SPHENOPHRYNE - American Museum of Natural History

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68 BULLETIN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NO. 253 Fig. 37. Comparison of relative eye–naris span in Liophryne schlaginhaufeni (squares and regression line) and L. rubra (diamonds). The diamond at approximately 26 mm SVL represents a specimen tentatively referred to rubra; see text. 75 km west-northwest of the type locality of L. rubra and at a lower elevation (1750 m) may represent this species. It is a male, maturity not determined, but at SVL 25.7 mm it is smaller than the known size of maturity of male schlaginhaufeni (29 mm). Thomas Burton (personal commun.) described the living frog as rich reddish brown above and orange below (deepest in the throat region) with white flecking and white spots edging the mandible. This specimen also has a pale midventral hairline intersected by a similar line running between the arms. In the critical EN measurement it falls outside the range of schlaginhaufeni of similar size and in the same direction as the holotype (fig. 37). I tentatively regard this specimen as rubra, but do not accord it paratype status as I have not compared it directly with the holotype and paratype, and hence it does not contribute to my characterization of the new species. ILLUSTRATIONS: Hand and foot, fig. 54A. Burton’s (1986: figs. 7C, 11D, 21C) illustrations of throat and jaw musculature and anterior view of mandibles of Sphenophryne schlaginhaufeni may represent L. rubra (see Remarks, below). CALL: The call has not been described. COMPARISONS WITH OTHER SPECIES: In most respects the proportions of this species are within the range of variation of Liophryne schlaginhaufeni of similar size, but there is a significant exception, the eye–naris distance being much shorter than in schlaginhaufeni (fig. 37). If the absence of convergent scapular folds proves to be consistent, this too will be diagnostic. Also, schlaginhaufeni, recorded from about 400–1550 m, is not known from such a high elevation (2180 m; but see Referred Specimen). L. dentata differs from rubra in the same way in eye–naris proportions and in its curved rather than straight postocular fold. HABITAT AND HABITS: Nothing is on record for the holotype. Thomas Burton (in litt.) reported finding the referred specimen under leaf litter and another, larger male accompanying eggs. DISTRIBUTION: This species is known from the central ranges of Papua New Guinea— the type locality in the Bismarck Range, the Kubor Mountains, and possibly from a locality about 75 km west-northwest of the type locality in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (fig. 38). Liophryne schlaginhaufeni (Wandolleck), new combination Sphenophryne schlaginhaufeni Wandolleck, 1911: 5 (type locality, ‘‘Oberlauf des Rienjamur 650– 700müb. Meer, 15. Sept.’’ [1909, Torricelli Mtns., West Sepik Prov., Papua New Guinea]; 2 syntypes, MTKD D2212 [destroyed in World War II: Obst, 1977], collected by Otto Schlaginhaufen on Sept. 15 [year?]). Parker, 1934: 154 (klossi synonymized with schlaginhaufeni). Sphenophryne klossi Boulenger, 1914: 251 (type locality, ‘‘Launch Camp, Setekwa R.,’’ Irian Jaya; syntypes, BMNH 1947.2.12.45 and 1947.2.12.46, formerly 1913.11.1.140 and 1913.11.1.141, collected on the Wollaston Expedition, probably by C. Boden Kloss on September 12, 1912. 10 Van Kampen, 1923: 107. Nieden, 1926: 46. Sphenophryne macrorhyncha: van Kampen, 1923: 107 (schlaginhaufeni referred with question to the synonymy of macrorhyncha). 10 Wollaston (1916: 3) cited Kloss as being responsible for the zoological and botanical collections, and (p. 5) described a brief excursion on the Setekwa River on this date.
2000 ZWEIFEL: PARTITION OF SPHENOPHRYNE 69 S[phenophryne]. basipalmata: Nieden, 1926: 46 (schlaginhaufeni referred with question to the synonymy of basipalmata). TYPE LOCALITY: I cannot place the ‘‘upper course of the Rienjamur’’ with certainty, but from a map published by the collector (Schlaginhaufen, 1914, fig. 1) it is likely that this is the river now known as the Drinumor (Suain Quadrangle, sheet 7491, Papua New Guinea 1:100,000 topographic survey). This would place the type locality about 29 km south and 25 km east of Aitape. TYPE MATERIAL: Although the type specimens of schlaginhaufeni have been destroyed, there is no reason to question associating this name with the specimens I examined. Not only did Wandolleck provide an adequate description that mentions several pertinent characters, but Parker (1934: 154) examined one of the syntypes and compared it with the types of klossi. Inasmuch as there are no outstanding biological problems complicating the taxonomy, a neotype need not be designated. DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished from Liophryne allisoni by larger adult size (SVL 30 mm) and from L. similis and L. rhododactyla in being smaller than adults of these two, which are 45 mm SVL. L. schlaginhaufeni has a sharply defined canthus rostralis (rounded in dentata), nearly vertical loreal region (sloping in dentata), and a straight postocular-supratympanic skin fold (curved down behind the ear in dentata). See the account of L. rubra for diagnostic comparison with that species. MORPHOLOGY: Body size moderately large, up to about 43 mm SVL, with the longest legs (TL/SVL mean, 0.57) and almost the broadest head (HW/SVL mean, 0.42) in the genus. Snout as seen from above nearly truncate, obtusely angled, slightly projecting in profile; nostrils lateral, scarcely visible from above, much closer to snout tip than to eye; loreal region flat, nearly vertical, sloping only a little outward to lip; a sharp angle along canthus rostralis between loreal region and flat top of snout. Internarial distance relatively broad (IN/SVL mean, 0.12), eye–naris distance slightly less than eye diameter (EN/EY mean, 0.80). Eyes moderately large (EY/SVL mean, 0.12), laterally placed and visible from beneath, interorbital span broader than an upper eyelid. Tympanum large and distinct, horizontal diameter about half that of eye. Relative lengths of fingers 3 4 2 1, first little shorter than second; all fingers with small, somewhat pointed discs with circum-marginal grooves, disc of third finger about 1.5 width of penultimate phalanx and narrower than disc of fourth toe; subarticular and inner and outer metacarpal tubercles moderately prominent. Relative lengths of toes 4 3 5 2 1, all unwebbed with grooved, somewhat pointed discs, that of fourth toe about twice width of penultimate phalanx; subarticular tubercles moderately prominent, an elongate inner metatarsal tubercle but no outer. Dorsal surface of body finely tuberculate; a pair of angular, convergent folds in the scapular region; a narrow lateral fold commences at the posterior corner of the eye and passes diagonally to the flank, crossing the upper edge of the tympanum; several transverse ridges on the hind limbs and pointed tubercles on the heel and edge of tarsus; ventral surfaces of body and limbs smooth. COLOR AND PATTERN: Preserved specimens are pale tan to dark gray-brown dorsally, often with the area between and posterior to the scapular folds a deeper tone. Indistinct darker spotting may be present over the dorsal surfaces, and there may be small, paired black spots centered on pale tubercles. Occasional specimens show a narrow vertebral light line. The side of the head is dark brown, darkest and sharply bounded at the canthus rostralis and postocular fold, fading somewhat toward the upper lip. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the thighs are dusky, largely unmarked or with indistinct spotting or mottling. A dark, triangular ‘‘seat patch’’ has its apex at the cloaca. The soles of the feet and rear of the tarsus are dark brown. The ventral surfaces may appear pale with sparse melanic pigmentation visible only on close examination, but in a darker phase light spots contrast with a darker background, especially on the throat. James Menzies (personal commun.) described specimens from the Adelbert Mountains: dorsally bright yellow (grayish on the head), or reddish fawn, or mottled fawn and brown; sides of head black, continuing to
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