Platypelis efatra Rakotoarison, Petzold, Scherz, Crottini, Köhler, Hawlitschek, Ratsoavina, Glaw & Vences, 2025, sp. nov.

Abstract

Platypelis efatra sp. nov. Figures 4–5 Remark. Based on DNA sequences, this species has previously been referred to under the names P. tetra by Rosa et al. (2014), P. aff. tetra by Rakotoarison et al. (2020) and P. aff. tetra UCS “Sorata” by Carné & Vieites (2024). Holotype. ZSM 1621/2012 (FGZC 3609), adult female with mature oocytes, collected on 26 November 2012, in the Sorata Massif (near 13.6817°S, 49.4411°E, 1339 m a.s.l.), now included in the protected area COMATSA Nord, northern Madagascar, by F. Glaw, O. Hawlitschek, T. Rajoafiarison, A. Rakotoarison, F.M. Ratsoavina, and A. Razafimanantsoa. Paratypes. Eight paratypes: ZSM 1619/2012 (FGZC 3671) and UADBA-FGZC 3672, two unsexed individuals collected on 28 November 2012, in the Sorata Massif (near 13.675°S, 49.4392°E, 1580 m a.s.l.) by the same collectors as the holotype; ZSM 1620/2012 (FGZC 3608), adult female with mature oocytes, and ZSM 1622/2012 (FGZC 3610), sex undetermined, with same collection data as the holotype; UADBA-FGZC 3633, UADBA-FGZC 3634 and UADBA-FGZC 3635, three unsexed individuals with same collection data as the holotype but collected on 27 November 2012; UADBA-FGZC 3688, a female, collected on 28 November 2012, in bamboo forest above the Sorata camp site by the same collectors as the holotype. The paratypes in the UADBA collection were not studied morphologically, but are genetically almost identical to the ZSM type specimens (see Fig. 1). Definition. Assigned to the genus Platypelis in the microhylid subfamily Cophylinae based on occurrence in Madagascar, enlarged terminal discs on fingers and toes, absence of nuptial pads, absence of femoral glands, and molecular phylogenetic relationships. The species can be distinguished from other cophylines by the combination of the following character states: (1) medium-sized species (adult female SVL 21.2–22.1 mm); (2) manus with second finger slightly shorter than fourth; (3) pes with third toe slightly longer than fifth; (4) dorsum with four symmetrically arranged and distinctly enlarged white tubercles; (5) absence of red color on limbs and ventral side; (6) absence of distinct yellow color on posterior belly and ventral sides of hindlimbs; (7) absence of greenish color on the throat and the belly; (8) presence of a dark dorsolateral stripe running from the eye to a point behind the axilla or further. Diagnosis. Platypelis efatra sp. nov. differs from most specimens of Cophyla maharipeo, C. noromalalae and C. puellarum by smaller body size (SVL 19.4–22.1 mm vs. SVL up to 33.7 mm); from C. fortuna, C. occultans and C. phyllodactyla by having the third toe longer than fifth (vs. third toe slightly shorter than fifth); from C. berara by having the third toe longer than fifth (vs. both toes of similar length). Within Platypelis, the new species can be distinguished by a set of morphological characters from all congeners, of which we here highlight the most important characters. Platypelis efatra sp. nov. can be distinguished from all Platypelis species except for P. tetra, P. tuberifera and P. karenae by the presence of a dark band running from the eye to the forelimb insertion or beyond (vs. absence); from P. grandis, P. alticola and P. tuberifera by smaller body size (adult body size SVL 19.4–22.1 mm vs. 30–105 mm), and furthermore from P. grandis by largely smooth dorsal skin (vs. many large tubercles); from P. karenae by dorsal surface with dark markings and washed with irregular dark pigment (vs. typically uniformly yellowish light brown); from P. tuberifera and P. cowanii by smaller body size (adult SVL 19.4–22.1 mm vs. 30–40 mm); from P. tsaratananaensis and P. pollicaris by presence of four symmetrically arranged and distinctly enlarged white tubercles on dorsum (vs. absence); from P. ravus by presence of four symmetrically arranged and distinctly enlarged white tubercles on dorsum (vs. presence of moderately-sized tubercles); from P. olgae and from P. laetus by absence of greenish or green-yellow ventral color (vs. presence); from P. ando by the tibiotarsal articulation reaching between forelimb and tympanum when hindlimb adpressed along body (vs. reaching the tympanum); from P. milloti by absence of red ventral color and absence of distinct dorsal pattern of sharply delimited black markings and light vertebral stripe (vs. presence); from P. barbouri and P. ranjomena by absence of red color on ventral surfaces and limbs (vs. presence); from P. saikamavo by the absence of yellow coloration on the ventral side of belly and limbs (vs. presence); from P. mavomavo by absence of yellow color on belly (vs. presence in some populations) and smaller body size (adult SVL 19.4–22.1 mm vs. 21.8–32.3 mm). Morphologically, the new species is most similar to P. tetra which, however, is phylogenetically not its closest relative. Due to a limited knowledge of the variation of P. tetra which may be a species complex, the following comparison is restricted to characteristics observed in the type material of P. tetra from Anjanaharibe Sud: the new species differs from these specimens according to data from Andreone et al. (2003), a photo probably corresponding to the holotype (Fig. 3A), and our own examination of paratype MRSN A2172 by less distinct expression of symmetrical dorsal tubercles (four to six symmetrical tubercles visible, but especially the anterior pairs smaller than in P. tetra), a distinct canthus rostralis (vs. possibly more indistinct), and possibly larger body size of females (up to 22.1 mm vs. up to 19.4 mm; Andreone et al. 2003). Osteologically, it differs most clearly by a well developed dorsal prominence and oblique groove on the iliac shafts (vs. indistinct), and more hatchet-shaped sacral diapophyses with an anteriorly angled anterior edge (vs. more triangular, with the anterior edge running perpendicular to the body axis). Several additional differences are present (see Comparative osteology section below), but their significance and consistency is difficult to assess without scans of more individuals per species. Description of the holotype. Adult female, with mature oocytes visible through the ventral skin, in relatively good state of preservation (Fig. 5), some muscle tissue removed from left thigh; snout–vent length 21.2 mm (for further measurements see Table 1); body relatively plump; head slightly wider than long, not wider than body; snout slightly rounded in dorsal view, bluntly rounded in lateral view; nostrils not protuberant, nearer to tip of snout than to eye; canthus rostralis distinct, straight; loreal region straight, slightly oblique; tympanum distinct, 32.4% of eye diameter; supratympanic fold distinct, starting at posterior border of eye and ending anterior to forelimb; tongue long, broadening posteriorly, attached anteriorly, not notched; maxillary teeth present, vomerine teeth barely recognizable by superficial examination but present as two rudimentary aggregations posteriomedially to choanae; choanae rounded. Forelimbs robust; subarticular tubercles single, indistinct; outer metacarpal tubercle small, rounded; hand without webbing; terminal finger discs broadly rounded to slightly bilobate, with lateral fringes; relative length of fingers 1<2<4<3; nuptial pads absent. Hindlimbs slender; tibiotarsal articulation reaching between forelimb and tympanum when hindlimb adpressed along body; tibia length 47.6% of SVL; inner metatarsal tubercle small, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; webbing between toes largely absent, limited to traces of webbing between third and fourth toe; subarticular tubercles on toes single; toes with flattened discs which are relatively broad and of slightly bilobate shape; relative length of toes 1<2<5<3<4; third toe slightly longer than fifth; skin dorsally smooth, without dorsolateral folds, with two distinctly enlarged and pointed symmetrical tubercles on the lower back and several smaller tubercles scattered on anterior back; ventral skin smooth. After thirteen years in 70% ethanol, the dorsal surface is light brown, with dark brown markings distributed across the head, dorsum, and limbs. A distinct dark brown W-marking on the posterior dorsum, a dark X-marking on head and anterior dorsum. Additional elongated blotches and diffuse speckling are scattered across the dorsum, becoming denser along the flanks and dorsal surfaces of the thighs. Two symmetrically arranged distinct white tubercles are present on the posterior dorsum, several smaller white tubercles scattered on anterior back; symmetrical tubercles on anterior dorsum cannot be clearly recognized. The head is slightly darker than the rest of the dorsum, especially posterior to the eyes. A dark band runs from the eyes to almost reaching the forelimb insertion. Digits and toe tips are light brown, with dark brown color dorsally on hand, forearms, and thighs. The ventral surface is pale beige to yellowish cream. In life (Fig. 4), similar to preservative but more contrasted. Some light color is visible dorsally, lining the dark W-shaped marking on the posterior dorsum and at the posterior edges of eyes. Two symetrically arranged white tubercles are also visible on the anterior dorsum (not clearly recognizable in preservative). The ventral side is uniformly gray-pinkish with a yellowish tint on the throat. Variation. The examined paratypes agree well with the holotype in general morphology despite considerable individual variation in color pattern (Fig. 4). Paratype ZSM 1620/2012 (FGZC 3608) is a female with mature oocytes visible through the ventral skin, as in the holotype, and of similar body size as the holotype (Table 1). ZSM 1622/2012 (FGZC 3610) is distinctly smaller and might be a male, but the prepollex on its hand is not strongly developed and we could not assess sexual maturity; in life, this specimen had two distinct light beige rhomboid markings in the central dorsum, and a rather yellowish throat (Fig. 4) Osteology. Based on a micro-CT scan of paratype ZSM162