[Herpetology • 2019] Pristimantis mallii • A New Species of Terrestrial Frog Pristimantis (Strabomantidae) from the upper Basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador

Pristimantis mallii 

 Reyes-Puig, Reyes-Puig, Velarde-Garcéz, Dávalos, Mancero, Navarrete, Yánez-Muñoz, Cisneros-Heredia & Ron, 2019

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.832.30874 

Abstract
We describe a new species of Pristimantis from the montane forest of the Río Zuñag Ecological Reserve, upper basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador. Pristimantis mallii sp. n. is characterized by a snout-vent length of 11.6–21.3 mm in adult males (n = 12), 22.6–34.3 mm in adult females (n = 8), and is compared morphologically and genetically with Pristimantis miktos and with other relevant species of Pristimantis. The new species is characterized by having skin on dorsum and flanks shagreen, distinctive scapular folds, snout broadly rounded in dorsal view, upper eyelid bearing one or two subconical tubercles and some rounded tubercles, dorsum and flanks light brown to brown, with irregular dark brown marks bounded by dirty cream and groin with irregular yellowish marks.

Keywords: Montane forest, Pristimantis mallii sp. n., Río Zuñag Reserve, Terrarana

Figure 1. Phylogeny of Pristimantis showing the relationships of Pristimantis mallii sp. n. (red). The phylogram was derived from analysis of 2968 bp of mitochondrial (gene fragments 12S and 16S) and nuclear (gene fragment RAG) DNA sequences. Branch support is presented for each clade as Bayesian posterior probabilities × 100 (left of the slash) and non-parametric bootstrap (right of the slash). Asterisks indicate support values of 100. The external group is not shown. For each specimen, museum catalog number, locality, and GenBank accession number (in parentheses) are reported. Abbreviations: E. R. = Ecological Reserve.

Figure 2. Coloration in life of Pristimantis mallii sp. n. Dorsal view.
A ZSFQ 1305, SVL = 34.3 mm, adult female B DHMECN 5236, SVL = 30.9 mm, adult female C QCAZ 52473, SVL = 28.8 mm, holotype, adult female;
Second line from left to right D QCAZ 52494, SVL = 29.3 mm, adult female E QCAZ 52512, SVL = 10.3 mm, subadult male F QCAZ 52474, SVL = 11.6 mm, adult male.
Ventral view G DHMECN 5236, SVL = 30.9 mm, adult female H QCAZ 52473, SVL = 28.8 mm, holotype, adult female I QCAZ 52474, SVL = 11.6 mm, adult male. Pictures are not to scale.

Pristimantis mallii sp. n. 

Proposed standard English name: Malli’s Rain Frog

Proposed standard Spanish name: Cutín de Malli

Diagnosis: A new species of Pristimantis having the following combination of characters: (1) skin on dorsum and flanks shagreen, with rounded tubercles scattered towards the axillary region, with “) (” shaped scapular folds (evident in life); dorsolateral folds absent; skin on venter areolate; discoidal fold slightly defined; (2) tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus present, round, equivalent to 45% of ED; supratympanic fold present; (3) snout broadly rounded in dorsal view, moderate in length and rounded in lateral view; (4) upper eyelid with one or two subconical tubercles on the center of eyelid and some rounded tubercles (less evident in preserved specimens); EW 100% of IOD; cranial crests absent (5) dentigerous processes of vomers oblique in outline, with five to seven teeth, moderately separated, posteromedial to choanae; (6) vocals slits and nuptial pads present; (7) Finger I shorter that Finger II; discs of digits expanded, truncate; two times the width of the digits on Fingers III and IV; (8) fingers with lateral fringes; (9) ulnar tubercles present, rounded; (10) heel bearing one or two subconical tubercles (less evident in preserved specimens) surrounded by few lower rounded tubercles; inner tarsal fold present, it extends up to 1/4 of the tarsus; (11) inner metatarsal tubercle oval, 5–6× as large as outer metatarsal tubercle that is subconical; supernumerary plantar tubercles indistinct; (12) toes with slightly defined lateral fringes; webbing absent; Toe V longer that Toe III, disc on Toe V reach the distal subarticular tubercle on Toe IV; (13) in life, dorsum and flanks light brown to brown, with irregular dark brown marks bounded by dirty cream, light brown or greenish cream; hidden surfaces of thighs brown splashed with dirty cream; groin with irregular yellowish marks; venter light gray or cream, spotted to densely spotted with brown. Golden coppery iris with black reticulations and a reddish-brown horizontal stripe; (14) SVL in adult males 16.7 ± 4.5 (11.6–21.3 mm); females with 27.6 ± 3.9 (22.6–34.3).

Distribution and natural history:

Pristimantis mallii is only known from Fundación EcoMinga’s Río Zuñag Ecological Reserve, which is located in the southeastern buffer zone of the Llanganates National Park, in Baños, Río Negro, Tungurahua province, in the upper basin of the Pastaza River, on the east-central slope of the Andes in Ecuador. This locality comprises montane cloud forest (MAE 2012). The elevation range is 1300–2190 m above sea level.

All specimens were found on herbaceous and shrub vegetation inside mature forest, where they perched on herbs, shrubs, palms, ferns, bromeliads and Araceae between 100 and 450 cm above the ground. A couple in amplexus was found in January 2012, and the female deposited an egg clutch in a field bag, in the time passed between being collected in the field and reaching the base camp. Additionally, two couples in amplexus and an adult female were found in October 2017.

Etymology: The new species is named in honor of the late Dr V. N. Mallikarjuna “Malli” Rao, of Wilmington, Delaware, USA. A winner of the Lavosier Medal at DuPont, he helped develop an environmentally safe alternative to the fluorocarbons that were depleting the ozone layer. His donation to EcoMinga in 2007 started the Río Zuñag Reserve, the type locality of P. mallii.


 Carolina Reyes-Puig, Juan Pablo Reyes-Puig, Daniel A. Velarde-Garcéz, Nicolás Dávalos, Emilio Mancero, María José Navarrete, Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia and Santiago R. Ron. 2019. A New Species of Terrestrial Frog Pristimantis (Strabomantidae) from the upper Basin of the Pastaza River, Ecuador.  ZooKeys. 832: 113-133.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.832.30874

Resumen: Describimos una nueva especie de Pristimantis del bosque montano de la Reserva Ecológica Río Zuñag, cuenca alta del río Pastaza, Ecuador. Pristimantis mallii sp. n. es caracterizada por una longitud rostro-cloacal de 11.6–21.3 mm en machos adultos (n = 12), 22.6–34.3 mm en hembras adultas (n = 8), y es comparada morfológica y genéticamente con Pristimantis miktos y con otras especies relevantes de Pristimantis. La especie nueva se caracteriza por tener la piel del dorso y flancos finamente granular, pliegues escapulares distintivos, hocico redondeado en vista dorsal, párpado superior con uno dos tubérculos subcónicos y algunos redondeados, dorso y flancos café claro a café, con marcas irregulares café oscuras bordeadas de crema sucio y marcas irregulares amarillentas en las ingles.

Palabras clave: Bosque montano, Pristimantis mallii sp. n., Reserva Río Zuñag, Terrarana

[Herpetology • 2018] Phyzelaphryne nimio • A New Species of Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1977 (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from the Japurá River Basin, northwestern Brazilian Amazonia, with A Discussion of the Diversity and Distribution of the Genus

Phyzelaphryne nimio 

Simões, Costa, Rojas-Runjaic, Gagliardi-Urrutia, Sturaro, Peloso & Castroviejo-Fisher, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4532.2.2 

twitter.com/RojasRunjaic

Abstract

We describe and name the second species of Phyzelaphryne (Brachycephaloidea, Eleutherodactylidae), from northwestern Brazilian Amazonia. Phyzelaphryne nimio sp. nov. is distinguished from its only congener, Phyzelaphryne miriamae, by its smaller body size and the anatomy of the carpal and metacarpal regions, with relatively larger (sometimes fused) supernumerary carpal and metacarpal tubercles. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S rRNA and COI suggest that the currently known distribution of the species is restricted to its type locality and other areas within Estação Ecológica Juami-Japurá, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Based on molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, we assigned other specimens recently collected in Parque Nacional do Jaú, state of Amazonas, Brazil, to P. miriamae, extending the species’ known geographic distribution north of the Amazon River.

Keywords: Amphibia, Amazonia, Brazil, conservation units, DNA barcoding, morphology, Phyzelaphryninae, Terrarana

Cephalic amplexus of Phyzelaphryne nimio sp. nov. male paratype MCP 13702 (SVL = 11.9 mm) and female paratype MCP 13688 (SVL = 14.0 mm).

twitter.com/RojasRunjaic

Pedro Ivo Simões, João Carlos Lopes Costa, Fernando J.M. Rojas-Runjaic, Giussepe Gagliardi-Urrutia, Marcelo José Sturaro, Pedro L.V. Peloso and Santiago Castroviejo-Fisher. 2018. A New Species of Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1977 (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from the Japurá River Basin, with A Discussion of the Diversity and Distribution of the Genus.  Zootaxa. 4532(2); 203–230. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4532.2.2

 ResearchGgate.net/publication/329731459_A_new_species_of_Phyzelaphryne_from_the_Japura_River_basin

twitter.com/RojasRunjaic/status/1074842344258748416

    

[Herpetology • 2018] Pristimantis gralarias • A New (Singleton) Rainfrog of the Pristimantis myersi Group (Amphibia: Craugastoridae) from the northern Andes of Ecuador

Pristimantis gralarias 

Guayasamin, Arteaga & Hutter, 2018

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.3.2

  twitter.com/JMGuayasamin

Abstract

Reserva Las Gralarias is one of the best-studied localities of the Ecuadorian Andes in terms of its batrachofauna. However, as expected in any community, some species are rare and, therefore, their discovery and description are problematic. Herein, based on a single specimen, we describe Pristimantis gralarias sp nov. Even though we are aware of the problems associated to singleton species (i.e., unknown intraspecific variation, limited ecological information), our efforts to finding additional specimens have been unsuccessful. Thus, given the importance of species descriptions in threatened areas (e.g. Andes), and that the new taxon is supported by both morphological and genetic data, we consider that the description is justified. Pristimantis gralarias sp nov is easily distinguished from all other members of the P. myersi group by its long and slender fingers and toes, with discs that are not expanded laterally (or are only slightly expanded). Furthermore, the new species is characterized by having a black venter with minute white spots and a red groin. A molecular phylogeny corroborates the placement of the new species in the P. myersi group and its distinctiveness in relation to other species. Finally, we discuss on the limitations and advantages associated to species descriptions based on one or few specimens.

Keywords: Amphibia, cloud forest, Taxonomy, Terrarana

FIGURE 1. Pristimantis gralarias sp. nov. in life, holotype, MZUTI 1466.

Pristimantis gralarias sp nov. 

Etymology: The specific epithet gralarias is a noun in apposition and refers to the type locality of the new species, Reserva Las Gralarias (reservalasgralarias.com). We take pleasure in dedicating this species to the reserve and the team of people, led by Dr. Jane Lyons, for efforts on the conservation and research of Ecuadorian cloud forests. As the English common name for this species, we suggest Gralarias Rainfrog. As the common name in Spanish, we suggest Cutín de Las Gralarias. 

Juan M. Guayasamin, Alejandro Arteaga and Carl R. Hutter. 2018. A New (Singleton) Rainfrog of the Pristimantis myersi Group (Amphibia: Craugastoridae) from the northern Andes of Ecuador. Zootaxa. 4527(3); 323–334.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4527.3.2

 twitter.com/JMGuayasamin/status/1070444279380746240

[Herpetology • 2018] Eleutherodactylus geitonos • A New Frog of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti Species Group (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola, with Bioacoustic and Taxonomic Comments on Other Species

Eleutherodactylus geitonos 

Díaz, Incháustegui, Marte, Köhler, Cádiz & Rodríguez, 2018

 NovitatesCaribaea.do 

ABSTRACT 

A new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov., is described from the southeastern slope of the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. The new frog is closely related to E. haitianus and both species share a small size. They differ in some morphological proportions and other external features, coloration, advertisement calls and DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. Morphological and bioacoustic comparisons with other species in the E. abbotti species group are also provided. Our preliminary genetic data suggest that the taxonomic status of E. neodreptus (a synonym of E. audanti) and E. melatrigonum need to be re-evaluated.

Keywords: Amphibia, taxonomy, West Indies, Dominican Republic, subgenus Eleutherodactylus, Terrarana.

Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov.

Diagnosis. A small species (maximum SVL in males 12.8 mm, in females 15.8 mm) of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti species group of the E. auriculatus species series (sensu Hedges et al., 2008; confirmed by Padial et al., 2014) as supported by morphological and genetic data (Figs. 1-3). It requires the closest comparison with E. haitianus but also with E. audanti and related species (E. melatrigonum, E. notidodes, and E. parabates; see Discussion).

From those species, E. geitonos sp. nov. differs in lacking a pectoral fold and by having a small vocal sac that is not distinctively folded when deflated. Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. and E. haitianus are both very small frogs and the former, on average, has an even smaller size than the latter (see Table I). The new species has more distinctive digital discs than E. haitianus(third finger disc 3.1–4.0% of SVL, x̅=3.4%, vs. 1.8–2.9%, x̅=2.4%, in E. haitianus); a relatively longer snout (15–17% of SVL, vs. 12–15% in E. haitianus), and a pair of incomplete dorsolateral folds (vs. dorsolateral rows of tubercles in E. haitianus, with very prominent ones at the suprascapular level). Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. lacks the pattern of dark spots that E. haitianus typically has on belly and throat, and yellow coloration is more extended to ventral surfaces of males than in the latter species (Fig. 2). Advertisement calls of E. geitonos sp. nov.are long trains of notes like in E. haitianus (Fig. 6), but in the latter species’ call, the introductory note is long, somewhat frequency modulated, while a distinctive call introductory note is not present in E. geitonos sp. nov. From E. audanti and closely related taxa, the new species also differs in being much smaller (see Table I); in E. audanti toe V is longer than toe III, but in the new species these toes are of similar size or III>V. Eleutherodactylus parabates is also a larger species (up to 24 mm SVL; Schwartz and Henderson, 1991) with stocky body and advertisement calls consisting of long whistles.

Figure 1. Related frogs of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti species group.
Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. (A-C) pattern variation in paratypes MNHNSD 23.3456 (A), 23.3440 (B), and 23.3444 (C).
Eleutherodactylus haitianus (D-F), pattern variation in MNHNSD 23.3474 (D), 23.3473 (E), 23.3465 (F), surroundings of La Pirámide, Valle Nuevo, La Vega, Cordillera Central.
Eleutherodactylus audanti (G-L), pattern variation in MNHNSD 23.2579 (G) and 23.2577 (H), Loma del Toro, Sierra de Bahoruco; MNHNSD 23.2515 (I), MNHNSD 23.2496 (J), MNHNSD 23.2512 (K) and 23.2511 (L), Zapoten, Sierra de Bahoruco.
Eleutherodactylus melatrigonum (M), MNHNSD 23.3459, ~6 km S of Constanza (old road), La Vega, Cordillera Central. Eleutherodactylus notidodes (N), road to Pinos del Edén, Sierra de Neiba. Eleutherodactylus audanti (neodreptus?), MNHNSD 23.2568, Cachote, Bahoruco. Photos: Luis M. Díaz.

Distribution. The new species is only known from the type locality (Fig. 7). However, frogs with similar call patterns and habitats have been recorded at Rancho Arriba (Sierra de Ocoa; San José de Ocoa Province), El Valle de Dios (Parque Nacional Loma La Humeadora; San Cristobal Province), and Los Guayuyos (near Parque Nacional Luis Quin; Peravia Province). Additional surveys will confirm the geographic distribution of the new species in those potential localities and nearby areas.

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the ancient Greek γείτων, geitȏn, meaning a neighbor, in allusion to the proximity of the type locality to the city of Santo Domingo.

Figure 2. Ventral views of Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov. (A-B), paratopotypes MNHNSD 23.3454 (A) and MNHNSD 23.3453 (B);
 E. haitianus (C-E), MNHNSD 23.3474 (C), 23.3473 (D), and 23.3465 (E), surroundings of La Pirámide, Valle Nuevo, La Vega; 
E. melatrigonum (F), MNHNSD 23.3459, ~6 km S of Constanza (old road), La Vega, Cordillera Central. 

Photos: Luis M. Díaz.

Luis M. Díaz, Sixto J. Incháustegui, Cristian Marte, Gunther Köhler,Antonio Cádiz and Marcos Rodríguez. 2018. A New Frog of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti Species Group (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola, with Bioacoustic and Taxonomic Comments on Other Species [Nueva rana del grupo de especies Eleutherodactylus abbotti (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) de la Hispaniola, con comentarios bioacústicos y taxonómicos de otras especies]. NOVITATES CARIBAEA. 12: 25-42. 

NovitatesCaribaea.do/index.php/novitates/article/view/81

Resumen: Se describe una especie nueva de rana, Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov., de la ladera sureste de la Cordillera Central, República Dominicana. Esta especie está cercanamente emparentada con E. haitianus, con la cual comparte una talla pequeña. Ambas especies se diferencian en algunas características y proporciones morfológicas, llamadas de anuncio, coloración y las secuencias del gen 16S ARNr. Son abordadas las comparaciones morfológicas y bioacústicas con otras especies del grupo E. abbotti. La filogenia obtenida a partir de datos genéticos preliminares sugieren que el estatus taxonómico de E. neodreptus (sinónimo de E. audanti) y E. melatrigonum requiere ser reevaluado.

[Herpetology • 2018] Phrynopus mariellaleo • A New Species of Phrynopus (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the northeastern Andes of Peru, Its Phylogenetic Position, and Notes on the Relationships of Holoadeninae

Phrynopus mariellaleo 

Venegas, Barboza, De la Riva & Padial, 2018

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4446.4.5 

 Photographs by Pablo J. Venegas.  facebook.com/CORBIDI

Abstract

We report the discovery of a geographically disjunct and morphologically distinctive species of direct-developing frog of the genus Phrynopus (Phrynopus mariellaleo sp. nov.) that changes considerably our understanding of the distribution of species in this Andean genus. The type locality lies on a subcordillera (Cerro de Campanario area) of the extreme northeastern portion of the Cordillera Central of Peru, on the headwaters of the Mayo River, Amazonas department, at 2575 m asl (6°6’42.9’’S, 77°26’24’’W). This area is situated 170 km to the NE from the northernmost record of Phrynopus known so far. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of a supermatrix (13269 aligned positions of gene sequences of four mitochondrial and ten nuclear genes) of 105 terminals (representing 93 named and 9 unnamed species of Holoadeninae) recover this new species as the sister to Phrynopus auriculatus, a species occurring more than 500 km south of the type locality of the new species. Both Phrynopus auriculatus and the new species occur at moderate elevations on the easternmost stretches of the Andean subcordilleras; their sister relationship point to a potentially broader distribution of species of Phrynopus along the poorly sampled intervening areas of the eastern hills of the Andes. The new species has a conspicuous and visibly large tympanic membrane (a trait rare in the clade), outlined by a marked bold black supratympanic fold and a black facial mask, and exhibits conspicuous dorsolateral, scapular, and middorsal Y-shaped folds. Specimens were found on the forest floor—a rocky substrate covered by a thick layer of leaf litter, moss and roots—of a primary humid montane forest (Yungas ecoregion) with scattered patches of bamboo (Chusquea spp.). Our phylogenetic analyses corroborate the monophyly of all Holoadeninae genera, including Euparkerella and Psychrophrynella, genera for which tests of monophyly were pending, and corroborates Hypodactylus nigrovittatus as part of Hypodactylus and sister to a clade that includes H. brunneus, H. elassodiscus and H. peraccai.

Keywords: Amphibia, Alto Mayo, Amazon Basin, Cordillera Central, dynamic homology, Terrarana, tree-alignment, Yungas

FIGURE 2. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views, and lateral view of head (C) of the female holotype (CORBIDI 11668) of Phrynopus mariellaleo sp. nov. in preservative (SVL = 39.7). Photographs by Pablo J. Venegas.

FIGURE 4. Paratypes of Phrynopus mariellaleo sp. nov. showing variation in dorsal and ventral external morphological traits.
(A, B) adult female (CORBIDI 11692), (C, D) adult female (CORBIDI 11657).

 Photographs by Pablo J. Venegas.   facebook.com/CORBIDI

Phrynopus mariellaleo sp. nov.

 Etymology. The specific name “mariellaleo” is a patronym (used as a substantive in apposition) for Mariella Leo, in recognition of her tireless efforts to preserve biological diversity in Peru. Since 1982 she has been working for the Asociación Peruana para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (APECO), one of the most important non-profit organizations dedicated to biological conservation in Peru. With APECO, Mariella continues to work for the protection of montane ecosystems in Amazonas Department, including the area where the new species was discovered.

FIGURE 4. Paratypes of Phrynopus mariellaleo sp. nov. showing variation in dorsal and ventral external morphological traits. (A, B) adult female (CORBIDI 11692), (C, D) adult female (CORBIDI 11657), and (E, F) adult male (CORBIDI 11658).

Photographs by Pablo J. Venegas.   facebook.com/CORBIDI

Pablo J. Venegas, Andy C. Barboza, Ignacio De la Riva and José M. Padial. 2018. A New Species of Phrynopus from the northeastern Andes of Peru, Its Phylogenetic Position, and Notes on the Relationships of Holoadeninae (Anura: Craugastoridae).  Zootaxa. 4446(4); 501–524.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4446.4.5

 facebook.com/CORBIDI/posts/306346613241236

[Herpetology • 2018] Oreobates antrum • A New Cryptic Species of Oreobates (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest of central Brazil

Oreobates antrum 

Vaz-Silva, Maciel, Andrade & Amaro, 2018

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4441.1.5 

Abstract

A new species of Oreobates Jiménez de la Espada, 1872 is described from the seasonally dry tropical forest associated to rocky outcrops of the northeastern Goiás State, Central Brazil. Oreobates antrum sp. nov. is diagnosable by the combination of morphological characters (e.g. small size, dorsal and ventral skin texture smooth to finely shagreened, and broadly enlarged truncate discs on Fingers III and IV), call attributes (composed of a single note and no harmonics with dominant frequency ranged 2070 Hz to 3273 Hz), and supported by molecular evidence (phylogenetic position and genetic divergence) with high degree of differentiation among other Oreobates species (divergences of 4.0–20.6% for 12S, 7.0–14% for 16S, 0.7–4.0% for RAG-1, and 1.1–8.0% for TYR). The new species was recovered as the sister of Oreobates remotus.

Keywords: Amphibia, Brachycephaloidea; Cerrado biome; Integrative taxonomy; Terrarana

reddish-brown Oreobates antrum sp. n. from the type locality at São Domingos, State of Goiás. 

FIGURE 3. Color patterns in live specimens of Oreobates antrum sp. n. from the type locality at São Domingos, State of Goiás.
Absence of dorsolateral bar (C), dorsolateral longitudinal stripes from post-ocular to sacral regions (D), diagonal labial bars slightly faded (E), light brown blotches between the eyes and nostrils (F).

Photos by D.L. Santos, S.P. Andrade and E.P. Victor-Junior.

Oreobates antrum sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific name antrum is a Latin adjective meaning “hollow, cave or cavity”. This name refers to the habitats where this species is found, caves of the calcareous rocky outcrops of the Cerrado associated to dry forests.

Wilian Vaz-Silva, Natan Medeiros Maciel, Sheila Pereira de Andrade and Renata Cecília Amaro. 2018. A New Cryptic Species of Oreobates (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest of central Brazil. Zootaxa. 4441(1); 89–108. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4441.1.5

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[Herpetology • 2018] Pristimantis erythros • A New Species of Pristimantis (Anura, Craugastoridae) from the Cajas Massif, southern Ecuador

Pristimantis erythros  

Sánchez-Nivicela, Celi-Piedra, Posse-Sarmiento, Urgilés, Yánez-Muñoz & Cisneros-Heredia, 2018

  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.751.20541 

Abstract

A new species of Pristimantis is described from the highland paramos on the eastern slopes of the Cajas Massif, southern Andes of Ecuador, at 3400 m. This new species is characterized by having a distinctive reddish color, cutaneous macroglands in suprascapular region and surfaces of arm and legs, and by lacking dentigerous processes of vomers. The cutaneous macroglands are similar to those exhibited by several species of the Pristimantis orcesi group, and may suggest a close phylogenetic relationship. The new species could be a latitudinal substitution of Pristimantis orcesi in the southern Andes of Ecuador.

Keywords: Andes, glandular frog, paramo, Pristimantis erythros sp. n., taxonomy, Terrarana

Pristimantis erythros sp. n. 

Common name: English: Blood Rain Frog.

Spanish: Cutín de Sangre

Figure 4. Lateral, dorsal and ventral views of living specimens of Pristimantis erythros.
 Left: Male paratype (DHMECN 12102, SVL: 37.1 mm); right: Female holotype (DHMECN 12103, SVL: 39.1 mm).

Diagnosis: Pristimantis erythros differs from other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: (1) Skin on head and dorsum granular, flanks and venter areolate with low warts; dorsolateral folds absent; discoidal fold weakly defined; (2) tympanic membrane and annulus present and visible, rounded, ca. 50% of eye diameter, upper half covered by parotoid macrogland; (3) snout short, rounded in dorsal and lateral views; (4) upper eyelid without tubercles, interorbital distance wider than width of upper eyelid (40%); cranial crests absent; (5) dentigerous process of vomers absent; (6) vocal slits and sacs present in males, nuptial pads absent; (7) Finger I shorter than II; discs laterally expanded with dilated pads and narrow fringes, (8) fingers with coarse lateral cutaneous fringes; (9) low ulnar warts in ventral view; radioulnar macroglands covering the upper surfaces of forearm; (10) heel and tarsus lacking tubercles; paracnemid macroglands on upper surfaces of legs, tarsi, and Toes IV and V; (11) inner metatarsal tubercle oval, not prominent, twice as large as outer metatarsal tubercle, outer metatarsal tubercle rounded and low, supernumerary tubercles low and indistinct; Toe V longer than III, disc of Toe III reaches distal border of penultimate subarticular tubercle on Toe IV, disc on Toe V reaches distal border of distal subarticular tubercle on Toe IV; (12) toes with conspicuous lateral fringes, extend to base of fingers, webbing absent; toe pads as large as or slight larger than those on fingers; (13) in life, dorsum uniformly burgundy, red to orange-red (reddish brown to burgundy in preserved) ; flanks, posterior surfaces of legs, groin, throat and venter crimson (dark reddish brown in preserved); iris dark brown with thin golden reticulations; ventral surfaces of hands and feet pinkish cream; (14) SVL in adult females 38.8–42.6 mm (x̄ = 40.3, n = 4), in adult males 36.8–37.1 mm (x̄ = 36.7, n = 2).

Etymology: The specific epithet erythros is derived from the Greek word for red, in allusion to the distinctive coloration of this species.

Figure 5. Comparison of Pristimantis erythros (top right) with Pristimantis orcesi (top left), Pristimantis pycnodermis (below left), and Pristimantis loujosti (below right).

Figure 6. Habitat of Pristimantis erythros in type locality.

Distribution, natural history, and extinction risk: Pristimantis erythros is only known from its type locality in the Cajas Massif. The area is covered by paramos dominated by grassland and shrubs, between 3450 and 3500 m (Fig. 6). Specimens were collected mainly in terrestrial bromeliads (Puya hamata) and grasses (Neurolepis villosa), near to small streams. Vocalizations were heard (but unrecorded) during daytime hours from 08h00 to 11h00 and from 17h00 to 19h00. Active individuals were observed from dusk until approximately 21h00, afterwards activity decreased. The new species was recorded in sympatry with Pristimantis aff. cryophilius, P. aff. orestes and P. aff. riveti.

The Paramos on the Cajas Massif (221000 h. approx.) appear well preserved. Part of its extension includes the Cajas National Park (28544 h). However, the continued changes on land cover and land use occurring in several areas over the massif on the buffer area of the national park and not protected nearest regions are leading to habitat loss (Hofstede et al. 2002). During a period of four (4) years (2014–2017), twenty six (26) localities in suitable regions (2500–3500 m) on the Cajas Massif were surveyed, no additional records of this new Pristimantis were added during these excursions mentioned above. It is probable that P. erythros inhabit only a single locality in an area of less than 1 km2. Finally, based on the small area of occupancy that might be restricted to the type locality which it is not under conservation in a protected area, we suggest that, it should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) under the UICN criteria B1,B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv) (IUCN 2001).

 Juan C. Sánchez-Nivicela, Elvis Celi-Piedra, Valentina Posse-Sarmiento, Verónica L. Urgilés, Mario Yánez-Muñoz, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia. 2018. A New Species of Pristimantis (Anura, Craugastoridae) from the Cajas Massif, southern Ecuador. ZooKeys. 751: 113-128.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.751.20541

Resúmen: Describimos una nueva especie de Pristimantis desde las laderas orientales del macizo El Cajas en los páramos andinos del sur de Ecuador a 3400 m.s.n.m. Esta nueva especie tiene un color rojizo distintivo y se caracteriza por tener macroglándulas cutáneas en varias regiones del cuerpo, de la siguiente manera: la región supraescapular, las superficies del antebrazo, parte superior del brazo, las manos y el borde de las piernas. Además, carece de procesos dentígeros en los vomerinos. Las macroglándulas cutáneas son similares a las presentes en el grupo de Pristimantis orcesi, y podrían representar una posición filogenética cercana. La nueva especie puede constituir una sustitución latitudinal de Pristimantis orcesi en los Andes sur de Ecuador.

Palabras clave: Andes, rana glandular, páramo, Pristimantis erythros sp. n., taxonomía, Terrarana

[Herpetology • 2018] Pristimantis antisuyu & P. erythroinguinis • Two New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frogs (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the eastern Slopes of the Andes in Manu National Park, Peru

Pristimantis antisuyu

 Catenazzi & Lehr, 2018

   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4394.2.2 

CatenazziLab.org

Abstract

We describe two new species of Pristimantis from the Kosñipata valley in the eastern slopes of the Andes near Manu National Park, Peru. The two new species are closely related but do not overlap elevationally: Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. occurs from 1485–1823 m a.s.l., whereas Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n. occurs from 930–1255 m a.s.l. Both species are readily distinguished from all other species of Pristimantis but P. cruciocularis and P. flavobracatus by possessing an iris with a cruciform pattern, no tympanum, and red bright or yellow coloration on groin. We used a Maximum Likelihood approach to infer a molecular phylogeny on a dataset composed of 27 terminals and 903 bp of the concatenated 16S rRNA and COI mitochondrial fragments. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that, despite differing in groin coloration from red to yellow, individuals of P. cruciocularis and P. flavobracatus form a single clade, and some specimens have identical 16S sequences. Therefore, we synonymize P. flavobracatus with P. cruciocularis. The two unnamed species are closely related to P. cruciocularis. Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. differs from P. cruciocularis and P. erythroinguinis sp. n. by having smaller yellow spots, instead of extensive red coloration, on groin and hind limbs, by being larger with proportionally longer tibias, and by having an inner metatarsal tubercle three times the size of outer metatarsal tubercle (twice as long in the other two species). Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n., despite having coloration very similar to P. cruciocularis, is the sister taxon to both P. antisuyu sp. n. and P. cruciocularis, and can be distinguished from the latter by having much darker ventral coloration, and no cream or yellow spots on flanks and surrounding the red inguinal marks.

Keywords: Amphibia, Amazon Basin, Brachycephaloidea, frog, cloud forest, Paucartambo, phylogenetics, synonymy, taxonomy, Terrarana

Alessandro Catenazzi and Edgar Lehr. 2018. Pristimantis antisuyu sp. n. and Pristimantis erythroinguinis sp. n., Two New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frogs (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the eastern Slopes of the Andes in Manu National Park, Peru.   4394(2); 185–206.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4394.2.2

Two new frog species for Manu National Park - Catenazzi Lab  CatenazziLab.org/1/post/2018/03/two-new-frog-species-for-manu-national-park.html

 twitter.com/ACatenazzi/status/973839119456579584

[Herpetology • 2018] Psychrophrynella glauca • A New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frogs (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the Montane Forests of the Amazonian Andes of Puno, Peru

Psychrophrynella glauca

 Catenazzi​ & Ttito, 2018

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4444 

Abstract

We describe a new species of small strabomantid frog (genus Psychrophrynella) from a humid montane forest in the Peruvian Department of Puno. Specimens were collected at 2,225 m a.s.l. in the leaf litter of primary montane forest near Thiuni, along the Macusani–San Gabán road, in the province of Carabaya. The new species is assigned to Psychrophrynella on the basis of morphological similarity, including presence of a tubercle on the inner edge of the tarsus, and call composed of multiple notes. We also include genetic distances for 16S rRNA partial sequences between the new species and other strabomantid frogs. The species with lowest genetic distances are Psychrophrynella chirihampatu and Psychrophrynella usurpator. Psychrophrynella glauca sp. n. is readily distinguished from the three other species of Psychrophrynella (Psychrophrynella bagrecito, P. chirihampatu, and P. usurpator) by its small size, and by having belly and ventral surfaces of legs reddish-brown or red, and chest and throat brown to dark brown with a profusion of bluish-gray flecks. The new species is only known from its type locality. With the discovery of P. glauca, the geographic distribution of Psychrophrynella is extended to the Department of Puno, where it was no longer represented after the description of the genus Microkayla. Furthermore, the Cordillera de Carabaya is the only mountain range known to be home to four of the seven genera of Holoadeninae (Bryophryne, Microkayla, Noblella, and Psychrophrynella), suggesting an intriguing evolutionary history for this group in southern Peru.

Keywords: Cloud forest, Frog, Bioacoustics, Carabaya, Ollachea, Leaf litter amphibian, 16S rRNA, Taxonomy, Holoadeninae, Terrarana

Figure 2: Photographs of live and preserved specimen of the holotype of Psychrophrynella glauca  sp. n. Live (A, C, E) and preserved (B, D, F) specimen of the holotype, female CORBIDI 18729 (SVL 18.2 mm) in dorsolateral (A, B), dorsal (C, D), and ventral (E, F) views. Photographs by A. Catenazzi.

Psychrophrynella glauca sp. n.

Diagnosis: The new species differs from the three known species of Psychrophrynella by its unique combination of red coloration on ventral surfaces of legs and belly, and profusion of bluish-gray flecks on ventral surfaces of head, body, and legs. Morphologically, it is most similar to P. bagrecito in having a short fold-like tubercle on the inner edge of tarsus, a prominent ovoid outer metatarsal tubercle, discoidal fold present, an elliptical pupil, small size reaching ∼19 mm, and dark brown flanks in at least some specimens. It can be distinguished from P. bagrecito (characters in parenthesis in P. bagrecito) by having smooth skin on venter (areolate), dorsal coloration with broad markings (longitudinal stripes), snout short and bluntly rounded (snout moderately long, rounded in dorsal view and in profile), and ventral coloration in preservative brown with light gray flecks (white to cream with brown mottling). The new species can be distinguished from P. chirihampatu by having reddish-brown to dark brown coloration and bluish-gray flecks on ventral parts (ventral coloration yellow with reddish-brown or gray flecks), Finger I slightly shorter or the same length as Finger II (Finger I shorter than Finger II), inner metatarsal tubercle the same length of outer metatarsal tubercle (inner metatarsal tubercle at least three times the size of outer metatarsal tubercle), more bluntly rounded head (slender and longer head), smaller size reaching 19.8 mm in females (27.7 mm), and advertisement call having 26 notes and a fundamental frequency of 3,027 Hz (up to 68 notes, 2,712 Hz). The new species differs from P. usurpator by its reddish-brown ventral coloration (dull brown, gray or black with cream flecks), smaller SVL reaching 19.8 mm in females (SVL up to 30.5 mm), and by the fold-like tubercle on the inner edge of tarsus being short (long and prominent tubercle).

Etymology: The specific name glauca is the feminine form of the Latin adjective glaucus, from the ancient Greek noun glaûkos, meaning “bluish-gray,” in reference to the bluish-gray flecks on the ventral parts of body and limbs.

Distribution, natural history, and threats: The four specimens were found in the leaf litter along a descending ridge separating two creeks in the humid montane forest along the road from Thiuni to Ollachea. Sympatric species detected during our quick survey included Gastrotheca testudinea, Pristimantis platydactylus, and an unnamed Pristimantis sp. Much of the original forest vegetation has been replaced by cultivated fields and pasture along the road, but this remnant forest extended from nearly the side of the road to the upper ridge of the mountain. Further advance of agriculture, or clearing of the forest might threaten this species if its distribution is restricted to the Ollachea Valley. In absence of more detailed data regarding its extent of occurrence, and according to the IUCN Red List criteria and categories (IUCN, 2013), we suggest this species to be in the “Data Deficient” category of the Red List.

Figure 4: Dorsolateral and ventral views of four paratypes of Psychrophrynella glauca  sp. n.  showing variation in dorsal and ventral coloration. Female MUBI 16322 (A, B). Male CORBIDI 18730 (C, D). Juvenile MUBI 16323 (E, F). Photographs by A. Catenazzi. 

Conclusion: 

We describe a new species of terrestrial-breeding frog of the family Strabomantidae, and provide evidence for its allocation within the genus Psychrophrynella. The new species P. glauca is only known from its type locality, similarly to most other small Holoadeninae known to occur at high elevations in the Andes of southern Peru and Bolivia. With our description we contribute to a better knowledge of the diversity of this group, and reveal the presence of four genera of Holoadeninae in the Cordillera de Carabaya of southern Peru, suggesting that phylogeographic studies of the Holoadeninae species of this mountain range may shed insights into radiation in this group.

Alessandro Catenazzi​ and Alex Ttito. 2018. Psychrophrynella glauca sp. n., A New Species of Terrestrial-breeding Frogs (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae) from the Montane Forests of the Amazonian Andes of Puno, Peru. PeerJ. 6:e4444.  DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4444

[Herpetology • 2018] Amended Diagnosis and Redescription of Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger, 1900) (Amphibia: Craugastoridae), with A Description of Its Advertisement Call and Notes on Its Breeding Ecology and Phylogenetic Relationships

Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger, 1900)

in Kok, Dezfoulian, Means, Fouquet & Barrio-Amorós, 2018. 

    DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2018.397 

Abstract

The frog Pristimantis marmoratus was originally described as Hylodes marmoratus by George A. Boulenger in 1900 based on a single specimen reported to have been collected at the foot of Mount Roraima in Guyana in 1898. We herein discuss the exact location of the type locality of P. marmoratus and provide a redescription of the species based on new material from Kaieteur National Park and from the slopes of Maringma-tepui in Guyana. We also describe the previously unknown vocalization and breeding ecology of the species, and conducted an exploratory molecular analysis of the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Pristimantis represented by the members of the “unistrigatus species group” in the Guiana Shield. Pristimantis marmoratus is a small-sized species mainly distinguished from its known Guiana Shield congeners by the combination of F I < II, SVL ≤ 20.4 in males, presence of vocal slits in males, granular/pustulate dorsal skin with well-developed scapular ridges, basal webbing between fingers, fringes on fingers and toes, crossed iris, diffuse yellow or pale green wash on groin, and absence of flashy colour on axillary/pre-axillary region. The advertisement call consists of a single note repeated at a rate of ca 11 calls/min with a dominant frequency ranging from 2756 to 3101 Hz. Pristimantis marmoratus is primarily arboreal, exclusively active at dusk, and probably restricted to the pristine rainforests of the Pantepui uplands and highlands, east of the Gran Sabana between ca 600 and 1800 m above sea level. Preliminary molecular analyses recovered Pristimantis marmoratus as sister to an unnamed species from the Eastern Guiana Shield. On grounds of the newly established distributional extent we suggest maintaining the IUCN conservation status as Least Concern.

Keywords: Anura; Guiana Shield; Pantepui; systematics; Terrarana

Superfamily Brachycephaloidea Günther, 1858

Family Craugastoridae Hedges, Duellman & Heinicke, 2008

Genus Pristimantis Jiménez de la Espada, 1870

Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger, 1900)

....

Fig. 4. Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger, 1900) (four individuals at the top) and P. pulvinatus (Rivero, 1968) (two individuals below). Intraspecific variation in dorsal colour pattern and sexual dimorphism in living specimens. Note: the subtle hint of green visible on the lower body and legs of some specimens of P. marmoratus is due to a reflection of the substrate (green leaf).

Photographs by Philippe J.R. Kok, except the uncollected P. pulvinatus, which is by César L. Barrio-Amorós. 

Fig. 6. A. Guzmania cf. sphaeroidea (André) André ex Mez, an arboreal bromeliad species used as egg deposition site by Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger, 1900) in the Wokomung Massif. B. Egg clutch of Pristimantis marmoratus deposited on a leaf of the arboreal bromeliad Guzmania cf. sphaeroidea in the Wokomung Massif. C. Egg clutch of Anomaloglossus beebei (Noble, 1923) (white arrow) deposited in the phytotelmata of the same plant as in B. D. Dorsolateral view of IRSNB 17916, 11.3 mm SVL, a juvenile of P. marmoratus collected on the slopes of Maringma-tepui, Guyana.

Photographs A–C by D. Bruce Means, D by Philippe J.R. Kok. 

Natural history: 

All specimens were found in undisturbed submontane or montane rainforest (Fig. 9), active on small trees 50–300 cm above the ground, exclusively at dusk. Pristimantis marmoratus is not a common species; only a few specimens have been found at each locality of occurrence. Males were found calling (in June and November) upside down from mossy tree trunks of low diameter (< 10 cm) between 120 and 300 cm above the ground, except one male (IRSNB 14473), which was calling from the top of a green leaf 50 cm above the ground. The “upside down” call posture is also found in the closely related P. sp. 1 of Fouquet et al. (2013) (as recovered in our preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis, see below), and in P. espedeus and P. inguinalis. 

In June 2012, which corresponds to the rainy season in the area, a cluster of four Pristimantis marmoratus eggs (Fig. 6B) was found by one of us (DBM) attached to the inside part of a leaf of a bromeliad, Guzmania cf. sphaeroidea (André) André ex Mez (Fig. 6A), 150 cm above the ground, on Mount Kopinang, Wokomung Massif, near the top of Kamana Falls at about 1600 m elevation (04°59′58″ N, 59°52′49″ W). Molecular analyses confirmed conspecificity of these eggs with P. marmoratus (Appendix 3). The large, white eggs did not have visibly developed embryos. After photographing and preserving the eggs, the small plant was investigated for inhabitants of the aquatic portion of the phytotelmata. Immediately a small frog jumped out and disappeared into the deep ground litter, and eggs and tadpoles of Anomaloglossus beebei (Noble, 1923) were found in the water of the phytotelmata of the same small bromeliad and in the water of five other bromeliads nearby (egg/frog identifications confirmed by molecular analyses). Pristimantis marmoratus and Anomaloglossus beebei thus share the same bromeliad as an oviposition site on the Wokomung Massif (Fig. 6C). Other Pristimantis species found in syntopy with P. marmoratus were P. dendrobatoides (above 1600 m elevation), P. jester (above 1300 m elevation), P. saltissimus (above 1000 m elevation), and P. pulvinatus (above 1000 m elevation).

Philippe J.R. Kok, Raheleh Dezfoulian, D. Bruce Means, Antoine Fouquet and César L. Barrio-Amorós. 2018. Amended Diagnosis and Redescription of Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger, 1900) (Amphibia: Craugastoridae), with A Description of Its Advertisement Call and Notes on Its Breeding Ecology and Phylogenetic Relationships. European Journal of Taxonomy. 397; 1–30.   DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2018.397