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(A-B) Pristimantis chocolatebari & (C-D) Pristimantis carylae Rivera-Correa, González-Durán, Saldarriaga-Gómez & Duarte-Marín, 2021 Photos by M. Rivera-Correa and S. Duarte-Marín. |
Abstract
Frequent biodiversity sampling and monitoring programs often lead to relevant taxonomic findings. Here, as a product of different field expeditions to two places in the northern Andes, we discover and describe two new species of rain frogs of the genus Pristimantis from the cloud forests of the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Pristimantis chocolatebari sp. nov. is diagnosed by having the following character states: dentigerous process of vomer triangular, snout large and protruding, dorsum smooth, vocal slits and vocal sac present, groin and hidden part of the thighs yellow. Pristimantis carylae sp. nov. is diagnosed by having iris copper red, dentigerous process of vomer oval, snout short and rounded, dorsum finely shagreen with scattered tubercles, double nuptial pad in males, groin and hidden part of thighs pink. We also infer, for the first time, the phylogenetic position of P. permixtus, P. platychilus, and two candidate new species. In addition, we emphasize not to use genetic distance as the only source of evidence for species delimitation, considering the high intraspecific diversity found in one of the species described here. Finally, we highlight the relevance of different habitat and ecosystem conservation strategies to promote amphibian diversity studies in the Andes.
Keywords: Amphibia, Andes, cloud forest, conservation areas, Nature reserves, Systematics, Taxonomy
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| Pristimantis chocolatebari sp. nov. in life: (A) MHUA-A 12212, SVL 22.8 mm, adult male, holotype; (B) MHUA-A 12211, SVL 25.1 mm, subadult female, paratype. Pristimantis carylae sp. nov. in life: (C) MHUA-A 12215, SVL 24.7 mm, subadult female, paratype; (D) MHUA-A 12213, SVL 25.0 mm, subadult female, paratype. Photos: Mauricio Rivera-Correa |
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Dorsal view in life of Pristimantis chocolatebari sp. nov. (A) MHUA-A 12212, SVL 22.8 mm, adult male, holotype; (B) MHUA-A 12211, SVL 25.1 mm, subadult female, paratype. Dorsal view in life of Pristimantis carylae sp. nov. in life: (C) ARUQ 818, SVL 24.6 mm, adult male, holotype; (D) ARUQ 821 SVL 24.7 mm, adult male, paratype; (E) ARUQ 815 SVL 26.5 mm, subadult female, paratype; (F) ARUQ 816, SVL 23.3 mm, adult male, paratype; (G) MHUA-A 12215, SVL 24.7 mm, subadult female, paratype; (H) MHUA-A 12213, SVL 25.0 mm, subadult female, paratype. Photos: Sebastián Duarte-Marín. |
Pristimantis chocolatebari sp. nov.
Etymology. The scientific name chocolatebari is the Latinization of the compound name “chocolate bar”. With this name, we honor a United States chocolate company, which generously donated resources for the expansion and protection of the cloud forests of the northern Colombian Andes, allowing the conservation of the type locality of the new species. The epithet is a noun in apposition.
Pristimantis carylae sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to the memory of Caryl Castleberry, an artist with a passion for nature and biodiversity. She and her close friends have helped to conserve and increase our knowledge of the amphibians of the northern Andes of Colombia. Their support has helped with the discovery of new species like the ones described in this study. The epithet is a noun in apposition.
Mauricio Rivera-Correa, Gustavo A. González-Durán, Ana M. Saldarriaga-Gómez and Sebastián Duarte-Marín. 2021. Biodiversity in the Andean Mountains: Two New Rain Frogs of the Genus Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the northern Cordillera Central in Colombia. Zootaxa. 5040(3); 334-364. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5040.3.2
