First record of<i>Euphlyctis kalasgramensis</i>(Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study documented the first record of <i>Euphlyctis kalasgramensis</i> from Punjab, Pakistan. The specimens were collected during field visits from June through August 2018. Various morphometric measurements of <i>E. kalasgramensis</i> were taken and compared with <i>Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis.</i> Snout-vent length (SVL) was 38.11 ± 0.87 mm (<i>n</i> = 5), snout length was 3% of SVL, foot length was 55% of SVL, head length was 32% of SVL and weight was 8.01 ± 0.12 g (<i>n</i> = 5). A few specimens (<i>n</i> = 2) were euthanized and preserved for molecular analysis through mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences. The newly obtained DNA sequences of <i>E. kalasgramensis</i> were submitted to GenBank and accession numbers were obtained (MK881165.1 and MK920114.1). The Maximum likelihood and Neighbor-joining trees based on Kimura 2-parameter distance resulted in similar phylogenetic trees. <i>Euphlyctis kalasgramensis</i> was out group in both phylogenetic trees. The interspecific divergence of <i>E. kalasgramensis</i> and <i>E. cyanophlyctis</i> was high ranging from 4% to 6% as compared to low intraspecific divergence 0% and 1%. The diversity and distribution ranges of many amphibians species are not well known in Pakistan due to lack of taxonomic information. In our recommendation, a large scale DNA barcoding is required to report more cryptic or new species from Pakistan.