Philoria loveridgei Parker, 1940

Knowles, Ross, Mahony, Michael, Armstrong, Jan & Donnellan, Stephen, 2004, Systematics of Sphagnum Frogs of the Genus Philoria (Anura: Myobatrachidae) in Eastern Australia, With the Description of Two New Species, Records of the Australian Museum 56 (1), pp. 57-74 : 65-67

Philoria loveridgei Parker, 1940

Type data. The holotype is an adult female ( BM 1947.2.1994) collected in the McPherson Ranges , Queensland .

The type description lists the collection location of the holotype rather imprecisely as the “McPherson Ranges, 3– 4000 ft, south Queensland ” ( Parker, 1940). Because the McPherson Ranges include the known range of P. loveridgei and extends close enough to the known range of P. richmondensis n.sp., we cannot be certain that the type was collected within the range of P. loveridgei as presently known. Furthermore, the DFA alone is not capable of precisely determining the species identity of any Philoria from far northeast New South Wales and Queensland which includes the McPherson Ranges. Therefore in the interest of maintaining nomenclatural stability we refer the holotype of P. loveridgei to group 2, the taxon which contains the populations to which this name has been traditionally applied. These populations include the eastern Border Ranges and Lamington National Parks.

Other material examined. See Appendix.

Diagnosis. Relatively small adult size (SVL to 32 mm); males with poorly developed nuptial pad on first finger; well-developed black head stripe; flanks either entirely black or with a black mark of variable size, and dorsum either brown, reddish-brown bronze or light grey.

Description. A small, squat, ground dwelling frog. Adult males (n = 15) measure 25 to 30 mm and females (n = 13) 27 to 32 mm SVL. Head shorter than wide (HL/HW mean 0.74, range 0.58–0.91). Head length approximately onequarter snout-vent length (HL/SVL mean 0.26, range 0.20– 0.31). Hind limbs short (TL/SVL mean 0.42, range 0.38–

0.47). Eye to naris distance to internarial ratio highly variable (EN/IN mean 0.58, range 0.38–0.69). Dorsal colour varies from light grey mid-dorsal area with black flanks and upper surfaces of limbs, to light brown with darker brown irregular patches to fawn with a few spots of darker pigment and a black or dark brown patch on the flank. Limbs sometimes with faint transverse bands. A dark brown or black stripe extending from the snout, through eye, to base of arm. Ventral surfaces usually uniformly pale but some individuals with light mottling on throat and undersurfaces of hindlimbs. Usually a pair of small dark marks either side of cloaca. Fingers in decreasing order of length 3>2>4>1. Toes in decreasing order of length 4>3>5>2>1. In males either no nuptial pad or a dark, very weakly developed nuptial pad on first finger. Spatulae on first and second fingers in females. Vomerine teeth extending to the level of the inner edge of the choanae. Tongue broad. Tympanum indistinct.

Dimensions of holotype (mm). SVL 29.9 , HL 7.2, HW 10.5, TL 12.9, E 3.0, EN 1.3, IN 3.4 .

Distribution and abundance. Ninety eight specimens are recorded in the Australian and Queensland Museums from 28

locations within one rainforest block which contains the Border Ranges, Lamington, Mt Warning and Nightcap National Parks ( Barker et al., 1995; AMS and QM registers, 1993).

Conservation status. Listed under Schedule 2 of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995 as vulnerable, and in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act, 1992 as rare. The reason for the listing in NSW is given as follows: “Population severely reduced; threatening processes severe; ecological specialist” ( NSW NPWS, 1994). Whilst the combined area of the range of P. loveridgei is relatively small, a comparatively large number of populations are fairly evenly distributed throughout the range. Most of the range is protected within the national park estate. While only small populations were observed during the present study, Seymour et al. (1995) observed a number of large populations with choruses of over 10 calling males, in the summer of 1991–1992. Evidence of recruitment was found at all localities during their study. In view of the above, the conservation status of this species remains unchanged.