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| Pristimantis mecada Garzón-Franco, Durango, Ospina-Sarria & Arredondo, 2026 |
Abstract
We describe a new species of Pristimantis based on morphological and acoustic evidence from the western slopes of the Serranía del Baudó, tentatively assigned to the Pristimantis ridens species group. The new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by having coppery or reddish bronze iris, with fine black reticulations and light blue sclera, upper eyelid bearing one to three subconical tubercles, posterior surfaces of thighs generally solid brown, with small cream specks present in a few cases and groin solid brown, with some individuals showing a cream or golden blotch. Moreover, this new species distribution is notably distant from the other most similar species, inhabiting the humid lowland tropical forests of the western slopes of the Serranía del Baudó. With the description of this new species, the Pristimantis ridens species group reaches 31 species, that can be found in the Andean and Pacific regions from Central America to northern Peru.
Amphibia, Bioacoustics, Biogeographical Chocó, Pristimantis ridens species group, Taxonomy
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| Holotype of Pristimantis mecada in life (EAFIT-0050, SVL = 26.2 mm, adult female). (A) Lateral view; (B) ventral view; coloration of the posterior surfaces of thigh (C) and groin (D), showing absence of conspicuous marks or spots. Photos by Juan C. Arredondo. |
Pristimantis mecada sp. nov.
Esteban GARZÓN-FRANCO, Juan-P. DURANGO, Jhon Jairo OSPINA-SARRIA and Juan C. ARREDONDO. 2026. A New Species of Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the western Slopes of the Serranía del Baudó, Chocó, Colombia. Zootaxa. 5757(4); 301-323. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5757.4.1 [2026-02-09]
