Cophixalus pictus, Kraus, Fred, 2012

Kraus, Fred, 2012, Papuan frogs of the genus Cophixalus (Anura: Microhylidae): new synonyms, new species, and a dichotomous key, Zootaxa 3559, pp. 1-36 : 10-12

Cophixalus pictus , sp. nov.

Fig. 5

Holotype. BPBM 1187, collected by J.L. Gressitt, Bomberai, 2.766º S, 132.788º E, Fakfak Division, West Papua Province, Indonesia, 3 June 1959.

Diagnosis. A species characterized by its unique combination of small size (SV = 15.7 mm) with finger discs larger than toe discs (3rdF/4thT = 1.30); first finger of normal size, with disc that lacks a circum-marginal groove; moderately large finger discs (3rdF/SV = 0.046); short legs (TL/SV = 0.46); short and narrow snout (EN/SV = 0.089, SN/EY = 0.88, EN/IN = 1.08); hidden tympanum; large eye (EY/SV = 0.15); face dark brown posteriorly, tan with dark-brown flecks anteriorly; boldly blotched with dark-brown spots laterally and ventrally ( Fig. 5 ).

Comparisons with other species. The new species differs from all Papuan congeners except C. daymani Zweifel, 1956b and C. kethuk in having the snout shorter than the eye. It differs from C. daymani in its narrower snout (IN/SV = 0.90–0.108, EN/IN = 0.78–0.88 in C. daymani ); it differs from C. kethuk in lacking (vs. having in C. kethuk ) basal webbing on the toes, having a normal-sized (vs. reduced in C. kethuk ) first finger with (vs. lacking in C. kethuk ) a disc, and being blotched dorsally (vs. having a dorsal hourglass pattern in C. kethuk ). Cophixalus pictus also differs from all Papuan congeners in its boldly blotched lateral and ventral pattern. Cophixalus pulchellus Kraus and Allison, 2000 is boldly blotched dorsally with black on silver-gray, but has a dark venter and disc of third finger smaller than that of fourth toe (3rdF/4thT = 0.94 in C. pulchellus ); C. bewaniensis has a single large dark-brown blotch laterally but has the venter flecked with brown and has a reduced first finger lacking a disc. It is uncertain if the hidden tympanum of the holotype of C. pictus is a preservation artifact, but this seems unlikely. If it is a reliable feature, then this character also serves to distinguish C. pictus from all Papuan congeners except C. cryptotympanum Zweifel, 1956b , which, in addition to the characters mentioned above, differs in having longer legs (TL/SV = 0.50–0.52 in C. cryptotympanum ), a broader snout (EN/IN = 0.80–0.91 in C. cryptotympanum ), and a light postocular stripe.

Description of holotype. Sex uncertain because of state of preservation of internal features, but likely a juvenile male; eggs and enlarged oviducts clearly absent. Head moderately wide (HW/SV = 0.43), with steeply oblique loreal region and inflated upper lip; canthus rostralis rounded, straight when viewed from above; nostrils directed laterally, closer to tip of snout than to eyes; internarial distance narrower than distance from naris to eye (EN/IN = 1.08, IN/SV = 0.083, EN/SV = 0.089); snout slightly rounded when viewed from the side, rounded when viewed from above; eyes large (EY/SV = 0.15); eyelid approximately same width as interorbital distance; tympanum hidden. Dorsal, lateral, and ventral surfaces smooth; supratympanic fold absent. Fingers unwebbed, all bearing well-developed discs; relative lengths 3>4>2>1. Discs of F3 and F4 with poorly developed circum-marginal grooves, approximately 2 times widths of penultimate phalanges (3rdF/SV = 0.046); discs of F1 and F2 lacking such grooves, that of F2 approximately 1.5 times width of penultimate phalanx, that of F1 barely wider than penultimate phalanx. Subarticular tubercles poorly developed, metacarpal tubercles not evident. Toes unwebbed, bearing discs, with terminal grooves on T2–T5; relative lengths 4>3>5>2>1. Toe discs smaller than those of fingers (3rdF/4thT = 1.30); disc of fourth toe approximately 1.5 times as wide as penultimate phalanx (4thT/SV = 0.036); disc of first toe approximately same width as penultimate phalanx. Subarticular and metatarsal tubercles not obvious. Hind legs rather short (TL/SV = 0.46).

Dorsum and upper sides brown, lighter lower on sides, with few dark-brown flecks on head and shoulders; sides with numerous dark-brown blotches, larger and more rounded ventrally ( Fig. 5 ). Front and rear of thighs brown with large dark-brown blotches. Posterior of face dark brown with few tiny tan flecks; snout tan with few dark-brown flecks ( Fig. 5 ). Chin, throat, and chest dark brown with few tiny tan flecks, mostly near jaw margins; symphysis tan. Abdomen tan with dark-brown blotches and minutely stippled with black. Iris dark brown.

Measurements (in mm). —SV = 15.7, TL = 7.3, HW = 6.8, IN = 1.3, EN = 1.4, SN = 2.1, EY = 2.4, 3rdF = 0.73, 4thT = 0.56.

Etymology. The name is a masculine Latin adjective meaning “painted” and is in reference to the boldly blotched color pattern of the species.

Range. Known only from the type locality in western New Guinea ( Fig. 6 ). The coordinates are along the coast, and the entire peninsula is of low elevation, so presumably this species inhabits lowland rainforest.

Figures

FIGURE 5. (A) Dorsal, and (B) lateral views of holotype (BPBM 1187) of Cophixalus pictus sp. nov. Scale bars are 5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Map of western New Guinea and adjacent islands showing type locality for Cophixalus pictus sp. nov. along coast of Bomberai Peninsula (filled star). Elevational contours are at 1000 m (light gray) and 1500 m (dark gray).