Samuel G. Penny; Franco Andreone; Angelica Crottini; Marc W. Holderied; Lovasoa Sylviane Rakotozafy; Christoph Schwitzer; Gonçalo M. Rosa

“ The population of Boophis ankarafensis is about 400 km apart from the closest population of Boophis bottae (at Betampona) and their genetic distance is of 4.9%. As shown in Table 2, available values of intraspecific genetic divergence values never reach the minimum value of genetic divergence observed between different species of the Boophis rappiodes group (comparison Boophis ankarafensis/Boophis bottae) . ”

“ Individuals were found at night in Ankarafa Forest along the banks of two streams; these streams became fast flowing after heavy rains during the wet season. No individuals were detected from sections of stream in open habitat where vegetation was absent, and so it should be considered a forest species.
Of the 56 encounters, 48 frogs were male and 8 female. Males of this species were found calling from vegetation approximately 0.5 to 2 m high. Vocalising males were often within close proximity to one another, positioned on different leaves of the same plant. ”

“ Hindlimbs slender; tibiotarsal articulation reaches nostril when hindlimb is adpressed along body; lateral metatarsalia separated by webbing; inner metatarsal tubercle distinct, no outer metatarsal tubercle ”

“ This ensured the coverage of most of the wet season when rain is more abundant and the individuals are expected to be more active. Surveys were conducted in Ankarafa Forest, Anabohazo Forest and around the villages of Antafiabe and Betsimpoaka.
Survey methods
Surveys were conducted by opportunistic searching and directed towards vocalising males using headlamps and torches. Transects were made across a range of habitats and degradation levels, covering the four previously mentioned areas of the peninsula. ”

“ Total activity equalled 5576 minutes and average per night activity amounted to 429 ± 273 minutes (n = 13) . Levels of calling fluctuated throughout the night (Fig. 5) ; there was a peak in activity just after dusk, followed by a slow decline until dawn, when the fewest vocalisations were detected (y = 0.019e-0.015x; R2 = 0.582) .
Detection of Boophis ankarafensis sp. n. Upper panel: Location of acoustic recording sites indicating presence (green) or absence (black) of vocal activity and transect encounters (red) . ”