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| Fig.1. three related species of Cuban frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus. A-B: Eleutherodactylus beguei sp. nov. ; (A) adult male (paratype MNHNCu 1265) with a marbled pattern; (B) adult male (paratype MNHNCu 1262) with striped pattern. (C) E. feichtingeri (adult male MNHNCu 1280), from La Munición, Yateras, Guantánamo Province. (D) E. varleyi (MNHNCu 1230), from the vicinity of Paso de Lesca, Sierra de Cubitas, Camagüey Province. |
Abstract
A new cryptic frog, Eleutherodactylus beguei sp. nov., is described from the pine forests of La Munición, Yateras, Guantánamo Province, Cuba. It is sympatric with E. feichtingeri, another recently described grass frog closely related to E. varleyi, but differs in morphology, vocalization and DNA sequences of the mitochondrial Cyt-b gene. One female of the new species was found vocalizing in response to a calling male, a behavior that is still poorly documented in anurans. Same male and female were found in axillary amplexus and surrounded by 9 eggs (3.5–3.7 mm in diameter) 5 hours after being isolated in a small container.
Key words: Amphibia, Anura, Eleutherodactylidae, Eleutherodactylus, new species, Terrarana, Euhyas, West Indies, Guantánamo, female reciprocation calls, eggs.
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Fig.7. Distribution map of Eleutherodactylus varleyi (triangles),
Fig.1. three related species of Cuban frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus. A-B: Eleutherodactylus beguei sp. nov. ; (A) adult male (paratype MNHNCu 1265) with a marbled pattern; (B) adult male (paratype MNHNCu 1262) with striped pattern. (C) E. feichtingeri (adult male MNHNCu 1280), from La Munición, Yateras, Guantánamo Province. (D) E. varleyi (MNHNCu 1230), from the vicinity of Paso de Lesca, Sierra de Cubitas, Camagüey Province. E. feichtingeri (circles), and E. beguei sp. nov. (star). |
Distribution. Eleutherodactylus beguei sp. nov. is only known from the vicinity of La Munición,
in the southwestern limit of the Humboldt National Park, Municipality of Yateras,
Guantánamo Province, Cuba, but it may have a wider distribution on the Meseta del Guaso
and elsewhere.
Etymology. We take pleasure in naming this new species after Gerardo Begué Quiala, one
of the most outstanding specialists on the biodiversity of the Humboldt National Park and
longtime enthusiastic collaborator.
Luis M. Díaz and S. Blair Hedges. 2015. Another New Cryptic Frog related to Eleutherodactylus varleyi Dunn
(Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae), from eastern Cuba. SOLENODON. 12: 124-135. http://www.caribbeanahigroup.org/pdf/solenodon12/10new_eleutherodactylus.pdf