Uperodon nagaoi ( Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda, 2001 )

Garg, Sonali, Senevirathne, Gayani, Wijayathilaka, Nayana, Phuge, Samadhan, Deuti, Kaushik, Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum, Meegaskumbura, Madhava & Biju, Sd, 2018, An integrative taxonomic review of the South Asian microhylid genus Uperodon, Zootaxa 4384 (1), pp. 1-88 : 32-33

Uperodon nagaoi ( Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda, 2001)

Nagao’s Globular Frog

( Figs. 1 , 2A, 2D , 3G , 7T–W , 9E–G ; Tables 1–4)

Original name and description. Ramanella nagaoi Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda, 2001 . Ramanella nagaoi , a new tree-hole frog ( Microhylidae ) from southern Sri Lanka. Journal of South Asian Natural History, 5: 121–133. Holotype. WHT 2826, by original designation, an adult male, SVL 25.6 mm. Type locality. “Kanneliya Forest Reserve (near Galle), Sri Lanka”. Current status of specific name. Valid name, as Uperodon nagaoi ( Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda, 2001) .

Comparison. For comparison of Uperodon nagaoi with U. globulosus , U. systoma , U. taprobanicus , U. anamalaiensis , U. montanus and U. mormorata see ‘comparison’ section of those species. Uperodon nagaoi differs from U. rohani sp. nov. and U. variegatus by its dorsum being light grey to dark brownish-grey without prominent markings (vs. light to dark brown with light grey or olive markings) and nearly uniform brown ventral skin without or with inconspicuous spots and speckles (vs. uniformly white, without any spots, blotches or mottling). Specifically, it differs from U. variegatus by its shank relatively longer than thigh, SHL/TL ratio 1.0–1.2, N = 8 (vs. shorter, male: SHL/TL ratio 0.9–1.0, N = 16, female: SHL/TL ratio 0.8–0.9, N = 7) ( Table 4 ). Further, U. nagaoi differs from U. obscurus and U. palmatus by its shank relatively longer than thigh, male: SHL/TL ratio 1.0–1.2, N = 8 (vs. nearly equal, U. obscurus : male: SHL/TL ratio 0.9–1.0, N = 17, female: SHL/TL ratio 0.9–1.1, N = 5; U. palmatus : male: SHL/TL ratio 1.0, N = 4, female: SHL/TL ratio 1.0, N = 2), rudimentary webbing between toes, I1–2II2–3 + III3–4IV4 +– 3V (vs. more, U. obscurus : I1–2II1 1/2–3– III2–3 + IV3 +– 2V; U. palmatus : I1–2II1–3 – III1– 3IV2 2/3– 1V), and ventral skin without or with inconspicuous spots and speckles (vs. prominent spots or blotches). It differs from U. triangularis by its dorsal skin in having faint brown to dark brown coloured markings (vs. prominent bright orange coloured markings), ventral skin without or with inconspicuous spots and speckles (vs. prominent spots or blotches), and tadpoles with funnel-shaped mouth and papillae (vs. terminal mouth lacking papillae).

Genetic divergence. For 16S mitochondrial gene sequences, intraspecific variation was not observed between the sampled populations of Uperodon nagaoi (N = 2). Genetically, U. nagaoi is closely related to U. obscurus and U. palmatus ; from these it was found to differ by an average uncorrected genetic distance of 5.6% (N = 6) and 4.0% (range 4.0–4.2%, N = 8), respectively. For interspecific genetic distances with all other members of the genus, see Table 3.

Description of holotype. A detailed general description was published by Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda (2001).

Variations. Morphometric measurements for eight specimens, including the type series, are given in Table 4 .

Secondary sexual character. Male (DZ 1367): Vocal sac externally visible on the lower jaw.

Geographical distribution and habitat. This species is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is known to occur in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Western Provinces ( Fig. 2D ). For list of localities and references thereto see Supplementary Table S1. In the present study, we collected this species from tree holes at Hiyare Forest Reserve (Galle district) from elevation of 125 m asl, in the vicinity of its type locality Kanneliya Forest Reserve. See ‘Natural history and breeding’ observations in the respective section, after the species accounts.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maximum Likelihood phylogram based on 511 bp of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences from 73 individuals representing all known members of the genus Uperodon. Three samples representing taxon under synonymy are shown inquotationmarks.Outgroup not shown for graphical purposes.BayesianPosterior Probabilities and bootstrap values of>50 are shown above and below the branches, respectively. Values towards the species labels represent mean uncorrected genetic distances between the species with range values in parentheses.

FIGURE 2. A. Geographic distribution of the genus Uperodon in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; B. Distributionof Uperodon globulosus, U. systomaand U.taprobanicus; C. Distribution of four endemic Uperodon species of the Western Ghats (excluding the widely distributed Indian member U. variegatus, shown in Fig.12A); D. Distribution of four endemic Uperdodon species of Sri Lanka. Details of localities reported in the present study are provided in Table 1. Records from literature are listed in supplementary Table S1 and indicated here based onapproximate coordinates.

FIGURE 3. Preserved type specimens of Uperodon species in dorsal and ventral view. A. Uperodon systoma, Syntype, ZMB 3551 (female); B. Uperodon globulosus, Syntype, NHM 62.12.29.4 (ex. BMNH 1947.2.10.97) (female); C. Kaloula pulchra taprobanica, Holotype, NHM 1905.3.25.138 (ex. BMNH 1947.2.10.62) (female); D. Ramanella anamalaiensis, Neotype, ZSI/ WGRC/V/A/956 (male); E. Hylaedactylus montanus, Holotype, NHM 72.4.17.212 (ex. BMNH 1947.2.11.19) (female); F. Ramanella mormorata, Neotype, ZSI/WGRC/V/A/958, (female); G. Ramanella nagaoi, Holotype, WHT 2826 (male); H. Callula obscura, Holotype, NHM 58.11.28.42 (ex. BMNH 1947.2.11.20) (female); I. Ramanella palmata, Holotype, NHM 90.11.8.62 (ex.BMNH 1947.2.11.21); J. Callula triangularis, Lectotype, NHM 74.4.29.897 (ex.BMNH 1947.2.11.15) (male); K.Hylaedactylus carnaticus, Lectotype, ZSI 2761(female); L. Uperodonrohani sp. nov., Holotype, DZ1449 (male).(Images: SD Biju and Sonali Garg).

FIGURE7. Head, hand, foot and foot webbing in Uperodon anamalaiensis, U. montanus, U. mormorata and U. nagaoi. A–E. Uperodon anamalaiensis: A–D. Neotype of Uperodon anamalaiensis (ZSI/WGRC/V/A/956, male):A. lateral view of head; B. ventral view of hand; C. ventral view of foot; D. schematic illustration of foot webbing; E. schematic illustration of foot webbing in referred specimen of U. anamalaiensis (SDBDU 2013.928, female); F–L. Uperodon montanus: F–H. Topotype of Uperodon montanus (SDBDU 2011.849, male): F. lateral view of head; G. ventral view of hand; H. ventral view of foot; I. schematic illustration of foot webbing; J–L. schematic illustration of foot webbing in referred specimens of Uperodon montanus: J. SDBDU 2015.3001, male; K. SDBDU 2003.40115, female; L. SDBDU 2005.30, female; M–S. Uperodon mormorata: M–P. Neotype of Uperodon mormorata (ZSI/WGRC/V/A/958, female): M. lateral view of head; N. ventral view of hand; O. ventral view of foot; P. schematic illustration of foot webbing; Q–S. schematic illustration of foot webbing in referred specimens of Uperodon mormorata: Q. SDBDU 2002.567, female; R. SDBDU2012.43, male; S. SDBDU 2015.3082, male.T–W. Holotype of Uperodon nagaoi (WHT 2826, male):T. lateral view ofhead;U. ventral view of hand;V. ventral view of foot; W. schematic illustration of foot webbing. (Illustrations:SD Biju).

FIGURE9. Uperodon mormorata, U. nagaoi and U.obscurus inlife.A–C. Uperodonmormorata (SDBDU 2016.3404,male): A. Dorsolateral view; B. dorsal view; C. ventral view; D. Uperodon mormorata (SDBDU 2011.835, male), dorsolateral view; E–G. Uperodon nagaoi (DZ 1367, male): E. Dorsolateral view; F. dorsal view; G. frontal view; H–K. Uperodon obscurus: H. Dorsolateral view (DZ 1366, male); I. Dorsal view (DZ 1366, male); J. dorsolateral view (DZ 1408, male); K. dorsolateral view (DZ 1369, male); L. ventral view (DZ 1369, male). (Images: SD Biju and E–G Madhava Meegaskumbura).