Boophis burnhamae, Vences & Köhler & Hutter & Preick & Petzold & Rakotoarison & Ratsoavina & Glaw & Scherz, 2024

Vences, Miguel, Köhler, Jörn, Hutter, Carl R., Preick, Michaela, Petzold, Alice, Rakotoarison, Andolalao, Ratsoavina, Fanomezana M., Glaw, Frank & Scherz, Mark D., 2024, Communicator whistles: A Trek through the taxonomy of the Boophis marojezensis complex reveals seven new, morphologically cryptic treefrogs from Madagascar (Amphibia: Anura: Mantellidae), Vertebrate Zoology 74, pp. 643-681 : 643-681

Boophis burnhamae sp. nov.

Lineage H Figures 6 , 14

Identity.

This species has been previously referred to as B. sp. 26 by Vieites et al. (2009), B. marojezensis [Ca 26] by Randrianiaina et al. (2012), and B. sp. Ca 55 by Perl et al. (2014) and Hutter et al. (2018). Note that B. sp. Ca 26 in Hutter et al. (2018) refers to another lineage. This species was not explicitly included or mentioned by Glaw et al. (2001) and Glaw and Vences (2007).

Holotype.

ZSM 492 / 2014 (DRV 6295), adult male, collected on 21 June 2010 by F. M. Ratsoavina at a site locally called Andrevorevo (campsite “ A ”) (14.3464 ° S, 49.1028 ° E, 1717 m a. s. l.), on the border of the North East and North West regions of Madagascar.

Paratypes.

ZSM 491 / 2014 (DRV 6293), adult female with same collection data as holotype . ZSM 392 / 2016 (ZCMV 15171), probably a young or subadult male, collected by M. D. Scherz, A. Rakotoarison, M. Bletz, M. Vences and J. Razafindraibe close to Camp 2 “ Marojejia ”, Marojejy National Park (14.4348 ° S, 49.7660 ° E, 616 m a. s. l.) .

Definition.

A small-sized treefrog assigned to the genus Boophis , subgenus Boophis , in the family Mantellidae based on occurrence in Madagascar, presence of intercalary element between ultimate and penultimate phalanx of fingers and toes (verified by external examination), presence of webbing between fingers, presence of nuptial pads in males, and absence of femoral glands in males. Assigned to the Boophis blommersae group based on small body size (male SVL 25.0– 27.2 mm), predominantly brownish dorsal coloration, absence of red color on webbing or ventral side of limbs, suctorial stream-dwelling tadpoles, and molecular phylogenetic relationships. Within the B. blommersae group, defined by absence of dorsolateral bands and absence of red color in outer iris area. As advertisement calls are unknown, this species can formally mainly be defined by its numerous diagnostic nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial 16 S rRNA gene: MolD identified the following robust diagnostic nucleotide combination compared to all other species in the B. marojezensis complex (sites given relative to the full-length 16 S sequence of Mantella baroni ): “ A ” in the site 161, “ C ” in the site 179.

Diagnosis.

Within the B. blommersae group, distinguished from B. vittatus by absence of dorsolateral stripes (vs. presence). Because calls of this species are unknown, a bioacoustic pairwise diagnosis with other species of the group is not possible and therefore, the species can only be distinguished from some of its close relatives ( B. archeri sp. nov., B. blommersae , B. janewayae sp. nov., B. siskoi sp. nov.) by molecular diagnostic sites (see Definition above). The species can be distinguished from B. kirki sp. nov. by absence of red color in outer iris area (vs. presence in some specimens), and presence of a lateral transparent area of the integument of tadpoles (vs. absence); from B. picardi sp. nov. by larger body size (male SVL 25.0–27.2 vs. 21.3–23.2 mm), and absence of red color in outer iris area (vs. distinct in many); from B. pikei sp. nov. by larger body size (male SVL 25.0–27.2 vs. 21.4–25.0 mm); and from B. marojezensis by absence of rounded patches on the posterior half of the tail musculature of tadpoles (vs. presence).

Description of the holotype.

Adult male, in excellent state of preservation, SVL 25.5 mm, muscle tissue removed from left thigh for molecular analysis. Body moderately slender; head slightly wider than long, of similar width as body; snout rounded in dorsal view, moderately rounded to sloping in lateral view; nostrils directed laterally, about equidistant between tip of snout and eye; canthus rostralis distinct and concave in dorsal view, loreal region slightly concave; tympanum indistinct, difficult to recognize, somewhat ovoid (higher than wide), TD 43 % of ED; supratympanic fold not recognizable anteriorly and dorsally of tympanum, weakly recognizable and regularly curved posterior of tympanum; vomerine odontophores weakly developed, well-separated in two small rounded aggregations, positioned posteromedial to choanae; choanae medium-sized, rounded; maxillary teeth present. Tongue ovoid, posteriorly bifid, free. Arms slender, forearms of slightly larger diameter, subarticular tubercles single, round; metacarpal tubercles not recognizable; fingers moderately webbed and with lateral dermal fringes; webbing formula 1 (traces), 2 i (traces), 2 e (1), 3 i (2.5), 3 e (1.75), 4 (1.25); relative length of fingers 1 <2 <4 <3 (finger 2 distinctly shorter than finger 4); finger discs enlarged, rounded; nuptial pads recognizable as unpigmented swelling on first finger. Hindlimbs slender; tibiotarsal articulation reaching tip of snout when hindlimb is adpressed along body; lateral metatarsalia separated by webbing; inner metatarsal tubercle small, distinct, elongated; no outer metatarsal tubercle; toes broadly webbed; webbing formula 1 (0.25), 2 i (1), 2 e (0), 3 i (1.25), 3 e (0.25), 4 i (1.75), 4 e (1.75), 5 (0.5); relative length of toes 1 <2 <3 <5 <4; toe discs enlarged, rounded. Skin smooth on dorsal surfaces, throat, chest, and ventral surface of thighs, finely granular on belly; cloacal region surrounded by an area of distinct, large, white-colored granules.

In preservative, 13 years after collection (Fig. 6 ), dorsally light reddish brown with a moderately contrasted but distinct and complete brown hourglass marking on anterior part of the dorsum, a discontinuous broad brown transverse bar on the posterior part of the dorsum, and a narrow dark transverse bar between the eyes. Dorsum densely spotted with poorly contrasted small brown spots which partly fuse to larger markings. Limbs light brown with darker brown crossbands: about 3–5 poorly marked crossbands on forearm, 5 on shank, 7–8 on thigh. Ventrally cream, white on belly and with some dark pigment on ventral side of feet. Color of holotype in life not recorded.

Variation.

The female paratype ZSM 491 / 2014 in preservative has a rather uniform grayish dorsal color, with a few isolated dark spots and traces of an hourglass marking, and with three pink spots on the posterior dorsum close to the cloaca. In life, paratype ZSM 392 / 2016 (Fig. 14 ) had a reddish brown color with brown hourglass marking, a beige iris with orange color in the outer iris area, especially dorsally, a relatively distinct network of brown lines, and a turquoise iris periphery.

Etymology.

Named after the fictional character Captain Michael Burnham, first portrayed by Sonequa Martin-Green in Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtman’s Star Trek: Discovery.

Tadpole.

The tadpole of this species (under the name B. marojezensis [Ca 26]) was described and illustrated by Randrianiaina et al. (2012), based on the DNA barcoded specimen ZSM 1612 / 2007 (FGZC 2930; GenBank accession number JQ 518197 ) from Marojejy. As typical for all tadpoles of the group, the larvae belong to the “ suctorial ” ecomorphological guild. They have a large oral disk used to adhere to stones in fast-flowing water, a labial tooth row formula of 7 (5-7) / 3, and large numbers of oral papillae (234 marginal and 430 submarginal; without dorsal gap). They are characterized by presence of a lateral transparent area of the integument surrounding the body.

Natural history.

An arboreal, nocturnal treefrog found in humid rainforests along streams. Little is known of the ecology of the species. The paratype ZSM 392 / 2016 was encountered at rest during the day on a leaf overhanging the path.

Calls.

Unknown.

Distribution.

According to molecular data summarized herein, the species is reliably known from: (1) the type locality, Andrevorevo, and (2) Marojejy at mid-elevation near Camp Marojejia. The elevational range spans between 616–1717 m a. s. l.

Figures

Figure 6. Preserved holotypes in dorsal and ventral views of the eight nominal species in the Boophis marojezensis complex described in this study.

Figure 14. A paratype individual (probably a young male) of Boophis burnhamae sp. nov. in life: ZSM 392 / 2016 (ZCMV 15171) from Marojejia campsite in the Marojejy Massif.