Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 2209 No. 1: 26 Aug. 2009
Type: Articles
Published: 2009-08-26
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2209.1.3
Page range: 43–56
Abstract views: 42
PDF downloaded: 22

Small-sized dicroglossids from India, with the description of a new species from West Bengal, India

Reptiles et Amphibiens, DSE, MNHN, CNRS, 25 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Zoological Survey of India, Amphibia Section, Spirit Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, India
Zoological Survey of India, Amphibia Section, Spirit Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, India
Birpara Village, Jalpaiguri District, P.O. Alipurduar 736 121, West Bengal, India
Zoological Survey of India, P.O. Hyderguda, Ring Road, Hyderabad 500 038, India
Division of Herpetology, Aaranyak, 50 Samanwoy Path, Survey, Beltola, Guwahati 781028, Assam, India
Department of Zoology, North Orissa University, Takatpur, Baripada 757 003, Orissa, India
Reptilia Anura Dicroglossidae Minervarya chilapata sp. nov. morphometry

Abstract

A new small-sized species of dicroglossid frog from West Bengal is described as Minervarya chilapata sp. nov. and compared to Minervarya sahyadris. It differs from all Fejervarya species by its smaller size, by the presence of a distinct white band on upper lip and by the presence of a rictal gland. The new species is separable from its congener in showing a more pointed snout, smaller tympanum and more developed webbing. Its advertisement call is described and compared to that of M. sahyadris. Generic allocation is discussed. In the Fejervarya lineage, a trend towards small-sized species may exist. The species allocated to Minervarya show an important morphological shift, presumably reflecting occupation of a different adaptive niche which might indicate generic distinctiveness.

References

  1. Bossuyt, F., Brown, R. F., Hillis, D. M., Cannatella, D. C. & Milinkovitch, M. C. (2006) Phylogeny and biogeography of a cosmopolitan frog radiation: late Cretaceous diversification resulted in continent-scale endemism in the family Ranidae. Systematic Biology, 55, 579–594.

    Charif, R. A., Mitchell, S. & Clarck, C. W. (1995) Canary 1.2 User’s Manual. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.

    Clarke, B. T. (1989) Real vs apparent distribution of dwarf amphibians: Bufo lindneri Mertens 1955 – a case in point. Amphibia-Reptilia, 10, 297–306.

    Daniels, R. J. R. (2005) Amphibians of Peninsular India. Universities Press (India) Private Ltd., Hyderabad, 1–268.

    Dubois, A. (1975) Un nouveau complexe d’espèces jumelles distinguées par le chant : les Grenouilles du Népal voisines de Rana limnocharis Boie (Amphibiens, Anoures). Comptes rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, série D, 281, 1717–1720.

    Dubois, A. (1984) Note préliminaire sur le groupe de Rana limnocharis Gravenhorst, 1829 (Amphibiens, Anoures). Alytes, 3, 143–159.

    Dubois, A., Ohler, A. & Biju, S. D. (2001) A new genus and species of Ranidae (Amphibia, Anura) from south-western India. Alytes, 19 (2-4), 53–79.

    Hanken, J. & Wake, D. B. (1993) Miniaturization of body-size – organismal consequences and evolutionary significance. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 24, 501–519.

    Heyer, W. R. (1971) Mating calls of some frogs from Thailand. Fieldiana Zoology, 58, 61–82.

    Inger, R. F. (1954) Systematics and zoogeography of Philippine Amphibia. Fieldiana: Zoology, 33, 181–531.

    Kadadevaru, G. G., Kanamadi, R. D. & Schneider, H. (2000) Advertisement call of two Indian ranids, Indirana beddomii and Tomopterna rufescens. Amphibia-Reptilia, 21, 242–246.

    Kadadevaru, G. G., Kanamadi, R. D. & Schneider, H. (2002) Advertisement call, courtship and mating behaviour of the frog, Limnonectes syhadrensis from Western Ghats, India. Current Science, 82, 503–505.

    Kanamadi, R. D., Hiremath, C.R. & Schneider, H. (1995) Vocalization and territoriality of the Indian frog Rana limnocharis. Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy, 61, 9–14.

    Köhler, J., Vieites, D. R., Bonett, R. M., Hita Garcia, F., Glaw, F., Steinke, D. & Vences, M. (2005) New amphibians and global conservation: a boost in species discoveries in a highly endangered vertebrate group. BioScience, 55, 693–696.

    Kurabayashi, A., Kuramoto, M., Joshy, H. & Sumida, M. (2005) Molecular phylogeny of the ranid frogs from Southwest India based on the mitochondrial ribosomal RNA gene sequences. Zoological Science, 22 (5), 525–534.

    Kuramoto, M. & Joshy, S. H. (2001) Advertisement call structures of frogs from Southwestern India, with some ecological and taxonomic notes. Current Herpetology, 20, 85–95.

    Kuramoto, M., Joshy, S. H., Kurabayashi, A. & Sumida, M. (2007) The genus Fejervarya (Anura: Ranidae) in central Western Ghats, India, with descriptions of four new cryptic species. Current Herpetology, 26(2), 81–105.

    Márquez, R. & Eekhout, X. R. (2006) Advertisement calls of six species of anurans from Bali, Republic of Indonesia. Journal of Natural History, 40, 571–588.

    Myers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittermeier, C. G., da Fonseca, G. A. B. & Kent, J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403, 853–858.

    Morley, R. J. (1999) Origin and evolution of tropical rainforests. Wiley, New York, i-xv + 1–362.

    Norusis, M. J. (1992) SPSS for Windows. Professional Statistics. Release 5. SPSS Inc., Chicago, (i–xii) + 1–348.

    Ohler, A. & Dubois, A. (1999) The identity of Elachyglossa gyldenstolpei Andersson, 1916 (Amphibia, Ranidae) with a discussion of some aspects of statistical support to taxonomy. Zoologica Scripta, 28, 269–279.

    Roy, D. & Elepfandt, A. (1993) Bioacoustic analysis of frog calls from northeast India. Journal of Biosciences, 18, 381–393.

    Veith, M., Kosuch, J., Ohler, A. & Dubois, A. (2001) Systematics of Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae) and related species. 2. Morphological and molecular variation from the Great Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo) with definition of two species. Alytes, 19, 5–28.