[Herpetology • 2009] Taxonomical and Biological study on Calotes ceylonensis | (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Sri Lanka

Painted-lip Lizard, Sri Lankan bloodsucker |

Calotes ceylonensis Müller, 1887

Abstract

Calotes ceylonensis Müller, 1887 is an endemic, rare and vulnerable, arboreal agamid lizard species of Sri Lanka, which is found only at the low country dry and intermediate zones below 500 m a.s.l. This work is mainly based on examination of type specimens as well as published literature and our observations of ecological and conditions and threats on Calotes ceylonensis. The analysis of habitat data has shown that this species is widely spread within the well shading riverine-forested areas and poorly in the home gardens. The results of this survey indicate that C. ceylonensis lays about 4–12 eggs from August to October. Hatchlings come out from November to December. These lizards’ natural predators are arboreal Colubrid snakes, Hornbills and Civet cats. The current habitat destruction poses a huge threat to this species.

Keywords. Agamidae, Calotes ceylonensis, Taxonomy, Natural history, Ecology, Biology, Behaviour, Sri Lanka.

The ecological and behavioural status of C. ceylonensis has not been investigated up to now. C. ceylonensis is an endemic, rare and vulnerable species. Therefore many published literature on their ecological status will have to be done for the conservation of this species. And also captive breeding methods may be needed for ex-situ conservation of these species. A major portion of the primary forests of Sri Lanka has undergone considerable destruction during the past 150 years. As a result: most of the agamid lizards that inhabit in these primary forests nowlive in degraded or altered habitats. According to DE SILVA (1996) C. ceylonensis is distributed in primary forest where a considerable amount of destruction and alteration of the forest by human activities have taken and are still taking place. As a consequence only 5% to 25% of primary or secondary forest / scrub jungle still exist with the greater extent being anthropogenic vegetations. C. ceylonensis is sympatric with Calotes liolepis in Ritigala, Nilgala, and the eastern slope of the Knuckles region; with C. versicolor, Otocryptis nigristigma, Lyriocephalus scutatus and Sitana ponticeriana in many habitats throughout the intermediate and dry zones.

Fig. 1. Distribution map of C. ceylonensis

(Square, Holotype; Triangle, Paratype; Circle, Other).

Karunarathna, D. M. S. S., A. A. T. Amarasingheand Edi Stöckli (2009). Taxonomical and Biological study on Calotes ceylonensis Müller, 1887 (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Sri Lanka. Bonner zoologische Beiträge, 56 (4): 229-238.: http://thasunamarasinghe.weebly.com/uploads/3/5/7/1/3571192/aat_-_taxonomic_and_biological_study_on_calotes_ceylonensis.pdf

[Herpetology • 2009] Current status of Calotes liocephalus Günther, 1872 | (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Sri Lanka

Spineless Forest Lizard, Lionhead Agama |

Calotes liocephalus Günther, 1872

Abstract

Calotes liocephalus Günther, 1872 is an endemic and threatened, arboreal agamid lizard of Sri Lanka, which is found only in the forests of the Knuckles Mountain Range and Peak Wilderness up to 1850m. This work is mainly based on examination of the type specimen and WHT specimens as well as published literature and our observations of ecology, behaviour and threats on Calotes liocephalus.

Keywords: Behaviour, biology, Calotes liocephalus, conservation, ecology, natural history, taxonomy, Sri Lanka.

Amarasinghe, A. A. T., D. M. S. S. Karunarathna and D. E. Gabadage. 2009. Current status of Calotes liocephalus Günther, 1872 (Reptilia: Agamidae) of Sri Lanka. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 1 (11): 553-557.: http://thasunamarasinghe.weebly.com/uploads/3/5/7/1/3571192/aat_-_current_status_of_calotes_liocephalus.pdf

[Herpetology • 2009] The Original Descriptions and Figures of Sri Lankan Agamid Lizards (Squamata: Agamidae) of the 18th and 19th Centuries

The original descriptions and figures of Sri Lankan Agamid Lizards

(Squamata: Agamidae) of the 18th and 19th Centuries

Thasun Amarasinghe, Ulrich Manthey, Edi Stöckli, Ivan Ineich, Sven O Kullander, Franz Tiedemann, Colin McCarthy, Dinesh E Gabadage

Abstract

Eighteen species of agamid lizards are recognized from Sri Lanka, representing one subfamily: Draconinae. Thirteen of these species were described in the period 1758-1887. The early descriptions of agamid lizards were very brief and often written in languages other than English. Original descriptions and images of type specimens are provided for Calotes calotes (Linnaeus, 1758), C. versicolor (Daudin, 1802), C. nigrilabris Peters, 1860, C. liocephalus Gunther, 1872, C. liolepis Boulenger, 1885, C. ceylonensis Müller, 1887, Otocryptis wiegmanni Wagler, 1830, Ceratophora stoddartii Gray, 1835, C. tennentii Günther, 1861, C. aspera Günther, 1864, Lyriocephalus scutatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Cophotis ceylanica Peters, 1861, and Sitana ponticeriana Cuvier, 1829. Translations to English are provided of original descriptions that were published in Latin, French, and German.

Key words: Original description; type specimen; Agamidae; Taxonomy; English translation; Sri Lanka

Amarasinghe, A. A. T., U. Manthey, E. Stöckli, I. Ineich, S. O Kullander, F. Tiedemann, C. McCarthy and D. E. Gabadage. 2009. The original descriptions and figures of Sri Lankan Agamid Lizards (Squamata: Agamidae) of the 18th and 19th centuries. Taprobanica, 1 (1): 2-15+4 pls. DOI: 10.4038/tapro.v1i1.2771

http://thasunamarasinghe.weebly.com/publications.html

[Herpetology • 2008] Calotes aurantolabium • A new Calotes from Southern Western Ghats, India & Redescription of C. andamanensis

Orange-lipped Forest Lizard, Calotes aurantolabium

Andaman Forest Lizard, Calotes andamanensis

ABSTRACT

A new species is described from the southern Western Ghats of India. The new species was wrongly identified as Calotes andamanensis and is distinguished from it in lacking the antehumeral pit and possessing acutely keeled scales. It is distinguished from all species of theCalotes versicolor group of Smith in having posteroventral orientation of dorsal body scales and is distinguished from all species of the Calotes liocephalus group of Smith in lacking the antehumeral pit. A redescription of C. andamanensis is provided based on the holotype. Calotes andamanensis is a valid species with type locality in the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands, India.

Etymology.—The specific epithet is derived from the Neo-Latin aurantium, meaning golden, and the Latin labium, meaning lip, in reference to the orange upper lip.

Distribution and Habitat.—The habitat at the type locality is tropical evergreen rain forest. Sympatric agamids include C. elliotti, C. rouxi, Calotes grandisquamis, C. nemoricola, Draco dussumieri, Otocryptis beddomii, Psammophilus blanfordanus, and Psammophilus dorsalis (Ishwar et al., 2001). Calotes calotes and C. versicolor occur at lower elevations in drier habitat (Ishwar et al., 2001).

FIG. 1. Relief map of southern India showing type locality, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, of Calotes aurantolabium at 8N. Elevation above sea level represented in grayscale (white, approximately 0 m, dark grays to black . approximately 1,000 m). Inset shows regional perspective of type localities of C. aurantolabium, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (A); and Calotes andamanensis, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (B). Map rendered from http://www.itismolinari.mi.it/Gtopo30.htm.

FIG. 2. Right lateral and dorsal head, lateral body, and throat-chin views of Calotes urantolabium, female holotype BNHM 1436 (A, B, E, G) and Calotes andamanensis, male holotype ZMUC 36944 (C, D, F, H), respectively.

Krishnan, S. 2008. New Species of Calotes (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) from the Southern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Herpetology. 42:3 530-535.

http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1670/06-198.1

[Herpetology • 2005] Calotes desilvai • A new species of agamid lizard from Morningside Forest, Sri Lanka

Fig. 2. Calotes desilvai, paratype female, 75.5 mm SVL,

WHT 5998: dorsolateral view, in life.

ABSTRACT

The genus Calotes Cuvier has been considered to be represented in Sri Lanka by six species. A seventh species, C. desilvai, evidently restricted to a single site, Morningside Forest (~ 10 km2) on the eastern side of the Sinharaja World Heritage Site, is described. Among the Sri Lankan Calotes, the new species seems most closely related to C. liolepis Boulenger, which is widely distributed in the island’s lowland rain forest and a few isolated moist forests in the dry zone. Calotes desilvai is distinguished from C. liolepis by having the fifth toe 42.6–47.0% of head length in males, 41.9–45.9% in females (vs. 31.0–39.5% and 33.0–40.5% respectively, in C. liolepis); bands on gular area distinct, black (vs. bands on gular area faint, brown); shoulder pit black (vs. shoulder pit cream white to brown); and scales on ventral surface of thigh smooth (vs. scales on the ventral surface of thigh carinate). Males of C. desilvai may also be distinguished from males of C. liolepis by their longer upper arm and femur (49.6–50.0 and 70.3–75.0% of head length, respectively) vs. shorter upper arm and femur (40.3–49.3 and 57.1–69.5%, respectively) and a comparatively short posterior supratympanic spine (1.7–2.7% of head length), longer in C. liolepis (3.1–12.9%).

KEYWORDS. – Agamidae, Calotes, new species, distribution, Sri Lanka

Fig. 6. Map of Sri Lanka illustrating the distribution of Calotes liolepis (solid circles) and Calote desilvai (solid square), based on material examined in this study

Etymology. – The species epithet is an eponym Latinized in the genitive singular, honouring Anslem de Silva, founder of the Amphibia and Reptile Research Organisation (ARROS) and patron of herpetology in Sri Lanka for more than the past three decades.

Distribution. – Calotes desilvai is known only from the type locality, Morningside Forest Reserve (1,080 m alt.) and adjacent forest, over a range of ~10 km2 at the eastern border of Sinharaja World Heritage Site (Fig. 3).

Natural history notes. – We observed egg-bearing females at the type locality in February, 2004. Female paratype WHT 5998, 75.5 mm SVL, had two creamy-white eggs measuring 16.2×8.9 mm and 16.5×8.5 mm. This lizard was observed only on tree trunks 2–5 m above ground between 9 and 15 h. It is restricted to areas of dense, undisturbed forest, being absent from secondary forest and scrub habitats.

Calotes desilvai is sympatric in its type locality with the agamids Otocryptis wiegmanni Wagler, 1830, Cerataphora erdleni and Cerataphora karu Pethiyagoda & Manamendra-Arachchi, 1998, all of which are endemic to Sri Lanka. We recorded Calotes desilvai only from undisturbed, closed-canopy forest at Morningside. Calotes liolepis however, inhabits all forest types, including home gardens and rubber plantations; we even observed this species on shade trees in tea plantations.

The conservation status of Calotes desilvai is discussed in a separate paper (Bahir & Surasingha, 2005: this volume).

Mohomed M. Bahir & Kalana P. Maduwage. 2005. Calotes desilvai, a new species of agamid lizard from Morningside Forest, Sri Lanka. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl. 12: 381–392. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s12/s12rbz381-392.pdf

[Herpetology • 2003] Calotes chincollium • A new Calotes from the Indo-Burman Range of Western Myanmar (Burma)

Calotes chincollium Vindum, 2003

Abstract

A new species of Calotes is described from the Indo-Burman Range, western Myanmar. It was found between elevations of 737 m to 1940 m in areas of shifting cultivation and secondary forest. It differs from other species of Calotes from Myanmar by a combination of its large size, SVLup to 142.9 mm, relatively small body scales, 5974 midbody scale rows, the tail in adult males being swollen posteri- orto base and the presence of head spines. The new species increases the diversity of Calotes species in Myanmarto six. A key to the Calotes of Myanmaris provided.

Etymology: Named after the type locality in the Chin hills in Myanmar where the Chin people live; collium is Latin for “hill”.

Range Description: This species is endemic to Myanmar. The distribution of this species is restricted to the Chin Hills, Chin State, and the Ponnyadaung Range, Sagaing Division at elevations ranging from 730 to 1,940 m above sea level. The area in which this species is distributed is approximately 10,306 sq.km.

http://eol.org/pages/790002/overview

Vindum, J.V., Win, H., Thin, T., Lwin, K.S., Shein, A.K. and Tun, H. 2003. A New Calotes (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Indo-Burman Range of Western Myanmar (Burma). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 54(1): 1-16.: http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/scipubs/pdfs/v54/proccas_V54_n01.pdf

http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Calotes&species=chincollium

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/170380/0

[Herpetology • 2000] Calotes nigriplicatus • A new species of Calotes from the Moluccas (Indonesia)

Distribution: Ambon Island, the Moluccas, Indonesia

Type locality: Ambon Island, the Moluccas, Indonesia

Hallermann, J. 2000. A new species of Calotes from the Moluccas (Indonesia) with notes on the biogeogreaphy of the genus (Sauria: Agamidae). Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 49 (1-2): 155-163: http://www.zfmk.de/BZB/B49_H1_4/B49H14S7.PDF

[Herpetology • 2008] 2 new Pristimantis; P. spectabilis & P. lucasi • from the Cordillera Oriental, Central Peru

Pristimantis spectabilis & Pristimantis lucasi

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Pristimantis (Pristimantis) that are tentatively placed in the Pristimantis unistrigatus Group are described from the Yanachaga-Chemillén region in Departamento Pasco, Peru, where 24 species of strabomantid frogs are known. Both new species inhabit the humid montane forest on the slopes of the Andean Cordillera Oriental, and one of the new species apparently is a cryptic relative of another inhabitant of the region. Among 60 species of strabomantids recorded in a two-degree wide transect from the Amazonian lowland to the crest of the Cordillera Oriental, only three of the species restricted to mid-elevations are known from transects in northern or southern Peru. High elevations are dominated by terrestrial Phrynopus, whereas the lowlands and forested slopes of the Andes are dominated by arboreal Pristimantis. Within clades there is no elevational correlation with the presence or absence of a tympanum.

Key words: Pristimantis, new species, Andes, central Peru, biogeography

Duellman, W.E. and Chaparro, J.C. 2008. Two distinctive new species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera Oriental with a distributional synopsis of strabomantids in Central Peru. Zootaxa 1918: 13-25.: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01918p025f.pdf

Pristimantis spectabilis: http://iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/164792/0

[Herpetology • 2008] Pristimantis gagliardoi • from the High Andes of Southeastern Ecuador

Abstract

We describe Pristimantis gagliardoi, a new medium sized (SVL 19.06–33.64 mm) Pristimantis species from the Andean forests of southeastern Ecuador. This species is referred to the P. unistrigatus group. It differs from other members in the unistrigatus group by the presence of large conical tubercles on the eyelid and heel, small conical ulnar and tarsal tubercles, suprascapular dermal ridges, and bronze iris.

Key words: Anura, Strabomantidae, Ecuador, Mazar Reserve, new species, Pristimantis gagliardoi, Pristimantis unistrigatus

Bustamante, M. R. y Mendelson III, J. R. 2008. A new frog species (Strabomantidae: Pristimantis) from the High Andes of Southeastern Ecuador. Zootaxa. 1820: 49–59. www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01820p059f.pdf

[Herpetology • 2008] Pristimantis yuruaniensis • from Yuruaní-tepui, eastern Venezuela

Abstract

Pristimantis yuruaniensis sp. nov. is described from the summit of Yuruaní-tepui, Estado Bolívar, eastern Venezuela. The new species is easily distinguished from other Guianan Pristimantis by its rather uniform dorsal coloration, absence of lip, forearm and shank bars, its small tympanum, and its advertisement call. The new species appears to occur on neighboring Kukenán-tepui as well.

Key words: Amphibia; Strabomantidae; Systematics, Pristimantis yuruaniensis sp. nov., Venezuela

Rödder D., Jungfer K.-H., 2008, A new Pristimantis (Anura, Strabomantidae) from Yuruani-tepui, Venezuela., Zootaxa, 1814: 58-68.

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01814p068f.pdf

[Herpetology • 2008] 3 new Pristimantis; P. achuar, P. altamnis & P. kichwarum • from the upper Amazon forests in Ecuador

Abstract

We describe three new species of Pristimantis leaflitter frogs from the upper Amazon basin of Ecuador: Pristimantis achuar, Pristimantis altamnis, and Pristimantis kichwarum. Each of these new species was previously considered to be part of a single species, formerly known as Eleutherodactylus ockendeni (Boulenger) morph B. However, analysis of DNA sequences together with examination of the morphology of more than 600 specimens from Ecuador reveals that multiple species were confused under the same name. The morphological differences among the three new species are subtle but consistent: presence or absence of a black canthal stripe and/or supratympanic ridge, snout-vent length, and ventral colouration. The three species are generally allopatric and geographically restricted, although at some localities two of the species occur sympatrically.

Key words Anura; new species; terrestrial frog; South America; Pristimantis achuar; Pristimantis altamnis; Pristimantis kichwarum

— Pristimantis achuar sp. nov. —

:— :— :—

Holotype:— QCAZ 25463 (field number SC11438) an adult female collected at Kapawi Jungle Lodge, Pastaza province, Ecuador (S 02° 32.32 , W 76° 51.50 , altitude 239 m) on 24 June 2003 by KRE and I.G. Tapia.

Etymology:— This species is named for the Achuar indigenous nation of the upper Amazon basin, who are ardent protectors of their biodiversity and generously granted permission to KRE to sample frogs from their land at Kapawi Lodge. The epithet is a noun in apposition.

Natural History:— Individuals were found in primary forest and presumably can also be found in secondary forest. By night they were often perched on the leaves of low vegetation from 0.2 to 1.3 m elevation. By day they were found in the leaflitter.

Distribution:— Pristimantis achuar is found in the lowlands of the Pastaza and Napo rivers in southern Ecuador (see Fig. 5). The species is probably more widely distributed into northern Peru.

— Pristimantis altamnis sp. nov. —

:— :— :—

Holotype:— QCAZ 25311 (field number SC 11271), an adult female collected at Cando community, upper Napo river, parroquía Talag, Napo province, Ecuador (S 01° 05.71’, W 77° 55.47’, altitude 680 m) on 3 May 2003 by KRE and T. Sugahara.

Etymology:— This species is named for the swift headwater rivers of the Amazon River, since it is found at localities near the origins of Ecuador’s major rivers (Napo, Pastaza, and Aguarico). The name is a compound adjective of the Latin “altus” for upper and “amnis” for river.

Natural history:— Individuals were found in primary and secondary forest. By night they are often perched on the leaves of low vegetation. By day they were found in leaflitter. 18

Distribution:— Pristimantis altamnis has been found throughout the humid upland tropical forests of eastern Ecuador, at elevations of approximately 400–1000 masl (see Fig. 5). To the east it is replaced by P. kichwarum or P. achuar. Its range limits to the north and south are not known. In the upper Napo River area (Jatun Sacha Biological Station), P. altamnis has been found sympatrically with P. kichwarum.

— Pristimantis kichwarum sp. nov. —

:— :— :—

Holotype:— QCAZ 18128 (field number SC7783), an adult male collected at Jatun Sacha Biological Station, parroquía Ahuano, Napo province, Ecuador (S 01°04.45’, W 77°36.93’, altitude 472 m), on 14 November 2001 by KRE and F. Ayala-Varela. MtDNA cytochrome b Genbank accession number EF581033.

Etymology:— This species is named for the indigenous Kichwa communities in the Oriente of Ecuador. They are recognized in this small collective way as a token of appreciation for the engagement of individuals and communities in this research, and for sharing their biodiversity and knowledge. The patronym is a Latin feminine plural genitive of the nation name.

Natural history:— Individuals were found in primary and secondary forest. By night they were found perched on the leaves or stems of low vegetation from 0.2 to 1.5 m elevation. By day they were found in the leaflitter. The following specimens were collected in amplexus: QCAZ 25287 (paratype female) with 25288 (paratype male), 25751 (paratype female) with 25752 (referred male), and 25782 (paratype female) with 25783 (referred male).

Distribution:— Pristimantis kichwarum has been found throughout the humid tropical forests of eastern lowlands of Ecuador in the Napo, Orellana, and Sucumbíos provinces, at elevations of approximately 500 masl and below (see Fig. 5). The extent of its distribution to the east and north is not known. The species is apparently replaced by P. achuar to the south in the Pastaza basin. In the upper regions of the Napo River (Jatun Sacha Biological Station), P. kichwarum has been found sympatrically with P. altamnis.

Elmer, K.R. and Cannatella, D.C. 2008. Three new species of leaflitter frogs from the upper Amazon forests: cryptic diversity within Pristimantis “ockendeni” (Anura: Strabomantidae) in Ecuador. Zootaxa 1784: 11–38.
http://kops.ub.uni-konstanz.de/bitstream/handle/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-opus-75947/Elmer_Cannatella_2008.pdf?sequence=1

[Herpetology • 2008] Pristimantis andinognomus • A Minute New Ecuadorian Andean Frog (Anura: Strabomantidae)

FIG. 2.— Pristimantis andinognomus (holotype) in life. Photo by L. A. Coloma.

ABSTRACT

We describe a new species of Pristimantis from a cloud forest at 2450–2800 m in the Cordillera Oriental in southern Ecuador (Zamora Chinchipe). The new species has a maximum snout–vent length of 17.9 mm (average SVL of 21 males 5 12.3 mm 6 1.2, and of 19 females 5 15.9 mm 6 1.3). This new species is the second smallest frog from Ecuador and smallest Pristimantis. Morphologically and phylogenetically, the new species is similar to P. caeruleonotus and P. colodactylus. It is distinguished from them and its congeners by its size, tuberculation, a distinct color pattern consisting of tan blotches on dorsum, spots on a brown venter, minute brown spots on anterior and posterior surfaces of the thighs, and other morphological features. Determination of small body size in frogs is discussed and meristic data of 40 minute frogs are compiled.

Key words: Cordillera Oriental; Ecuador; Miniaturization; New species; Pristimantis; Reserva Tapichalaca

Pristimantis andinognomus sp. nov.

Holotype.— QCAZ 16695, an adult male (Figs. 1, 2), from Reserva Tapichalaca, on road between Yangana and Valladolid (04u 289 S, 79u 089 W; 2667 m), Provincia Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, collected by Italo G. Tapia, Queti M. Tapia on 17 September 2001.

Etymology.— The specific name andinognomus is derived from the New Latin noun Andinus meaning Andes and the New Latin noun gnomus meaning dwarf. Andinognomus means ‘‘Andean dwarf’’ and refers to the small size of the new species, which is currently the smallest of the genus.

Edgar Lehr and Luis A. Coloma. 2008. A Minute New Ecuadorian Andean Frog

(Anura: Strabomantidae, Pristimantis). Herpetologica, 64(3):354-367. 2008.

DOI: 10.1655/07-089.1 URL: http://bioone.org/doi/full/10.1655/07-089.1

[Herpetology • 2008] Pristimantis leucorrhinus • A new peculiar frog from Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park, Peru

Pristimantis leucorrhinus sp. nov.

Abstract

We describe a new species of frog, Pristimantis leucorrhinus sp. nov., from the Cordillera Yanachaga, Yanachaga Chemillén National Park, on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Central Peru. The new species belongs to the P. unistrigatus group and is characterized by the absence of a tympanum, the presence of horn-like tubercles on upper eyelids and a characteristic colour pattern.

Key words: Anura; Leptodactylidae; Pristimantis; New species; Andes; Peru; Cordillera Yanachaga-Chemillén

FIGURE 1. The holotype of Pristimantis leucorrhinus in dorsolateral view; a) particular of the heel; b) particular of the eye (photo G. Gertosio).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Greek nouns leucos, meaning “white”, and rhinos, meaning “snout”. The name refers to the distinctive white squarish spot on the nasal region.

Distribution and habitat. Pristimantis leucorrhinus is known only from the type locality (Fig. 4), a montane cloud forest on the Amazonian slopes of the Peruvian Andes, otherwise known as the Peruvian Yungas. The single specimen was found at night (21:00–23:00 hr) on a composite leaf of a tree, 2–3 meters above the ground, next to a path, during a light rain. No call was associated with this species. Only three other syntopic anurans (all Pristimantis) were found.

According to Catchpole (2004), the study site is classified as primary forest, although very selective logging may have occurred in recent decades. The site is located in a steep valley bottom with a westerly aspect (fig 4). The forest has a dense 15–25 m broken canopy with complex stratification and emergents up to 40 m in height. The dominant canopy trees are of the genera Alchornea Sw., Cedrela P. Browne, Croton L., Escallonia Mutis ex L. f., Ficus L., Hyeronima M. Allemão, Miconia Ruiz & Pav., Oreopanax Decne. & Planch., Persea Mill., Podocarpus L'Hér. ex Pers., and Weinmannia L. The broken canopy is the result of frequent landslides and treefalls that result from high rainfall and very steep slopes (20º–55º). The understory is dominated by shrubs and small trees in the families Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae, Melastomataceae, Piperaceae and Rubiaceae. Tree ferns in the genera Alsophila R. Br., Cyathea Sm. and Dicksonia L'Hér. are prominent. Epiphytes are dense on most trees. These are dominated by the families Araceae, Bromeliaceae, Dryopteridaceae and Orchidaceae. According to two different databases, the average rainfall is 1293–2302 mm (the higher value is considered to be more accurate); the average annual temperature is 14.96 °C with a wet season from

October until April in most years (Catchpole 2004).

Discussion

Pristimantis is the most diverse genus of frogs on the forested slopes of Andes. According to Duellman & Hedges (2005), along the Andes species diversity seems to decrease as one moves south from Colombia and Ecuador to southern Peru. In northern Peru, Duellman & Pramuk (1999) listed 45 species, whereas on the Amazonian slopes of the northern part of the Cordillera Central in Central Peru only 16 species are known so far. However, until recently many mountainous areas in central Peru were poorly surveyed from a herpetological point of view: in the last 10 years 14 new species of “Eleutherodactylus” (now Pristimantis) have been

described (Dwyer 1995; Lehr et al. 2004; Lehr 2005; Duellman & Hedges 2005, Lehr et al. 2006), suggesting that anuran biodiversity of the eastern slopes of the Andes, and in particular of the Cordillera Yanachaga, is still far from well known.

2008. A new peculiar frog species of the genus Pristimantis from Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park, Peru. Zootaxa. 1674: 51–57.: <small> http://www.stefanomazzotti.eu/data/uploads/pubblicazioni-scaricabili/pristi.pdf

[Herpetology • 2008] Phylogeography of Pristimantis (formerly Eleutherodactylus) ridens • across Isthmian Central America

Pristimantis (formerly Eleutherodactylus) ridens

Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/twpierson/5553192217/

Abstract

We used a phylogeographic approach to elucidate the evolutionary history of a lineage of frogs, known as Pristimantis (formerly Eleutherodactylus) ridens (Anura: Brachycephalidae), restricted to the wet forests occurring along the Caribbean versant of isthmian Central America as well as the disjunct wet forest on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica. We placed our phylogeographic study of P. ridens within a larger molecular phylogenetic analysis of Central American Pristimantis. All phylogenetic inferences were based on a 1455 base pair fragment of mitochondrial DNA, containing the complete ND2 gene and five flanking tRNA genes. Our reconstruction of the intraspecific phylogeny of P. ridens yielded a basal trichotomy dating to an estimated 12+ million years ago (Ma), consisting of central Panama, western Panama, and Costa Rica plus Honduras. Thus, the presence of P. ridens appears to predate the completion of the Isthmus 3.1 Ma. Using a parametric bootstrap (SOWH) test, we evaluated four a priori zoogeographic hypotheses for the origin and spread of P. ridens. This analysis suggested that the P. ridens populations on the Caribbean versant of Costa Rica were established by Pacific versant ancestors only recently, in contrast to the very old lineages found in Panama. Our results support a model of Miocene colonization, long-term geographic stasis, followed by rapid dispersal across the Caribbean lowlands during the Pliocene or Pleistocene.

Keywords: Central America; Dispersal; Mitochondrial DNA; Golfo Dulce; Phylogeography; SOWH test; Eleutherodactyline; Cruentus group; Range expansion

Distribution of Pristimantis (formerly Eleutherodactylus) ridens

— across the lowland wet forests of Isthmian Central America

Wang, IJ, AJ Crawford, and E Bermingham. 2008. Phylogeography of the Pygmy Rain Frog (Pristimantis ridens) across the lowland wet forests of Isthmian Central America. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47: 992-1004.:

http://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790308000948

http://dna.ac/filogeografia/PDFs/phylogeo/Wang&l_08_phylogeogr_pygmy_rainfrog.pdf

[Herpetology • 2008] 2 new Phrynopus; P. auriculatus & P. tribulosus • from the Cordillera oriental in Peru

Abstract

Two small new species of terrestrial frogs of the genus Phrynopus are described from the Andes in the Departament of Pasco in central Peru. The presence of a tympanum in one species is shared with P. peruanus. The second species shares characters with the larger P. dagmaraefrom the Departament of Huánuco. The new species are the smallest known members of the genus.

Key words: Phrynopus, new species, Andes, central Peru

Phrynopus auriculatus new species

Holotype: KU 291633, adult male, 2.9 km N, 5.5 km E (airline) Oxapampa, 2600 m, 10°32'38"S, 75°21'10"W, Departamento Pasco, Peru, obtained on 2 July 1987 by S. Blair Hedges.

Etymology. The specific name is Latin meaning having an ear. The name is applied to this species because of the presence of a differentiated tympanic membrane.

Distribution and ecology. This species is known only from the type locality in humid montane forest, where both individuals were found on the ground after rains.

Phrynopus tribulosus new species

Holotype: KU 291630, adult male, from 2.9 km N, 5.5 km E (airline) Oxapampa, 2600 m, 10°32'38"S, 75°21'10"W, Departamento Pasco, Peru, obtained on 3 July 1987 by S. Blair Hedges.

Etymology. The specific name is Latin meaning thorny. The name refers to the short, thorn-like tubercles on the heel and outer edge of the tarsus.

Distribution and ecology. The species is known only from the type locality in humid montane forest, where it was found deep within a mossy bank by day.

Discussion

Species of Phrynopus have restricted distributions at elevations of 2200–4400 m in the Andes in central Peru. Most frequently they are the only anurans found at the higher elevations, and there are few cases of sympatric pairs of species—P. dagmarae and P. tautzorum, P. heimorum and P. hortspauli, and P. kotosh and P. montium all at elevations above 2900 m in Departamento Huánuco; P. juninensis and P. montium as well as P. oblivius and P. peruanus at elevations in excess of 3000 m in Departamento Junín; P. juninensis and P. paucari at an elevation of 3600 m in Departamento Pasco (Lehr 2007b; Lehr et al. 2002, 2005b). The type locality of the two new species at an elevation of 2600 m harbors three species of Phrynopus, the two species described herein plus P. bracki (Hedges, 1990).

In the Andes in central Peru species of Phrynopus generally occur at higher elevations than do Pristimantis. The localities in the vicinity of Oxapampa are the lowest for species of Phrynopus. At the type locality at 2600 m, the three species of Phrynopus occur sympatrically with Pristimantis bromeliaceus and P. rhabdocnemus, and at San Alberto at 2200 m, Phrynopus bracki occurs sympatrically with these same two species of

Pristimantis, plus Pristimantis sagittulus (Duellman and Hedges 2005; Lehr et al. 2004).

Duellman, W.E. and Hedges, S.B. 2008. Two new minute species of Phrynopus (Lissamphibia: Anura) from the Cordillera oriental in Peru. Zootaxa 1675: 59–66.:

http://php.scripts.psu.edu/dept/evobio/hedgeslab/pubs/194.pdf