SAMA R69448 (Field number: FN SJR 8623), adult male, Iagifu Ridge near Moro, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (06°22.099’S, 143°13.374’E; 900 m asl) collected on 21-11-2004 by S.J. Richards.

ZMB 84336 (FN SJR 8622), same data as holotype; SAMA R69440–69442 (FN SJR 3147–3148, 3151), Darai Plateau, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea (07°07.771’S, 143°36.806’E; 400 m asl) collected on 23-07-2003 by S.J. Richards.

A species of the genus Choerophryne lacking an elongated snout. Snout-urostyle length in males (n=5) from 13.4–17.3 mm (mean 14.7±1.58 mm). No webs between fingers or toes; fifth toe longer than third; finger discs wider than toe discs (ratio T4D/F3D 0.78–0.88); shanks short (TL/SUL 0.38–0.44). Eyes medium sized (ED/SUL 0.110–0.127), eye-naris distance greater than internarial distance (END/IND 1.00–1.25). Dorsum with a brown hour-glass mark that has an approximately median constriction; and a pale cross with a definite posterior ‘extension’ on head. Dorsal surfaces covered with tubercles in life, lower surface smooth and brown with numerous whitish dots, inguinal region yellowish. Advertisement call a series of musical clicks sounding like ‘tink-tink-tink…’ lasting 1.01–4.75 s and containing 5–22 clicks (notes) per call at a repetition rate of 4.39–5.18 notes/s. Dominant frequency is at 5.5 kHz.

Adult male with a SUL of 14.9 mm. Additional measurements and ratios are listed in Table 1. Head broader than long (HL/HW 0.73); tip of snout rounded in dorsal view and truncate in lateral view; nostrils near tip of snout, directed laterally and not visible from above, distance between nares less than distance between eye and naris (END/IND 1.25); canthus rostralis in dorsal view straight and rounded; loreal region slightly sloped; tongue oval, narrower anteriorly than posteriorly, posterior margin without indentation; anterior prepharyngeal ridge well developed and smooth, posterior “ridge” a plaque with many longitudinal furrows; fairly long vocal slits on both sides of mouth floor; tympanum small (about one-third of eye diameter) and hardly visible; no supratympanic fold. Shanks of medium length (TL/SUL 0.44). Fingers unwebbed with broad, grooved terminal discs, their relative lengths 3>4>2>1 (Fig. 1a, b); disc of third finger slightly more than twice width of penultimate phalanx, no prominent metacarpal or subarticular tubercles. All toes with wide, grooved terminal discs, those of fourth toe slightly narrower than those of third finger; no webs between toes, no metatarsal tubercles, subarticular tubercles weakly developed; relative lengths of toes 4>5>3>2>1 (Fig. 1a, b). Skin smooth with small but distinct tubercles dorsally in life, less conspicuous in preservative. No distinct tubercles on ventral surfaces in preservative.

Figure 1a. 

Preserved holotype of Choerophryne crucifer sp. n. in dorsal view.

Figure 1b. 

Preserved holotype of Choerophryne crucifer sp. n. in ventral view.

(Fig. 1a, b). Colour of holotype in life unknown. In preservative ground colour of dorsal surfaces of head, body and hind limbs light-grey, that of fore limbs yellowish; a dun hour-glass shaped patch from eyes to inguinal region, this patch constricted at mid-dorsum and “split” anteriorly by posterior arm of pale cross on head; some diffuse smaller brownish spots on head and dorsal surfaces of extremities. Inguinal region with conspicuous dark brown areas bordered anteriorly by yellow flecks; dark brown inguinal spots merge ventrally into brown colour of abdomen. Underside of thighs, chest and throat also brown and interspersed with small whitish spots. An irregularly shaped dark brown band across anal region.

Based on paratype SAMA R69440, mid-dorsum covered by a large brown patch, dorsolaterally bordered by an irregular off-white longitudinal stripe. Flanks reddish-brown with a dark grey reticulum, inguinal region with a yellowish area, dorsal surfaces of extremities grey-yellowish with irregular dark grey, brownish and reddish spots; ventral surfaces grey with whitish mottles (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. 

Paratype SAMA R69440 of Choerophryne crucifer sp. n. in life.

Measurements and body ratios of the type specimens are presented in Table 1. While four males had a SUL between 13.8 and 14.9 mm, one male measured 17.3 mm. This difference of 3.5 mm between adult males is fairly large for frogs of this small size. All five specimens exhibit a dark brown mid-dorsal patch with a pair of anterior and a pair of posterior “wings”, the posterior ones in almost all cases more strongly expanded than the anterior ones. This patch is bordered dorsolaterally by an irregular whitish stripe in four specimens and by a light brown stripe in one specimen. A complete cross-shaped figure on the head is evident in four specimens; it is incomplete in ZMB 84336 where only the posterior section is pronounced. All specimens exhibit the large, pale semicircular patch on the posterior end of the body and pale spots or bands proximally on posterior thighs and distally on dorsal shanks. Throat, chest, abdomen and inferior surface of thighs are brown and more or less densely speckled with whitish spots in all specimens. Ventral surfaces of extremities are off-white and mottled with brownish and/or whitish spots.

All records of Choerophryne crucifer are from lowland and foothill forest in south-central Papua New Guinea, at altitudes ranging from ~100 m in the lowlands and foothills of Gulf Province to nearly 1,000 m asl on Iagifu Ridge in Southern Highlands Province. Males called at night from the upper surfaces of leaves, generally between 2–10 m above the forest floor.

The advertisement call of the new species, recorded at air temperatures of 23.2–24.0 °C, consists of a series, or ‘train’ of rather musical clicks (Fig. 3). Calls follow one another at variable intervals (a few seconds to half a minute and more). Eleven calls were analysed from ZMB 84336 and 16 from SAMA R69442. Because characteristics of both call trains are similar, they are treated together here. 27 calls had a mean duration of 2.75±0.82 s, range 1.01–4.75 s. Mean number of clicks (notes) per call 13.2±3.81, range 5–22. Notes had a mean duration of 20.6±2.91 ms, range 13–25 ms, n=93. Inter-note intervals lasted 200.6±13.4 ms, range 176–238 ms, n=92. Mean note repetition rate 4.82±0.21, range 4.39–5.18 notes/s, n=27. Frequencies scatter mostly between 5 and 6 kHz; the dominant frequency is at 5.5 kHz (Fig. 4). Notes start at maximum sound amplitude and, after a short time at this level, amplitude drops quickly. All notes have a similar maximum amplitude.

Figure 3. 

Wave form (above) and spectrogram (below) of an advertisement call from Choerophryne crucifer with 12 notes.

Figure 4. 

Power spectrum of an advertisement call of Choerophryne crucifer sp. n.

The specific epithet crucifer is a Latin substantive in apposition and means carrier (porter) of a cross. It refers to the conspicuous yellowish cross on the head of most specimens.

With its short snout Choerophryne crucifer differs from all twelve Choerophryne with an elongated snout and would have been placed in the genus Albericus in the former sense. According to Frost (2016) 18 species of short-snouted Choerophryne are recognized at present. The advertisement call of most short-snouted species is described as a buzz. Apart from C. crucifer, calls consisting of clicking notes are produced only by C. gudrunae, C. gunnari, C. sanguinopicta and C. valkuriarum.

Choerophryne gudrunae has longer legs (TL/SVL 0.44–0.46 vs. 0.38–0.44) and a higher ratio of END/IND (1.20–1.50 vs. 1.00–1.25) than C. crucifer. The advertisement calls of the former consist of about 10 clicks, those of C. crucifer of 13 on average. Dominant frequency of gudrunae-calls is at 3.5 kHz, of crucifer-calls at 5.5 kHz.

Choerophryne gunnari has longer legs (TL/SVL 0.44–0.51), a higher ratio END/IND (1.25–1.45) and conspicuous blue pigmentation on the belly and hind limbs (absent in C. crucifer). Note repetition rate of the advertisement call of C. gunnari is, according to the spectrograms published by Menzies (1999, 2006), about two clicks/s (erroneously reported as about 4 clicks/s in the 1999 paper) vs. 4.4–5.2 clicks/s in C. crucifer. Figure 17 in Menzies (1999) shows a dominant frequency of about 3.3 kHz for this species, which is much lower than in calls from C. crucifer (5.5 kHz). Menzies (1999) also reports that the clicks uttered by C. gunnari have ‘no musical quality’ whereas those produced by C. crucifer are distinctly musical, sounding to the ear like ‘tink..tink..tink’.

Choerophryne sanguinopicta occurs at elevations of >1,400 m asl (vs. lowlands and foothills <1000 m asl) and exhibits an extraordinary polychromatic colouration (absent in C. crucifer). Moreover its advertisement calls are very long series (several minutes) of clicks with a note (= call) repetition rate of less than three calls/s and a dominant frequency of around 4.0 kHz (vs. shorter series of clicks, each series lasting less than 4 seconds and with a repetition rate of more than 4.4 per second and a higher dominant frequency (at 5.5 kHz) in C. crucifer).

Choerophryne valkuriarum generally occurs at elevations over 2000 m asl (vs. <1000 m asl in C. crucifer). According to Kraus and Allison (2005a)HW/SVL in C. valkuriarum is 0.37–0.43 and F3D/SVL is 0.067–0.088, we found values of 0.33–0.35 and 0.054–0.064 in C. crucifer. There are also differences in the advertisement calls. Menzies (1999) notes a maximum repetition rate for C. valkuriarum of two notes/s and reports that notes are uttered “once or in irregular series”. In C. crucifer clicks are uttered at regular intervals and at a rate of 4.4–5.2 per s.

Choerophryne variegata is known from a single specimen, and its advertisement call is unknown. According to measurements by Menzies (1999) the holotype of this species differs from the new species described here by the ratios TL/SVL (0.47 vs. 0.38–0.44), F3D/SVL (0.071 vs. 0.054–0.065), END/IND (1.38 vs. 1.00–1.25) and ED/SVL (0.133 vs. 0.110–0.127). Moreover, toes 4 and 5 are connected by webbing in C. variegata and not so in C. crucifer.

SAMA R70322 (FN SJR 2322), adult male, Iagifu Ridge near Moro, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (06°26.4864’S, 143°13.1040’E; 1,413 m asl) collected on 21-10-2001 by S.J. Richards.

SAMA R70323–70325 (FN SJR 2070, 2286, 2325), PNGNM unregistered (FN SJR 2137), ZMB 84337-84338 (FN SJR 2323 & 2324), all details same as holotype except PNGNM collected on 28-05-2002 and SAMA R70324 collected on 19-10-2001 by S.J. Richards.

A species of the genus Choerophryne lacking an elongated snout. Snout-urostyle length in males (n=7) from 14.0–15.2 mm (mean 14.4±0.45 mm). No webs between fingers or toes; fifth toe longer than third; finger discs wider than toe discs (ratio T4D/F3D 0.67–0.89); shanks medium-length (TL/SUL 0.43–0.47). Eyes fairly large (ED/SUL 0.126–0.143), eye-naris distance greater than internarial distance (END/IND 1.00–1.17). Almost all specimens with a yellowish (whitish in preservative) interocular stripe, an irregular longitudinal mark of the same colour in the scapular region and a narrow streak between corner of the mouth and tympanum. No brown hour-glass mark on dorsum and no light cross on head. Best diagnostic character is the advertisement call: a rattle of 0.7–1.0 s duration with a dominant frequency of 3.5 kHz.

Adult male with a SUL of 14.9 mm. Additional measurements and ratios are listed in Table 2. Head broader than long (HL/HW 0.86); tip of snout subelliptical with a small median protuberance in dorsal view and slightly protruding in lateral view; nostrils near tip of snout, directed laterally and not visible from above, distance between nares less than distance between eye and naris (END/IND 1.15); canthus rostralis rounded, loreal region slightly sloped and with some elongate pits; tongue strongly widened posteriorly, with a weak indentation and its posterior part nearly half free; one prepharyngeal ridge without denticles; fairly long vocal slits on both sides of mouth floor. Tympanum medium-sized (TyD/ED 0.42) and well visible, no supratympanic fold. Shanks medium sized (TL/SUL 0.44). Fingers unwebbed and with semi-circular or truncate, grooved terminal discs, their relative lengths 3>4>2>1 (Fig. 5a, b); disc of third finger substantially more than twice width of penultimate phalanx, metacarpal and subarticular tubercles absent. All toes with wide and grooved terminal discs, those of fourth toe clearly narrower than those of third finger; no webs between toes, no metatarsal tubercles, subarticular tubercles weakly developed; relative lengths of toes 4>5>3>2>1 (Fig. 5a, b). A group of distinct tubercles dorsolateral of the tympanum and some tubercles also on flanks; throat and chest with small tubercles, abdomen and ventral surfaces of extremities smooth.

Figure 5a. 

Preserved holotype of Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n. in dorsal view.

Figure 5b. 

Preserved holotype of Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n. in ventral view.

Colour of holotype in life unknown. In preservative ground colour of dorsal surfaces of head, body, upper arm, forearm, thigh and shank light-grey, that of hands and feet yellowish. All dorsal surfaces more or less densely dotted with tiny dark brown dots: less so on hands, feet, between eyes, on tibiotarsal joint and on sacral region continued on to thighs; more so on all other dorsal surfaces. A scarcely visible pale interocular stripe and a pale, irregular stripe(s) in the scapular region; a similarly inconspicuous pale, irregular stripe along the upper flanks and a pale lumbar “eye-spots” (Fig. 5a). Ground colour of all ventral surfaces yellowish and covered with more or less dense brown punctations. Underside of hands and feet with least punctations (Fig. 5b).

Morphological variation in the paratypes. Measurements and body ratios of the type specimens are presented in Table 2.

Colour in preservative of the type series: The pale inter-ocular stripe is more strongly expressed in the paratypes than in the holotype. The pale and irregularly shaped longitudinal line in the scapular region is also more strongly developed in most paratypes, and in some specimens it reaches the inguinal region. Ground colour of the dorsal surfaces in all specimens is off-white. Tiny, clearly demarcated brown dots are distributed on all dorsal surfaces. These dots form clusters of small circles on various body parts. In addition there are light or dark brown spots of different shape on various parts of the dorsal and lateral surfaces. Paler areas occur mostly on the snout, extremities, sacral region and upper flanks. Ground colour of ventral surfaces is also off-white and covered by many tiny brown dots. Their distribution ventrally is more homogenous than on dorsal surfaces, and larger spots are rare. Small and inconspicuous white spots occur on ventral surfaces of all specimens.

Tubercles are generally few and inconspicuous on dorsal surfaces but more conspicuous on flanks. Striking in all specimens studied is a tubercle directly behind the angle of the jaw and several tubercles in the postocular region.

Colour in life of two paratypes (PNGNM unreg. and SAMA R70324): Dorsal surfaces of the former (Fig. 6) and of the latter (Fig. 7) exhibit a mixture of different colours and spots. Brownish colours with yellow marks dominate in the former, and reddish areas in the latter. One additional, unvouchered specimen for which an image in life is available has a more uniform grey-brown dorsal colouration.

Figure 6. 

Paratype PNGNM unreg. (=FN SJR2137) of Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n. in life.

Figure 7. 

Paratype SAMA R70324 of Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n. in life.

Choerophryne multisyllaba is currently known from two locations: the vicinity of the type locality at elevations between about 1,300–1,400 m asl on Iagifu Ridge in the Agogo Range, Southern Highlands Province, and at 1,600 m asl at Sawetau Camp in the Muller Range, Western Province (05°39.397’S, 142°18.277’E; Richards and Dahl (2011)), both in the central mountains of Papua New Guinea. Males call from hidden positions, often within curled leaves, between 1–3 m above the ground in extremely wet, mossy forest.

Forty-six calls from the male holotype (SAMA R70322), recorded at an air temperature of 21.5 °C, were analysed. The advertisement call sounds like a quick rattle comparable to the rattling calls of various Oreophryne-species. These calls follow one another at short intervals of about two seconds (Fig. 8). Mean call length is 0.85±0.07 s, range 0.71–0.96 s. The calls contain 18–23 notes, mean 20.1±1.30 notes/call. Mean interval length between calls 2.11±0.67 s, range 1.48–4.75 s, n=42. Call notes are unpulsed and without frequency modulation (Fig. 9). Mean note length 5.6±1.31 ms, range 2–9 ms, n=174; mean internote length 34.6±9.8 ms, range 6–63 ms, n=162. Mean note repetition rate 23.8±2.02, range 21.3–31.1 notes/s, n=46. Frequencies scatter mostly between 2.5 and 4.5 kHz. The dominant frequency is at 3.75 kHz (Fig. 10).

Figure 8. 

Wave form of a series of ten calls from Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n.

Figure 9. 

Wave form (above) and spectrogram (below) of an advertisement call from Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n. consisting of 22 notes.

Figure 10. 

Power spectrum of an advertisement call from Choerophryne multisyllaba sp. n.

The specific epithet multisyllaba is a Latin feminine adjective meaning polysyllabic and refers to the polysyllabic advertisement call.

With its short snout Choerophryne multisyllaba differs from all twelve Choerophryne with an elongated snout. Most short-snouted Choerophryne utter buzzing, squeaking or clicking advertisement calls. Choerophryne multisyllaba is the first whose call sounds like a rattle (similar to the rattle calls of various Oreophryne-species).

Choerophryne crucifer differs significantly from C. multisyllaba in the following body ratios: HW/SUL (p=0.005), ED/SUL (p=0.009), TyD/SUL (p=0.015), T1D/F1D (p=0.018) and F3D/SUL (p=0.022). Moreover, note repetition rate ranges from 4.4 to 5.2/s in the former and from 21 to 31 notes/s in the latter.

Choerophryne gudrunae has a higher ratio END/IND than C. multisyllaba (1.20–1.50 vs. 1.00–1.17). The advertisement call of the former consists of about 10 clicks, those of the new species of 18–23. Note repetition rate in C. gudrunae is about 5 notes/s and in C. multisyllaba of more than 20 notes/s.

Choerophryne gunnari has a higher ratio END/IND (1.25–1.45 vs. 1.00–1.17) and conspicuous blue pigmentation on the belly and hind limbs, which is absent in C. multisyllaba. Note repetition rate of the advertisement call of C. gunnari is, according to the spectrograms published by Menzies (1999, 2006), not more than 4 clicks per second vs. 20–30 clicks per second in C. multisyllaba.

Choerophryne sanguinopicta is larger than C. multisyllaba (SVL 15.4–17.4 mm vs. SUL 14.0–15.2 mm); its dorsum has a pale blue or green ground colour (off-white in C. multisyllaba) and its advertisement call is a very long series (several minutes) of clicks with a note (=call) repetition rate of less than three calls/s and a dominant frequency of around 4.0 kHz vs. much shorter series of clicks (each series lasting less than one second) with a repetition rate of more than 20 notes per second and a lower dominant frequency (at 3.5 kHz) in C. multisyllaba.

Choerophryne valkuriarum has shorter shanks (TL/SVL 0.37–0.44 vs. 0.43–0.47 in C. multisyllaba) and strongly different advertisement calls. Menzies (1999) mentioned the fastest rate as two clicks (=notes) per s uttered in irregular series. C. multisyllaba call series are fairly regular and clicks are uttered at a rate of 20–30 per second.

Choerophryne variegata is known from a single specimen and its advertisement call is unknown. According to measurements by Menzies (1999) the holotype of this species differs from the new one by the ratios TL/SVL (0.47 vs. 0.43–0.47) and END/IND (1.38 vs. 1.00–1.17) as well as by the presence of webbing between toes 4 and 5 vs. no webbing at all in C. multisyllaba.

This new species differs by its polysyllabic calls clearly from the next new species which utters disyllabic calls.

SAMA R70326 (FN SJR 2178), adult male, Dendawang Camp, Finisterre Range, Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (6°04.899’S, 146°34.335’E; 2,400 m asl) collected on 1-10-2001 by S.J. Richards.

SAMA R70327 (FN SJR 2179), PNGNM unreg. (FN SJR 2186, 2187), ZMB 84339–84340 (FN SJR 2188, 2190), same data as holotype; SAMA R70328–70330 (FN SJR 5992–4), same data as holotype but collected 28-09-2001; SAMA R70331–70332 (FN SJR 5990–5991), adjacent Teptep Village, Finisterre Range, Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (5°57.00’S, 146°33.60’E; 2,200 m asl) collected on 27-09-2001 by S.J. Richards.

A species of the genus Choerophryne lacking an elongated snout. Snout-urostyle length in males (n=10) from 14.2–17.4 mm (mean 15.4±0.94 mm). No webs between fingers or toes; fifth toe longer than third; finger discs wider than toe discs (ratio T4D/F3D 0.70–0.89); shanks short (TL/SUL 0.36–0.42). Eyes medium sized (ED/SUL 0.115–0.141), eye-naris distance about same as internarial distance (END/IND 0.86–1.25). A brown hour-glass mark present on dorsum, with anterior part of mark much smaller than posterior part. Dorsal surfaces covered with scattered tubercles in life but these become inconspicuous or are absent in preservative. Lower surfaces smooth with a mixture of small brown dots and larger brown spots on a yellow-grey background, throat more strongly pigmented than remaining ventral surfaces. Advertisement calls consist generally of two short but clearly pulsed notes produced in long series, a call structure that is unique for short-snouted species in the genus Choerophryne. Dominant frequency is at 3.5 kHz.

Adult male with a SUL of 14.4 mm. Additional measurements and ratios are listed in Table 3. Head broader than long (HL/HW 0.82); tip of snout truncate with a small median protuberance in dorsal view and truncate in lateral view; nostrils near tip of snout, directed laterally and not visible from above, distance between nares greater than distance between eye and naris (END/IND 0.92); canthus rostralis in dorsal view rounded and slightly bent; loreal region nearly vertical; tongue strongly widened posteriorly with distinct indentation, posterior half and sides free; prepharyngeal ridge without denticles, fairly long vocal slits on both sides of mouth floor; tympanum half size of eye, its upper margin covered by tympanic fold. Shanks short (TL/SUL 0.40). Fingers unwebbed and with broad and grooved terminal discs, their relative lengths 3>4>2>1 (Fig. 11a, b); disc of third finger twice as wide as penultimate phalanx, no prominent metacarpal or subarticular tubercles. All toes with wide and grooved terminal discs, discs of fourth toe narrower than disc of third finger (T4D/F3D 0.89), no webs between toes, no metatarsal tubercles or subarticular tubercles; relative lengths of toes 4>5>3>2>1 (Fig. 11a, b). All dorsal surfaces in preservative smooth with only a few low tubercles, flanks with more tubercles; conspicuous are tubercles on distal tarsi and behind angle of jaw; ventral surfaces smooth except for throat and anterior chest that are coarsely textured.

Figure 11a. 

Preserved holotype of Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n. in dorsal view.

Figure 11b. 

Preserved holotype of Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n. in ventral view.

(Fig. 11a, b): Colour of holotype in life not known. In preservative ground colour of dorsal surfaces of head, body and extremities light-grey or light brown; some dark brown flecks on head, in the scapular region and on extremities, one dark brown fleck bordered anteriorly by a yellowish fleck in the lumbar region, discs of fingers and toes yellowish and markedly less pigmented than most other dorsal surfaces. Conspicuous is an off-white interocular stripe continuing on eye lids and extending dorsolaterally to the lumbar fleck. This off-white stripe broadening irregularly in the scapular region and in combination with the dark brown mid-dorsum giving the impression of an hour-glass mark with anterior part clearly shorter than its posterior one. A distinct short whitish stripe between eye and angle of jaws. Ground colour of ventral surfaces yellowish. Extremities, throat and anterior chest fairly uniform dark brown, the paler abdomen mottled with some small brown spots. Margin of lower lip unpigmented; anal region spotted with dark brown.

Measurements and body ratios of the type specimens are presented in Table 3. Ten adult males have a SUL between 14.2 and 17.4 mm (mean 15.4±0.94 mm) and one subadult (?) female (SAMA R70332) with very small eggs in its ovaries measured 15.2 mm. All specimens exhibit a lighter or darker brown mid-dorsal patch that shows a clear constriction in the scapular region. There is a tendency for the anterior part of this patch to be more strongly pigmented than the posterior one. This patch is bordered dorsolaterally by an irregularly shaped light grey stripe in all specimens. A light interocular stripe is present in all but one specimen. A large, pale semi-circular patch in the coccygeal region is present in a few specimens. Throat brown with small whitish spots in most specimens; abdomen in most specimens light grey or yellowish with brown spots, and inferior surfaces of legs brown with whitish spots. Nine of the types have a whitish longitudinal hairline in middle of abdomen; in some specimens this line continues on the throat or forms a cross in the pectoral region.

Colour images taken in life are available for three individuals from the type series, but we are unable to assign them to specific vouchered specimens. Two of these individuals are shown in Figs 12 and 13. In the first specimen the snout, dorsolateral stripe, lumbar spots, distal tarsi and heel region are light grey; anterior part of dorsal hourglass mark is blackish, its posterior (much larger) part more brownish; all dorsal surfaces with a few reddish sections even on basal parts of finger and toe discs; stripe between eye and angle of jaws striking white; iris silvery with blackish venation, its inner margin an orange oval; all dorsal surfaces and throat with small white dots (Fig. 12). The second specimen has grey lateral surfaces, the anterior part of the hourglass mark on dorsum is blackish, its posterior part a mixture of dark brown and reddish spots; reddish spots also occur around the elbows and heels, in the inter-ocular and the dorsolateral stripe; throat, lateral sides of head and lower flanks grey with dark grey and white dots (Fig. 13). The third specimen is coloured much as is illustrated in Fig. 13 with most of its dorsal surfaces dark brown or blackish, but conspicuous is a dark red diagonal stripe above insertion of forearm and a large dark red fleck on the coccygeal region.

Figure 12. 

Paratype of Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n. in life.

Figure 13. 

Paratype of Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n. in life.

Choerophryne bisyllaba is currently known only from two locations at elevations between 2,200 and 2,400 m asl in the mountains of the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, north-eastern Papua New Guinea (Fig. 14). Males called from semi-concealed or exposed positions on low foliage, normally between 1–2.5 m above the forest floor at night. At Teptep males were calling from leaves in remnant and severely disturbed forest patches, while at Dendawang the species was common in undisturbed, wet mossy forest.

Figure 14. 

Map showing collection localities of three new Choerophryne species. Symbols in white are type localities, those in black represent additional collection localities. Squares = C. crucifer; circles = C. multisyllaba; diamonds = C. bisyllaba. Elevation data are based on 30 m LiDAR Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data from ASTER GDEM v2 (product of METI and NASA).

The advertisement call of C. bisyllaba normally consists of two notes that are uttered in long series lasting up to several minutes (Fig. 15). A few calls were recorded that consist of only one note, and these were normally (but not always) early in a sequence. Those calls were not considered further. Two-note calls recorded at air temperatures of 14.8 °C to 16.4 °C were analysed from SAMA R70327 (n=50), SAMA R70329 (n=13) and SAMA R70329 (n=32). Because characteristics of all two-note calls are similar, they were combined for analysis here. Mean call duration was 0.39±0.034 s, range 0.25–0.52 s, n=95. Mean duration of intervals between successive calls 1.01±0.20 s, range 0.78–2.03 s, n=94. Mean duration of the first note 34.2±7.21 ms, range 25–52 ms, n=46. Notes are clearly pulsed and most notes start with pulses of maximum sound amplitude that drops relatively quickly; this amplitude decrease is more pronounced in the second note than in the first (Fig. 16). Mean number of pulses in the first note 4.6±0.99, range 2–8, n=46. Mean duration of the second note with 47.7±3.79 ms is longer than that of the first note, range 39–54 ms, n=46. Mean number of pulses in the second note 7.35±0.77, range 6–8, n=46. Mean duration of intervals between both notes 0.30±0.039 s, range 0.15–0.35 s, n=46. Mean note repetition rate is 5.18±0.57 notes/s, range 4.65–8.33 notes/s, n=95. Frequencies scatter mostly between 2.50 and 3.75 kHz; the dominant frequency is at 3.50 kHz (Fig. 17), a second (lower), peak is pronounced at 2.9 kHz.

Figure 15. 

Wave form of a series of 25 calls from Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n.

Figure 16. 

Wave form (above) and spectrogram (below) of an advertisement call from Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n. consisting of two pulsed notes.

Figure 17. 

Power spectrum of an advertisement call from Choerophryne bisyllaba sp. n.

The specific epithet bisyllaba is a feminine Latin adjective (in accordance with the feminine genus name) and means disyllabic. It refers to the advertisement call of the species which consists predominantly of two notes (or syllables).

With its short snout Choerophryne bisyllaba differs from all Choerophryne with an elongated snout. According to Frost (2016) 18 species of short-snouted Choerophryne are recognized at present. All of these have buzzing, squeaking, clicking or bell-like (‘peeping’) advertisement calls except C. multisyllaba with rattling calls. Choerophryne bisyllaba is the only species in the genus known so far which utters disyllabic calls with discretely pulsed notes. Menzies (1999) mentioned, but did not formally describe, a population of Choerophryne (then Albericus) from Teptep with a ‘double-note’ call. However he described that species’ call as ‘bell-like’ with notes lasting <10 ms, and these clearly differ from calls of C. bisyllaba which are distinctly pulsed and notes last >25 ms. Resolution of the taxonomic status of the Choerophryne population from Teptep reported by Menzies (1999) is not possible with the information currently available.

Choerophryne variegata is known from a single specimen, and its advertisement call is unknown. According to measurements by Menzies (1999) the holotype of this species differs from C. bisyllaba by the ratios TL/SVL (0.47 vs. 0.36–0.42), F3D/SVL (0.071 vs. 0.053–0.065) and END/IND (1.38 vs. 0.86–1.25). Moreover, toes 4 and 5 are connected by webbing in C. variegata and not so in C. bisyllaba.