Fejervarya goemchi, Dinesh & Kulkarni & Swamy & Deepak, 2017

Dinesh, K. P., Kulkarni, Nirmal U., Swamy, Priyanka & Deepak, P., 2017, A new species of Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 from the lateritic plateaus of the Goa parts of the Western Ghats, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 117 (4), pp. 301-314 : 304-310

Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov.

(Table 1,2,3; Figure 1,2,3,5,6)

Holotype: ZSI / WRC /A/2015 ( CESF 2888 ), an adult male ( SVL 46.8 mm) collected by K.P. Dinesh and Nirmal U. Kulkarni in August 2016 from Surla village (N 15.651; E

74.131, 700 amsl), Goa.

Paratypes: ZSI / WRC /A/2017 ( CESF 2847 ) an adult male ( SVL 41.4 mm) collected by K.P. Dinesh and Nirmal U. Kulkarni in July 2014 from Surla village (N 15.651; E

74.131, 700 amsl), Goa; ZSI / WRC /A/2016 ( CESF 2890),

an adult male ( SVL 45.7 mm) collected by K.P. Dinesh and Nirmal U. Kulkarni in August 2016 from Surla village (N 15.651; E 74.131, 700 amsl), Goa .

Lineage Diagnosis

Fejervaryagoemchi sp.nov. canbediagnosedphylogenetically as a member of the fejervaryan clade ( Figure 1 ), showing a sister relationship to F. kudremukhensis exhibiting high genetic divergence of 4.2 % for 16S rRNA. It is also very distinct from its sister species ( F. kudremukhensis ) in morphology ( Figure 4 ). It can be distinguished from F. kudremukhensis in having larger adult male size of SVL 41.4 mm to 46.8 mm, n = 7 (vs. medium to large adult male size

34.8 mm to 41.1 mm, n = 6 in F. kudremukhensis ); higher HAL/ SVL ratio of 0.213 to 0.230, n=7 (vs. lower HAL / SVL ratio of 0.141 to 0.164, n = 6 in F. kudremukhensis ); lower AGL / SVL ratio of 0.379 to 0.425, n = 7 (vs. higher AGL / SVL ration of 0.440 to 0.483, n = 6 in F. kudremukhensis ); lower TiL/ SVL ratio of 0.402 to 0.494, n = 7 (vs. higher TiL/ SVL ratio of 0.523 to 0.587, n = 6 in F. kudremukhensis ); snout pointed (vs.snout moderately pointed in F.kudremukhensis ); nostril near to snout tip (vs. nostril equidistant from eye and snout tip in F. kudremukhensis ); webbing medium (I 1-2 II 2-3 III 2-2 IV 2-2 V) (vs. webbing short (I 2-2 II 2-3 III 2½- 3½ IV3½-2 V)in F.kudremukhensis ). The species also shows geographical separation from its sister F. kudremukhensis (see field diagnosis).

Field diagnosis

Morphology: In the field, Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. does not have any morphologically confusing congeneric sympatric species, and can be identified based on the combination of morphological characters including large adult size ( SVL = 41.4 to 46.8 mm, n = 7); elongated robust body; head length equal to head width; pointed snout; inter orbital space equal to upper lid; fore arm length equal to hand length; first finger longer than the second; tibio-tarsal articulation reaching the front of eyes; femur length equal to tibia length; medium webbing (I 1-2 II 2-3 III 2-2 IV 2-2 V); large elongated shovel shaped inner metatarsal tubercle; glandular dorsum; throat and belly smooth and, upper and lower lip barred with the presence of rictal glands. For comparing the new species Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. with its sympatric congener F. cepfi and other potential sympatric species F. gomantaki and F. syhadrensis , see comparisons presented below.

Geography: This species is restricted in distribution to medium elevated lateritic plateaus (700 m and above) with a small range around the Goa region in the northern Western Ghats. It is geographically disjunct (southern range limit 15.66 degrees North) from its phylogenetic sister species, F. kudremukhensis , whose known northern range limit is around 13.13 degrees North. Additional sampling is required to establish the range limits of both the sister lineages and to understand the geographical barrier for isolation of the sister species.

Description of Holotype ZSI/WRC/A/2015 (CESF 2888) ( Figure 2 , 3 )

A large sized fejervaryan frog (SVL = 46.8 mm) with elongated robust body; head length sub equal to head width (HL = 15.5 mm; HW = 16.0 mm); snout pointed (SL = 7.1 mm) in both dorsal and ventral view and sub equal to eye diameter (EL = 6.2 mm); canthus rostralis blunt, loreal region concave, inter orbital space flat (IUE = 3.9 mm) sub equal to upper lid (UEW = 4.2 mm) and less than internarial distance (IN = 5.6 mm); distance between back of eyes 1.5 times more than front of eyes (IFE = 7.5 mm; IBE = 11.6 mm); nostrils oval, nearer to tip of snout; symphysial knob moderate, ‘W’ shaped; tympanum distinct visible below the supratympanic fold (TYD = 3.0 mm); vomerine ridges present with 6 to 8 spinose teeth; tongue bifid without a papilla.

Fore arm slender and short (FLL = 11.2 mm) sub equal to hand (HAL = 10.6 mm); fingers short and thin without any dermal fringes; first finger longer than the second (FL1= 5.9 mm, FL2 = 5.0 mm, TFL = 6.6 mm), tips blunt, rounded without any enlarged discs, webbing between fingers absent; subarticular tubercles distinct (one each on finger 1 and 2, and two each on finger 3 and 4), rounded and pre-pollex tubercle distinct (two on either side), supernumerary tubercles absent.

Hind limbs long, overlap when folded at right angles to the body and tibio-tarsal articulation reaches front of eyes; femur length sub equal to tibia length (FL = 21.5 mm; TiL = 23.1 mm); foot length is 1.9 times tarsus length (FOL = 24.2 mm, TAL = 12.3 mm), relative toe length I<II<V<III<IV (FTL = 14.5 mm); webbing medium (I 1-2 II 2-3 III 2-2 IV 2-2 V); inner metatarsal tubercle (IMTL = 3.2 mm) large elongated and shovel shaped; outer A new species of Fejervarya Bolkay, 1915 from the lateritic plateaus of the Goa parts of the Western Ghats metatarsal tubercle minute, bulbous; supernumerary tubercles absent and tarsal tubercle minute.

Overall skin on the dorsum glandular with small ridges, more glandular in front of the shoulders, flanks and belly smooth; ventrally smooth on throat and belly. Rictal gland present at the mouth commissural region below the tympanum. Irregular raised short glandular ridges on the back of the dorsum above the shoulders, no specific pattern.

In life, colour on the dorsum reddish brown, mottled blackish patch from the back of the tympanum till the groin covering the sides of belly, bright cream orange stripe between the dorsal redish brown and lateral mottled blackish patch. Region between the eyes and tympanum, half of the tympanum and the region of rectal gland with bright cream orange patch. Light orange dorsolateral stripe from tip of snout to back of vent on the dorsal surface. Upper lip, lower lip, fore arm and hind limbs barred.Back of thighs reticulated with brown and creamish orange. Ventral region creamish white fejervaryan lines on either side of the body, region of throat with blackish vocal sacks in males.

In preservative, colour on the dorsum blackish brown, mottled pattern from the back of the tympanum till the groin covering the sides of belly. Region between the eyes and tympanum, half of the tympanum and the region of rectal gland with cream white patch. Cream white dorsolateral stripe from tip of snout to back of vent on the dorsal surface. Upper lip, lower lip, fore arm and hind limbs barred. Back of thighs reticulated with brown and creamish white. Ventral region creamish white, region of throat with blackish vocal sacks in males ( Figure 3 , 6).

Secondary Sexual Characters

Adult males have a bilobate external vocal sac at the region of throat which is blackish in colour, faint nuptial pad is present on the first finger.

Additional Information from Paratypes and Variations

Morphological data are given in Table 1. Paratypes SVL range from 41.4 mm to 45.7 mm; in all the external morphological characters they are similar to holotype and reference collections ( Figure 6). All the 16S rRNA sequences generated for ZSI / WRC /A/2017 ( CESF 2847 ) (paratype) and CESF 2843 (reference collection) are homogenous .

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Konkani (an Indo- Aryan language) term ‘Goemchi ‘ meaning the state Goa’s Land. Suggested common name: ‘Goan large fejervarya’.

Distribution and Natural History

Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. is known from the lateritic plateau and the surrounding grassland paddy field complex of the Surla village, Goa in the Western Ghats. We found this species to be locally abundant (during June, July and August) and to occur in sympatry with F. cepfi . Breeding calls were observed in male individuals surrounding the stagnant mud pools on the lateritic plateaus during the month of June and July (peak south west monsoon period).

Comparisons

In this section, we provide morphological comparisons with its sympatric species F.cepfi , other potential sympatric species including F. gomantaki and F.syhadrensis ( Figure 4 ).

PCA analysis comparing this species with its phylogenetic sister and above sympatric species suggest a substantial morphological separation between Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. and others ( F. gomantaki , F. cepfi , F. syhadrensis and F. kudremukhensis ) ( Figure 5 ). PC1 accounted for 34.59% variance and PC2 accounted for

22.74%variance ( Table 2).

Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its sympatric species F. cepfi in having larger adult male size of SVL 41.4 mm to 46.8 mm, n = 7 (vs. relatively medium adult male size of SVL 29.9 mm to 33.1 mm, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); lower HW/SVL ratio of 0.321 to 0.342, n = 7 (vs. higher HW/SVL ratio of 0.369 to 0.375, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); lower HL/SVL ratio of 0.314 to 0.331, n = 7 (vs. higher HL/SVL ratio of 0.371 to 0.375, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); lower AGL/SVL ratio of 0.379 to 0.425, n = 7 (vs. higher AGL/ SVL ration of 0.431 to 0.462, n = 2 in F.cepfi ); lower TiL/ SVL ratio of 0.402 to 0.494, n = 7 (vs. higher TiL/SVL ratio of 0.495 to 0.525, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); lower FoL/SVL ratio of 0.489 to 0.548, n = 7 (vs. higher FoL/SVL ratio of 0.552 to 0.572, n= 2 in F. cepfi ); higher FLL/SVL ratio of 0.213 to239, n = 7 (vs. lower FLL/SVL ratio of 0.187 to 0.207, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); higher EL/SVL ratio of 0.126 to 132, n = 7 (vs. lower EL/SVL ratio of 0.106 to 0.114, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); higher NE/SVL ratio of 0.076 to 0.085, n = 7 (vs. lower NE/SVL ratio of 0.054 to 0.060, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); higher IN/SVL ratio of 0.097 to 0.120, n = 7 (vs. lower IN/SVL ratio of 0.076 to 0.084, n = 2 in F. cepfi ); snout pointed (vs. snout sub ovoid in F. cepfi ); webbing between toes medium (vs. webbing between toes small in F.cepfi ).

Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its probable sympatric species F. gomantaki in having larger adult male size of SVL 41.4 mm to 46.8 mm, n = 7 (vs. smaller adult male size 18.4 mm to

20.2 mm, n = 7 in F. gomantaki ); upper and lower lip barred (vs. upper and lower lip white in F. gomantaki ); canthus rostralis blunt and loreal region concave (vs. canthus rostralis angled and loreal region concave in F. gomantaki ); tympanum distinct half of the eye diameter (vs. indistinct and barely visible tympanum in F. gomantaki ); vomerine ridges present (vs. vomerine ridges absent in F. gomantaki ); tibiotarsal articulation reaches front of eyes (vs. tibiotarsal articulation reaches back of eyes in F. gomantaki ); webbing medium (vs. rudimentary webbing in F. gomantaki ).

Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its probable sympatric species F. syhadrensis in having larger adult male size of SVL 41.4 mm to 46.8 mm, n = 7 (vs. medium adult male size 28.5 mm to 30.0 mm, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ); lower HW/SVL ratio of 0.321 to 0.342, n = 7 (vs. higher HW/SVL ratio of 0.351 to 0.358, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ); lower NE/SVL ratio of 0.076 to 0.085, n = 7 (vs. higher NE/SVL ratio of 0.093 to 0.098, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ); lower EL/SVL ratio of 0.126 to 0.132, n = 7 (vs. higher NE/SVL ratio of 0.140 to 0.157, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ); lower FLL/SVL ratio of 0.213 to 239, n = 7 (vs. higher FLL/SVL ratio of 0.422 to 0.435, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ); lower HAL/SVL ratio of 0.213 to 230, n = 7 (vs. higher HAL/SVL ratio of 0.232 to 0.250, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ); lower TiL/SVL ratio of 0.402 to 0.494, n = 7 (vs. higher TiL/SVL ratio of 0.500 to 0.537, n = 4 in F. syhadrensis ).

Figures

Figure 1. Maximum Likelihood tree for 40 dicroglossid taxa based on 5430 bp of mitochondrial (16S and 12S) and nuclear genes (BDNF, Rhod, Tyr, RAG-2, NCX1, and CXCR4) (*represents the bootstrap values above 50%).

Figure 2. Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov. in life.

Figure 3. Holotype ofFejervarya goemchi sp. nov. (a) dorsal view. (b) ventral view.

Figure 4. (a) Sympatric; (b) & (c) probable sympatric species and (d) phylogenetic sister species of Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov.

Figure 5. Multivariate Principal Component Analysis for male individuals of 14 morphometric characters marked as * in Table 1 transformed to their ratio to SVL for Fejervarya goemchi sp. nov., F. kudremukhensis, F,cepfi, F. gomantaki and F. syhadrensis.