Stumpffia

Abstract: We describe a new small-sized microhylid frog of the genus Stumpffia and provide a preliminary survey of Stumpffia diversity in northern and northwestern Madagascar based on molecular and morphological data. Analysis of 68 previously published and 142 newly generated DNA sequences of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene revealed a large genetic diversity within Stumpffia, with numerous strongly differentiated lineages occurring across Madagascar. The analysis confirmed a clade formed exclusively by Stumpffia species occurring in north/northwestern Madagascar and containing almost all species from this area. Based on DNA sequences of the RAG1 gene, we further assess that most of the deep mitochondrial lineages do not share haplotypes in this nuclear marker, even in the few cases of sympatry, which we interpret as confirmation of their status as independent evolutionary lineages. Micro-computed tomography revealed subtle differences in phalangeal formulae among some of these candidate species, providing additional taxonomic characters for future revisions of the genus. The newly described species Stumpffia analamaina sp. nov. occurs 27 km north-west of Antsohihy and is at present the southernmost confirmed Stumpffia of the north/northwestern clade. It is mainly characterized by a snout-vent length of 10–12 mm, advertisement calls consisting of a series of short melodious chirps, manus with four fingers and pes with five toes, with only slight length reduction of first finger and toe. It furthermore does not share haplotypes with any other Stumpffia species in 16S or RAG1, and has relatively longer hands and feet compared with other small-sized Stumpffia of the north/northwestern clade such as S. madagascariensis and S. pygmaea. The new species lives in an area of dry forest where it was found in leaf litter along a small stream bordered by degraded gallery vegetation. Due to the limited distributions of almost all species in the north/northwestern Stumpffia clade, the rareness of appropriate microhabitat around the type locality of S. analamaina sp. nov. and the rampant habitat destruction in this part of Madagascar, we propose a threat status of Critically Endangered for this new species.

Abstract: We surveyed the western dry forest and coastal forest of the Ampombofofo area in the extreme north of Madagascar for its herpetofauna. We recorded a total of nine amphibian and 46 reptile species via opportunistic searching and pitfall trapping. This is the first such survey and consequently providing new records for the area for all of the species found. For those species endemic to Madagascar, these records also represent the northernmost limit of their known range. We also surveyed the coastal forest of Orangea and recorded a total of three amphibian and 22 reptile species. Furthermore, we provide new additions to the species list for Montagne des Francais. We discovered several species in this massif during our relatively short surveys that were not previously known from this site: Reptiles include Gehyra mutilata, Leioheterodon modestus, and Paracontias hildebrandti. Amphibians include an unidentified speces of Cophylinae and two additional species of Stumpffia . The results of this and other surveys in surrounding areas have now demonstrated that many of the species previously considered to be endemic to Montagne des Francais are in fact regionally endemic to the north of Madagascar. However, the forested areas located in the extreme north are subject to numerous human induced environmental problems resulting in habitat destruction and remain a high conservation management priority. Therefore we strongly recommend that Montagne des Francais should be granted full-protected status so that it is able to function as a biological refuge. Herein, we provide additional conservation and development recommendations for the other terrestrial ecosystems surveyed.

Abstract: We describe a new microhylid frog from the rain forests of central eastern Madagascar. Plethodontohyla coronata reaches 21–23 mm snout–vent length and is similar to Plethodontohyla serratopalpebrosa by having a supraocular crest of three dermal spines. It differs by having a smaller body size, shorter hind limbs, relative finger and toe length, and smaller relative tympanum size. Its first toe is very short, reminiscent of the state in miniaturized species of Stumpffia, but the presence of vomerine and maxillary teeth clearly confirm the assignation of P. coronata to Plethodontohyla. The advertisement call of this fossorial frog is a series of notes with complex frequency modulation.