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Amolops afghanus (family Ranidae) is a cryptic torrent frog described from northern Myanmar.These frogs live in swift or slow-moving fresh water streams near or in tropical forests.The genus Amalops is known for morphological similarity between species, molecular analyses have recently been very useful in unraveling species complexes in the group (e.g. Dever et al. 2012; Stuart et. al 2010).
Amalops afghanus has a complex and interesting taxonomic history.First collected by William Griffith in an expedition to Afghanistan, Northeastern India and Myanmar, it appears that the original type locality was confused and although listed as Afghanistan, is far more likely to have been collected in Kachin State in Myanmar or Assam, India; no Amolops species are known from Afghanistan. It was synonymized into Amolops marmoratus by Anderson (1871) and Debois (1992); see review of history in Frost (2014).
In 2012, an expedition conducted by the California Academy of Sciences, National Museum of Natural History and the Myanmar Forestry Department facilitated the collection of 180 specimens morphologically similar to Amolops marmoratus, throughout Myanmar.In subsequent analysis using molecular tools, Dever et al. (2012) found these individuals encompassed a large degree of genetic diversity, clearly indicating that A. marmoratus included four cryptic species.Hence they resurrected A. afghanus (Gunther 1858) as a distinct species, redescribed Gunther’s specimen (BMNH 1947.2.27.93) as lectotype and included variation from 57 specimens collected from Kachin State.
Amolops afghanus is not only genetically distinguishable from the other Myanmar A. marmoratus specimens, but also geographically distinguishable, with all specimens from Kachin State.While morphologically very similar to the other species A. afghanus has subtly distinct coloration: its dorsal surface is darker, its thighs brown (as opposed to grey, in A. marmoratus) with cream-colored mottling pattern (as opposed to no mottling in A. pahnai and A. indoburmanensis).A. afghanus also has mean size intermediate between the newly defined A. marmoratus and A. indoburmanensis (male mean SVL 51.5mm; female mean SVL 81.1 mm), and its dorsal surface is smoother than marmoratus, but not as smooth as indoburmanensis.
Recognition that the diversity previously synonymized within A. marmaratus (classified, because of its wide distribution, with IUCN conservation status of least concern; van Dijk et al. 2004) actually represents multiple species, may require revision to accommodate the far smaller population sizes and ranges of each of these four newly distinguished evolutionary units.Dever et al. (2012) suggest investigation and review of their susceptibilities to extinction.
Type information:
Deyer et al. 2012 re-described the adult syntype of Gunther 1858 in detail, expanding on his original description: “Fingers free. Palatine teeth in a straight line between the posterior choana, interrupted in the middle. Skin smooth. Tympanum very small, the size of a sucker. Toes completely webbed. Three inches long.”Dever et al. also included morphometrics and DNA sequences for 57 other specimens (listed below).
Amolops afghanus specimen collected:
CAS 221313, 221314, 221322–221323, 221361–221362, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Machanbaw Township, Ahtonga Village;
CAS 221441, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Naung Mon Township, Aureinga Camp;
CAS 221538, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Naung Mon Township, Rabaw;
CAS 224362, 224363, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Shin-San-Ku Camp;
CAS 224448, 224449, 224451, 224466, 224467, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Hkakabo Razi National Park, Gaw Let Village;
CAS 224491, 224497, 224655, 224656, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Hkakabo Razi National Park, Lan Sa Htu Village;
CAS 224712, 224713, 224715, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, West of Hton Hlar Village;
CAS 224742, 224744, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Ma Za Camp;
CAS 225139, 225169, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Ta Se Htu Village;
Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Ba Bawt Village;
CAS 225197, CAS 225207, 225216, 225230–225233, 225238, 225244, 225247, 225535, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Nagmung Township, Au Yin Ga Camp;
CAS 225537, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Machanbaw Township, Htan Ga Village;
CAS 230228, Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Machanbaw Township;
CAS 232338, Myanmar, Kachin State, Ta Nai Township, Shin Bawe Yan, border of Hukaung Wildlife Sanctuary, beside Ledo Road;
CAS 232914, 232915, 232936, 232940, 232941, 232996, 232997, 233004, 233007, 233008, 233012, 233013, 233031, Myanmar, Kachin State, Myitkyina District, Moenyin Township, Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Hepu Village, Hepu stream;
CAS 232982, 232996, 232997, Myanmar, Kachin State, Myitkyina District, Moenyin Township, Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Hepu Village, Kyar Phu Stream;
CAS 233113, 233114, 235878, Myanmar, Kachin State, Myitkyina District, Moenyin Township, Indawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary, Nanmun Village.
