Anomaloglossus

Kok, Philippe J. R., Macculloch, Ross D., Lathrop, Amy, Willaert, Bert & Bossuyt, Franky, 2010, A new species of Anomaloglossus (Anura: Aromobatidae) from the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana, Zootaxa 2660, pp. 18-32 : 28-29

Western Pantepui Anomaloglossus species

Among the Western Pantepui Anomaloglossus species, A. ayarzaguenai ( La Marca, 1998) and A. moffetti Barrio-Amorós and Brewer-Carías, 2008 are the geographically closest species to A. megacephalus (ca. 400 km airline to the west). Anomaloglossus ayarzaguenai and A. moffetti are very similar to each other, geographically close (from Cerro Jaua and Cerro Sarisariñama, respectively) and possible synonyms (Kok & Barrio-Amorós unpubl. data). Anomaloglossus megacephalus is distinguished from A. ayarzaguenai and A. moffetti in having a comparatively longer snout, and a larger, somewhat more massive head [compare Figs. 1 and 2 B with fig. 4 a–c illustrating A. moffetti in Barrio-Amorós & Brewer-Carías (2008)], in having a distinct tympanum in life (barely distinct in A. ayarzaguenai and A. moffetti ), separated from eye by 42–60% of its greatest length (25% or less in A. ayarzaguenai and A. moffetti ), and in lacking a dark area spotted with white ventrolaterally at the level of arm insertion (always present in A. ayarzaguenai and A. moffetti ).

Anomaloglossus megacephalus mostly differs from A. guanayensis ( La Marca, 1998) by (characters of A. guanayensis in parentheses) its larger size, female SVL max 28.3 mm (n=3) in A. megacephalus (23.5 mm in A. guanayensis , n=3), and in having less developed keel-like lateral folds on fingers (extensive, present pre- and postaxially on all fingers).

Anomaloglossus megacephalus can be distinguished from A. parimae ( La Marca, 1998) by (characters of A. parimae in parentheses) its larger size, female SVL max 28.3 mm (n=3) in A. megacephalus (23.1 mm in A. parimae , n=2), in having a short, wider than long median lingual process (slender, noticeably longer than wide), and in having distinctly more webbing on toes.

Anomaloglossus megacephalus can be distinguished from A. shrevei ( Rivero, 1961) in having (characters of A. shrevei in parentheses) a weakly to distinctly curved, slightly tuberclelike tarsal keel, (short, straight, not tuberclelike), less developed keel-like lateral folds on fingers (extensive, present pre- and postaxially on all fingers), and dark blotches on throat and belly (throat and belly immaculate).

Anomaloglossus megacephalus mostly differs from A. tamacuarensis by (characters of A. tamacuarensis in parentheses) its larger size, female SVL max 28.3 mm (n=3) in A. megacephalus (25.0 mm in A. tamacuarensis , n=2), in having a comparatively longer snout, and a larger, somewhat more massive head [compare Figs. 1 and 2 B with figs. 11 and 13 illustrating A. tamacuarensis in Myers & Donnelly (1997)], less developed keel-like lateral folds on fingers (extensive, present pre- and postaxially on all fingers), a conspicuous tympanum (inconspicuous), and in having a short, wider than long median lingual process (slender, noticeably longer than wide).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Anomaloglossus megacephalus sp. nov. A: Dorsolateral view of the holotype in life (IRSNB 1986, 27.3 mm SVL). B: Ventral view of the holotype in life. C: Dorsal view of the preserved holotype. D: Ventral view of the preserved holotype. Photos by PJRK.

FIGURE 2. Anomaloglossus megacephalus sp. nov. A: Ventral views of left hand (left) and left foot (right) of the female holotype (IRSNB 1986, 27.3 mm SVL). Scale bars are 2 mm. B: ROM 39638, female paratype (27.9 mm SVL), from Mt. Ayanganna. Photos by PJRK (A) and AL (B).