Anomaloglossus moffetti, Barrio-Amorós & Brewer-Carías, 2010

Barrio-Amorós, César L. & Brewer-Carías, Charles, 2010, Venezuelan Guayana, with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 1942, pp. 1-68 : 12-16

Anomaloglossus moffetti sp. nov.

( Fig. 4A, B, C, D, E )

Sarisariñama Rocket Frog, Sapito niñera de Sarisariñama

Holotype. EBRG 4645 , an adult female from southern slope of Sarisariñama-tepui , Camp IV, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela (4º29’ N, 64º8’ W), elev. 1108 m, collected on 23 March 2002 by César L. Barrio-Amorós.

Paratopotypes. EBRG 4646–51 , with the same data as the holotype .

Etymology. The species name is a patronym for Mark Moffett, entomologist and probably the best ant

Diagnosis. (1) A medium sized Anomaloglossus (max. 26.9 mm SVL); (2) disc on FIII wider than diameter of finger; (3) FI slightly longer than FII; (4) fringes on fingers absent; (5) disc on TIV slightly wider than diameter of toe; (6) narrow, indistinct fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV; (7) inner tarsal keel straight; (8) toe webbing formula I 1–2 II 1–3 III 2–3 IV 4–2 V; (9) dorsolateral stripe absent; (10) oblique lateral stripe pale whitish from groin to middle of flank; (11) ventrolateral stripe absent; (12) diffuse irregular spotting on chest, but not collar-like; (13) belly uniformly pale or marked with diffuse melanophores; (14) no sexual dimorphism in ventral pattern; (15) dorsal and ventral skin smooth; (16) tympanum indistinct, TD <50% ED. Anomaloglossus moffetti is distinguishable from other Guianan Anomaloglossus by the following characters (those of A. moffetti in parentheses). Anomaloglossus ayarzaguenai , the geographically closest known species, has FI slightly shorter than FII (longer), fingers with lateral fringes (absent), toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), a snout rounded in dorsal view (nearly truncate), and much more webbing (less webbing; see formula above). Anomaloglossus breweri has FI and II equal (FI longer than II), a different webbing formula, I 1–2 II 1½–3 III 2½–3½ IV 3½–1½ V (I1-2II1-3III2-3IV4-2V). Anomaloglossus degranvillei from French Guiana has a granular dorsum (smooth), FI <FII (FI> FII), no oblique lateral stripe (present), a post-tympanic white bar (absent), and ventral brown surfaces with white spots (whitish with small brown melanophores). Anomaloglossus guanayensis is smaller, female SVL 23.5 mm (up to 26.9 mm), has a dorsal skin with flat tubercles (smooth), FI <FII (FI> FII), fingers with lateral fringes (absent), toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), and a dark ventral coloration (pale white to mottled with brown melanophores). Anomaloglossus murisipanensis has Finger FI <FII (FI> FII), toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), no oblique lateral stripe (present), and dark ventral coloration (pale white to mottled with brown melanophores). Anomaloglossus parimae has tuberculate dorsal skin (smooth), FI <FII (FI> FII), fingers with lateral fringes (absent), and toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV). Anomaloglossus parkerae has a rounded snout in dorsal view (truncate), fingers with lateral fringes (absent), toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), and no oblique lateral stripe (present). Anomaloglossus praderioi has small tubercles on the posterior part of the dorsum (skin smooth), FI = FII (FI> FII), weak lateral fringes on fingers (absent), no oblique lateral stripe (present), and very little toe webbing (see formula above). Anomaloglossus praderioi is similar to A. moffetti in having an orange-reddish belly and lower thigh surfaces. Anomaloglossus roraima has tuberculate skin on dorsum (smooth), a snout rounded in dorsal view (truncate), almost no toe webbing (moderately webbed, see formula above), and no oblique lateral stripe (present). Anomaloglossus shrevei is larger with SVL up to 36 mm (up to 26.9 mm), FI <FII (FI> FII), fingers with lateral fringes (absent), and toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV). Anomaloglossus tamacuarensis has granular skin (smooth), possesses anal tubercles (absent), an inconspicuous tympanum (conspicuous although not very distinct), FIII slightly swollen (not swollen), and fringes on fingers (absent). Anomaloglossus tepuyensis has a snout that appears rounded in dorsal view (truncate), FI <FII (FI> FII), lateral fringes on FII and FIII (absent), toes with lateral fringes (only a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), and no oblique lateral stripe (present); see Remarks below. Anomaloglossus triunfo is smaller with SVL up to 20 mm (up to 26.9 mm), has fringes on all toes (a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), and is sexually dimorphic in ventral pattern, white in males, brown in females (no sexual dimorphism in ventral pattern). Anomaloglossus wothuja is smaller with SVL up to 22 mm (up to 26.9 mm), fringes on fingers present (absent), fringes along toes (a narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV), and diffuse markings on the chest (absent).

Description. Dorsal and ventral skin smooth in all specimens except EBRG 4647, which is finely spiculate. Dorsal skin forming a well-defined, rounded, posteriorly projecting flap well above vent, which opens at upper level of thighs; anal tubercles absent. HW = HeL or slightly wider than long, HW between angles of jaws about 33% SVL. Snout sloping, blunt in lateral view ( Fig. 4B ) (except EBRG 4651, in which the snout is truncate), nearly truncate in dorsal and ventral view ( Fig. 4C ); nares directed slightly posterolaterally near tip of snout; nares visible from front, barely or not visible from above, but well visible from below; canthus rostralis straight, indistinct; loreal region nearly flat, sloping slightly outward to lip; IOD>UEW; snout much longer than ED; tympanum indistinct, posterodorsal fourth to third concealed; TD more than one third and less than one half of ED; tympanum close to posterior edge of eye, low, nearly reaching jaw symphysis.

Hand moderate in size ( Fig. 4D ), its length 25% SVL and 66% HW; relative lengths of adpressed fingers III> IV> I> II; tip of FII reaching disc of FI; discs of all fingers moderately expanded; disc on FIII 1.6 times wider than distal end of adjacent phalanx; base of palm with large, round, median metacarpal tubercle; inner metacarpal tubercle on base of FI elliptical to rounded; one subarticular tubercle on FI and FII, two on FIII and FIV; all tubercles low, largest on FI, but smaller and rounded in EBRG 4649 and 4651; keel-like lateral fringes on fingers, ulnar tubercles, and ulnar fold absent.

Hind limbs moderately long; heel of adpressed limb reaching or slightly surpassing eye; tibia length 42– 50% of SVL; relative lengths of adpressed toes IV> III> V> II> I; first toe reaching to base, or distal edge, of subarticular tubercle of second toe; discs on toes moderately expanded; toes with moderate webbing, distally continuous as a narrow fringe on TII–V; webbing formula I 1–2 II 1–3 III 2–3 IV 4–2 V (EBRG 4648 with IV 3–1 V; EBRG 4649 and 4651 with IV 3–2 V); narrow fringe along outer free edges of TI and TV; nonprotuberant subarticular tubercles on toes; small, round outer metatarsal tubercle; elliptical inner metatarsal tubercle slightly larger (EBRG 4646 with faint median metatarsal tubercle on right foot; Fig. 4E ); narrow tarsal keel, straight to proximally curved distally, sometimes reaching the distal half of tarsus, but usually somewhat shorter, continuous with narrow fringe on free edge of first toe; without tubercle at proximal end.

Teeth present on maxillary arch. Tongue longer than wide; free posteriorly; median lingual process wider than long (barely visible, almost indistinguishable in EBRG 4651); vocal slits large, extending from near tongue insertion nearly to angles of jaws.

Color, pattern, and variation. In life, the dorsum is brown with inconspicuous darker irregular spots or band-like markings. The flank is black, bordered in some individuals by brown-orange stripes (not distinct in preservative). The oblique lateral stripe is yellow or dirty white, and the spots low in the flank are silvery white. The venter and ventral surfaces of the thighs are yellow or orange, independent of sex. The subocular region is pale brown to orange with small blue spots on the upper lips.

In preservative, the dorsum is dark to pale brown with no definite pattern. This varies from no pattern in EBRG 4648, to a somewhat conspicuous pattern consisting of three irregular marks (chevrons, M-shaped mark, or irregular spots) on the dorsum in EBRG 4646 and 4649 (both males); the latter also has an inverted triangle connected to the interorbital bar. In EBRG 4645 (holotype), 4647, 4650, and 4651, the dorsal pattern is diffuse. An ill-defined black stripe across the tip of the snout continues along side of snout, through eye, and over arm to groin; the stripe is most distinct above the tympanum and arm, and is diffuse in the groin. In all specimens (except EBRG 4648 and 4651) there is an irregular row of white spots below the black lateral stripe. A pale white oblique lateral line is present in all specimens, although it varies from a distinct line extending to mid-flank in both males (EBRG 4646 and 4649) and EBRG 4647 and 4650 to a linear row of white spots in the others. The arms are pale to dark gray with darker transverse bars. Two symmetrical narrow white bars on the posterior surfaces of the thighs surround the anal opening; these bars are most distinct in the two males and EBRG 4650. The fingers and toes are pale gray with darker gray rings. The discs on the fingers of EBRG 4646 are distinctly white, whereas white is far less apparent on the discs in the rest of the series; also in EBRG 4646 the axilla is white. The throat is dirty white in two individuals (EBRG 4649 and 4651) and white with variable pale brown mottling, from a minimum in EBRG 4647 to a maximum in EBRG 4650. EBRG 4645 has a collar-like band extending medially from the posterior parts of the jaws. The venter is uni-

form white in the holotype, EBRG 4647, 4649 and 4651, brown in EBRG 4646,and white with brown marbling especially laterally and on the chest in the others. The upper lips are dark brown with small white spots.

Measurements of holotype. SVL 26.0; TL 12.3; FeL 12.2; FL 11.0; HeL 8.5; HW 8.7; Ind 3.2; UEW 2.5; IOD 3.2; EN 2.0; ED 2.6; TD 1.3; FD 1.0; 4TD 1.1; ETS 4.0; 1FiL 3.1; 2FiL 3.1.

Natural history. This species lives in cascading streams, in the spray zone of waterfalls, and in streams in the forest. No calls were heard. Tadpoles are unknown.

Remarks. Myers and Donnelly (2001) predicted that most, if not all, of the web-footed highland species of Guayanan dendrobatoids (formerly in Colostethus ) would be found to have a median lingual process (MLP). Barrio-Amorós (2006) also assumed that all Guayanan Colostethus with a MLP will have no palatine bones and will form a monophyletic group. Grant et al. (2006) subsequently described the genus Anomaloglossus for all dendrobatoids with MLP. The presence of an oblique lateral stripe is shared with A. ayarzaguenai , A. breweri , A. guanayensis , A. parimae , A. shrevei , A. tamacuarensis , A. triunfo , and A. wothuja . La Marca (1996) did not clearly state whether this stripe is present or absent in A. tepuyensis , although in the description of the holotype he stated: “no hay banda inguinal, aunque sí una serie irregular de manchas claras cerca de la ingle, sin formar un diseño definido” (there is no inguinal stripe, although there is a series of irregular spots near the groin, without forming any definite pattern). Inguinal stripe is another name for the oblique lateral stripe ( Duellman and Simmons 1988). The specimens of A. tepuyensis we examined are variable in this aspect. EBRG 2701 has poorly defined lateral stripes and EBRG 2702 has large irregular white spots and a lateral stripe only on the left side, whereas EBRG 2694 also has irregular large spots on the flanks and a poorly defined lateral stripe.

Material examined. Allobates undulatus .— VENEZUELA: Estado Amazonas, Cerro Yutajé (5º46’ N, 66º8’ W), elev. 1750 m, EBRG 3040–42 .

Anomaloglossus breweri .— VENEZUELA: Estado Bolívar, Cueva del Fantasma, northwestern slope of Aprada tepui, elev. 660 m, MHNLS 17044-47 .

Anomaloglossus parkerae .— VENEZUELA: Estado Bolívar, La Escalera, Paso el Danto, MBUCV 6642 .

Anomaloglossus shrevei .— VENEZUELA: Estado Amazonas, Cerro Duida , elev. 1000 m, MBUCV 6687–68 .

Anomaloglossus tepuyensis .— VENEZUELA: Estado Bolívar, Auyantepui, Camp 4 (5º 58’ N, 62º33 W), elev. 1600 m, EBRG 2694 , 2701–02 .

Anomaloglossus triunfo — VENEZUELA: Estado Bolívar, slopes of the Cerro Santa Rosa, Serranía del Supamo , Estado Bolívar, Venezuela (6°40’39’’ N, 62°24’ 26’’ W), EBRG 4756–59 , CVULA 6521–22 .

Anomaloglossus wothuja — VENEZUELA: Estado Amazonas, base of Cerro Sipapo, Tobogán del Cuao (5°5’9” N, 67°27’7” W), elev. 150 m, MBUCV 6689–90 , EBRG 4760–61 .

Figures

FIGURE 4. (a) adult female individual of Anomaloglossus moffetti sp. nov. Details of external characteristics drawn from the paratype of Anomaloglossus moffetti sp. nov. EBRG 6465, including lateral (b) and dorsal (c) views of the head, a palmar view of the left hand (d) and a plantar view of the left foot (e). Scale bars are 1 mm long. Note that the discs on the tips of fingers III and IV and toe V are curved, giving the impression of a finger shorter than it actually is. In the artist