Lechriodus aganoposis Zweifel 1972

The genus Lechriodus is comprised of four species, with Lechriodus aganoposis being the most recently described species (Zweifel 1972). L. aganoposis is not sympatric with any of its congeners. Nine miles separate the closest localities for aganoposis at Karimui and melanopyga at Soliabeda (Zweifel 1972). Head is broader than the body (width 45% SVL); snout is sloping when viewed laterally and pointed when viewed dorsally; loreal region is concave and oblique; canthus sharp; nostrils closer to tip of snout; top of head is concave anterior to mid-ocular line. Eyes large, 11% of SVL; Tympanum is slightly smoother than surrounding skin with a diameter of 78% diameter of eye. Relative finger lengths: 3>2>1>4; fingers are large, rounded inner metacarpal tubercle and lesser middle and outer tubercles; finger tips rounded but with no dilation or groove present. Relative toe lengths: 4>3>5>2>1; inner metatarsal tubercle three times as long as wide. Hind limbs are long with a tibial length 54% of SVL. There are many warts present on the sole. Toes have basal webbing which extends to the proximal subarticular tubercle and lateral fringes. Dorsal surfaces of the body and the limbs have a generally dispersed soft tiny warts. There is a U-shaped fold in the interorbital region with apex posteriorly faced. There are three pairs of longitudinal folds, with the most prominent from the eyelids, converging slightly in the scapular region, passing almost to end of body with slight interruptions posteriorly and the rest parallel adjacent to these. Ventral surfaces are smooth. Coloration is that of a light tan to dark brown dorsal color. A dark brown streak is present from tip of snout through canthus and orbit and staying within the border of the tympanic membrane. A small dark blotch is present below the eye. Limbs with narrow crossbars. A triangular brown patch is present with the apex on the cloaca.

Confined to Papua New Guinea and surrounding islands (Huon Peninsula, Island of Purosa, West Irian Jaya). Found in swampy grasslands alternating with scattered trees. Elevation ranges from 1110 to 1950 m. Exact altitudinal data was not recorded with all sepecimens.

The etymology reflects the nuptial pads of the males, with “aganos” meaning gentle and kind and “posis” meaning husband. This refers to the softer structure of the nuptial pads when compared to its congeners.

Platyplectrum aganoposis, the Morobe cannibal frog, is a species of frog in the family Limnodynastidae. It is found in New Guinea. Its population is unknown, but studies show it is, while uncommon, not endangered, nor are there any threats to its future due to its stable nature currently and its potential tolerance to habitat degradation. It was classified in the former genus Lechriodus until its synonymization with Platyplectrum in 2021.

This species also can be found in the Huon Peninsula, along the central mountainous spine of New Guinea from Purosa (Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea) west to the Sibil Valley (Papua, Indonesia), and in Central Province (Mount Obree) and Milne Bay Province (Munimum) in southeast Papua New Guinea.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, intermittent freshwater marshes, and rural gardens. Their breeding grounds include ephemeral ponds.