SPHENOPHRYNE - American Museum of Natural History

2000 ZWEIFEL: PARTITION OF SPHENOPHRYNE
13
Fig. 5. Holotype of Austrochaperina aquilonia,
AMNH A78186, SVL 31.0 mm.
SVL 0.22–0.23); finger discs small (3rd finger
disc/SVL 0.021–0.026), not or scarcely
broader than penultimate phalanges; internarial
span broad (IN/SVL 0.111–0.118).
DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE: Adult male
(vocal slits present) with the following measurements
and proportions (those of the paratype
given in parentheses): SVL 31.0 (23.3),
HW 11.2 (9.0), TL 12.7 (11.1), EY 3.4
(3.15), EN 2.3 (1.6), IN 3.45 (2.75), HD 7.1
(5.2), FT 13.6 (11.1), third finger disc 0.8
(penultimate phalanx 0.55) (0.6, phalanx
0.4), fourth toe disc 1.1 (0.6) (1.0, phalanx
0.5), TY 1.7 (1.9); HW/SVL 0.361 (0.386),
TL/SVL 0.410 (0.476), EY/SVL 0.110
(0.135), IN/SVL 0.111 (0.118), EN/SVL
0.074 (0.069), EN/IN 0.667 (0.582), HD/
SVL 0.229 (0.223), FT/SVL 0.439 (0.476),
FD/SVL 0.026 (0.021), TD/SVL 0.035
(0.043).
Body relatively slender, head as wide as
body, snout bluntly pointed as seen from
above, protruding slightly in lateral view; nares
just visible from above; canthus rostralis
evident but rounded, loreal region a steep,
flat slope; eyelid slightly narrower than interorbit,
tympanic ring scarcely visible. Rel-
ative lengths of fingers 3 4 2 1, the
first half the length of second, all with
grooved terminal discs at most only slightly
wider than penultimate phalanges, subarticular
elevations low, rounded (fig. 55F). Relative
lengths of toes 4 3 5 2 1, all
with grooved terminal discs wider than the
penultimate phalanges, that of the fourth toe
broadest. Subarticular elevations low, rounded,
the inner metatarsal elevation elongate,
rounded (fig. 55F). Dorsal skin surface
slightly granular; a faint, curved, postorbitalsupratympanic
fold.
The dorsal ground color is pale graybrown,
dominated by darker brown irregular
spotting and mottling. On the limbs the pattern
has more the appearance of pale spotting
on a dark ground. The snout and face are
dark brown with a faint lighter pattern on the
upper lips. The anterior and posterior surfaces
of the thighs are mottled; the palms and
soles are essentially unmarked. The chin and
chest are brown with coarse white spotting
and mottling; the abdomen is pale with faint
indication of darker patterning. The undersides
of the hind limbs are pale with a slight
darker pattern.
VARIATION IN TYPE SERIES: The paratype is
an adult male (vocal slits present) whose
measurements and proportions are noted
above. In color and pattern it closely resembles
the holotype except that the patterning
is even less distinct.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Hands and feet, fig. 55F.
CALL: The call is unknown.
COMPARISONS WITH OTHER SPECIES: Only
two other species of Austrochaperina are
known from the Torricelli Mountains, A. basipalmata
and A. adamantina. Basally
webbed toes, narrower internarial distance,
and broader finger discs distinguish basipalmata
from aquilonia. Austrochaperina aquilonia
and A. adamantina are similar in most
respects but differ strikingly in the larger finger
discs of the latter (fig. 55). This does not
appear to result from difference in the state
of preservation, as the two aquilonia, with
smaller discs, are well preserved. Confirmation
of other possible differences in proportions
must await additional specimens.
HABITAT AND HABITS: Nothing is on record.
DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type