Monday, May 25, 2020

[Herpetology • 2020] Elachistocleis araios Description and Phylogenetic Relationships of A New Trans-Andean Species of Elachistocleis Parker 1927 (Anura, Microhylidae)


Elachistocleis araios   
Sánchez-Nivicela, Peloso, Urgiles, Yánez-Muñoz, Sagredo, Páez & Ron, 2020


Abstract
Elachistocleis is a Neotropical genus of microhylid frogs with 18 species, most of which occur east of the Andes in South America. Here, we present a new phylogeny of Gastrophryninae and describe and name a new species of Elachistocleis from southern Ecuador—the first to be found west of the Andes and also the first from Ecuador. Our phylogeny is based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial genes 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, COI, and the nuclear genes BDNF, cmyc2, H3A, 28S, SIA1, and Tyr. Elachistocleis araios sp. n., is the sister species of all other Elachistocleis. The finding of this taxon highlights the probability of the existence of more Elachistocleis species west of the Andes.

Keywords: Amphibia, Narrow-mouthed frog, Pacific slopes, phylogenetics, systematics, Elachistocleis araios sp. n., Ecuador

Holotype of Elachistocleis araios sp. n., female, in life.
Above left, Lateral view; below left, dorsal view; right, frontal view.

Elachistocleis araios sp. n.

Etymology. The name of the new species is a noun in apposition from the Greek araiós (αραιός) which means scarce, alluding to the fact that it is a difficult species to find in field.


Juan C. Sánchez-Nivicela, Pedro L. V. Peloso, Verónica L. Urgiles, Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz, Yerka Sagredo, Nadia Páez and Santiago Ron. 2020. Description and Phylogenetic Relationships of A New Trans-Andean Species of Elachistocleis Parker 1927 (Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae). Zootaxa. 4779(3); 323–340. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4779.3.2