Two New Philautus (Anura: Ranidae: Rhacophorinae) from Ponmudi Hill in the Western Ghats of India
Two new species of Shrubfrog, Philautus bobingeri sp. nov. and Philautus graminirupes sp. nov., are described from Ponmudi Hill in the Western Ghats. Philautus bobingeri is related to P. glandulosus but displays a number of clear-cut characters that make it easily distinguishable. Philautus graminirupes has previously been confused with Philautus signatus, but this species is confined to localities north of the Palghat Gap. Philautus bobingeri is a true canopy species, whereas P. graminirupes is exclusively found on herbaceous plants close to the ground. The microhabitat preference of both species is directly related to their choice of oviposition-site, because P. bobingeri eggs were found about 4 m high on a tree trunk, whereas P. graminirupes usually deposits its eggs in rock crevices or at the base of grass clumps close to the ground.Abstract
Holotype of Philautus bobingeri, (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) lateral view of head; (D) ventral view of hand; (E) ventral view of foot
Dorsolateral view of Philautus bobingeri, holotype in life
Comparison of Philautus bobingeri (left) with Philautus glandulosus (right): (A) dorsal skin texture; (B) dorsal view, showing coloration on forelimb and hind limb; (C) lateral view of head, showing coloration of loreal and tympanic region; (D) snout shape
Holotype of Philautus graminirupes, (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) lateral view of head; (D) ventral view of hand; (E) ventral view of foot
Dorsolateral view of Philautus graminirupes holotype in life
Contributor Notes
Biology Department, Unit of Ecology and Systematics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Permanent address: (SDB) Division of Conservation biology, Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562, Kerala, India. E-mail: (Fb) fbossuyt@vub.ac.be Send reprint requests to Fb.