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Two new species of the asterophryine microhylid genus Xenorhina are described from the Raja Ampat archipelago off the western tip of New Guinea. Both are medium-sized (snout-urostyle length 29.9 – 35.2 and 28.5 – 39.5 mm), semi-fossorial frogs that call from hidden positions within the litter or under the soil surface. The two new species are morphologically similar but they have different advertisement calls. Although they are probably closely related, genetic studies are required to confirm this. The first species is known only from Salawati Island, a land-bridge island that was connected to the New Guinea mainland during the last glacial period. The second species is currently known only from Waigeo Island, an oceanic island long isolated from New Guinea that is separated from nearby Salawati by a major biogeographic barrier, the narrow but deep Sagewin Strait. Description of these two species appears to be another example of differentiation across this barrier, and brings the total number of Xenorhina known from New Guinea and surrounding islands to 34., Zwei neue Arten der Froschgattung Xenorhina (Microhylidae, Asterophryinae) vom Raja Ampat Archipel westlich von Neuguinea werden beschrieben. Beide Arten sind mittelgroß (Schnauze-Urostyl-Länge 29,9 – 35,2 und 28,5 – 39,5 mm), haben eine grabende Lebensweise und rufen von Positionen im Falllaub oder im Erdboden. Beide Arten haben eine sehr ähnliche Morphologie, zeigen jedoch deutliche Unterschiede in ihren Rufen. Sie sind wahrscheinlich eng miteinander verwandt, was später auch durch genetische Untersuchungen bestätigt werden soll. Die erste Art wurde bisher nur auf der Insel Salawati gefunden, einer Landbrückeninsel, die während der letzten Eiszeit mit Neuguinea verbunden war. Die zweite Art ist gegenwärtig nur von Waigeo bekannt, einer ozeanischen und von Neuguinea lange isolierten Insel , die trotz der gegenwärtigen Nachbarschaft zu Salawati niemals mit dieser Insel verbunden war. Mit der Beschreibung dieser beiden neuen Arten erhöht sich die Anzahl der von Neuguinea und benachbarten Inseln beschriebenen Xenorhina-Arten auf 34.

Ruane, Sara, Richards, Stephen J., McVay, John D., Tjaturadi, Burhan, Krey, Keliopas, Austin, Christopher C. (2017): Cryptic and non-cryptic diversity in New Guinea ground snakes of the genus Stegonotus Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854: a description of four new species (Squamata: Colubridae). Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 52 (13-16): 917-944, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2017.1391959, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2017.1391959

Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. Figures 1���4 Holotype. AMS R 135519, adult male, from the Kukumbau area of Mount Sapau, (3 �� 23 ' S, 142 �� 31 ' E), between 1000���1200 metres altitude, Torricelli Mountains, West Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, collected by Pavel German on 10 Mar 1990. Paratypes. MZB lace 7474 (field-number SJR 13593), 7475 (SJR 13594), SJR 13593, all adult females; SJR 13613, adult male; Foja Mountains (2 �� 35 ' 27.8"S, 138 �� 43 ' 11.9"E), Papua Province, Indonesia, at approximately 1250 metres altitude, collected by Paul Oliver between 19���21 Nov 2008. Diagnosis. Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Melanesian and Wallacean Cyrtodactylus by the following unique combination of characters: moderately large size (SVL to 109 mm); relatively slender body with robust head (HW/SVL 0.193���0.213); enlarged femoral-scale series extending beyond the knees; males with precloacal (12) and femoral (17���25) pores arranged in three independent series; femoral-pore series extending beyond the knee; medial subcaudal scales in mostly single row and transversely enlarged to approximately one third width of tail; tail without prominent dentate tubercles; and dorsal colouration consisting of 5 to 7 very irregular and indistinct dark-brown transverse bands. Comparisons. A single row of transversely enlarged subcaudal scales distinguishes Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. from the majority of recognised Melanesian Cyrtodactylus. Of those species which share this character; Cyrtodactylus aaroni and C. mimikanus (which also occurs in the Foja Mountains) have a much lower total number of femoral/precloacal pores ( 47) and a distinctive dorsal pattern consisting of six or seven wide chocolate brown bands separated by very thin, strongly defined light bands (G��nther and R��sler 2003); members of the Cyrtodactylus lousiadensis group (restricted to far-eastern New Guinea) also have transversely enlarged subcaudals, however in this group they are much wider (approaching the width of the tail), they are also generally much larger geckos (109mm to 160 mm adult SVL) and most (Cyrtodactylus epiroticus, C. klugei, C. louisiadensis, C. robustus and C. tripartitus) can be further distinguished by possessing wide brown dorsal bands of even width with even edges (vs indistinct, ragged-edged dark brown bands); of the remaining two species, Cyrtodactylus murua differs in its lower number (three) and much broader dark dorsal bands, and Cyrtodactylus salamonensis has a much higher number of dorsal tubercle rows (28���29 v 18 ���20) (R��sler et al. 2007; Kraus 2009). All other recognised species of Melanesian Cyrtodactylus lack a single series of transversely expanded subcaudals; C. sermowaiensis (recorded up to around 700m on Mount Sapua, the type locality of Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. (F. Kraus pers com.)), can be further distinguished by lacking a continuous series of enlarged femoral scales, lacking precloacal and femoral pores in the males, and a dorsal pattern consisting of transverse series of very dark brown and generally highly contrasting blotches or broken bands on a pale background (vs dorsal colouration consisting of less contrasting dark brown transverse bands on a dark background); C. loriae (also known from across northern and eastern New Guinea), can be further distinguished by having a continuous femoral and precloacal pore series; C. serratus, (known only from the Central Cordillera) differs in this same feature and the presence of spinose lateral and dorsal tubercles (v low, rounded and dorsal only) extending to the tip of the tail, (Kraus 2007); C. novaeguineae (also widespread and overlapping over much of northern New Guinea), C. irianjayaensis and C. zugi, are readily distinguished by their larger size (adult SVL up to 172 mm v Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. is readily distinguished from all remaining Melanesian Cyrtodactylus; C. papuensis and C. nuaulu possess a precloacal pit, lack femoral pores extending to the knees, and are much smaller (C. nuaulu also has a distinctive series of dentate lateral tubercles extending to the tip of the tail; and Cyrtodactylus capreoloides and Cyrtodactylus derongo have different dorsal patterns, consisting respectively of thin brown bands on a light brown background, or thin bands of light creamish dots on a dark reddish brown background (Brown and Parker 1973; Rosler et al. 2007). Description of holotype. A moderately large (109 SVL mm), slender gecko; head long (HL/SVL 0.26), moderately wide (HW/HL 0.75) and distinct from neck; snout sharply rounded in dorsal profile, relatively long, longer than eye diameter; loreal region weakly inflated; interorbital region and top of snout concave; canthus rostralis smoothly rounded (Fig. 1). Eyes very large, pupil vertical, superciliaries extending from anterio-ventral to posterior dorsal edge of eye, largest at the anterior-dorsal corner. Ear opening small and obscured by a superior skin fold. Rostral wider (4.8 mm) than high (2.9 mm), widest at and extending into nostrils, bordered dorsally by two supranasals, distinct medial suture extending from dorsal edge of rostral, less distinct lateral suture extending from ventral tip of medial suture. Nares bordered by first supralabial, rostral, first supranasal and series of 5 postnasals. Supralabials to rictus 11 on right and 12 on left, approximately 9 to midpoint of eye; supralabials anterior to eye much longer than high, bordered dorsally by a single series of enlarged scales. Head scales small and granular, temporal and nuchal scales smaller than those on snout, scattered small conical tubercles on dorsal half of temporal region. Infralabials to rictus 8 on right and left, all longer than high, bordered by several rows of enlarged scales grading into small and granular gular scales. Mental almost rectangular, with triangular posterior extension, wider than long, bordered by first infralabials and two pentagonal postmentals in contact for approximately 70 % of their length. Body elongate (TrL/SVL 0.45), skin moderately tuberculate, distinct ventrolateral fold with 37���40 slightly conical tubercles oriented posteriorly and separated by one or no smaller granules, posterior tubercles largest. Dorsum with approximately 17���18 rows (not including lateral fold) of low rounded tubercles at midpoint of body, surrounding scales small and granular; ventral scales much larger than dorsal scales, increasing in size medially, arranged in approximately 37 rows at midpoint of body. Distinctly enlarged femoral and precloacal scales in nearcontinuous series extending in single row along proximal third of tibia, in one to two rows along femur and in up to five rows in precloacal region. Precloacal pores in slightly angled series of 12 in the third enlarged precloacal scale row. Femoral pores extend along distal half of femur onto proximal third of tibia, 25 in right series, 24 in left series (Fig. 2). Forelimbs relatively elongate (FA/SVL 0.16), hindlimbs more robust and longer than forelimbs (CS/SVL 0.18). Dorsal surfaces of hindlimbs and lower forelimbs with numerous rounded tubercles. Digits long and well developed, inflected at basal interphalangeal joints, digits narrowing distal to joints; subdigital lamellae smooth, rounded and expanded proximal to joint inflection (9���10 ��� 10 ��� 10 ��� 9 manus; 8���10 ��� 10���12 ��� 10 pes); narrow lamellae distal to digital inflection (8-9 - 10-11 - 9 manus; 9���10 ��� 13 ��� 12 ��� 11 pes) (not including ventral claw sheath); large recurved claws sheathed by a dorsal and ventral scale. Slight basal webbing between digits I���IV on manus and pes. Tail original, long and slender, tapering to point with a lateral groove extending most of its length. Caudal scales granular, increasing in size ventrally, a distinct series of transversely enlarged subcaudals scales extending almost to tip of tail, few scattered tubercles extending along dorsal surface of tail to approximately 4���5 cm from groin. Cloacal sacs swollen and prominent, left hemipene slightly everted, two enlarged postanal tubercles at anterior lateral edge of each cloacal sac. Colouration in preservative. Dorsal ground colour moderately dark greyish-brown with scattered lighter grey flecking, especially on tubercles; a series of five indistinct bands on the body formed by a grade from light greyish brown to progressively darker brown, bordered posteriorly by a thin very dark brown jagged region; bands becoming more indistinct posteriorly. Laterally, torso relatively uniform medium-brown with scattered small light-grey and dark-brown spots and blotches. Nuchal region with a dark-brown indistinct W-shaped marking, further extending across the temporal region to the posterior edge of eye and bordered dorsally by a thin pale-grey line. Dorsum of head greyish brown with extensive fine dark-brown mottling and blotching; supralabials and infralabials light greyish brown. Ventral surfaces light grey with dense brown speckling. Lateral and dorsal surfaces of limbs same ground colour as dorsum; digits slightly lighter, all with scattered dark-brown and light-greyish spots, sometimes forming indistinct thin bands; ventral surfaces of limbs and digits with relatively less pigmentation, but retaining extensive fine brown flecking. Tail with seven broad dark-brown bands and six thinner light-grey bands, thinner light-grey bands with scattered dark spots, ultimate two centimetres light grey heavily mottled with dark brown. Variation. Variation in mensural and meristic characters among the type series is presented in Table 1; variation in colour pattern is illustrated in Figure 3. All female paratypes lack precloacal and femoral pores but do possess a row of distinctly enlarged femoral scales extending to the knee. Three of the paratypes have partially or fully regrown tails. The regrown tail is always uniformly dark greyish brown with irregular scalation and, in at least two specimens, has distinct longitudinal ridges (MZB lace 7474, SJR 13613). The only paratype with a complete and original tail (SJR 13592) lost this during capture. The original tail has six broad dark-brown bands and five much narrower light-grey bands. Although the number (5���7), width, intensity and distinctness of the dark and lighter transverse bands vary (Fig. 3), this basic colour pattern is relatively consistent across the type series. A distinct dark W-shaped mark in the nuchal region is also present in all specimens. Paratype MZB lace 7474 has the most distinct dorsal pattern, in this specimen the dark blotches do not always extend completely across the dorsum and the light-grey blotches are larger, lighter and sometimes join laterally to form an indistinct broken longitudinal ���ladder��� pattern along the dorsum. In other specimens (e.g., SJR 13592), the light transverse bands are very indistinct, especially posteriorly. The venter is always predominately light grey, but there is slight variation in the degree and intensity of grey-brown spotting and flecking on the venter of the head, throat, body and legs. Appearance in life. Photographs of paratypes MZB 7474 and SJR 13613 in life (Fig. 4) show the same pattern as in preservative, but with a higher level of contrast between light and dark-brown areas that makes the bands more obvious. Some light-brown areas in preservative appear almost yellowish in life, especially on supracilaries. Eye cream with extensive dark-brown vermiculations, pupil vertical; tongue pink. AMSR 135519 MZB lace 7474 MZB lace 7475 SJR 13592 SJR 13613 Distribution and natural history. Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. is currently known only from two sites in the north coast ranges of mainland New Guinea (Fig. 5). The Foja Mountains and Torricelli Mountains are separated by over 300 km, and further surveys may reveal that it is found in intervening ranges such as the Bewanis and Cyclops. Specimens from the Foja Mountains were located at 1250 metres altitude in undisturbed lower-montane forest (sensu Johns 1976). Although exact altitude data are not available for the holotype from Mt Sapau, discussions with the collector (P. German) indicate that it was found in lower-montane forest at around 1200 metres. Specimens from the Foja Mountains were collected on the trunks of either small shrubs or large trees, generally less than five metres above the ground. Although additional Cyrtodactylus were detected by their eyeshine 15���20 metres high in large trees, these were impossible to collect and in some cases it was not possible to confirm their identities. Two uncollected individuals of Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. were observed less than a metre apart, one on a large tree trunk and another on a liana approximately 10 metres high in the canopy. Female SJR 13593 contained two well-developed eggs, indicating that at least some individuals are reproducing in November. No other gekkonids were found in sympatry with Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. in the Foja Mountains, but at lower altitudes Cytodactylus mimikanus and Cyrtodactylus novaeguineae were present. In the Torricellis C. sermowaiensis, C. novaeguineae and C. cf. lorie have also been collected in relatively close proximity to the type locality, but whether the distributions of these taxa overlap or abut with Cyrtodactylus boreoclivus sp. nov. is unknown. Etymology. From the latin boreo meaning northern, and clivus meaning slopes, in reference to the northern Ranges of New Guinea, to which the species is presumably endemic., Published as part of Oliver, Paul, Krey, Keliopas & Richards, Stephen, 2011, A new species of bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus, Gekkonidae) from the North Papuan Mountains, pp. 22-32 in Zootaxa 2930 on pages 23-30, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.278007, {"references":["Gunther, R. & Rosler, H. (2003) Eine neue Art der Gattung Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 aus dem Westen von Neuguinea (Reptila: Sauria: Gekkonidae). Salamandra, 38, 195 - 212.","Rosler, H., Gunther, R. & Richards, S. J. (2007) Remarks on the morphology and taxonomy of geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827, occurring east of Wallacea, with description of two new species (Reptilia: Sauria: Gekkonidae). Salamandra, 43, 193 - 230.","Kraus, F. (2007) A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from western Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa, 1425, 63 - 68.","Brown, W. C. & Parker, F. (1973) A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Gekkonidae) from New Guinea with key to species from the island. Brevioria, 417, 1 - 7.","Johns, R. J. (1976) A classification of the montane forests of Papua New Guinea. Science in New Guinea, 4, 105 - 127."]}

Oliver, Paul, Krey, Keliopas, Richards, Stephen (2011): A new species of bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus, Gekkonidae) from the North Papuan Mountains. Zootaxa 2930: 22-32, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.278007

Gehyra barea Kopstein 1926 Figures 1 A���D, 2 A Diagnosis. Large (SVL 88���105mm), broad headed (HW/SVL 0.20 (0.23 from Kopstein 1926)) Gehyra with prominent posterior lateral skin fold on hindlimbs, U-shaped rostral, more than four small granular scales between nasals, distal subdigital lamellae (excluding single small terminal lamellae) on fingers and toes divided and deeply grooved, colouration in life reddish brown with lighter orange lateral and dorsal patches. Description. Large Gehyra (SVL up to 105mm), head robust, not compressed, relatively broad, with prominent enlarged muscles at angle of jaw. Rostral with dorsal concavity containing 1���2 small granular scales, nasals widely divided by 2���3 small granular internasals in series, in total between 7���9 small granular scales in concavity within U shaped rostral-nasal combination. Labials: 11���12 large supralabials, followed by series of small granular supralabials at rictus, 9���10 infralabials. Mental pentagonal, contacting first infralabials and first pair of chinshields, 3 pairs of enlarged chinshields, lateralmost pair less than a quarter size of medial pair. Neck only marginally thinner than head, with numerous fleshy folds. Body very robust, wider and deeper than head and neck, lateral fold extending from axilla to groin in life, sometimes apparent or partially apparent in preservative. Adult males with precloacal and femoral pores in continuous curved series of 28���33, scales around pores with pointed edges, precloacal pore region raised and prominent, scales enlarged; 3���4 postcloacal spines. Dorsal scales small and heterogeneous, ventral scales flat, imbricate and relatively large. Limbs plump and fleshy. Subdigital lamellae on fingers and toes deeply indented, first small terminal lamellae undivided, followed by series of divided lamellae, fourth finger with 20���21 lamellae (8���11 divided) and fourth toe with 19 lamellae (13 divided). Webbing on hands and feet extending to posterior edge of expanded discs, large claws on all except innermost digits. Original tail thick and fleshy, dorsoventrally flattened, with distinct lateral grooves and single regular row of wide hexagonal subcaudal scales, surrounding scales imbricate and becoming progressively smaller dorsally. Regrown tail much wider than high, dorsal scales small, granular, lateral scales small and pointing backwards, subcaudal scales transversely enlarged, irregularly broken into pairs or trios. In preservative the types are heavily faded and have lost most original colouration, but RMNH 5093 has light blotches visible in pairs along dorsal midline, on head and on lateral portion of torso. The two recent specimens from Raja Ampats are dark reddish brown on all dorsal surfaces, with scattered slightly lighter blotches just visible, especially on lateral and dorsal surfaces of torso. On recent specimens venter is predominantly light grey, heavily suffused with dark reddish brown, brown pigmentation densest laterally, posterior to precloacal-femoral pore series, on throat, and on underside of digits and tail. Photographs in life of MZB lace 5364 (Figure 2) show the base colouration of dorsum is much lighter than in preservative, tending more towards red than brown, with numerous white scales in particularly dense patches on neck, head, dorsal surface of body and legs; a series of light terracotta markings in large transverse blotches laterally, smaller blotches in paired series along vertebral line, and forming weak bands on legs and arms. Upper surfaces of digits relatively light compared to remainder of body. Regrown tail same colour as dorsum with very indistinct slightly lighter patches. Eye off-white with extensive brownish reticulation. Distribution and ecology. Currently known from the south Banda Sea, from the islands of Teun and Serua, and from Batanta and Salawati in the Raja Ampat Achipelago. The specimens from the Raja Ampats were both collected in moderately disturbed lowland rainforest. Specimen MZB lace 5438 was four metres high on the trunk of a large tree on southern Batanta Island, while MZB lace 5364 was in a Pandanus tree on the northern edge of Salawati Island. Gehyra barea were not found in or close to local villages and towns, suggesting that, unlike G. mutilata collected on the same trip, it is not a human commensal. No ecological data accompanied the original description. Both types examined, and the specimens from the Raja Ampats have lost patches of skin on the dorsum and head, a defensive strategy employed by many other Gehyra species., Published as part of Oliver, Paul, Sistrom, Mark, Tjaturadi, Burhan, Krey, Keliopas & Richards, Stephen, 2010, On the status and relationships of the gecko species Gehyra barea Kopstein 1926, with description of new specimens and a range extension, pp. 45-55 in Zootaxa 2354 on pages 49-51, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193557, {"references":["Kopstein, P. F. (1926) Reptilien von den Molukken und den benachbarten Inseln. Zoologische Mededeelingen Leiden, 1, 71 - 112."]}

Richards, Stephen J., Oliver, Paul M., Krey, Keliopas, Tjaturadi, Burhan (2009): A new species of Litoria (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae) from the foothills of the Foja Mountains, Papua Province, Indonesia. Zootaxa 2277: 1-13, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.191126

Litoria gasconi new species (Figs. 1 A–D, 2 B, 3) Holotype. MZB Amph. 15839 (FN SJR 6018), adult male, calling at time of collection (16 July 2004), tissue preserved in 70 % ethanol, camp near Marina Valen Village (02o 22.230 'S, 138 o 12.753 'E), 500 m a.s.l., southern foothills of the Foja Mountains, Papua Province, Indonesia, collected by Stephen Richards and Burhan Tjaturadi. Paratopotype. Male, calling when collected, MZB Amph. 15840 (FN SJR 6019), with same date, locality and collectors as holotype. Paratype. Male, calling when collected, MZB Amph. 12036 (FN SJR 9805), 17 November 2005, 'Kwerba Camp' (2 o 38.467 ' S, 138 o 24.916 'E), 200 m a.s.l., near Kwerba Village, southern foothills of the Foja Mountains, Papua Province, Indonesia, collected by Stephen Richards and Burhan Tjaturadi. Diagnosis. Litoria gasconi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Litoria by the combination of moderate size (males 39.3–41.6 mm), predominately green dorsal colouration interspersed with numerous yellow spots (light blue in preservative), white bilobed dermal ridge below the vent, and further ridges extending from heel to fifth toe and on the forearms, large eyes (EYE/SVL 0.12–0.15), thighs, groin and axillary spots orange in life without any trace of blue, absence of black vermiculations on thigh and venter, absence of a canthal stripe between the eye and nares, and advertisement call consisting of a single soft, distinctly pulsed chirp containing 4–6 pulses and lasting 0.02– 0.03 s. Description of holotype. Adult male with vocal slits and calling when collected (with measurements given in Table 1). Body moderately slender, limbs moderately short (TL/SVL 0.56), head wider than body in dorsal profile, distinct from neck (HW/SVL 0.36). Snout rounded in dorsal profile, slightly rounded but nearly truncate in lateral profile, upper jaw protruding marginally over lower jaw. Canthus rostralis slightly curved, not sharply defined, loreal region slightly concave, nares oriented anterio-laterally, closer to tip of snout than to eyes, labial region flared. Eyes large (EYE/SVL 0.15), prominent, clearly protruding in lateral and dorsal views, pupil horizontal. Tympanum clearly visible, small (TYM/SVL 0.06), approximately half diameter of eye (TYM/EYE 0.44), annulus distinct and bordered dorsally by supratympanic fold that runs from posterior corner of eye and terminates above axilla. Choanae small and circular, close to lateral edge of palate; vomerine teeth in two moderate-sized clumps medial to choanae; tongue fleshy and ovoid. Dorsal skin finely granular; ventral skin smooth on throat, coarsely granular on abdomen; a fleshy bilobed dermal ridge below vent, and dermal ridges along outside edge of tarsus and forearm. MZB 15839 (SJR 6018) MZB 15840 (SJR 6019) MZB 12036 (SJR 9805) Holotype Paratopotype Paratype M M M SVL 39.3 40.7 41.6 TL 21.9 22.6 23.4 HW 14.2 13.9 15.2 HL 13.8 13.2 12.7 EYE 5.7 5.7 4.7 TYM 2.5 2.4 2.4 IN 3.9 4.1 4.2 EN 2.5 3.1 3.7 3 FD 2.4 2.3 2.3 3 FP 1.7 1.7 1.6 4 TD 2.0 2.0 1.9 4 TP 1.6 1.6 1.4 Fingers moderately long in comparison to other Papuan Litoria (Tyler 1968); with relative lengths III>IV>II>I; fleshy opaque webbing between all digits: in a narrow strip between I and II, and reaching to penultimate phalanx on outer edges of II and III, to third phalanx on inner edge of III, and to disc on IV. Terminal discs on all fingers prominent (3 FP/ 3 FD 0.71), with circum-marginal grooves. Nuptial pads without pigmentation and very indistinct; single indistinct unpigmented bifid subarticular tubercles present on penultimate phalanx of all fingers, and a series of additional subarticular tubercles present on IV; single indistinct ovoid inner metacarpal tubercle present at base of I. Toes long in comparison to other Papuan Litoria (Tyler 1968); relative lengths IV>III>V>II>I; with extensive fleshy opaque webbing. Web extends to discs on outer edge of II, III and inner edge of V, to penultimate phalanx on both sides of IV and inner edge of II and III, and to penultimate tubercle on I; dermal flanges extending to disc on III and IV. Discs prominent (4 TP/ 4 TD 0.80) with circum-marginal grooves; single rounded subarticular tubercles present on all digits, small ovoid metatarsal tubercle at base of toe I, series of distinct rounded ventral tubercles of varying sizes present on proximal third of femur. In preservative dorsal ground colour of head, body and legs slate blue with extensive randomly scattered sky-blue spots; dorsal surfaces of fingers, and lower portions of forelimbs and toes largely unpigmented, though sometimes with small patches of blue pigment, especially on toes. Lateral surfaces slate blue heavily flecked with bluish white, lateral surfaces of head distinctly lighter than dorsal surfaces of head, edge of upper jaw with a continuous white margin from rictus to rictus, orbital bordered by a thin white ring. Ventral surfaces of body and forelimbs off-white, hind limbs slightly darker with poorly defined brown stripe along posterior edge and on to toe V; prominent dermal flange below vent grades from slate blue dorsally to white ventrally, to bordered at ventral edge by a poorly defined brown stripe. Variation. All types are very similar in overall proportions to the holotype; summary meristic data is given in Table 1 and key ratios are given in Table 2. Paratopotype MZB Amph. 15840 (SJR 6019) is missing most of the second finger on the left hand. Colouration in preservative is highly consistent, the dorsal surfaces are always slate blue with extensive sky blue spotting, ventral and hidden surfaces are off-white except for thin brown stripes below the venter and along the posterior ventral edge of the tarsus, and all specimens also possess a distinctive white dermal flange below the vent, and a further white lateral dermal flange extending from the heel to the fifth toe. All types are males that were calling when collected, but lack obvious pigmented nuptial pads and further collecting may reveal this to be an additional diagnostic character for the species. Appearance in life. Typical colouration in life is shown in Figure 2. The following description is based on colour photographs of all three type specimens. Colour pattern is highly consistent: dorsum mottled bright leaf green, densely flecked with small indistinct tiny yellowish dots, and much larger, scattered and indistinctly edged yellow spots of varying size; lateral surfaces grading from heavily mottled with green and yellow dorsolaterally, to mottled green and white ventrolaterally; venter white. Small amount of brown blotching present in subocular region of paratopotype MZB Amph. 15840 (SJR 6019). Exposed dorsal and lateral surfaces of arms and legs mottled green and yellow, with scattered large yellow spots as on dorsum; hidden parts of groin, thighs and axillary region bright orange. Toes and fingers predominately white with some scattered green patches on dorsal surface of outer digits. Crenulated dermal flanges on arm and tarsus white; bilobed dermal ridge and scattered tubercles below vent and thighs white. Iris white with fine brown vermiculations, pupil horizontal. L. gasconi sp. nov. L. multiplica (male) L. multiplica (female) n = 3 n = 22 n = 8 SVL 40.5 (39.3–41.6) 36.4 (31.1–38.9) 41.9 (37.65–47.1) TL 22.6 (21.9–23.4) 20.3 (16.4–21.9) 24.0 (20.4–27.4) HL 13.2 (12.7–13.8) 11.3 (9.5–12.8) 12.3 (10.2–14.3) HW 14.5 (13.9–15.2) 12.1 (9.8 –14.0) 13.5 (11.7–15.9) EYE 5.5 (5.0– 5.7) 3.9 (3.3–4.4) 3.9 (3.4–4.2) HW/SVL 0.36 (0.34–0.37) 0.33 (0.30–0.37) 0.32 (0.29–0.34) HL/SVL 0.33 (0.31–0.35) 0.31 (0.29–0.33) 0.29 (0.27–0.32) TL/SVL 0.56 (0.56 – 0.56) 0.56 (0.53–0.58) 0.57 (0.54–0.62) EYE/SVL 0.13 (0.12–0.15) 0.11 (0.09–0.13) 0.09 (0.08–0.10) Advertisement call. Thirty-one calls produced by paratype MZB Amph. 15840 (SJR 6019) were recorded and analysed. The holotype and paratype MZB Amph. 12036 (SJR 9805) produced calls that were indistinguishable to the ear, but recordings were of insufficient quality for detailed analysis. L. gasconi sp. nov. produced two distinct call types, herein referred to as ‘short’ calls and ‘long’ calls. Twenty-seven of the 31 calls (87.1 %) are ‘short calls’, and 4 are ‘long’ calls. ‘Short’ calls were produced on average every 9.6 s (n = 27, range = 4.3– 23.7 s, SD = 3.72) and they were all structurally similar, consisting of a single sharp chirp lasting just 0.019– 0.030 s (n = 27, mean = 0.024 s, SD = 0.003) and having a dominant frequency of 1520– 1890 Hz (n = 27, mean = 1750 Hz, SD = 67). Pulsed structure within these extremely short calls was not evident in the field, but analyses revealed that each call contains 4–6 pulses (n = 27, mean = 5.3, SD = 0.6) produced at a rate of 153.3–216.2 /s (n = 27, mean = 200.5 /s, SD = 12.9). ‘Long’ calls were produced less frequently than ‘short’ calls and were usually uttered in response to the call of a nearby male, suggesting a territorial rather than a mate attracting function. Length of ‘long’ calls was extremely variable (0.046– 0.146 s, SD = 0.05, n = 4) but 3 of these calls had pulse rates within the range of short calls (i.e. 187–193 /s) indicating that the frogs are simply adding pulses to their calls at the same rate to produce ‘territorial’ calls. A consequence of their longer duration is that in the field these calls sounded distinctly (albeit finely) pulsed to the ear. One ‘long’ call produced by the holotype had a much slower pulse rate than all other calls (120 /s) and the highest number of pulses (18). Similar calls were heard in the field, again predominantly in response to calls of nearby males, and were often produced in couplets or triplets producing a soft ‘bleating’ effect. Typical ‘short’ and ‘long’ calls are illustrated in Figure 3. Comparisons. The combination of medium size (39.3–41.6 mm), green dorsal colouration with large yellow spots, and white dermal ridges on the forelimbs, hindlimbs and below the vent will readily distinguish Litoria gasconi sp. nov. from all Litoria except L. multiplica. Litoria gasconi differs from Litoria multiplica in lacking extensive dark markings on the groin, venter and lateral surfaces, in having bright orange groin, thigh and axillary colouration (as opposed to bright blue, or orange mixed with bright blue, see Figure 2), in being on average slightly larger, and in having proportionally larger eyes (see summary of meristic and FIGURE 3. Wave form (top) and spectrogram (bottom) of A) advertisement call of Litoria gasconi sp. nov. (MZB Amph. 15840), B) ‘territorial’ call of Litoria gasconi sp. nov. (MZB Amph. 15840), both recorded at an air temperature of 23 o C, and C) two components of the biphasic ' Type 1 ' advertisement call of Litoria multiplica (SAMA R 64644) recorded at an air temperature of 20.5 o C. mensural comparisons in Table 2). The advertisement call of L. gasconi sp. nov. is also distinctly different, consisting of a single short but distinctly pulsed note (see ‘advertisement call’ above), while that of L. multiplica consists of a very loud 2 -note call with a pulse rate that is much slower than that of L. gasconi sp. nov. (30–47 /s vs 153–216 /s). A brief description of the call of L. multiplica is provided below. There are a number of other predominately green, medium-sized Litoria found in New Guinea that could be superficially confused with L. gasconi sp. nov. Litoria wapogaensis and L. christianbergmanni share with L. gasconi sp. nov. distinct white dermal ridges below the vent and extending along the arms and legs. However these species are much smaller (26.9 to 32.9 mm), and the former can be further distinguished by its purplish brown thighs and the latter by its dark brown thighs and golden iris (see Günther 2008). Litoria elkeae and other members of the L. gracilenta and L. aruensis group (sensu Menzies and Tyler 2004) are of similar size, although generally slightly smaller (Menzies and Tyler 2004) and can be spotted, but are readily distinguished by possession of a pale canthal stripe and absence of a prominent white dermal ridge around the vent and on the fore and hindlimbs. Litoria singadanae can be distinguished by it’s transparent tympanic membrane (Richards 2005), Litoria verae by its more extensively developed crenulated fold on the outer edge of the limbs, greenish brown and finely tubercular (vs smooth) dorsum (Günther 2004), and Litoria rubrops by its red eye and lack of a dermal fold below the vent (Kraus and Allison 2004). Frogs of the Litoria graminea group (Litoria dux, Litoria graminea, Litoria huntorum and Litoria sauroni) are predominately green but are easily distinguished by their much larger size (male SVL> 55 mm), and lack of both dorsal spotting and a bilobed dermal ridge below the vent (Richards et al. 2006, Richards and Oliver 2006). Litoria mystax, L. albolabris, L. umarensis and New Guinean members of the Litoria bicolor group (L. bibonius, L. contrastens, L. chloristona, L. eurynastes, L. lodesdema, and L. viranula), are predominantly green but are much smaller than the new species (male SVL et al. 2008). Distribution and Natural History. Known only from two sites in the vicinity of Marina Valen and Kwerba Villages, in the southern foothills of the Foja Mountain Range, Papua Province, Indonesia (Figure 4). All specimens were collected in relatively undisturbed hill forest on steep ridges between 200 and 500 m a.s.l. (Figure 5). Litoria gasconi sp. nov. was not found at higher elevations despite intensive searches between 1100 m and 1700 m over a 2 -week period, and further searches at similar altitudes over a three week period in 2008. Males were detected by their very soft calls, uttered from large leaves on low shrubs or tree branches between 1 and 6 m above the ground. They were found only along two streams that formed a series of shallow, disconnected pools and seeps. This species was never seen or heard in the vicinity of clear, flowing streams, or around temporary or permanent forest pools. Two other species of Litoria, L. humboldtorum and L c.f. genimaculata, were detected in microsympatry along the same intermittent streams. Etymology. The new species is named for Claude Gascon of Conservation International, in gratitude for his support of our amphibian research in New Guinea, and in recognition of his long involvement in the conservation of amphibians globally.

Cyrtodactylus zugi sp. nov. Figures 1–3 Holotype: MZB lace 5574 (F-num SJR 7689), adult female with entire original tail, detached at base during collection, collected on large tree trunk in lowland rainforest adjacent to Yakut Camp, Batanta Island, Raja Ampat Archipelago, Papua Barat Province, Indonesia (00o 53.749 ’S, 130 o 38.498 ’E; elevation ~ 10 m asl) on 18 June 2005 by K. Krey, B. Tjaturadi and S. Richards. Paratypes: MZB lace 5575 (F-num SJR 7690) adult female with regrown tail, MZB lace 5573 (F-num 7749) adult female with regrown tail and damaged snout, both specimens with same collection information as the holotype except MZB lace 5573 collected 21 June 0 5. Diagnosis. Cyrtodactulus zugi sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Melanesian Cyrtodactylus by the combination of large size (SVL up to 159 mm), robust build (HW/SVL 0.21–0.22), precloacal groove absent, subcaudal scales less than twice width of lateral and dorsal caudal scales, relatively small rounded tubercles along the lateral fold, a series of enlarged ventral tubercles present below the lateral fold, enlarged tubercles on ventral surface of head confined to the region around the angle of the lower jaw, moderate number of enlarged precloacal and femoral scales (> 28) arranged in straight or almost straight series, and dorsal colouration consisting of 3–4 very dark greyish-brown indistinct dorsal blotchess between the head and tail. Description of holotype. A large, robust gecko (SVL 159.0 mm), head long (HL/SVL 0.265), wide (HW/ HL 0.744) and very distinct from neck. Skin missing (damaged) in thin triangular section extending from just dorsal of the rostral to halfway up the snout. Loreal region slightly inflated, interorbital region and top of snout concave, canthus rostralis very weakly defined. Snout relatively long, much longer than eye diameter. Eyes relatively large, pupil vertical, supraciliaries prominent and frill like, extending over dorsal half of eye. Ear opening relatively small (Ear/HL= 0.098), much wider than high, surrounded by ventral, posterior and dorsal skinfolds. Rostral approximately twice as wide (7.2 mm) as high (3.8 mm), with slight medial depression, widest at the ventral edge of the nares, indistinct suture extending down left side from midpoint almost to jaw; two enlarged supranasals separated by two nasals, right nasal much larger and bordered dorso-laterally by smaller left nasal. Nares bordered by first supralabial, rostral, first supranasal and series of five (left) and four (right) postnasals. Twelve enlarged supralabials on both right and left side, supralabials roughly square to approximately midpoint of eye, posterior of eye greatly reduced and much higher than long, bordered dorsally by a discontinuous series of enlarged scales (becoming continuous just anterior to the eye). Infralabials reaching rictus, with twelve on each side, fifth infralabial on right side divided by horizontal suture into dorsal and slightly smaller ventral sections, bordered ventrally by several rows of enlarged scales. Mental triangular, much wider than long, flared anteriorly, bordered by two enlarged postmentals twice as long as wide. Enlarged tubercles present on ventral surface of head around the angle of the lower jaw, and in single row extending anteriorly along jawline to approximately level with orbital. Body elongate (TrL/SVL 0.455) with distinct ventrolateral folds. Lateral fold with low rounded tubercles separated from each other by 2–4 granules, posterior tubercles on fold are larger. One row of enlarged tubercles (2–3 times diameter of surrounding scales) positioned ventral to lateral fold. Dorsum heavily tuberculate, relatively large flattened tubercles arranged in approximately twenty indistinct rows at midpoint of body, tubercles on temporal and nuchal regions relatively smaller and tending towards conical. Ventral scales in approximately fifty rows at midpoint, becoming much wider medially; enlarged precloacal and femoral scales in very slightly curved continuous series of 32, extending to halfway along femur, bordered anteriorly by rows of smaller but still enlarged scales, particularly around vent, bordered posteriorly by much smaller granules. Forelimbs (FA/SVL 0.135) and hindlimbs (CS/SVL 0.187) relatively elongate, hindlimbs more robust and slightly longer than forelimbs (CS/FA 1.386). Lateral and dorsal surfaces of limbs heavily tuberculate, tubercles varying significantly in size, becoming more numerous, larger and somewhat more conical distally on forelimbs; evenly distributed on hindlimbs. Digits long and well developed, inflected at basal interphalangeal joints; subdigital lamellae smooth, undivided, expanded proximal to joint inflection; large recurved claws sheathed by a dorsal and ventral scale, 21 lamellae on left finger I, 24 on left finger IV; 22 lamellae on left toe I, 25 on left toe IV. Slight basal webbing on both manus and pes. Tail original but broken at time of collection, narrow, tapering to a point, with distinct lateral fold; caudal scales increasing in size ventrally, divided subcaudal scales distinctly enlarged relative to lateral and dorsal caudal scales. Enlarged tubercles absent on lateral and ventral surfaces of tail; numerous rows of enlarged dorsal tubercles at base of tail reduce to two rows that extend along tail for approximately 30 mm; four (left) and three (right) enlarged postanal tubercles at base of tail. Colouration. Dorsum with three large, dark greyish-brown irregular blotches (including nuchal band) on a background of various shades of light grey, tending to off-white in patches. Dark blotches extend laterally to approximately midpoint of body; further very small and indistinct dark dorsal blotches are barely visible between the two posterior-most large blotches. Nuchal band with almost straight (slightly concave) edge anteriorly (just above ears), extends posteriorly to axilla in a triangular shape and laterally across temporal region to posterior edge of the eyes: ventral edge of nuchal band sharply demarcated against greyish off-white lower lateral colouration of head; dorsal edge of nuchal band sharply demarcated against dorsal surface of head and lores which are light brown finely mottled with darker brown. Labials off-white, with indistinct brown barring. Throat finely mottled with light grey and off-white, venter of torso darker with scattered dark grey spots increasing in frequency posteriorly. Arms and legs mottled dark brown and dark grey dorsally, dark to light grey ventrally. Tail with three very wide dark brown dorsal bands followed by numerous smaller and increasingly broken bands posteriorly; area between dark bands light grey with numerous scattered dark brown spots; ventral surface of tail heavily mottled with numerous shades of grey and brown. MZB MZB MZB Variation. Comparative mensural and meristic data for the holotype and paratypes are given in Table 1. All specimens conform broadly with the description of the holotype. MZB lace 5573 has a large scar on the snout extending from the rostral to between the eyes, and has a largely regrown tail. The regrown section lacks transverse bands, is dark grey with two light grey dorso-lateral stripes and has irregular and relatively small scales. The venter of this specimen is slightly darker and more heavily spotted with dark grey than the holotype, particularly in the gular region. MZB lace 5575 (Fig. 3 A) has a largely regrown tail, has four instead of three large dorsal blotches, has a slightly indented enlarged femoral and precloacal scale series and has more brown pigmentation on the venter, giving an overall impression of being much darker. Colouration in life. Photographs in life of one paratype MZB 5575 show the pattern to be consistent with that retained in preservative. The iris is pale gold tending towards reddish at the centre with sparse dark brown vertical venation and extensive fine, very light brown reticulation. Comparisons. Cyrtodactylus zugi sp. nov. is most similar to the large bodied animals placed in the C. loriae group by Rösler et al. (2007). It can be readily distinguished from C. serratus by the absence of spiniform tubercles along the lateral fold and the tail, and complete absence of lateral tubercles on the tail. It can be distinguished from C. loriae by the presence of enlarged tubercles around the angle of the lower jaw and ventral to the lateral fold (absent in C. loriae) and a straight or almost straight short series of enlarged precloacal and femoral scales, as opposed to V-shaped and much longer (29–34 V 60–80). Cyrtodactylus zugi sp. nov can be distinguished from C. novaeguineae by the absence of enlarged tubercles extending across the ventral surface of the throat (illustrated in Brongersma (1934)).The recently described and geographically proximate species Cyrtodactylus irianjayaensis is most similar to C. zugi sp. nov., but has a shorter series of enlarged precloacal and femoral scales (12–21 vs 29–34), a narrower head (HW/SVL 0.173–0.204 vs 0.210–0.221), lacks mottling on the dorsum of the head and lateral surface of the body, lacks dark speckling on the venter and lacks dark brown labial barring (Rösler et al. 2007, Fig. 3). Cyrtodactylus zugi sp. nov. can be distinguished from similar-sized animals in the C. louisiadensis group (sensu Rösler et al. 2007), C. lousiadensis, C. murua, C. salomonensis, and C. tuberculatus by possessing relatively small (vs wide undivided) subcaudal scales and by the presence of enlarged tubercles below the lateral fold and under the supra-angular edge of the lower jaw. All Melanesian Cyrtodactylus not listed above have a maximum SVL of less than 110 mm, much smaller than Cyrtodactylus zugi sp. nov. The dorsal colouration of three to four dark grey bands (including the nuchal band) exhibited by C. zugi sp. nov. is also different from all of these species; C. aaroni and C. mimikanus have more than eight thin white bands bands on a chocolate brown ground colour; C. derongo has a relatively plain dorsum with small dark spots and white tubercles; C. capreoloides, C. marmoratus, C. papuensis and C. sermowaiensis all have six or more dark dorsal bands or a series of spots on a comparatively light dorsum. Cyrtodactylus zugi sp. nov. can be further distinguished from C. marmoratus and C. papuensis by the absence of a precloacal pit. Distribution and Natural History. The new species is known only from lowland tropical rainforest on Batanta Island (Fig. 4). The habitat at the type locality consisted of selectively logged forest with numerous remaining large old trees, but also with extensive regrowth. Specimens were collected at night from the 0.5–3 m above the ground on large rainforest trees. The holotype and paratype (MZB lace 5575) were both collected at separate times from the same large fig (Ficus) tree on the same night (Fig. 5). Etymology. Named in honour of George Zug from the Smithsonian Institution in recognition of his vast contributions to our knowledge of the systematics and ecology of the herpetofauna of Melanesia and Asia.

Oliver, Paul, Tjaturadi, Burhan, Krey, Keliopas, Richards, Stephen (2008): A new species of large Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Melanesia. Zootaxa 1894: 59-68, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.184390