Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Articles
Published: 2011-01-07
Page range: 23–39
Abstract views: 42
PDF downloaded: 1

Two new species of Megophrys Kuhl & van Hasselt (Amphibia: Megophryidae), from western Thailand and southern Cambodia

Systematics Lab, School of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
Amphibia Xenophrys taxonomy new species Thailand Cambodia amphibian

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Megophrys are described from historical collections presented by Malcolm A. Smith to The Natural History Museum, London, in the early twentieth century. These specimens were previously misidentified as Megophrys parva, a widespread Asian species apparently comprised of a species complex. Megophrys damrei sp. nov., from the Bokor Plateau in the Cardamom Mountains of southern Cambodia and Megophrys takensis sp. nov., from Ban Pa Che, Tak Province, in western Thailand, are herein distinguished morphologically from all congeners from their respective and neighbouring countries. These, or further specimens representing either species, do not appear to have been reported on by other authors in the past and the conservation status of the two new species remains to be assessed. An attempt to locate both species at and near their respective type localities was successful for Megophrys takensis sp. nov., allowing the documentation of observations in the wild and live colouration. This study highlights the importance of examining historical museum collections often overlooked in recent decades by modern taxonomists.

References

  1. Bordoloi, S. & Borah, M.M. (2001) First record of a frog Megophrys robusta (Boulenger 1908) from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Cotton College Research Journal, 1, 191–193.

    Boulenger, G.A. (1893) Concluding report on the reptiles and batrachians obtained in Burma by Signor L. Fea, dealing with the collection made in Pegu and the Karin Hills in 1887–8. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 2 (13), 304–347 + Pl. VII–XII.

    Boulenger, G.A. (1899) On a collection of reptiles and batrachians made by Mr. J. D. La Touche in N.W. Fokien, China. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1899, 159–172 + Pl. XVI–XIX.

    Boulenger, G.A. (1903) Report on the batrachians and reptiles. Faciculi Malayensis, 2 (1), 131–141 + Pl. V–VI.

    Boulenger, G.A. (1908) A revision of the oriental pelobatid batrachians (genus Megalophrys). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1908, 407–430 + Pl. XXII–XXV + fig. 71.

    Bourret, R. (1937) Notes herpétologiques sur L’Indochine Française. XIV. Les batraciens de la collection du Laboratoire des Sciences Naturelles de l’Université. Descriptions de quinze espèces ou variétés nouvelles. Annexe au Bulletin Général de l'Instruction Publique, (4), 5–56.

    Bourret, R. (1942) Les batrachians L’Indochine. Memoires de L’Institut Oceanographic de L’Indochine, 1–547 + I–X + pl. 1–4.

    Daltry, J.C. & Wüster, W. (2002) A new species of Wolf snake (Serpentes: Colubridae: Lycodon) from the Cardamom Mountains, southwestern Cambodia. Herpetologica, 58 (4), 498–504.

    Delorme, M., Dubois, A., Grosjean, S & Ohler, A. (2006) Une nouvelle ergotaxinomie des Megophryidae (Amphibia, Anoures). Alytes, 24 (1–4), 6–21.

    Dubois, A. & Ohler, A. (1998) A new species of Leptobrachium (Vibrissaphora) from northern Vietnam, with a review of the taxonomy of the genus Leptobrachium (Pelobatidae, Megophryinae). Dumerilia, 4 (1), 1–32.

    Fei, L. (1992) Two new species of the genus Megophrys Pelobatidae (Amphibia, Anura) from China. Zoological Research, 13 (1), 5–12.

    Fei, L. (1999) Atlas of Amphibians of China. Publishing House for Scientific and Technological Literature, Hunan, Zhengzhou, 432 pp.

    Fei, L. & Ye, C.-Y. (2001) The Colour Handbook of the Amphibians of Sichuan. Chinese Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, 263 pp.

    Fei, L., Ye, C.-Y. & Huang, Y.-Z. (1983) Two new subspecies of Megophrys omeimontis Liu from China (Amphibia; Pelobatidae). Acta Herpetologica Sinica, 2 (2), 49–52.

    Fei, L., Ye, C.-Y. & Huang, Y.-Z. (1991 “1990”) Key to Chinese Amphibians. Chongqing Branch, Science and Technology Literature Publishing House, Chongqing, 364 pp. + 2 + [iv]

    Fei, L., Ye, C.-Y., Jiang, J.-P., Xie, F. & Huang, Y.-Z. (2005) The Illustrated Key to Chinese Amphibians. Sichuan Publishing House for Scientific and Technology, Sichuan, 340 pp. + fig’s 1–70.

    Frost, D.R. (2009) Amphibian species of the world 5.3: An online reference. http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/ The American Museum of Natural History. Accessed on 1/2/2010.

    Frost, D.L., Grant, T., Faivovich, J.N., Bain, R.H., Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., De Sa´, R., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Campbell, J.A., Blotto, B. L., Moler, P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, D.M. & Wheler, R.C. (2006) Amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 297, 1–370.

    Grismer, L.L. (2008) On the identification and distribution of Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus Smith, 1923, and Cyrtodactylus elok Dring, 1979. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 56 (1), 177–179.

    Grismer, L.L., Chav, T., Neang, T., Wood, P.L. Jr., Grismer, J.L., Youmans, T.M., Ponce, A., Daltry, J.C. & Kaiser, H. (2007) The herpetofauna of the Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary, and checklist of the herpetofauna of the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia. Hamadryad, 31 (2), 216–241.

    Grismer, L.L., Neang, T., Chav, T., Wood, P.L. Jr., Oaks, J.R., Holden, J., Grismer, J.L., Szutz, T.R. & Youmans, T.M. (2008a) Additional amphibians and reptiles from the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in northwestern Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia, with comments on their taxonomy and the discovery of three new species. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 56 (1), 161–175.

    Grismer, L.L., Neang, T., Chav, T. & Grismer, J.L. (2008b) Checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the Cardamom region of southwestern Cambodia. Cambodian Journal of Natural History, 2008 (1), 12–28.

    Günther, A. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. The Ray Society, London, 452 pp. + I–XXVII + pl. 1–26.

    Hu, S.-C., Djao, E.-M. & Liu, C.-C. (1966) A herpetological survey of the Tsinling and Ta-Pa Shan region. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 18 (1), 57–89. + pl. I–III.

    Hu, S.-C., Djao, E.-M. & Liu, C.-C. (1973) A survey of amphibians and reptiles in Kweichow Province, including a herpetological analysis. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 19 (2), 149–181 + pl. I–III.

    Huang, Y.-Z. & Fei, L. (1981) Two new amphibians from Tibet. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 6 (2), 211–215.

    Inger, R.F. (1989) Four new species of frogs from Borneo. Malayan Nature Journal, 42, 299–243.

    Inger, R.F. & Iskandar, D.T. (2005) A collection of amphibians from west Sumatra, with description of a new species of Megophrys. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 52 (1), 133–142.

    Inger R.F. & Romer, J.D. (1961) A new pelobatid frog of the genus Megophrys from Hong Kong. Fieldiana, 39 (46), 533–538.

    Inger, R.F., Stuebing, R.B. & Lian, T.F. (1995) New species and new records of anurans from Borneo. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 43 (1), 115–131.

    Jerdon, T.C. (1870) Notes on Indian herpetology. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, March 1870, 66–85.

    Jiang, J.-P., Fei, L., Zheng, M.-Q., Ye, C.-Y., Xie, F. & Chen, Y.-Y. (2002) Description of Megophrys wawuensis (Anura, Pelobatidae) from Sichuan, China, with discussion on the relationships of its related species. Cultum Herpetologica Sinica, 9, 80–87.

    Jiang, J.-P., Ye, C.-Y. & Fei, L. (2008) A new horn toad Megophrys sangzhiensis from Hunan, China (Amphibia, Anura). Zoological Research, 29 (2), 219–222.

    Khonsue, W. & Thirakupt, K. (2001) A checklist of the amphibians in Thailand. The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University, 1 (1), 69–82.

    Li, C., Dai, Q., Wang, Y.-Z., Gu, H. & Liu, Z. (2005) Reproductive modes in Sichuan amphibians. Biodiversity Science, 13 (4), 290–297.

    Liu, C.-C. (1950) Amphibians of western China. Fieldiana, 2, 1–400 + pl. 1–10.

    Liu, C.-C., He, S.-C. & Yang, F. (1960) Amphibia of Yunnan collected in 1958. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 12 (2), 149–174.

    Mahony, S. & Ali Reza, A.H.M. (2008) A herpetological collection from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, with two new species records for the country. Hamadryad, 32 (1), 45–56.

    Mo, X., Shen, Y., Li, H. & Wu, X. (2010) A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from the northwestern Hunan Province, China. Current Zoology, 56 (4), 432–436.

    Ohler, A. (2003) Revision of the genus Ophryophryne Boulenger, 1903 (Megophryidae) with description of two new species. Alytes, 21 (1–2), 23–44.

    Ohler, A., Swan, S.R. & Daltry, J.C. (2002) A recent survey of the amphibian fauna of the Cardamom Mountains, southwest Cambodia with descriptions of three new species. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 50 (2), 465–481.

    Orlov, N.L., Murphy, R.W., Ananjeva, N.B., Ryabov, S.A. & Ho, T.C. (2002) Herpetofauna of Vietnam, a checklist. Part 1. Amphibia. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 9 (2), 81–104.

    Pope, C.H. (1929) Four new frogs from Fukien, China. American Museum Novitates, 352, 1–5.

    Rao, D.-Q. & Yang, D.-T. (1997) The karyotypes of Megophryinae (Pelobatidae) with a discussion on their classification and phylogenetic relationships. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 7, 93–102.

    Schleich, H.H. & Kästle, W. (eds.). (2002) Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag K.G. 1201 pp. + i-x + [i-ii]

    Smith, M.A. (1917) Description of a new snake and a new frog from Siam. Journal of the Natural History Society, Siam, 2, 276–278.

    Smith, M.A. (1920) Reptiles and batrachians collected on Pulou Condore. Journal of the Natural History Society, Siam, 4 (2), 93–97.

    Smith, M.A. (1921) New and little-known reptiles and batrachians from southern Annam (Indo-China). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1921, 423–440 + pl. I–II.

    Smith, M.A. (1923) Notes on reptiles and batrachians from Siam and Indo-China. Journal of the Natural History Society, Siam, 6 (1), 47–53.

    Smith, M.A. (1926) The function of the “funnel” mouth of the tadpoles of Megalophrys, with a note on M. aceras Boulenger. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 4, 983–988.

    Smith, M.A. & Kloss, C.B. (1915) On reptiles and batrachians from the coast and islands of south-east Siam. Journal of the Natural History Society, Siam, 1 (4), 237–246.

    Stuart, B.L. (2005) New frog records from Laos. Herpetological Review, 36 (4), 473–479.

    Stuart, B.L. & Emmett, D.A. (2006) A collection of amphibians and reptiles from the Cardamom Mountains, southwestern Cambodia. Fieldiana, 109, 1–27.

    Stuart, B.L. & Platt, S.G. (2004) Recent records of turtles and tortoises from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 10, 129–150.

    Stuart, B.L., Chuaynkern, Y., Chan-ard, T. & Inger, R.F. (2006a) Three new species of frogs and a new tadpole from eastern Thailand. Fieldiana, 111, 1–19.

    Stuart, B.L., Sok, K. & Neang, T. (2006b) A collection of amphibians and reptiles from hilly eastern Cambodia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 54 (1), 129–155.

    Taylor, E.H. (1962) The amphibian fauna of Thailand. The University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 43, 255–599.

    Tian, Y.-Z., Gu, X.-M. & Sun, A.-Q. (2000) A new species of Megophrys in China (Amphibia: Pelobatidae). Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 25 (4), 462–466.

    Zheng, Y.-C., Mo, B.-H., Liu, Z.-J. & Xeng, X.-M. (2004) Phylogenetic relationships of Megophryid genera (Anura: Megophryidae) based on partial sequences of mitochondrial 16 rRNA gene. Zoological Research, 25 (3), 205–213.