Mantidactylus manerana fotaka, Scherz & Crottini & Hutter & Hildenbrand & Andreone & Fulgence & Köhler & Ndriantsoa & Ohler & Preick & Rakotoarison & Rancilhac & Raselimanana & Riemann & Rödel & Rosa & Streicher & Vieites & Köhler & Hofreiter & Glaw & Vences, 2022

Scherz, Mark D., Crottini, Angelica, Hutter, Carl R., Hildenbrand, Andrea, Andreone, Franco, Fulgence, Thio Rosin, Köhler, Gunther, Ndriantsoa, Serge Herilala, Ohler, Annemarie, Preick, Michaela, Rakotoarison, Andolalao, Rancilhac, Loïs, Raselimanana, Achille P., Riemann, Jana C., Rödel, Mark-Oliver, Rosa, Gonçalo M., Streicher, Jeffrey W., Vieites, David R., Köhler, Jörn, Hofreiter, Michael, Glaw, Frank & Vences, Miguel, 2022, An inordinate fondness for inconspicuous brown frogs: integration of phylogenomics, archival DNA analysis, morphology, and bioacoustics yields 24 new taxa in the subgenus Brygoomantis (genus Mantidactylus) from Madagascar, Megataxa 7 (2), pp. 113-311 : 292-293

Mantidactylus manerana fotaka ssp. nov.

Identity and justification.—This lineage was newly identified in this study. It is characterized by a high divergence in 16S but haplotype sharing in Rag-1 with the nominal form, M. manerana manerana , which occurs allopatrically and lacks strong morphological differentiation, and is therefore described here as a new subspecies.

Holotype.— ZSM 1588/2012 ( FGZC 3776 ), adult male, collected by F. Glaw, O. Hawlitschek, T. Rajoafiarison, A. Rakotoarison, F. M. Ratsoavina, and A. Razafimanantsoa on 1 December 2012 at a campsite in the Sorata Massif (13.6851°S, 049.4417°E, 1279 m a.s.l.), Sava Region , Madagascar. A 16S barcode sequence of the holotype was obtained in this study and was included in the analysis.

Paratypes.—A total of four paratypes: ZSM 1587/2012 ( FGZC 3770 ), adult female, and UADBA uncatalogued ( FGZC 3777 ), unsexed, with same collection data as holotype; ZSM 1586/2012 ( FGZC 3753 ), male, and UADBA uncatalogued ( FGZC 3639 ), adult female, collected by the same collectors as the holotype on 28–30 November 2012 in bamboo forest above Sorata campsite (ca 13.6752°S, ca 49.4410°E, ca 1485 m a.s.l.) .

Diagnosis.— Mantidactylus manerana fotaka ssp. nov. is a lineage here considered as subspecies of M. manerana due to its high morphological similarity. It is the direct sister group of M. m. manerana according to our phylogenomic analysis. See Table 4 and the diagnosis of M. manerana above for for a list of diagnostic morphological characters and of differences to other species of Brygoomantis . Morphologically, this poorly known taxon appears to differ from the nominal subspecies, M. m. manerana , by shorter hindlimbs ( Table 4 ). A full list of molecular diagnostic sites in the 16S gene of M. manerana fotaka ssp. nov. in pairwise comparisons to all other Brygoomantis species and subspecies is provided as Supplementary appendix.

Description of the holotype.—Adult male in excellent state of preservation ( Fig. 73 ). Tongue removed as tissue sample. Body stout. Head as wide as body. Snout rounded in dorsal and lateral views. Nostrils directed laterally, slightly protuberant, nearer to tip of snout than to eye.

Canthus rostralis weakly recognisable, slightly concave; loreal region slightly concave. Tympanum distinct, large, wider than high, horizontal diameter of tympanum 92% of horizontal eye diameter. Supratympanic fold distinct, beginning straight above, with gentle ca 60° bend midway, following edge of tympanum. Tongue removed.

Maxillary teeth present. Vomerine teeth form two rounded aggregations, positioned posterolateral to choanae.

Choanae rounded. Subarticular tubercles single. Inner and outer metacarpal tubercles present. Fingers without webbing. Relative length of fingers: I<II≤IV<III. Finger discs slightly enlarged. Nuptial pads absent. Foot longer than tibia (115%). Lateral metatarsalia separated. Inner metatarsal tubercle present. Outer metatarsal tubercle small but recognisable. Webbing formula: 1(1), 2i(1.5), 2e(1), 3i(2), 3e(1.75), 4i(2.5), 4e(2.25), 5(0.75). Relative length of toes: I<II<V<III<IV. Skin on the upper surface smooth, slightly glandular dorsolaterally. Two weakly expressed, discontinuous dorsolateral ridges on anterior part of dorsum. Ventral side smooth. Femoral glands relatively small but distinct, with a distal ulcerous macrogland as well as a proximal granular gland field recognisable in external view.

Colour in preservative: dorsally almost uniformly brown. Only a few white spots along flanks and laterally on head. A small white patch on tip of snout. Reatively distinct dark crossbands on limbs. Fingers and toes with alternating pattern of light and dark colour. Ventrally light beige, with rather contrasted brown pigmentation on throat and chest with light spots and vermiculations, including a median light line on throat, and light-dark pattern ventrally on lower lip. Colour of holotype in life not documented.

Variation.—Variation in measurements is given in Table 11. See Fig. 78 for colouration in life. There may be some sexual size dimorphism, but our sample size is small (confirmed male SVL 26.2 mm [n = 1] vs confirmed female SVL 29.2 mm [n = 1]). In females, small, yellowish gland rudiments are visible.

Natural history.—Largely unknown. Specimens were collected from an area of disturbed rainforest.

Calls.— The call of this subspecies has not been recorded.

Tadpoles.— The tadpole of this subspecies has not been described.

Distribution.— Apparently microendemic to the Sorata massif ( Fig. 7 ). Elevation range: 1398–1599 m a.s.l.

Etymology.—The subspecies name is derived from the Malagasy word fotaka, meaning ‘mud’, in reference to the microhabitat in which this and other Brygoomantis dwell. The name is used as a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Mantidactylus subgenus Brygoomantis species distribution based on verified records, divided by clade (Mantidactylus stelliger sp. nov. is presented alongside the inaudax clade for practicality). Colours for species correspond to those in Figs 2 and 4. Inset map shows the geographic regions of Madagascar identified by Boumans et al. (2007), referred to throughout the text.

FIGURE 73. Preserved lectotype of Mantidactylus inaudax, and holotype specimens of newly named species and subspecies in the M. inaudax clade. Scale bars equal 5 mm.

FIGURE 78. Mantidactylus manerana fotaka ssp. nov. in life. (a,b) Adult female from Sorata in dorsolateral and ventral view. Specimen probably corresponding to a voucher deposited in the UADBA collection.