mo- ger I reduced to a nub proxi- highly reduced: upper jaw tionless, and when disturbed, mal to Finger II in males; toe with very shallow lip flap; flap burrow into the organic de- tips weakly dilated; phalanges on lower jaw much reduced bris at bottom of pitchers. with longitudinal grooves, but present and sepa- forming two scale-like struc- rated from a chin-like tures; webbing on toe IV bas- bulge below by a fold; al; toes with narrow dermal scattered pigment fringes; inner and outer meta- cells. Metamorphs are tarsal tubercles present; and ca. 3.5 mm, and have dorsum brown with an hour- near translucent to glass shaped mark on scapu- pale pink dorsum. lar region. Larvae (Figure 3) Larvae are en- have a total length of 9–11.3 dotrophic, a first re- mm; tail length 70%; body cord for the genus. Figure 2. Juvenile M. nepenthicola by thumb contour in dorsal view paral- Large amounts of yolk nail © Indraneil Das 3 DISCOVERY OF MINIATURE MICROHYLA FROM BORNEO Continued from previous page Endotrophy has presumably between notes are 192–330 2005). lead to morphological chang- ms. Repetition frequency of Acknowledgements es, including relatively small notes (i.e., duration of pauses We thank the Insti- size at metamorphosis, reduc- in a series) depends on the tute of Biodiversity and En- tion of gill filter apparatus in level of agitation in a calling vironmental Conservation, terms of size and complexity, congregation. Notes have a Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, rapid development, and gut duration of 696–736 ms. and University of Hamburg, functioning as yolk storage. Frogs showing miniaturiza- for supporting our research. Calls commence tion in general show a suite of Permission and facili- at dusk, choruses peaking be- characters, including reduced ties to conduct field work in ossification and Kubah was provided by the reduction of Sarawak Forest Department digits (Inger and (permits(NPW.907.4.2– Frogner 1980; 2 6 , N P W. 9 0 7 . 4 . 2 – 4 3 ; Alberch and N P W . 9 0 7 . 4 – 3 5 ; Gale 1985), and N P W . 9 0 7 . 4 – 3 6 ; in the genus Mi- N P W. 9 0 7 . 4 . 2 – 8 a n d crohyla, there is NPW.907.4.2(II)–73) and a tendency for export permits (04635, reduction or 07094–97 and 07484). Figure 4. Adult M. nepenthicolas in amplexus loss of Finger I, At Kubah, we are © Indraneil Das with a few species grateful to M. Rajuli and tween ca. 1845–2100 h. Males showing only three function- S. binti Sulaiman for logis- form calling aggregations al fingers (Inger and Frogner tic support. The Economic within and around patches of 1980). Miniaturization and Planning Unit (EPU), The pitcher plants, Nepenthes am- reduced webbing on pes in Prime Minister’s Depart- pullaria. The call comprises a this species is presumed to be ment, Malaysia issued EPU series of harsh rasping notes. the result of the need to navi- Research Permit No. 1168 A note consists of two short gate on the slippery (waxy) to A. Haas. (1–2) and one larger (5–9) zone of pitchers of Nepenthes, This research was pulse groups. The pause be- situated below the peristome, supported by the Volkswa- tween pulse groups within a that are used for trapping gen Foundation, Germany, note is 125–154 ms; breaks arthropods (see Gorb et al. Grant I/79 405. 4 DISCOVERY OF MINIATURE MICROHYLA FROM BORNEO Continued from previous page References es, S.B. (1996). At the lower K.J. (1980). New species of Alberch, P. & Gale, size limit in tetrapods: a new narrow-mouth frogs (genus E.A. (1985). A developmen- diminutive frog from Cuba Microhyla) from Borneo. tal analysis of an evolution- (Leptodactylidae: Eleuthero- Sarawak Museum Journal ary trend: digital reduction in dactylus). Copeia 1996:852– 27:311–324. amphibians. Evolution 39:8– 859. Lehr, E. & Catenazzi, 23. Frost, D.R., Grant, T., A. (2009). A new species of Biju, S.D., Van Bocx- Faivovich, J.N., Bain, R.H., minute Noblella (Anura: Stra- laer, I., Giri, V.B., Roelants, Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., bomantidae) from southern K., Nagaraju, J. & Bossuyt, De Sá, R.O., Channing, A., Peru: the smallest frog of the F. (2007). A new nightfrog, Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, Andes. Copeia, 2009:148– Nyctibatrachus minimus S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Camp- 156. sp. nov. (Anura: Nyctiba- bell, J.A., Blotto, B.L., Moler, Vences, M. & Glaw, trachidae): the smallest frog P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, F. (1991). Revision der Gat- from India. Current Science R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, tung Stumpffia Boettger 1881 93:854–858. D.M. & Wheeler, W.C. aus Madagaskar mit Bes- Das, I. & A. Haas. (2006). Amphibian tree of chreibung von zwei neuen (2010). New species of Mi- life. Bulletin of the American Arten (Amphibia, Anura, crohyla from Sarawak: Old Museum of Natural History Microhylidae). Acta Biologi- World’s smallest frogs crawl 297:1–370. ca Benrodis 3:203–219. out of miniature pitcher Gorb, E., Haas, K., plants on Borneo (Amphibia: Henrich, A., Enders, S., Author email: Indra- Anura: Microhylidae).