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| Noblella arutam Brito-Zapata, Chávez-Reyes, Pallo-Robles, Carrión-Olmedo, Cisneros-Heredia & Reyes-Puig, 2024 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17939 |
Abstract
We describe a new species of leaflitter frog of the genus Noblella from southern Ecuador, province of Zamora Chinchipe. The new species is diagnosed from all its congeners by having one or two tubercles on the upper eyelids; distal phalanges strongly T-shaped; phalangeal formula on hands 2-2-3-3; phalangeal formula on feet 2-2-3-4-3; heel with a small subconical tubercle; disc on all toes with papillae; dorsum brown or brown with gray, with V-shaped inverted or scattered irregular darker marks. We include a detailed description of its osteology and a study of its phylogenetic relationships. Finally, we evaluate its conservation status and discuss the threats that are currently impacting at the type locality.
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| Dorso-lateral, dorsal and ventral patterns of Noblella arutam sp. nov. in life. (A–C) holotype ZSFQ 1882, adult female, SVL = 20.34 mm; (D–F) Paratype ZSFQ 1875, adult female, SVL = 17.25 mm. (G–I) Paratype ZSFQ 6234, adult female, SVL = 17.95 mm. Photographs by Carolina Reyes-Puig and David Brito-Zapata. |
Noblella arutam new species
Proposed standard English name. Arutam Leaflitter Frog
Proposed standard Spanish name. Rana de Hojarasca de Arutam
Definition. Noblella arutam sp. nov. (Figure 4–7) differs from its congeners by the following characteristics: (1) skin of dorsum shagreen, with scattered low tubercles more evident on flanks; skin on venter smooth, discoidal fold present, thoracic fold slightly defined; (2) tympanic annulus and membrane defined and visible externally, supratympanic fold slightly defined; (3) snout subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view; (4) upper eyelids bearing one or two inconspicuous tubercles; (5) vomerine teeth absent; (6) vocal slits and external vocal sac present, nuptial pads absent; (7) fingers not expanded distally, finger tips acuminate more evident on Finger III, papilla ...
Diagnosis. Noblella arutam sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from all other species currently assigned to Noblella by the following combination of characters: upper eyelids bearing one or two inconspicuous tubercles, distal phalanges strongly T-shaped, phalangeal formula on hands 2-2-3-3, phalangeal formula on feet 2-2-3-4-3, heel with a small subconical tubercle, disc on all toes with papillae, more evident in toes II–IV and dorsum light brown, light brown with gray or dark brown, with V-shaped inverted or scattered irregular darker marks. Similar to the new species, N. naturetrekii and N. personina (Harvey et al., 2013) occur in the eastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador. Noblella arutam sp. nov. differs from N. naturetrekii (characters in parentheses) by the presence of three ...
Etymology. Noblella arutam sp. nov. is named in reference to Arútam, the spiritual entity symbolizing divine power in the world of the Shuar. The Shuar people are native to western Amazonia, spanning Ecuador and Peru. Several Shuar communities reside in the Cordillera del Cóndor and its immediate surroundings, where this new frog species also inhabits. Arútam is believed to dwell in waterfalls, rivers, mountains, rocks, trees, and certain plants and animals (Delgado, 1986; Pellizzaro, 2005). This deep association highlights the profound connection between nature and the Shuar people. Through this name, we pay tribute to the Shuar people living near the type locality of Noblella arutam sp. nov., their ancestral lands and culture, acknowledging their tireless efforts and commitment to nature protection.
David Brito-Zapata, Juan D. Chávez-Reyes, Matheo David Pallo-Robles, Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo, Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia and Carolina Reyes-Puig. 2024. A New Species of Frog of the Genus Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador. PeerJ. 12:e17939. DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17939
