Mantidactylus manerana antsanga, Scherz & Crottini & Hutter & Hildenbrand & Andreone & Fulgence & Köhler & Ndriantsoa & Ohler & Preick & Rakotoarison & Rancilhac & Raselimanana & Riemann & Rödel & Rosa & Streicher & Vieites & Köhler & Hofreiter & Glaw & Vences, 2022

Scherz, Mark D., Crottini, Angelica, Hutter, Carl R., Hildenbrand, Andrea, Andreone, Franco, Fulgence, Thio Rosin, Köhler, Gunther, Ndriantsoa, Serge Herilala, Ohler, Annemarie, Preick, Michaela, Rakotoarison, Andolalao, Rancilhac, Loïs, Raselimanana, Achille P., Riemann, Jana C., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Streicher, Jeffrey W., Vieites, David R., Köhler, Jörn, Hofreiter, Michael, Glaw, Frank & Vences, Miguel, 2022, An inordinate fondness for inconspicuous brown frogs: integration of phylogenomics, archival DNA analysis, morphology, and bioacoustics yields 24 new taxa in the subgenus Brygoomantis (genus Mantidactylus) from Madagascar, Megataxa 7 (2), pp. 113-311 : 293-294

Mantidactylus manerana antsanga ssp. nov.

Identity and justification.— This lineage was previously considered as unconfirmed candidate species M. sp. 15 by Vieites et al. (2009), and M. sp. Ca15 by Perl et al. (2014). It is characterized by a high divergence in 16S but haplotype sharing in Rag-1 with the nominal form, M. manerana manerana , which occurs allopatrically. Little is known about this form, with limited data on morphology and no data on bioacoustics or colour in life. We therefore describe it here as subspecies.

Holotype.— MRSN A5633 ( FAZC 13371 , ACZC 10079 ), adult female, collected by F. Andreone, F. Mattioli, and J.E. Randrianirina on 24 January 2006 in Sahavontsira (ca 16.91°S, 049.22°E), Analanjirofo Region, Madagascar. A 16S barcode sequence of the holotype was included in the analysis

Diagnosis.— Mantidactylus manerana antsanga ssp. nov. is a lineage here considered as subspecies of M. manerana due to its high morphological similarity. It is the sister group of the clade comprising M. m. manerana and M. m. fotaka according to our phylogenomic analysis. See Table 4 and the diagnosis of M. manerana above for a list of diagnostic morphological characters and of differences to other species of Brygoomantis . Morphologically, this poorly known taxon may differ from the other two subspecies by larger body size (SVL of the only examined female 38 mm, vs 28–29 mm female SVL in the other two subspecies). It may also differ from the nominal subspecies by slightly shorter hindlimbs and more developed foot webbing ( Table 4 ). A full list of molecular diagnostic sites in the 16S gene of M. manerana antsanga ssp. nov. in pairwise comparisons to all other Brygoomantis species and subspecies is provided as Supplementary appendix.

Description of the holotype.—Adult female in excellent state of preservation ( Fig. 73 ). Fourth toe of right foot removed as tissue sample. Body stout. Head as wide as body. Snout rounded in dorsal and lateral views. Nostrils directed laterally, slightly protuberant, nearer to tip of snout than to eye. Canthus rostralis weakly recognisable, slightly concave; loreal region slightly concave.Tympanum distinct, moderately sized, as wide as high, horizontal diameter of tympanum 69% of horizontal eye diameter. Supratympanic fold recognisable above the tympanum, slightly curved, not recognisable posterior to tympanum. Tongue ovoid, distinctly bifid posteriorly. Maxillary teeth present. Vomerine teeth form two prominent rounded aggregations, positioned posterolateral to choanae and almost as large as these. Choanae rounded. Subarticular tubercles single. Inner and outer metacarpal tubercles present. Fingers without webbing. Relative length of fingers: I<II<IV<III. Finger discs slightly enlarged. Nuptial pads absent. Foot longer than tibia (110%). Lateral metatarsalia separated. Inner metatarsal tubercle present. Outer metatarsal tubercle indistinct but recognisable. Webbing formula: 1(0.5), 2i(1), 2e(0.5), 3i(1.75), 3e(1), 4i(2.25), 4e(2), 5(0.25). Relative length of toes: I<II<V<III<IV. Skin on the upper surface smooth, with two weakly expressed dorsolateral ridges. Two equally sized femoral gland rudiments recognisable ventrally on each thigh.

Colour in preservative: dorsally brown with some indistinct darker markings, and triangular more distinct dark marking between eyes. More irregularly dark-light marbled on flanks, and some lighter spots on upper lip and underneath the eye. Weakly defined dark crossbands on limbs. Fingers and, less expressed, toes with alternating pattern of light and dark colour. Ventrally beige, without any dark pigmentation except for a light-dark pattern ventrally on lower lip. Colour in life not documented.

Natural history.—Largely unknown. Specimens were collected from rainforest.

Calls.— The call of this subspecies has not been recorded.

Tadpoles.— The tadpole of this subspecies has not been described.

Distribution.— Widespread in the Northern Central East ( Fig. 7 ). Currently known from Sahavontsira, Babitanety and Antsahataloka in the Befanjana forest, and Ambatobe. Elevation range: 14–466 m a.s.l.

Etymology.—The subspecies name is derived from the Malagasy word antsanga, meaning ‘trash and mud deposited by flood water’, in reference to the riparian habits of this species (and other Brygoomantis species). The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Mantidactylus subgenus Brygoomantis species distribution based on verified records, divided by clade (Mantidactylus stelliger sp. nov. is presented alongside the inaudax clade for practicality). Colours for species correspond to those in Figs 2 and 4. Inset map shows the geographic regions of Madagascar identified by Boumans et al. (2007), referred to throughout the text.

FIGURE 73. Preserved lectotype of Mantidactylus inaudax, and holotype specimens of newly named species and subspecies in the M. inaudax clade. Scale bars equal 5 mm.