Mossy Stream Toad

description

Description of holotype. Adult female, SVL 29.3 mm; head longer than wide (HL / HW = 1.12); snout wider than long (SW / SL = 1.18), longer than eye diameter (SL / ED = 1.46), slightly projecting beyond lower jaw, dorsally convex with a midline depression, truncated with slight median point in dorsal view, truncated and caudoventrally sloping in lateral view; canthus rostralis distinct, lores vertical, slightly concave; nares open laterally, just below canthus, nearly terminal on snout, distance between nares smaller than snout length (IND / SL = 0.58), approximately half of snout width (IND / SW = 0.49); eyes large, slightly protruding beyond labials in dorsal view, diameter less than snout length (ED / SL = 0.68) and interorbital distance (ED / IOD = 0.87), pupils circular; interorbital region flat, distance smaller than snout width (IOD / SW = 0.67) and snout length (IOD / SL = 0.79); tympanum distinct, oval, taller than wide, vertical diameter smaller than eye diameter (TD / ED = 0.65); choanae subcircular, separated by distance larger than their diameter; vomerine ridge and teeth absent; tongue narrow, ending in median point, posterior ⅓ free. Forelimbs and fingers long and sle

A new species of upland Stream Toad of the genus Ansonia Stoliczka, 1870 (Anura: Bufonidae) from northeastern Peninsular Malaysia

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Ansonia lumut sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Ansonia based on its phylogenetic placement and the following morphological characters: small body size; slender limbs; no parotoid glands; weak subarticular tubercles; and membranous foot webbing (Inger 1960, 1992). Ansonia lumut sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: SVL 21 – 23.6 mm in males, 27.7 – 31.6 mm in females; first finger shorter than second; absence of interorbital and tarsal ridges; distinct dorsal tubercles and dorsolateral row of enlarged tubercles; finger tips not expanded into discs; slightly less than two phalanges free of web on fifth toe; light interscapular spot and light patch below eye absent; presence of large, yellow rictal tubercle; dorsum black with greenish-yellow reticulations; flanks with small yellow spots; fore and hind limbs with yellow crossbars; venter light gray with fine, white spotting; males with nuptial pads on first finger.

A new species of upland Stream Toad of the genus Ansonia Stoliczka, 1870 (Anura: Bufonidae) from northeastern Peninsular Malaysia

distribution

Distribution and natural history. Ansonia lumut sp. nov. occurs in hill dipterocarp forest on Gunung Tebu (at 610 m elevation) and Gunung Lawit (at 790 – 1280 m elevation; Dring 1979) in the northeastern state of Terengganu (Fig. 4). During the day, specimens were found in small rock fissures along a slow moving stream. The stream was approximately 5 m wide under a semi-closed canopy forest and consisted of dark-colored granite rock covered with algae and moss (Fig. 5). At night, toads were found on rocks and small, overhanging vegetation within the stream and along its banks away from strong torrent zones. Female paratype LSUHC 11214 was found to be gravid with unfertilized, unpigmented eggs that were approximately 1.7 – 1.8 mm in diameter.

A new species of upland Stream Toad of the genus Ansonia Stoliczka, 1870 (Anura: Bufonidae) from northeastern Peninsular Malaysia

etymology

Etymology. The specific epithet “ lumut ” is derived from the Malay word for moss, in reference to the new species’ color pattern, which gives it a mossy appearance. Suggested English name: Mossy Stream Toad; Malay name: Kodok lumut.

A new species of upland Stream Toad of the genus Ansonia Stoliczka, 1870 (Anura: Bufonidae) from northeastern Peninsular Malaysia