New Microhylid Frog (Plethodontohyla) with a Supraocular Crest from Madagascar
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.Abstract
Male holotype of Plethodontohyla coronata (ZFMK 57459) from Ankeniheny, central eastern Madagascar
Lateral view of head and ventral views of hand and foot of the holotype of Plethodontohyla coronata (ZFMK 57459). Arrows point to supraocular crest, indistinct supratympanic fold, and reduced inner toe. The scale bars represent 1 mm
Sonagram and oscillogram of part of a call (two notes of a longer note series) of Plethodontohyla coronata, presumably recorded from the holotype at Ankeniheny, central eastern Madagascar
Contributor Notes
(MV) Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Zoological Museum, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94766, 1090 GT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and (FG) Zoologische Staatssammlung, MÜnchhausenstr. 21, 81247 MÜnchen, Germany. (MV):vences@science.uva.nl Send reprint requests to MV.