Etnabatrachus maximus gen. et sp. nov., a Plio-Pleistocene frog from Mount Etna, central eastern Queensland

4 Pages·2003·1.1 MB·English

by  Scott A Hocknull

ETNABATRACHUSMAXIMUSGEN. ET SP. NOV., APLIO-PLEISTOCENE FROG
FROM MOUNTETNA, CENTRALEASTERN QUEENSLAND
SCOTTA. HOCKNULL
Hocknull,S.A.20030630:Etnabatrachusmaximusgen.etsp.nov.,aPlio-Pleistocenefrog
from Mount Etna,central easternQueensland.MemoirsoftheQueenslandMuseum49(1):
327-330. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835.
Etnabatrachusmaximusgen.etsp.nov.istheFirstrecordoffossilfrogsfromtheMountEtna
regionofcentraleasternQueensland.E.maximus’verylargesize,dividedprominencesand
lateral mid-shaftridgedistinguishitfromallotherAustraliangenera. Theassociatedfauna
from the type locality indicates a Plio-Pleistocene rainforest environment, making E.
maximus the largest known species ofrainforest frog from Australia. Etnabatrachus
maximus, Plio-Pleistocene, Australia, Ilium, Cainozoic.
Scott A. Hocknull, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, 4101 (e-mail:
[email protected]);20May2003.
The first fossil frogs from Australia were peroryctid spp.; murids - Uromys sp. and
described by Tyler in 1974 (Tyler, 1974). Since Pogonomys sp. nov. (H. Godthelp,pers.comm.);
then, Tyler has published on taxa from the andanurans-Lechriodussp.andKyarannussp.
Eocene ofsouthern Queensland through to the Specimens described herein are deposited in
late Holocene deposits of South and Western the Queensland Museum fossil collection
Australia (Tyler, 1999). The dominating faunas (QMF). Ilial terminology and nomenclature
exhibiting extinct taxa have been the Oligo- follow Tyler (1976) and taxonomy follows
Miocene ofRiversleigh Qld, Bullock Creek NT Cogger(2000).
and Lake Palankarrina SA. The Pliocene to
Holocene record is marked by the exclusively SYSTEMATICS
extant taxa illustrating an early establishmentof
the modem frog faunas. Family 7HYLIDAE Gray, 1825
Several new local faunashavebeenexcavated Etnabatrachusgen. nov.
fRroocmkhdaemppotsoitns, fCrEomQuteheensMloaunndt. ETthneaseCalvoecsa,l dTiYePPlEioS-PPlEeCiIstEoSc.enEetonfabMaoturnatchEutsnamaaxndimLuismessp.tonnoev.Rifdrgoem,
faunas span the Pliocene to Holocene and localitiesQML 1385(Type)andQML1284.
preserve abundant frog remains, including
species ofLechriodus Kyarannus, Litoria and ETYMOLOGY. Etna- in reference to Mount Etna, type
,
Limnodynastes. The age ofthe type locality for localityand-batrachusforfrog.
Etnabatrachus maximus gen. et sp. nov. is DIAGNOSIS. Large, robust ilium. Ilial crest
interpreted as late Pliocene to early Pleistocene absent, dorsal acetabular expansion poorly
based on taxa occurring across this boundary, developed,risingslightlyabovedorsalmarginof
P(icnlTacoutlsrouenrdbctiuonhlgelP:st&ePesreLltiusatpnua.d,re(olTciiulduroesnss,beus1ltp9lo.7,0&P).c,lLpoPusasneredvuetuldosioukPs.(o,Taseltd1iaf9ro7tsr0opd)n.,,i, taliloapitapetlrrhoaselxhlaiayfmctbae.yttaePablrumeylaiacdhrt-aaslrbhfiuawmlf,aatyrorirzadiolgenoen.netgaRbtieridtdosgaaedlnertanuegnnrtdsohd.adonirRtvseiiarddligeloedyr
1994), Perameles sp., close to P. bowensis terminates at ventral margin of shaft, at
(Muirheadetah, 1997)andKurrabisp.(Flannery approximatelyanteriorVaofilium length. Dorsal
et al., 1992). prominence divided into an anterior and a
The type locality for E. maximus gen. et sp. posterior prominence, bisected by a shallow
nov. is interpreted as rainforest on the basis of valleyrunningfromtheanterio-medialsidetothe
sediments being at a time ofmajor speleothem postero-lateral side. Anterior-most prominence
development, and taxa with distinct rainforest laterally directed with elongate-ovoid
affinities, including: pseudocheirids - protuberance in lateral profile. Anterior-most
Pseudochit-ulus mayeri Pseudocheirops spp. prominence placed well anterior of anterior
petaurids; Dactylopsila, spp.; macropodids - acetabular rim. Posterior-most prominence
Dendrolagus sp.; peramelimorphians - smaller than anterior prominence with a more
328 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
FIG 1. Etnabatrachus maximus gen. et sp. nov. A, left ilium, Holotype QMF44207; B, left ilium, Paratype
QMF44208. Scale=5mm. apt,anterior-mostprotruberance;pt,proximal protruberance.
rounded proturberance in lateral profile. ilial/ischial suture. Ventral acetabularexpansion
Posterior-most prominence placed superiorly missing, broken on ventral margin, however,
and central to acetabular fossa, llial shaft broad inferred as small with short ilial/pubic suture.
posteriorly, taperingsharply to anteriorend. Acetabular fossa large and well differentiated
from ilial shaft. Acetabular rim narrow and
DESCRIPTION. Holotype. QMF44207, is a producedlaterally fromtheantero-posterioraxis
large,robust left iliumpreservingapproximately ofthe ilial shaft. Ilial shaft incomplete, broken
halfthe posteriorend, includinga portion ofthe approximately half way along its length,
shaft, acetabulum,dorsal andventral expansions compressedmediallyandroundedlaterallywhen
and prominences. Dorsal acetabular expansion viewed in cross-section. Preacetabular zone
small and rounded superiorly, making a short broad, broken postero-ventrally of acetabular
PLIO-PLEISTOCENE FROG FROM QUEENSLAND 329
rim, superior to ventral acetabular expansion. from all other known Australian genera. The
Ridge runs antero-dorsally from ventral margin rounded protuberance and lack ofa dorsal crest
of acetabular rim, curves anteriorly half-way ally this taxon closest to Litoria of Australia.
along its length positioned on the midline ofthe However, specific placement in the Hylidae can
lateral side ofthe shaft. Curves antero-ventally only be tentative at this point. Etnabatrachus is
alonglast 1/3ofitslength,terminatingonventral considerably larger than the Oligo-Miocene
margin of ilial shaft. Acetabular fossa eroded Litoria magna Tyler, 1991, which Tyler (1991)
along posterior margin of fossa and anterior consideredtoattainsizesofatleast 120mmSVL.
margin of acetabular rim. Dorsal prominence ThisputsL. magnainasizerangegreaterthanthe
divided into two by a large groove running largestextantLitoria(Cogger, 2000). Ithasbeen
medio-laterally across ilial shaft. Groove hardtoestimatetheSVLofE.maximusbasedon
terminates in a small basin, or insertion point, thelackofacompleteilium,however,theoverall
superior to dorsal acetabular rim. Anterior-most sizeoftheilium indicates a frogofconsiderable
protuberance elongate-ovoid and laterally size, larger than 120mm SVL. The associated
produced. Posterior-most protuberance ovoid in faunasrecovered fromthetypelocalityindicatea
shape and antero-posterior in orientation, palaeoenvironment of rainforest. Such a large
prominence terminatingat thebaseofthedorsal species of frog in a rainforest deposit is not
acetabular expansion. Ilial shaft broad along its unusual as a number of species in present day
length, broken superiorly and perpendicular to rainforests attain large sizes (e.g. Mixophyes
thelongaxisoftheilium.Iliallength: 13.10+mm, 115mm SVLandLitoria 120mm SVL).
dorsalacetabularexpansiontoventralacetabular
expansion height: 6.38+mm. ParatypeQMF44208 Etnabatrachus maximus sp. nov.
is an incomplete left ilium, preserving the (Fig. 1)
aacceettaabbuullaurm,exppoarntsiionosnso,fbdoitvhidtehdedporrosmailnaenndcveesntarnadl ETYMOLOGY.Latin, maximus,alludingtothelargesize
ofthespecies.
preacetabularzone. Ilium large, robust along its
length, broken approximately 1/3 its length. MATERIAL. HOLOTYPE: QMF44207, Paratype:
Ventral acetabular expansion unknown, inferred QMF44208 from Plio-Pleistocene deposits. Mount Etna
as diminutive in antero-posterior length and andLimestoneRidge(QML1284&QML1385).
extending only slightly past ventral margin of DIAGNOSIS. As forgenus.
acetabular rim. Acetabular fossa large with
prominent narrow and high rim. Dorsal DESCRIPTION. As forgenus.
prominence divided into an anterior and a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
posterior prominence, bisected by a shallow
valleyrunningfromtheanterio-medialsidetothe I thank Rick Bell, Patrick Couper, Andrew
postero-lateral side. Valley terminates asa small Amey, Gilbert Price, Noel Sands and Paul
basin (muscular insertion point) positioned Tierney foraccess to specimens, encouragement
superior to the dorsal acetabular rim. Anterior- and help in preparing the material forthis study.
most prominence laterally directed with an
LITERATURE CITED
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esuxppearnisoirolny.aPnodstceerntiroarl-mtoostaceptraobmuilnaernfcoessap.laIclieadl MUIRPHeEraAmDe,leJs.,bDoAweWnSsiOsN,anLe.w&sApeRcCieHsEoRf.PeMr.am1e9l9e7s.
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