A new karst-dwelling species of Kalophrynus (Anura: Microhylidae) from Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo, Malaysia

Abstract

A new species of Kalophrynus is described from Gunung Mulu National Park in East Malaysia. The species is endemic to the karst hills and mountains of the Melinau Limestone Formation where it occurs at elevations between 70 and at least 1200 m. It differs from all other species of the genus by the combination of the following morphological characters: medium size (SVL of adult males 29.7–30.1 mm, adult females 35.5–38.8 mm), snout obtusely pointed, tympanum diameter slightly larger than half the eye diameter, upper jaw with weak dentition, fore limbs slender, Finger IV shorter than Fingers I and II, subarticular tubercles prominent, numbering one on Fingers I, II, and IV, and two on Finger III, a smaller, supernumerary metacarpal tubercle present between each finger and palmar tubercle, nuptial pads or asperities absent, heel reaching to posterior margin of eye when legs are adpressed to body, foot shorter than tibiofibula, Toe III longer than Toe V, toes webbed, inner and outer metatarsal tubercle prominent, dorsum and flanks black in life, separated from each other by white dorsolateral line running on both sides of body, chin and chest black, abdomen and proximal third of thigh grey in life, iris red to reddish-orange in life, advertisement call a single note consisting of 7 pulses and lasting 161 ms on average, with dominant frequency at 2250–2650 Hz.