Liophryne schlaginhaufeni (Wandolleck), 2000

ZWEIFEL, RICHARD G., 2000, Partition Of The Australopapuan Microhylid Frog Genus Sphenophryne With Descriptions Of New Species, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (253), pp. 1-130 : 68-71

Liophryne schlaginhaufeni (Wandolleck) ,

new combination

Sphenophryne schlaginhaufeni Wandolleck, 1911: 5 (type locality, ‘‘Oberlauf des Rienjamur 650– 700 m üb. Meer, 15. Sept.’’ [1909, Torricelli Mtns., West Sepik Prov., Papua New Guinea]; 2 syntypes, MTKD D2212 [destroyed in World War II: Obst, 1977], collected by Otto Schlaginhaufen on Sept. 15 [year?]). Parker, 1934: 154 ( klossi synonymized with schlaginhaufeni ).

Sphenophryne klossi Boulenger, 1914: 251 (type locality, ‘‘ Launch Camp , Setekwa R.,’’ Irian Jaya; syntypes, BMNH 1947.2 .12.45 and 1947.2.12.46, formerly 1913.11.1.140 and 1913.11.1.141, collected on the Wollaston Expedition, probably by C. Boden Kloss on September 12, 1912 .10 Van Kampen, 1923: 107. Nieden, 1926: 46.

Sphenophryne macrorhyncha : van Kampen, 1923: 107 ( schlaginhaufeni referred with question to the synonymy of macrorhyncha ).

10 Wollaston (1916: 3) cited Kloss as being responsible for the zoological and botanical collections, and (p. 5) described a brief excursion on the Setekwa River on this date.

S[phenophryne]. basipalmata : Nieden, 1926: 46 ( schlaginhaufeni referred with question to the synonymy of basipalmata ).

TYPE LOCALITY: I cannot place the ‘‘upper course of the Rienjamur’’ with certainty, but from a map published by the collector (Schlaginhaufen, 1914, fig. 1) it is likely that this is the river now known as the Drinumor (Suain Quadrangle, sheet 7491, Papua New Guinea 1:100,000 topographic survey). This would place the type locality about 29 km south and 25 km east of Aitape.

TYPE MATERIAL: Although the type specimens of schlaginhaufeni have been destroyed, there is no reason to question associating this name with the specimens I examined. Not only did Wandolleck provide an adequate description that mentions several pertinent characters, but Parker (1934: 154) examined one of the syntypes and compared it with the types of klossi . Inasmuch as there are no outstanding biological problems complicating the taxonomy, a neotype need not be designated.

DIAGNOSIS: Distinguished from Liophryne allisoni by larger adult size (SVL ± 30 mm) and from L. similis and L. rhododactyla in being smaller than adults of these two, which are Ṩ 45 mm SVL. L. schlaginhaufeni has a sharply defined canthus rostralis (rounded in dentata ), nearly vertical loreal region (sloping in dentata ), and a straight postocular-supratympanic skin fold (curved down behind the ear in dentata ). See the account of L. rubra for diagnostic comparison with that species.

MORPHOLOGY: Body size moderately large, up to about 43 mm SVL, with the longest legs (TL/SVL mean, 0.57) and almost the broadest head (HW/SVL mean, 0.42) in the genus. Snout as seen from above nearly truncate, obtusely angled, slightly projecting in profile; nostrils lateral, scarcely visible from above, much closer to snout tip than to eye; loreal region flat, nearly vertical, sloping only a little outward to lip; a sharp angle along canthus rostralis between loreal region and flat top of snout. Internarial distance relatively broad (IN/SVL mean, 0.12), eye–naris distance slightly less than eye diameter (EN/EY mean, 0.80). Eyes moderately large (EY/SVL mean, 0.12), laterally placed and visible from beneath, interorbital span broad- er than an upper eyelid. Tympanum large and distinct, horizontal diameter about half that of eye. Relative lengths of fingers 3> 4 = 2> 1, first little shorter than second; all fingers with small, somewhat pointed discs with circum-marginal grooves, disc of third finger about 1.5X width of penultimate phalanx and narrower than disc of fourth toe; subarticular and inner and outer metacarpal tubercles moderately prominent. Relative lengths of toes 4> 3> 5> 2> 1, all unwebbed with grooved, somewhat pointed discs, that of fourth toe about twice width of penultimate phalanx; subarticular tubercles moderately prominent, an elongate inner metatarsal tubercle but no outer. Dorsal surface of body finely tuberculate; a pair of angular, convergent folds in the scapular region; a narrow lateral fold commences at the posterior corner of the eye and passes diagonally to the flank, crossing the upper edge of the tympanum; several transverse ridges on the hind limbs and pointed tubercles on the heel and edge of tarsus; ventral surfaces of body and limbs smooth.

COLOR AND PATTERN: Preserved specimens are pale tan to dark gray-brown dorsally, often with the area between and posterior to the scapular folds a deeper tone. Indistinct darker spotting may be present over the dorsal surfaces, and there may be small, paired black spots centered on pale tubercles. Occasional specimens show a narrow vertebral light line. The side of the head is dark brown, darkest and sharply bounded at the canthus rostralis and postocular fold, fading somewhat toward the upper lip. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the thighs are dusky, largely unmarked or with indistinct spotting or mottling. A dark, triangular ‘‘seat patch’’ has its apex at the cloaca. The soles of the feet and rear of the tarsus are dark brown. The ventral surfaces may appear pale with sparse melanic pigmentation visible only on close examination, but in a darker phase light spots contrast with a darker background, especially on the throat.

James Menzies (personal commun.) described specimens from the Adelbert Mountains: dorsally bright yellow (grayish on the head), or reddish fawn, or mottled fawn and brown; sides of head black, continuing to midbody but broken; ventrally white with all over dark reticulation, limbs included; soles and anal region black.

VARIATION IN SIZE AND PROPORTIONS: The largest among 23 specimens examined is a female, SVL 42.9 mm. The smallest evidently mature female, 30.3 mm, has ova 2.5 mm in diameter. Mature males (vocal sac openings present) range from 29.1 to 38 mm. The number of specimens is inadequate to investigate geographic variation. Statistics on proportions are summarized in table 6, and regression data are presented in table 7.

ILLUSTRATIONS: 3rd finger terminal phalanx, fig. 71I; premaxilla, fig. 63H; sacral region, fig. 72H; vomer, fig. 65H; hand and foot, fig. 54D. Mahony et al. ( 1992) illustrated the karyotype. Boulenger (1914: pl. XXVII, figs. 3, 3a, 3b) has excellent drawings of a syntype of S. klossi . Bickford (1999) has a color photograph of a male schlaginhaufeni transporting several young.

CALL: G. P. Opit (note on BPBM field tag, specimen from Adelbert Mountains ) stated: ‘‘ Calls both day and night ; several loud, high-pitched, very bird-like chirps.’’ James Menzies has provided me with recordings of three frogs made near Mabimap Village , Adelbert Mountains, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. The call lasts roughly six to 11 sec and consists of a series of 11 to about 20 pulsed, chirplike notes, averaging about 0.09 sec in one frog and 0.13 sec in another (table 9, fig. 79A). The dominant frequency is 2200–2400 Hz .

COMPARISONS WITH OTHER SPECIES: The only species that much resemble schlaginhaufeni are L. dentata and L. rubra . The first two are closely similar in size and proportions but are readily distinguished by the characters given in the Diagnosis and additionally by the dark face mask of schlaginhaufeni . So far as is known, their geographic ranges are widely separated. L. rubra occurs closer to schlaginhaufeni although probably at higher elevations. See the account of rubra for morphological comparisons.

HABITAT AND HABITS: I have had no field experience with this species and there is nothing pertinent in the literature. G. B. Opit (notes on field tags, BPBM specimens) found schlaginhaufeni active both by day and night on leaf litter in primary forest in the Adelbert Mountains. Bickford (1999) reported that the male broods the eggs and carries the newly hatched young on its back and sides for up to 8 days.

DISTRIBUTION: Although recorded from few localities, Liophryne schlaginhaufeni evidently has a rather extensive distribution at middle elevations (about 400–1550 m, but one record as low as 15 m). It has not yet been taken on the Huon Peninsula or on the eastern tail of Papua New Guinea (fig. 38). Published records for the species in the latter region were based on a specimen of S. dentata (Zweifel, 1956; see the account of dentata ) and on misidentified Cophixalus cheesmanae (Room, 1974: 440; MCZ specimens examined by me).

LOCALITY RECORDS AND SPECIMENS EXAMINED: IRIAN JAYA: Launch Camp, Setekwa River ( BMNH 1947.2 .12.45–46, syntypes of Sphenophryne klossi ) ; 18 km SSE Timeka Airport, 15 m ( BPBM 13859 ). PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Western Prov.: Derongo, 550 m ( MCZ A80000 ). West Sepik Prov.: Mt. Hunstein , 1200 m ( AMNH A77589–77591 ) ; Mt. Nibo, Torricelli Mtns., 700–1550 m ( AMNH A78182–78184 ). East Sepik Prov.: Upper course of the Reinjamur, Torricelli Mtns., 650–700 m ( Wandolleck , 1911; type locality–see comments above). Simbu Prov.: Diodo , 1200 m, 144°50′E, 6°30′S ( AMS R133043 , 133044 ) ; Weiana , 8 km S, 1 km E Soliabedo, 460 m ( MCZ A111929 ) ; between Camp III, 13.5 km S, 1 km E Soliabedo, and Weiana, 8 km S, 1 km E Soliabedo , 420–730 m ( MCZ A111928 ) ; Soliabedo , 550 m ( MCZ A111927 , 111931 ). Madang Prov.: Adelbert Mtns., vic. of Wamambre, about 15 km NE Wanuma, 1300 m ( BPBM 5676 ) ; Adelbert Mtns., Mt. Mengam about 21 km NNW Wanuma, 1500 m ( BPBM 5690 , 5691 , 5785 , 5786 ) ; Adelbert Mtns., vic. of Hinihon , about 22 km NNW Wanuma, 1300 m ( BPBM 5702 ) ; Adelbert Mtns., Mabimap, 1500 m (J. Menzies, personal commun.).

REMARKS: In the years since its description by Wandolleck (1911) and redescription as Sphenophryne klossi by Boulenger (1914), schlaginhaufeni has rarely been collected or mentioned in the literature. Van Kampen (1923: 107) recognized klossi and placed schlaginhaufeni with question in the synonymy of Sphenophryne macrorhyncha . Nieden (1926: 46) also recognized klossi but referred schlaginhaufeni to the synonymy of Sphenophryne basipalmata , also with question. Parker (1934: 154) examined syntypes, resurrected schlaginhaufeni and synonymized klossi . Loveridge (1948: 421) misidentified two specimens of Copiula as schlaginhaufeni (see Zweifel, 1956: 19); Zweifel (1956: 18) did the same with the first specimen of L. dentata ; Room (1974) confused Cophixalus cheesmanae with schlaginhaufeni (see above). A specimen utilized by Burton (1986) may be L. rubra rather than schlaginhaufeni (see account of rubra ). Possibly the only correct attributions of new specimens in the literature are a passing mention of schlaginhaufeni from Mt. Hunstein in Zweifel (1967a: 6) and a citation of voucher specimens for a karyological study (Mahony et al., 1992).