Tomopterna wambensis, Wasonga, Domnick V. & Channing, Alan, 2013

Wasonga, Domnick V. & Channing, Alan, 2013, Identification of sand frogs (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: Tomopterna) from Kenya with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 3734 (2), pp. 221-240 : 226-229

Tomopterna wambensis sp. nov. Wasonga & Channing

Wamba Sand Frog ( Fig. 4 )

Holotype. NMK A/5152/1, adult male, from Sodor water pan in farmlands near Wamba township, Isiolo County, Kenya (0° 59’ N; 37° 20’ E), collected 5 May, 2010 by Domnick V. Wasonga, Michael Roberts and Victoria Zero.

Paratypes. NMK A/5152/2–3, adult males and NMK A/5152/4– 5 adult females collected together with the holotype; NMK A/5057/1– 6 adult males collected from temporary pond at Ikave Secondary School, Kitui County, Kenya (1° 35' 20" S; 37° 54' 0" E, 948 m) collected 31 October, 2009 by P.K. Malonza; NMK A/5149/1–3 and NMK A/5150/1–2, adult males collected from a murrum pit near the Air Strip at Mpala Research Center, Laikipia County, Kenya (0° 21’ 12” N; 36° 52’ 20” E) collected 3 May 2010 by Domnick V. Wasonga, Michael Roberts and Victoria Zero; MCNPV-CA 334 adult (not sexed) from open fields 17 km south of Allia Bay, Marsabit County, Kenya (03° 42’ N; 36° 20’ E), collected 7 July, 2005 by U. Ziliani, R. Sindaco and E. Razzetti; MCNPV-CA 250 adult (not sexed) from open fields near Illeret township on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana (04° 18’ N; 36° 13’ E) collected 10 January, 2005 by U. Ziliani; MCNPV-CA 252 adult (not sexed) from Karsa Well on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana, Marsabit County, Kenya (03° 36’ N; 36° 18’ E) collected 11 January, 2005 by E. Baucompagni; MCNPV-CA 337 adult (not sexed) from Lugga Daudi sand river in Sibiloi National Park, eastern Lake Turkana, Marsabit County, Kenya (03° 49’ N; 36° 21’ E) collected in June 2005 by U. Ziliani, R. Sindaco and E. Razzetti; NMK A/4323 adult (not sexed) from Bura Hasuma sand river, Marsabit County Kenya (03° 48’ N; 36° 17’ E) collected 5 July 2005 by U. Ziliani, R. Sindaco and E. Razzetti; NMK A/5145/1– 2 adult males from roadside water puddles near Kitobo Forest, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya (03° 26’ 29” S; 37° 37’ 13” E) collected 11 April, 2010 by P.K. Malonza, B. Bwong’ and J. Nyamache.

Material used for genetic analysis. NMK A/5057/ 1 adult male from Ikave, Kitui, NMK A/5149/1– 3 adult males from Mpala Research Center, NMK A/5152/ 1 adult male from Wamba, NMK A/5145/ 1 adult male from Kitobo Forest, MCNPV-CA334, MCNPV-CA250, MCNPV-CA252, MCNPV-CA337, NMK A/4323 five unsexed adults from eastern Lake Turkana.

Diagnosis. The phylogenetic analysis in this study has placed T. wambensis sp. nov. within the clade that includes all other Tomopterna , and we have no hesitation in assigning this taxon to the genus Tomopterna . The diagnostic characters and comparison with other members of the genus are presented in Appendices 3 and 4. The new species differs from all other Tomopterna species by a combination of morphological and advertisement call characteristics. These include divided subarticular tubercles, which are also found in T. gallmanni and T. krugerensis . The latter two species both have a harsh knocking-like advertisement call, unlike T. wambensis . The standard length (34.6–40.8, n=12) is much smaller compared to the recently re-described T. monticola (SVL 41.2, n=1) from Olengarua Village in Massai. Subarticular tubercles single and prominent. Webbing on hind toe is moderate; 2–2 ½ phalanges free of web on the forth digit. Glandular ridge below the tympanum broken into two unequal parts. Outer metatarsal tubercle absent; a weak whitish bump present instead (vs. prominent and strongly protruding in some members of the genus). Dorsum consists of greenish brown patches on a lighter background ( Figs. 4 A and D) contrasting with irregular dark markings and dark spots on a lighter ground colour in T. krugerensis and also varying from the scantily marked orange-brown to grey-brown of T. marmorata . Small reddish-brown warts present on dorsum (smooth in T. krugerensis , distinctive and prominent tubercles in T. tuberculosa ). The advertisement call consists of a series of high-pitched rapidly repeated notes. The note rate is 7.2– 10.9 s -1 ( T. krugerensis covers entire frequency range with a click; T. tandyi 7–8 notes s -1; T. delalandii 5–7 notes s -1; T. cryptotis 9 notes s -1). The call shows two harmonics with mean frequencies of 1135 Hz and 2253 Hz, with a fainter third harmonic at 3372 Hz. The second harmonic is emphasized (differing from T. krugerensis with multiple emphasized harmonics with dominant harmonic ranging from 1900–3100 Hz; T. tandyi 2500 –2700 Hz; T. delalandii 1800 –2200 Hz; T. cryptotis 3100–3800 Hz, T. luganga has the first harmonic emphasized 1050–1170 Hz). Each note has a duration of 0.028s ( Fig. 5 ), varying from T. krugerensis 0.008– 0.011 s; T. tandyi 0.04 s; T. delalandii 0.039 s; T. cryptotis 0.048 s.

Description of Holotype. The body is stout and toad like; head comparatively small (HL/SVL 0.32, HW/SVL 0.41), not wider than trunk, not longer than wide (HL/HW 0.78); snout short (SL/HL 0.54), rounded in dorsal view, blunt in profile ( Fig. 4 A), slightly projecting beyond rounded lower jaw, narrower than long (SL/INS 1.47); canthus rostralis is moderately angled; loreal region concave; nostrils situated on slight projections of the canthus, much closer to the snout tip than the eye (ENL/SNL 1.19); eyes directed anterolaterally, slightly protruding, relatively small (ED/HL 0.44); eye diameter shorter than snout (ED/SL 0.81); interorbital distance is longer than upper eyelid (IOS/ED 1.33), and longer than internarial distance (INS/ED 0.84); tympanum visible externally, discontinuous glandular ridge present below, smaller than eye diameter (TD/ED 0.73); upper jaw without dentition; choanae small, round, partly hidden by upper jaw, located anteriorially on the roof of the mouth, vomerine teeth in two oblique rows between the choanae; tongue short and strongly notched behind, one side slightly larger (5.7 at widest part); median lingual processes present; vocal sac single, darkly pigmented; gular pouch flattened anteriorly into a U-shape on the lower lip margin. Dorsal surfaces of head, trunk and limbs generally smooth; ventral surface of limbs, gular and abdomen smooth ( Figs. 4 B and E).

Fore limbs slender; hand moderately large (HND/SVL 0.24); tips of fingers not enlarged into discs; relative length of fingers: IV <I <II <III; subarticular tubercles single and distinct, with one on fingers I and IV, two on finger II and three on finger III; fingers without webbing; thenar tubercle distinct; palmar tubercles absent; metacarpals without supernumerary tubercles; nuptial pad present on manual digit I.

Hind limbs stout, slightly more than half body length (LEG/SVL 0.78); tibio-tarsal articulation not reaching to level of tip of snout when legs are adpressed to body; tibiofibula short (TL/SVL 0.39), slightly longer than thigh (TL/FL 1.01); heels just reaching each other when knees are flexed and thighs are held laterally at right angle to body; foot shorter than tibiofibula (FOT/TL 0.98); relative length of toes: I<II<V<III<IV; toes without expanded discs; subarticular tubercles: one on toe I and II, two on toe III and V and three on toe IV; pedal webbing formula I 1 –1.5 II 1.5+– 2 III 2– 2 IV 1.5-– 1 V; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent and shovel-shaped; outer absent.

Colouration in life. The dorsal pattern consists of greenish brown patches on a lighter background. Reddishbrown dorsal warts spread to surface of head, often bordered with black, larger and more prominent towards the mid dorsum; lateral sides of head and scapular region grey, anterior border of eye black; a darker bar present between the eyes; dorsal stripe absent, white flecks present; ventrum cream, throat dark; hands and thighs show two and three transverse dark markings respectively. Colouration in preservative. Dorsal wart colouration is lost; the other patterns are visible.

Paratype variation. Females (SVL 42–43, mean 42.5, n=2) are larger than males (SVL 34.6–40.8, mean 37.6, n=12). Colouration of male paratypes is similar to that of the holotype. In some specimens, however, a white thin dorsal line reaching the snout is present in both sexes. Females have a speckled throat ( Fig. 4 F). The dorsal glands are relatively larger and scattered in male individuals compared to females with small dense dorsal glands. Measurements are given in Table 3.

Eggs and tadpoles. Unknown.

Habitat. The specimens were found mostly in open habitats including man-made (e.g. Wamba) and natural water points (e.g. Turkana and Kitobo Forest). Most of the breeding congregations were found in seasonal wetlands. Specimens were observed from within (ca. 10 cm deep) and outside the water bodies (ca. 2 m). Males called from similar positions, but maintained some distance from each other (> 2 m). The following species were found sympatrically or syntopically with the new species: Ptychadena anchietae , Ptychadena mascareniensis, Hildebrandtia ornata and Kassina senegalensis .

Distribution. The collection locations of Tomopterna wambensis sp. nov. range from northern to south-eastern Kenya as indicated in Fig. 2 . Occurrence in Tanzania is confirmed by a single specimen from Arusha, Tanzania as revealed by the molecular data. However, a possible range extension into Ethiopia is implied by the proximity of the northernmost record of the series at Illeret to the Kenya-Ethiopian border (<20 km). The elevation range of collecting localities was between 725 m at Kitobo Forest and 1782 m at the Mpala Research Center.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, the village of Wamba in central Kenya.

Remarks. Based on the records of the type series across Kenya with at least one population in Tanzania, the species is considered widespread. We have recorded the species in both protected and unprotected areas. We presume that it is under no immediate threat and propose a Least Concern status under the current IUCN Redlist criteria.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Map showing the sampled populations of Tomopterna species from Kenya. Type localities are marked by a circle - Laikipia Nature Conservancy (T. gallmanni sp. nov.) and a triangle - Wamba (T. wambensis sp. nov.). T. cryptotis populations are shown by solid squares.

FIGURE 4. Tomopterna wambensis sp. nov. from Wamba, Kenya. Dorsolateral views in life (A) NMK A / 5152 / 1, male and (D) A / 5152 / 5, female, dorsal views in alcohol, (B) A / 5152 / 1, male, and (C) A / 5152 / 5, female, ventral views in alcohol, (E) A / 5152 / 1, male and (F) A / 5152 / 5, female.

FIGURE 5. Chorus of Tomopterna gallmanni recorded at Laikipia, and a chorus of Tomopterna wambensis recorded at Wamba.