Microhyla laterite: A new species of Narrow-mouthed Frog from the laterite terrains of western India.

Laterites are iron and aluminium rich clay soils formed by the disolution of other more soluble ions from a variety of rocks in wet tropical climates. Western India is known for its extensive laterite deposits, which are largely derived from the Deccan Traps volcanic rocks, and appear to have been forming since the End of the Cretaceous. These deposits have historically been mined for brick clay and otherwise been regarded as a wasteland environment, due to its poor quality soils, and has recieved little attention from scientists and conservationists. However it is unique environment with its own distinctive flora and fauna, with extensive grasslands and wetlands situated on mineral-poor acid soils, where trees are rare but a diverse assemblage of endemic herbs and shrubs can be found.

In a paper published in the journal PLoS One on 9 March 2016, a team of scientists led by Kadaba Seshadri of the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore describe a new species of Narrow-mouthed Frog from laterite terrains in the Western Ghats of Karnataka State, India, which was discovered during biological surveys carried out by 'My laterite: My habitat' a citizen science project founded by Ramit Singal, second author on the paper, when he was a student at the Manipal Institute of Technology, in which surveys were carried out by local people from the laterite areas.

Narrow-mouthed Frogs, Microhyla spp., are widespread across South and Southeast Asia, with thirty eight previously described species, eight of which are found in India. They are small, generally smooth-skinned Frogs laking webed hands and feet.

The new species is named Microhyla laterite, in reference to its habitat. These frogs are small, with adult males reaching 15.3-16.6 mm in length, and the single known female measuring 18.4 mm. The forelimbs are short, and brown in colour with black markins. A prominant black line rimmed with red runs across the back between the forelimbs, the eyes are golden in colour, the vocal sacs purplish.

Dorso-lateral view of adult male Microhyla laterite. Seshadri et al. (2016).

All specimens of Microhyla laterite observed were found within an area of less than 150 km², around ephemeral (temporary or seasonal) ponds on grassland with shrubs and small woody trees such as Strychnos nux-vomica (the Strichnine Tree), Careya arborea (the Wild Guava), Macaranga indica (the Macaranga Gum Tree) and Mangifera indica (Indian Mango). The area currently has no protected status, and is fragmented by numerous plantations. As such Seshadri et al. consider that the species should be listed as Endangered under the terms of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Typical environment of Microhyla laterite. Seshadri et al. (2016).

See also...

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A new cryptic species of Microhylid Frog from Espírito Santo State, Brazil.

Cryptic species are species which resemble one-another physically, and which cannot generally be separated using traditional taxonomic methodology, but which are nevertheless genetically and reproductively isolated. Genetic studies of many groups of organisms have revealed a large number of cryptic species, sometimes with profound importance for the long-term survival and conservation of the species concerned, as apparently large robust populations are shown to in fact be made up of several smaller, reproductively isolated and more vulnerable species. One group where this has been shown to be a particularly common phenomenon are Anurans (Frogs) in the tropics of Central and South America, where a large number of apparent species have recently been shown to be species clusters, made up of a number of cryptic species.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 24 July 2014, João Tonini of the Department of Biology at the University of Richmond and the Department of Biological Sciences at The George Washington University, and Maurício Forlani and Rafael de Sá, also of the Department of Biology at the University of Richmond, describe a new cryptic species of Microhylid Frog from between the Doce River and the Mucuri River in Espírito Santo State, Brazil.

The new species is one of a number of cryptic species from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest previously assigned to the species Chiasmocleis lacrimae, and now shown to be genetically distinct. It is given the name Chiasmocleis quilombola, in honour of the Quilombola people of northern Espírito Santo State, who are descended from slaves that escaped from captivity during the Portuguese colonial period in Brazil (1580-1815), and who have retained their own distinct cultural identity to this day.

Chiasmocleis quilombola is described from one female and four male specimens from the Municipality of Conceição. The males average 14 mm in length, the female is 17.1 mm long. The Frogs are slender with rounded snouts and lack webbing between their toes; the males can have dermal spines on several parts of their bodies. All are dark brown in colour with small cream spots.

Chiasmocleis quilombola (A) male, and (B) female. Tonini et al. (2014).

See also…

 Four new species of Treefrog from South America.

Many species of Amazonian Amphibians are considered to be highly threatened due to habitat loss, with the potential for the situation to become much worse due to climate change in the near future. This...

 Frogs and Toads from the Early Eocene of Gujarat State, India.

The Cambay Shale formation from the Vastan Lignite Mine to the northeast of Surat in Gujarat State, India, has produced a diverse...

 A new species of Bush Frog from central Vietnam.

Bush Frogs (Rhacophoridae) are found throughout tropical areas of Africa and Asia. They are tree-dwelling frogs that seldom venture down to the ground, their eggs being laid in a foamy construct...

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