RESUMO
The explosive diversity of rainfrogs (Pristimantis spp) reaches its highest levels in the mountains of the Tropical Andes, with remarkable cryptic species mainly in unexplored areas of Ecuador. Based on phylogenetics, morphometric traits, skull osteology and bioacoustics, we describe two new species of Pristimantis, previously confused with Pristimantisgladiator, that belong to the subgenus Trachyphrynus traditionally known as the Pristimantismyersi species group. The two new taxa are closely related, but have allopatric distributions. We discuss the importance of the Quijos and Pastaza River valleys in the diversification along Amazonian slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes.
RESUMO
A new species of frog of the genus Pristimantis is described from the paramos of the Nudo de Cajanuma, Podocarpus National Park, on the border between the provinces of Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador. The new species is readily distinguished from all other species of Pristimantis by its large body size (snout-vent length: 50.0-50.5 mm in adult females, 34.7-42.5 mm in adult males), thick glandular skin, large warts on flanks, prominent glandular patches on head and legs, and dark brown dorsum. This new species is among the largest and stoutest Pristimantis frogs of the high Andes. It is only known from its type locality, where it occurs in paramo bambusoid meadows at elevations between 3300 and 3400 m. It is morphologically similar to Pristimantiserythros, P.farisorum, P.obmutescens, P.orcesi, P.racemus, P.simoterus, P.simoteriscus, and P.thymelensis. Notorious morphological characters present in this new species are thick glandular patches covering dorsum and limbs and porous skin texture, which are shared with P.erythros.
ResumenDescribimos una nueva especie de rana del género Pristimantis de los páramos del Nudo de Cajanuma, Parque Nacional Podocarpus, en el límite entre las provincias de Loja y Zamora-Chinchipe. La nueva especie se diferencia de otras especies de Pristimantis por su gran tamaño corporal (longitud rostro-cloacal: 50,050,5 mm en hembras adultas, 34,742,5 mm en machos adultos), piel glandular y gruesa, verrugas grandes en los flancos del cuerpo, prominentes parches glandulares en la cabeza y patas, y dorso café oscuro. Esta nueva especie está entre las ranas Pristimantis más grandes y fornidas de los altos Andes. Solo se conoce de su localidad tipo, donde habita en herbazales bambusoides de páramo a elevaciones entre 3300 y 3400 m. Es morfológicamente similar a Pristimantiserythros, P.farisorum, P.obmutescens, P.orcesi, P.racemus, P.simoterus, P.simoteriscus, y P.thymelensis. Características morfológicas notorias en esta nueva especie son los parches glandulares gruesos que cubren el dorso y las patas y la textura de la piel porosa, las cuales son compartidas con P.erythros.
RESUMO
A new frog in the genus Pristimantis is described from a cloud forest on the western flanks of the Cordillera del Cóndor and eastern Andean slopes in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, southeastern of Ecuador. We inferred its phylogenetic position using DNA sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes. The new species is strongly supported as part of a clade that includes P. ardalonychus, P. cajamarcensis, P. ceuthospilus, P. chalceus, P. minutulus, P. luteolateralis, P. parvillus, P. ockendeni, P. unistrigatus, and P. walkeri. It can be distinguished from all other species from Cordillera del Cóndor and congeneric species by the unique combination of the following characters: (1) iris light blue with black reticulations; (2) skin of dorsum finely shagreen with scattered pustular tubercles and absence of dorsal folds; (3) tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus visible; (4) snout rounded in dorsal and lateral view; (5) upper eyelid bearing two or three enlarged subconical tubercles; (6) cranial crest absent; (7) males lacking vocal sac and slits; and (8) venter uniformly bright red, light red, salmon or orange. The new species is most closely related to P. ardalonychus, P. cajamarcensis, P. ceuthospilus, P. ockendeni and P. unistrigatus. We consider the new species to be Endangered following IUCN criteria because it has been severely affected by large scale open-pit mining in some localities. Currently, the amphibian fauna of the Cordillera del Cóndor and nearby protected areas are threatened by large-scale copper and gold mining projects with devastating effects on ~20 species, including several undescribed ones.
Assuntos
Anuros , Distribuição Animal , Animais , Equador , Masculino , FilogeniaRESUMO
RESUMEN Se describe una especie nueva de rana del género Chiasmocleis de los bosques montanos del suroriente del Ecuador, en las laderas occidentales de la Cordillera del Cóndor, entre 1.025-1.630 m de altitud. En base a nuevas secuencias de ADN mitocondrial y nuclear presentamos las relaciones filogenéticas de la nueva especie y sus congéneres. La filogenia muestra una relación cercana a C. antenori, C. carvalhoi, C. magnova, y C. tridactyla. La nueva especie forma parte de un clado integrado por especies que previamente habían sido asignadas al género Syncope. Este clado es hermano de otro conformado por el resto de especies de Chiasmocleis. La nueva especie difiere de sus congéneres por su dorso café ladrillo a café obscuro (sepia) cubierto por puntos diminutos blanco-amarillentos. Chiasmocleis parkeri sp. nov. se parece a Chiasmocleis antenori por la ausencia del dedo I, tanto en las manos como en los pies, pero difiere en la coloración, la disposición y tamaño de las manchas claras y la ausencia de una línea clara en la región cantal. La especie nueva presenta algunos rasgos que le distinguen de especies similares. Describimos el canto, caracterizado por tener notas sin pulsos y aportamos datos ecológicos de la localidad típica y áreas adyacentes.
ABSTRACT We describe a new species of frog of the genus Chiasmocleis from the montane forests of southeastern Ecuador, at the western slopes of Cordillera del Cóndor, between 1,224-1,630 m of elevation. Based on new sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA we present phylogenetic relationships of the new species and its congeners. The phylogeny shows a close relationship to C. antenori, C. carvalhoi, C. magnova and C. tridactyla. The new species is part of a clade of species that were previously assigned to the genus Syncope. This clade has a sister relationship to a clade that contains all remaining species of Chiasmocleis. The new species differs from its congeners by its reddish-brown to dark-brown (sepia) dorsum with minute yellowish-white spots. Chiasmocleis parkeri sp. nov. is similar to Chiasmocleis antenori in lacking digit I of both hands and feet but Chiasmocleis parkeri differs in coloration, arrangement and size of pale spots, and the absence of a pale line in the canthal region. We describe the calls, which are characterized by having non-pulsed notes, and we provide ecological data from the type locality and adjacent areas.
RESUMO
RESUMEN Se describe una especie nueva de rana del género Chiasmocleis de los bosques montanos del suroriente del Ecuador, en las laderas occidentales de la Cordillera del Cóndor, entre 1.025-1.630 m de altitud. En base a nuevas secuencias de ADN mitocondrial y nuclear presentamos las relaciones filogenéticas de la nueva especie y sus congéneres. La filogenia muestra una relación cercana a C. antenori, C. carvalhoi, C. magnova, y C. tridactyla. La nueva especie forma parte de un clado integrado por especies que previamente habían sido asignadas al género Syncope. Este clado es hermano de otro conformado por el resto de especies de Chiasmocleis. La nueva especie difiere de sus congéneres por su dorso café ladrillo a café obscuro (sepia) cubierto por puntos diminutos blanco-amarillentos. Chiasmocleis parkeri sp. nov. se parece a Chiasmocleis antenori por la ausencia del dedo I, tanto en las manos como en los pies, pero difiere en la coloración, la disposición y tamaño de las manchas claras y la ausencia de una línea clara en la región cantal. La especie nueva presenta algunos rasgos que le distinguen de especies similares. Describimos el canto, caracterizado por tener notas sin pulsos y aportamos datos ecológicos de la localidad típica y áreas adyacentes.
ABSTRACT We describe a new species of frog of the genus Chiasmocleis from the montane forests of southeastern Ecuador, at the western slopes of Cordillera del Cóndor, between 1,224-1,630 m of elevation. Based on new sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA we present phylogenetic relationships of the new species and its congeners. The phylogeny shows a close relationship to C. antenori, C. carvalhoi, C. magnova and C. tridactyla. The new species is part of a clade of species that were previously assigned to the genus Syncope. This clade has a sister relationship to a clade that contains all remaining species of Chiasmocleis. The new species differs from its congeners by its reddish-brown to dark-brown (sepia) dorsum with minute yellowish-white spots. Chiasmocleis parkeri sp. nov. is similar to Chiasmocleis antenori in lacking digit I of both hands and feet but Chiasmocleis parkeri differs in coloration, arrangement and size of pale spots, and the absence of a pale line in the canthal region. We describe the calls, which are characterized by having non-pulsed notes, and we provide ecological data from the type locality and adjacent areas.
RESUMO
We describe a new species of terrestrial frog of the genus Pristimantis of medium-size (the SVL of males from 22.18 to 25.13 mm) found in the cloud forests of the eastern foothills of the Sangay National Park, located in the mid-eastern region of Ecuador at an elevation of 2750 meters. We assign the new species Pristimantis latericius sp. nov., to the Pristimantis lacrimosus group, differentiating it from the rest of the members of this group for having prominent tubercles on the upper eyelid and red-orange coloration on its dorsum. Calls are short, one-note, with two harmonic bands. In the last few years in the Sangay National Park, important faunal developments have been made. However further studies are necessary to help document the ecology and natural history of the amphibians, as they will help to understand ecological processes. The discovery of this and other new species in this region demonstrates its biological importance, validating the development of conservation plans in this important World Heritage Site.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Anuros/classificação , Especificidade da Espécie , FilogeniaRESUMO
Ecuadorian frogs of genus Hyloscirtus comprises 16 described species, of which eleven belong to the H. larinopygion group. They are restricted to the flanks of the Andes, both east and west. An assessment of the herpetofauna in the southern part of Cordillera del Condor (montane forests on sandstone plateaus) province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, led to the discovery of a new species for the group, which we describe herein as Hyloscirtus condor sp. nov. We herein analyze the tadpoles and advertisement calls, as well as estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the new and related species, based on new sequences of mitochondrial genes 12S, tRNAVal y16S, until a total of 2508 bp. The results show that the group H. larinopygion comprises two clades: one occurring in the northern and central Andes, and the second in the south. The new species belongs to the southern clade, is sister to H. tapichalaca, and a seemingly undescribed species from Provincia Morona Santiago. The new species differs from all its congeners in color pattern, which consists of dark yellow dots on a tan background. It is the largest species of the H. larinopygion group and shares with H. tapichalaca the presence of a large prepollical curved spine and hypertrophied forearms. The new species inhabits a remote and well-preserved area of Cordillera del Condor. The discovery of new species and others at the site denotes the biological importance of this area and encourages the development of conservation plans.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Anuros , Especificidade da Espécie , Filogenia , Ecologia/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
Ecuadorian frogs of genus Hyloscirtus comprises 16 described species, of which eleven belong to the H. larinopygion group. They are restricted to the flanks of the Andes, both east and west. An assessment of the herpetofauna in the southern part of Cordillera del Condor (montane forests on sandstone plateaus) province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, led to the discovery of a new species for the group, which we describe herein as Hyloscirtus condor sp. nov. We herein analyze the tadpoles and advertisement calls, as well as estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the new and related species, based on new sequences of mitochondrial genes 12S, tRNAVal y16S, until a total of 2508 bp. The results show that the group H. larinopygion comprises two clades: one occurring in the northern and central Andes, and the second in the south. The new species belongs to the southern clade, is sister to H. tapichalaca, and a seemingly undescribed species from Provincia Morona Santiago. The new species differs from all its congeners in color pattern, which consists of dark yellow dots on a tan background. It is the largest species of the H. larinopygion group and shares with H. tapichalaca the presence of a large prepollical curved spine and hypertrophied forearms. The new species inhabits a remote and well-preserved area of Cordillera del Condor. The discovery of new species and others at the site denotes the biological importance of this area and encourages the development of conservation plans.
Assuntos
Animais , Anuros , Ecologia/instrumentação , Especificidade da Espécie , FilogeniaRESUMO
We describe a new species of terrestrial frog of the genus Pristimantis of medium-size (the SVL of males from 22.18 to 25.13 mm) found in the cloud forests of the eastern foothills of the Sangay National Park, located in the mid-eastern region of Ecuador at an elevation of 2750 meters. We assign the new species Pristimantis latericius sp. nov., to the Pristimantis lacrimosus group, differentiating it from the rest of the members of this group for having prominent tubercles on the upper eyelid and red-orange coloration on its dorsum. Calls are short, one-note, with two harmonic bands. In the last few years in the Sangay National Park, important faunal developments have been made. However further studies are necessary to help document the ecology and natural history of the amphibians, as they will help to understand ecological processes. The discovery of this and other new species in this region demonstrates its biological importance, validating the development of conservation plans in this important World Heritage Site.
Assuntos
Animais , Anuros/classificação , Especificidade da Espécie , FilogeniaRESUMO
We describe a new species of Noblella from wet, montane forest at the Sardinayacu Lake Complex between 1600-1920 m elevation in Morona Santiago, Ecuador. The new species differs from congeners in having three phalanges in the fourth finger, finely tuberculate skin on the dorsal body, pointed digital tips with marginal grooves on the fingers, a yellow to pale yellow venter, and a reduced facial mask not extending beyond the arm. The new species also lacks the pair of inguinal spots on the dorsal flanks of most congeners. Since its discovery in 1976, N. lochites has remained poorly known. We describe variation, color in life, and basic ecology of N. lochites based on a large series from the Cordillera del Condor.