Description of a new microhylid frog species of the genus Xenorhina (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from the Fakfak Mountains, far western New Guinea

Abstract

Based on morphological, bioacoustic, and molecular traits, a new species in the microhylid genus Xenorhina is described. It was recently discovered in the Fakfak Mountains, northwestern corner of the Bomberai Peninsula, Papua Province, Indonesia. This new species has no vomero-palatine spikes. According to molecular traits of the 12S and 16S rRNA genes, the new taxon is most closely related to a syntopic Xenorhina cf. oxycephala. It belongs to the smallest species in its genus and to those with the longest hind legs. Its advertisement call consists of a series of melodious notes lasting 5 – 6 seconds; mean note length 77 milliseconds, mean internote interval length 438 ms, and mean repetition rate 2.1 notes per second. The new species is fossorial and it occurs in primary and secondary rain forest at an elevation of from 400 m to 900 m a.s.l.