Systematics of Litoria-Iris (Anura, Hylidae) and Its Allies in New-Guinea and a Note on Sexual Dimorphism in the Group

Abstract

Four new species (Litoria havina, L. mucro, L. pronimia and L. ollauro), whose morphology and known or assumed breeding behaviour suggest that they are related to Litoria iris, are described. Three of these species show marked sexual dimorphism in that the snout of the male bears a dermal 'spike', whereas the snout of the female is truncate. The anatomy of this structure is described and it is speculated that glands on the snout are involved in olfactory stimulation during courtship.

Complete nucleotide sequence and gene arrangement of the mitochondrial genome of the crab-eating frog Fejervarya cancrivora and evolutionary implications

“…3) largely supports the previous classification (Trueb and Cannatella, 1986;Menzies, 1993;Hay et al, 1995;Channing, 1999;Sheil et al, 2001;Kosuch et al, 2001;Emerson et al, 2000;Chen et al, 2005).…”

Derived reproductive modes in New Guinean anuran amphibians and description of a new species with paternal care in the genus Callulops (Microhylidae)

“…1) and emitted whistling calls, with a typical frequency modulation (Fig. 2), that are very similar to those described by Menzies (1993) for L. havina . Body measures were also similar to those of L. havina .…”

Two New Treefrogs from Normanby Island, Papua New Guinea

“…Members include Litoria cooloolensis and Litoria fallax from Australia; L. bicolor, reported from Australia and New Guinea; and Litoria contrastens, Litoria longicrus, and Litoria mystax from New Guinea. Litoria chloronota, from New Guinea, was also originally included in this group (Tyler and Davies, 1978) but has more recently been assigned to the Litoria nigropunctata group (Menzies, 1993). Menzies (1976) noted that a number of undescribed species belonging to this group are present across the lowlands of New Guinea and surrounding islands, but no progress has been made in distinguishing among these species nor in demonstrating that real L. bicolor, originally described from Australia, truly inhabits New Guinea as current taxonomy implies.…”

“…Should L. bibonius properly belong to a monophyletic L. bicolor group, it has several features that we have not seen previously reported for the group, including red eyes, a pitted dorsal surface, and the asymmetrical fringing on the third finger. Given the number of undescribed members of this group that Menzies (1976) stated are to be found in New Guinea, it will be interesting to see how many of these features are shared among them, perhaps providing synapomorphic clues for inferring relationships among the group.…”