FIG. 2.— Pristimantis andinognomus (holotype) in life. Photo by L. A. Coloma.
ABSTRACT
We describe a new species of Pristimantis from a cloud forest at 2450–2800 m in the Cordillera Oriental in southern Ecuador (Zamora Chinchipe). The new species has a maximum snout–vent length of 17.9 mm (average SVL of 21 males 5 12.3 mm 6 1.2, and of 19 females 5 15.9 mm 6 1.3). This new species is the second smallest frog from Ecuador and smallest Pristimantis. Morphologically and phylogenetically, the new species is similar to P. caeruleonotus and P. colodactylus. It is distinguished from them and its congeners by its size, tuberculation, a distinct color pattern consisting of tan blotches on dorsum, spots on a brown venter, minute brown spots on anterior and posterior surfaces of the thighs, and other morphological features. Determination of small body size in frogs is discussed and meristic data of 40 minute frogs are compiled.
Key words: Cordillera Oriental; Ecuador; Miniaturization; New species; Pristimantis; Reserva Tapichalaca
Pristimantis andinognomus sp. nov.
Holotype.— QCAZ 16695, an adult male (Figs. 1, 2), from Reserva Tapichalaca, on road between Yangana and Valladolid (04u 289 S, 79u 089 W; 2667 m), Provincia Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, collected by Italo G. Tapia, Queti M. Tapia on 17 September 2001.
Etymology.— The specific name andinognomus is derived from the New Latin noun Andinus meaning Andes and the New Latin noun gnomus meaning dwarf. Andinognomus means ‘‘Andean dwarf’’ and refers to the small size of the new species, which is currently the smallest of the genus.
Edgar Lehr and Luis A. Coloma. 2008. A Minute New Ecuadorian Andean Frog
(Anura: Strabomantidae, Pristimantis). Herpetologica, 64(3):354-367. 2008.
DOI: 10.1655/07-089.1 URL: http://bioone.org/doi/full/10.1655/07-089.1
