A New Species Of The Miniaturized Frog Genus Paedophryne (Anura: Microhylidae) From Papua New Guinea

Abstract

ABSTRACT – I describe a new species of Paedophryne from low-elevation foothill rainforest on Normanby Island off southeastern Papua New Guinea. This new species is the largest member of the genus so far discovered, with body length of the sole adult male 11.1 mm, and with adult females ranging from 10.6–11.6 mm. As well, it differs from other species in the genus in having smooth dorsal skin, a disc on the second toe, relatively larger first digits, and in a number of body proportions and details of color pattern. As for other species in the genus, it is an inhabitant of rainforest leaf litter restricted to a portion of the East Papuan Composite Terrane, an agglomeration of terranes that were assembled offshore of New Guinea and sutured to it during the early Miocene.