A new species of the genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from eastern India with notes on Indian species

Abstract

A new species of the genus Microhyla, Microhyla bengalensis sp. nov., described from West Bengal state, India. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: 1) Small in size (SVL= 16.2 mm. in male); 2) truncated snout in dorsal view; 3) head wider than long (HW: HL= 1.36); 4) canthus rostralis and tympanum are indistinct; 5) nostril placed on the dorsal side of the snout; 6) tibiotarsal articulation not reaching the eye; 7) fingers and toes without disc; 8) toe webbing basal; 9) thigh and foot length are equal and smaller than shank; 10) skin tuberculated on dorsum; 11) teddy bear dark brown mark on dorsum; 12) an inverted V-shaped dark brown mark above the vent. A comparative morphological data of all the 14 Indian species of Microhyla is also provided.