Paa cf. ercepeae (Dubois, 1974)

Shrestha, Biraj, Pandey, Binita, Joshi, Jyoti, Manandhar, Prajwol, Karmacharya, Dibesh, Ohler, Annemarie, Dubois, Alain & O’Connell, Kyle A., 2022, Molecular and morphological identification of frog species collected at Rara Lake in Rara National Park, Nepal, Zootaxa 5168 (2), pp. 222-236 : 229-230

Paa cf. ercepeae (Dubois, 1974)

Specimens examined: One male adult (NHM 17A-0120); Fig. 4

Measurements: SVL = 75.2 mm, HL = 22.2 mm, HW = 30.3 mm, EL = 8.5 mm, IND = 8.4 mm, IOD = 7.5 mm, UEW = 5.7 mm, NS = 5.2 mm, EN = 3.6 mm, LA = 12.8 mm, FLL = 15.1 mm, HAL = 19.3 mm, FL = 38.1 mm, TL = 41.3 mm, TSL = 23.3 mm, FOL = 35.1 mm, F1 = 6.5 mm, F2 = 7.2 mm, F3 = 10.9 mm, F4 = 8.3 mm, T1 = 6.7 mm, T2 = 9.4 mm, T3 = 13.2 mm, T4 = 19.1 mm, and T5 = 12.6 mm.

Diagnostic features (measured in mm): Our field-collected specimen of Paa cf. ercepeae is a robust adult frog (SVL 75.2) devoid of spines in the hand region, particularly the first and second fingers and in the pectoral region. The snout is rounded, and the head is broader than long (HW 30.3, HL 22.2). The canthus is weakly developed (blunt) and rounded, fully-fledged supra-tympanic fold but the tympanum is indistinct. Nostril is closer to the eye than to the snout (EN 3.6, NS 5.2). The loreal region is slightly concave and the nostril is dorsolaterally positioned. Eyes are large (EL 8.5, 28% of HW) with patchy iris and rhombus-shaped pupils. The interorbital distance is larger than the upper eyelid width (IOD 7.5, UEW 5.7). Vomerine teeth and one set of maxillary teeth are present.

Finger/toe tips are rounded into small discs. No webbing in fingers but toes are fully webbed. The relative length of fingers follows the pattern I<II<IV<III. Inner metacarpal tubercles and subarticular tubercles in fingers are distinct. Hindlimbs are long and sturdy but thighs are shorter than the tibia (FL 38.1, TL 41.3). The relative length of toes follows the style I<II<V<III<IV. The inner metatarsal tubercle is large, while the outer metatarsal tubercle is indistinct. Dorsal skin is entirely smooth, including the head and lateral parts of the body, and dorsolateral folds absent. The cloacal aperture is quite prominent. The lower legs region has occasionally placed minute keratinized spines.

Dorsum color is golden yellow interspersed with orchid pink to dark vermiculations at the flank region, upper and lower jaws, nares, forelimbs, and hindlimbs. A black line runs through the supratympanic fold reaching the posterior end of the jaws. Ventral sections of the head, body, and limbs are pinkish white. Black divergent streaks radiate outwards of the black pupil bordered by the golden iris and the translucent nictitating membrane is colored light pink. In ethanol, the dorsal skin color is faded to yellowish-grey, limbs are light gray, while all spots, lines, and vermiculations darkened. Nictitating membrane turned sky blue, and pupils faded to white.

Figures

FIGURE 4. The adult male specimen of Paa cf. ercepeae (NHM 17A-0120). (A–F) specimen in preservative; (A & D) dorsal view; (C & E) ventral view; (B) frontal view; (F) left foot.