Duttaphrynus melanostictis, Schneider, 1799

O, Kyle A., Connell, Aryal, Prakash C., Sherchan, Adarsh M., Dhakal, Bimala, Chaudhary, Hemanta Kumari, Ranabhat, Rishi & Karmacharya, Dibesh, 2019, A herpetological survey of the Kathmandu Valleyı Nepalı and phylogenetic identification of Megophrys (Xenophrys) zhangi, Journal of Natural History 53 (23), pp. 1421-1437 : 1425

Duttaphrynus melanostictis

Figures 1 and 2 (a); Tables 2 , S 1

specimens examined: CMDN-A 60 – 63, 97, 119 – 129, 151, 155, 172, 162. Distribution in the KTM Valley: Encountered in the periphery of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, and Lalitpur. They have been previously reported from the southern part of KTM Valley ( Aryal et al. 2013).

Remarks: This species is common in disturbed and urban areas. At three sites we visited in the western part of the valley, this was the only amphibian or reptile species we encountered ( Figures 1 and 2 (a)). We often found this species near areas with other human-commensals, but farther from the water. We also encountered this species on the eastern edge of Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park. At this locality, we encountered larvae and one juvenile of this species syntopic with Megophrys zhangi larvae and adults. We used DNA barcoding to confirm the identity of the juvenile specimen ( Table S2 , phylogeny not shown).

Measurements: Measurements are given in mm as the mean, followed by the range in parentheses (n = 3). SVL = 98.4 mm (64 – 145 mm), HL = 16.2 mm (12.7 – 20 mm), HW = 33.2 mm (25 – 20 mm), snout = 7.3 mm (5.5 – 8.2 mm), internarial = 5.8 mm (5.3 – 6.7 mm), eye = 4.4 mm (4.0 – 4.7 mm), tympanum = 5.0 mm (4.5 – 5.7 mm), antebrachium = 22.1 mm (16.1 – 30 mm), hand = 18.4 mm (14.1 – 20.8 mm), thigh = 23.7 mm (12.5 – 43 mm), shank = 28.6 mm (20.1 – 35 mm), foot = 48.8 mm (38.3 – 60.4 mm).

Figures

Figure 1. Map showing distributions of species surveyed in the Kathmandu Valley: circles = amphibians, squares = reptiles. Colours are defined as follows, amphibians: dark blue = Duttaphrynus melanostictus, purple = Nanorana liebigii, yellow = Fejervarya syhadrensis, light green = Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, dark green = Euphlyctis cyanophylyctis, orange = Megophrys (Xenophrys) zhangi, red = Microhyla ornata. Reptiles: light purple = Calotes versicolor, light blue = Hemidactylus platyurus, dark blue = Hemidactylus frenatus, dark purple = Herpetoreas platyceps.

Figure 2. Amphibian species observed during this survey. (a) Duttaphrynus melanostictus, (b) Nanorana liebigii, (c) Nanorana liebigii, (d) ventral view of Nanorana liebigii demonstrating lack of pectoral or finger spines, (e) tadpole of Nanorana liebigii, (f) tadpole of Fejervarya syhadrensis, (g) Fejervarya syhadrensis, (h) Fejervarya syhadrensis.