Taxonomic Status and Distribution of Leptobrachium smithi Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999 (Anura: Megophryidae) in India with New Locality Records

Authors

  • DIPANKAR DUTTA Zoology Department, Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati, Pin-781016, Assam, INDIA
  • ABHIJIT DAS Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, INDIA
  • AMALESH DUTTA Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Pin-781014, Assam, INDIA
  • JAYANTA GOGOI Zoology Department, Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati, Pin-781016, Assam, INDIA
  • SAIBAL SENGUPTA Zoology Department, Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati, Pin-781016, Assam, INDIA

Keywords:

Taxonomy, Leptobrachium smithi, distribution, Northeast India

Abstract

The Megophrid genus Leptobrachium Tschudi, 1838 represents a group of megophryid frogs characterized by a stocky body with wide head, slender, long forelimbs, and short hindlimbs. Currently the genus is represented by 32 species, of which two have been reported from India. Recently, in describing L. rakhinensis from Rakhini State of Myanmar, Wogan (2012) suggested the presence of the species also in India because the Rakhini Hills are biogeographically contiguous to Assam Hills of Northeast India. Comparing the detailed morphometry and colour pattern of L. rakhinensis and L. smithi with the Northeast India populations of Leptobrachium, we conclude that the Northeast Indian populations closely resemble L. smithi in all aspects, and we recommend to apply the nomen L. smithi for those populations.

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Published

2013-10-01

How to Cite

[1]
DUTTA, D., DAS, A., DUTTA, A., GOGOI, J. and SENGUPTA, S. 2013. Taxonomic Status and Distribution of Leptobrachium smithi Matsui, Nabhitabhata & Panha, 1999 (Anura: Megophryidae) in India with New Locality Records. Tropical Natural History. 13, 2 (Oct. 2013), 87–95.

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2013): October

Section

Original Articles

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