New Species of the Boophis tephraeomystax Group (Anura: Ranidae: Rhacophorinae) from Arid Western Madagascar

Abstract

A new species of rhacophorine frog, Boophis xerophilus sp. nov., is described from deciduous dry forest of western Madagascar. The new species is the only known representative of Boophis that is probably restricted to arid habitats. Males are characterized by a silvery back with distinct dark markings, a blackish throat, and advertisement calls. Lectotypes of Polypedates tephraeomystax Dumeril, 1853, and Rhacophorus doulioti Angel, 1934, are designated. F ROGS in the genus Boophis Tschudi, 1838, are endemic to Madagascar. Boophis was divided into seven phenetic species groups by Blommers-Schlosser and Blanc (1991). The Boophis tephraeomystax group currently includes seven predominantly brownish species (Glaw and Vences, 1994; Ohler, 1996): B. tephraeomysta x (Dumeril, 1853), B. idae (Steindachner, 1867), B. hillenii Blommers-Schlosser, 1979, B. guibei (McCarthy, 1978), B. pauliani (Guibe, 1953), B. opisthodon (Boulenger, 1888), and B. microtis (Guibe, 1974). The latter species may actually belong to the genus Mantidactylus (Glaw and Vences, 1994). Members of the B. tephraeomysta x group are distinguished from other Boophis by the combination of very reduced or absent webbing between fingers (Blommers-Schlosser and Blanc, 1991), breeding in shallow, often temporary pools (Blommers-Schlosser and Blanc, 1991; Glaw and Vences, 1994), small eggs with a blackish animal pole, and a golden or copper iris (except B. guibei) with an indistinct grayish periphery (pers. obs.). Most Boophis species occur in the eastern rain forest belt. The highest species density was recorded around Andasibe (= Perinet), where 30 Boophis species have been found (pers. obs.). Only B. tephraeomystax was known to occur in the arid parts of western Madagascar (BlommersSchlosser and Blanc, 1991), but this species is also abundant in the humid east. Herein, we describe a new species of the B. tephraeomysta x group which occurs syntopically with B. tephraeomystax in the extremely dry areas of western and southern Madagascar. The new species is currently the only representative of its genus restricted to this habitat.