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| Centrolene zarza Székely, Córdova-Díaz, Hualpa-Vega, Hualpa-Vega & Székely, 2023 |
Abstract
Based on an integrative taxonomical approach, using molecular, morphological, and bioacoustics data, a new species of glassfrog of the genus Centrolene is described from Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza, southern Ecuador. Centrolene zarza sp. nov. is a medium sized species, easily distinguished from all other glassfrogs by its unique combination of characters, such as a shagreen dorsum with elevated warts corresponding to white spots, an evident tympanum, half or more than half of the upper parietal peritoneum covered by iridophores, iridophores absent on all visceral peritonea, including the pericardium, a lobed liver lacking iridophores, males with small projecting humeral spines, the outer edges of forearms and tarsus with a row of enameled warts that often continue into the external edges of Finger IV and/or Toe V, and white or yellowish white iris with thick black reticulations. The new species is closely related to a currently undescribed species and superficially resembles C. condor, C. pipilata, C. solitaria, C. altitudinalis, and C. daidalea. The tadpole and advertisement and courtship calls are described, and the threats to the species survival, mainly represented by habitat loss and contamination due to mining activities, are briefly discussed.
Keywords: Amphibians, DNA, phylogenetics, tadpoles, tropical Andes, vocalizations
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| Holotype of Centrolene zarza sp. nov. (MUTPL 932, adult female), SVL 25.5 mm, in life A lateral view B dorsolateral view C ventral view. |
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| Morphological variation of Centrolene zarza sp. nov. in live specimens A, B female, paratype (MUTPL 1051) C, D male, paratype (MUTPL 933) E, F male, paratype (MUTPL 1022). |
Class Amphibia Blainville, 1816
Order Anura Duméril, 1805
Superfamily Centrolenoidea Taylor, 1951
Family Centrolenidae Taylor, 1951
Subfamily Centroleninae Taylor, 1951
Genus Centrolene Jiménez de la Espada, 1872
Centrolene zarza sp. nov.
Common English name: Zarza Glassfrog
Common Spanish name: Rana de cristal del Zarza
Diagnosis: We assign this species to Centrolene based on phylogenetic evidence (Fig. 1) and on the general morphological similarity to other members of the genus (presence of humeral spines in males, liver divided into lobes and the hepatic peritoneum lacking an iridophore layer, and green bones in life). Centrolene zarza has the following combination of characters: (1) dentigerous processes of vomers ovoid, in transverse row between the choanae, separated medially by distance slightly lower than the width of processes; each process bearing 3–5 teeth; (2) snout rounded in dorsal view, sloping in profile; nostrils slightly elevated, producing depression in the internarial area; canthus rostralis not evident in dorsal view, rounded in cross section; (3) tympanic annulus and tympanic membrane evident but with coloration similar to that of surrounding skin; tympanum large, its diameter ~ 46% of eye diameter; weak supratympanic fold present, slightly concealing the upper margin of the tympanum; (4) dorsal skin shagreen with elevated, and some enameled, warts corresponding to white spots; (5) ventral skin coarsely areolate; ventral surfaces of thighs below vent with a pair of large, round, flat tubercles, flat tubercles (subcloacal warts); cloacal region bordered ventrally by many enameled, white, warts; (6) half or more than half of the upper parietal peritoneum covered by iridophores (condition P3); iridophores absent on all visceral peritonea, including the pericardium (condition V0); (7) liver lobed, lacking iridophores (condition H0); (8) adult males with small projecting humeral spines, round vocal slits and large subgular vocal sac; (9) webbing absent between Fingers I and II, basal between II and III, moderate between outer fingers: III2+–2IV; (10) webbing between toes moderate: I1-– -2II1-–2III1-–2IV2–1+V; (11) outer edge of forearms and tarsus with row of enameled warts that often continue into the external edges of Finger IV and/or Toe V; fingers and toes with broad lateral fringes; (12) unpigmented Type I nuptial pads present in males; concealed prepollex; (13) Finger I shorter than Finger II; (14) diameter of eye ~ 2× wider than disc on Finger III; (15) in life, dorsum light green with many white or whitish, elevated, spots and flecks of various sizes; bones green; (16) in preservative, dorsal surfaces greyish with white spots; (17) in life, iris white or yellowish white with thick and thin black reticulations; rounded points on the upper and lower side of the iris and no circumpupillary ring; (18) fingers and toes yellowish, usually lacking melanophores from the dorsal surfaces, except for Finger IV and Toes IV and V; (19) males call from the upper surfaces of leaves; advertisement call consisting of a high pitched, pulsed, single note, with every call/note featuring three clearly distinguishable pulses and a mean dominant frequency of 5309.8 Hz; courtship call composed by multi-noted, pulsed calls of usually five notes/call and a mean dominant frequency of 5127.4 Hz; (20) fighting behavior unknown; (21) egg clutches attached to the upper side of leaves; clutch size of 13–33 embryos (n = 2); probably without parental care; (22) tadpoles with elongated, oval-depressed body; sinistral spiracle; vent tube situated medially, caudal and with dextral opening; tail 2.4× the length of the body; labial tooth row formula 0/2(1) in Gosner 26 but without tooth rows in Gosner 31; mostly pinkish coloration; (23) medium body size (sensu Guayasamin et al. 2020), SVL 25.5–27.0 mm in adult females (n = 2) and 23.2–26.2 mm in adult males (24.1 ± 1.21, n = 5).
Etymology: The specific name zarza is a noun in apposition and refers to the species’ type locality: Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza. This relatively small wildlife refuge conserves an impressive biodiversity with countless species of plants and birds, more than 50 species of amphibians and reptiles and several emblematic mammals, like the Amazonian tapir, jaguar, oncilla or the spectacled bear. It is surrounded by active mining concessions and thus fulfills an important role as a conservation island for the region, with an urgent need to expand connectivity between the reserve and neighboring conservation areas.
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| Egg-clutches of Centrolene zarza sp. nov. collected from the type locality (MUTPL-T22) A the egg-clutches attached to a leaf (10 June 2021) B hatchlings (sensu McDiarmid and Altig 1999) in stage Gosner 20 (10 June 2021) C hatchlings in stage Gosner 22 (13 June 2021). |
Paul Székely, María Córdova-Díaz, Daniel Hualpa-Vega, Santiago Hualpa-Vega and Diana Székely. 2023. A New Glassfrog Species of the Genus Centrolene (Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae) from Cordillera del Cóndor, southern Ecuador. ZooKeys. 1149: 53-84. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1149.96134
Resumen: Se describe una nueva especie de rana de cristal del género Centrolene, del Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza, sur del Ecuador, basada en un enfoque de taxonomía integrativa, utilizando datos moleculares, morfológicos y bioacústicos. La especie Centrolene zarza sp. nov. es de tamaño mediano, que se distingue fácilmente de todas las demás ranas de cristal por su combinación única de caracteres tales como dorso de piel rugosa con verrugas elevadas que corresponden a manchas blancas, tímpano evidente, la mitad o más del peritoneo parietal superior cubierto por iridóforos, iridóforos ausentes en todos los peritoneos viscerales, incluido el pericardio, hígado lobulado sin iridóforos, machos con pequeñas espinas humerales salientes, borde externo de los antebrazos y el tarso con hilera de verrugas esmaltadas que a menudo continúan en los bordes externos del Dedo IV y/o del Dedo V del pie, e iris blanco o blanco amarillento con reticulaciones negras gruesas. La nueva especie está estrechamente relacionada con una especie no descrita y se parece superficialmente a C. condor, C. pipilata, C. solitaria, C. altitudinalis o C. daidalea. Se describen renacuajos, cantos de aviso y cortejo, y se discuten brevemente las amenazas para su supervivencia, representadas por la pérdida de hábitat y la contaminación debido a las actividades mineras.
Palabras claves: ADN, Andes tropicales, Anfibios, filogenética, renacuajos, vocalizaciones
