Boophis janewayae, 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 janewayae sp. nov.

Lineage B Figures 6 , 12

Identity.

This species has been previously referred to as B. sp. aff. marojezensis [CaHM 364579] by Rosa et al. (2012), and as B. marojezensis by Perl et al. (2014). It was not explicitly included or mentioned in the studies of Glaw et al. (2001), Glaw and Vences (2007), Vieites et al. (2009), Randrianiaina et al. (2012), and Hutter et al. (2018).

Holotype.

ZSM 472 / 2009 (ZCMV 11468), adult male, collected by M. Vences, D. R. Vieites, F. M. Ratsoavina, R. D. Randrianiaina, E. Rajeriarison, T. Rajoafiarison, and J. Patton on 21 June 2009 at Angozongahy campsite , western side of Makira plateau (15.4370 ° S, 49.1186 ° E, 1009 m a. s. l.), North East of Madagascar.

Paratypes.

ZSM 473 / 2009 (ZCMV 11486) and ZSM 474 / 2009 (ZCMV 11487), two adult males, with same collection data as holotype . ZSM 470 / 2009 (ZCMV 11270) and ZSM 471 / 2009 (ZCMV 11272), two adult males, collected by M. Vences, D. R. Vieites, F. M. Ratsoavina, R. D. Randrianiaina, E. Rajeriarison, T. Rajoafiarison, and J. Patton on 23–24 June 2009 at a campsite near the source of Fotsialanana river , western side of the Makira plateau (15.4668 ° S, 49.1289 ° E, 1067 m a. s. l.) . ZSM 207 / 2022 (FGZC 6519), adult male, collected by J. M. Rafanoharana, H. Raherinjatovo, and F. Glaw on 24 March 2022 at Analanjirofo (near Simpona Lodge), Makira Reserve (15.1992 ° S, 49.6208 ° E, 410 m a. s. l.) .

Definition.

A small treefrog assigned to the genus Boophis , subgenus Boophis , in the family Mantellidae based on occurrence on 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 25.2–28.8 mm), predominantly brownish dorsal coloration, absence of red color on webbing or ventral side of limbs, calling males occurring along streams, and molecular phylogenetic relationships. Within the B. blommersae group, defined by absence of dorsolateral bands, absence of red color in outer iris area, and advertisement calls with low dominant frequencies of 2687–3404 Hz, consisting of 3–5 whistling notes of 238–604 ms duration. Also characterized by 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 ): “ G ” in the site 149, “ T ” in the site 190, “ G ” in the site 191.

Diagnosis.

Within the B. blommersae group, distinguished from B. blommersae by calls consisting of a series of whistles (vs. pulsed trills); and from B. vittatus by calls consisting of a series of whistles (vs. series of short clicks), and absence of dorsolateral stripes (vs. presence). Furthermore, distinguished from B. marojezensis by advertisement calls with lower dominant frequency (2687–3404 vs. 4118–4441 Hz), with notes emitted at longer maximum inter-note intervals (639 vs. 179 ms), and larger body size (male SVL 25.2–28.8 vs. 20.0– 25.7 mm); from B. kirki sp. nov. by advertisement calls with lower dominant frequency (2687–3404 Hz vs. 3499–5604 Hz), longer note duration (238–604 ms vs. 54–105 ms), larger male body size ( SVL 25.2–28.8 vs. 20.0– 23.4 mm), and absence of red color in outer iris area (vs. presence in some specimens); from B. picardi sp. nov. by advertisement calls with lower dominant frequency (2687–3404 Hz vs. 4903–5819 Hz), consisting of 3‒5 notes (vs. 17‒25 notes), longer note duration (238–604 ms vs. 19–225 ms), larger body size (male SVL 25.2–28.8 vs. 21.3–23.2 mm), and absence of red color in outer iris area (vs. distinct in many specimens); from B. pikei sp. nov. by advertisement calls consisting of 3–5 notes (vs. 25–33 notes) of 238–604 ms note duration (vs. max. duration of 98 ms), with lower dominant frequency (2687–3404 vs. 5174–5507 Hz), and larger body size (male SVL 25.2–28.8 vs. 21.4–25.0 mm); and from B. siskoi sp. nov. by advertisement calls consisting of 3–5 notes (vs. 7–12 notes) of 238–604 ms note duration (vs. max. duration of 220 ms) and with lower dominant frequency (2687–3404 vs. 4688–5332 Hz). For a distinction from other species of the B. marojezensis complex described herein, see accounts of these new species below.

Description of the holotype.

Adult male, in excellent state of preservation, SVL 27.4 mm, muscle tissue removed from right thigh for molecular analysis. Body moderately slender; head slightly wider than long and slightly wider than body; snout rounded in dorsal and lateral views; nostrils directed laterally, about equidistant between tip of snout and eye; canthus rostralis distinct, concave in dorsal view, loreal region slightly concave; tympanum indistinct, round, TD about 54 % of ED; supratympanic fold not recognizable (traces posterior to tympanum); vomerine odontophores weakly developed, well-separated in two very 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 weakly webbed and with lateral dermal fringes; webbing formula 1 (traces), 2 i (traces), 2 e (traces), 3 i (traces), 3 e (2), 4 (1.5); 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 between nostril and 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), 2 i (0.5), 2 e (0.25), 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, 14 years after collection (Fig. 6 ), dorsally light brown with an indistinct and poorly contrasted brown hourglass marking on anterior part of the dorsum. No dark transverse bar is visible on the posterior part of the dorsum, but a comparatively wide dark transverse bar is present between the eyes. Dorsum with an irregular pattern of dark brown, black and whitish small spots, many of which are poorly contrasted. Limbs light brown with darker brown crossbands: 3–4 on forearm, about 5 on shank, about 5 on thigh. Ventrally cream, white on belly and with dark pigment on ventral side of feet. In life (Fig. 12 ), similar but the dorsal hourglass pattern almost not recognizable, crossbands on limbs poorly contrasted, but a few black and white dorsal spots well visible and contrasted. Outer iris color yellowish, inner iris color beige, iris periphery turquoise.

Variation.

Two paratypes from Makira West ( ZSM 470 / 2009 and 471 / 2009) in preservative are characterized by a contrasted dark hourglass-marking on the anterior dorsum and an inverted U-shaped marking on the posterior dorsum. ZSM 473 / 2009 has only a poorly contrasted hourglass-marking but features a light vertebral line. ZSM 474 / 2009 has a pattern of irregular fine light spots.

Etymology.

Named after the fictional character Captain Kathryn Janeway, first portrayed by Kate Mulgrew in Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor’s Star Trek: Voyager.

Tadpole.

The tadpole of this species is unknown.

Natural history.

An arboreal, nocturnal treefrog. Little is known of the ecology of the species. It has been found in humid rainforests along relatively slow-moving streams. Calling males were perched 1.5 to 2 m above the ground on leaves.

Calls.

Advertisement calls of B. janewayae sp. nov. recorded from the holotype at Angozongahy, Makira area, on 21 June 2009 (air temperature not recorded) consist of a series of comparatively long tonal notes of variable duration, emitted at somewhat irregular intervals. Within calls, the first (and sometimes also the last) note is longest in duration. Amplitude is modulated within notes, with maximum call energy being present at each note’s end. Each note exhibits an upward frequency modulation comprising a shift in frequency of ~ 400 Hz at maximum from beginning to the end of the note. Numerical parameters of two analyzed calls are as follows: call duration 2358–2846 ms; notes / call 4–5; note duration 238–604 ms (347.6 ± 118.2 ms); inter-note interval 206–639 ms (304.3 ± 152.5 ms); dominant frequency 2687–2996 Hz (2865 ± 111 Hz); prevalent bandwidth 2100–3300 Hz; harmonic frequency bands are evident at around 6000, 9000, and 12000 Hz.

Calls of B. janewayae sp. nov. recorded at Betampona, on 15 November 2007, 23: 43 h (21 ° C air temperature) (from Rosa et al. 2011, 2012), generally agree in character with those described above from Angozongahy, but differ slightly in showing more regular inter-note intervals and slightly higher dominant frequency. Numerical parameters of two analyzed calls are as follows: call duration 1571–2064 ms; notes / call 3–4; note duration 276–536 ms (365.4 ± 116.1 ms); inter-note interval 141–278 ms (220.2 ± 55.8 ms); dominant frequency 3036–3404 Hz (3231 ± 135 Hz); prevalent bandwidth 2500–3600 Hz; harmonic frequency bands are evident at around 6340, 9500, and 12630 Hz.

Distribution.

According to molecular data summarized herein, the species is known from (1) the type locality, western side of the Makira Reserve (Angozongahy and Fotsialanana), (2) the eastern side of the Makira Reserve (around “ Simpona Lodge ”), and (3) Betampona Reserve (sites: Sahambendrana, Sahabefoza, Sahaindrana, Vohitsivalana; Rosa et al. 2012). The elevational occurrence of the species spans from 349 m a. s. l. (Sahaindrana site in Betampona; Rosa et al. 2012) to 1067 m a. s. l. (Fotsialanana source, Makira).

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 12. Individuals of Boophis janewayae sp. nov. in life. A male holotype ZSM 472 / 2009 (ZCMV 11468) from Angozongahy campsite, western side of Makira plateau. B calling male (with deflated vocal sac, during a pause between calls) photographed in the field at night, at the type locality.