Una especie nueva de rana del género Chiasmocleis (Microhylidae: Gastrophryninae) de la Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador

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.

A new treefrog from Cordillera del Cóndor with comments on the biogeographic affinity between Cordillera del Cóndor and the Guianan Tepuis (Anura, Hylidae, Hyloscirtus)

“…Our phylogeny, for example, shows that both species of Hyloscirtus from el Cóndor are closely related to Andean species from southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Similar results are evident in Pristimantismuranunka (closely related to Pristimantis from the Andes of southern Ecuador; Brito et al 2017), Pristimantisyantzaza (closely related to Pristimantis from the Andes and adjacent Amazonian lowlands of Peru and Ecuador; Valencia et al 2017), Excidobatescondor (closely related to Excidobates from Cordillera del Cóndor and adjacent Amazonian lowlands; Almendáriz et al 2012), Centrolenecondor (sister to a large clade of Centrolene with species from the Andes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; Castroviejo‐Fisher et al 2014), and Chiasmocleisparkeri (closely related to Chiasmocleis from the Amazonian lowlands; Almendáriz et al 2017). The combined evidence indicates that the biogeographic link between Cordillera del Cóndor and the Tepui region is not discernable in amphibians.…”

“…During the last two decades, after armed conflicts between Ecuador and Peru ended, roads began to be built and biodiversity surveys became more frequent. These surveys have revealed a large number of unknown species of amphibians, several of which have been recently described (e.g., Almendáriz et al 2014; Almendáriz et al 2017; Almendáriz et al 2012; Almendáriz et al 2014; Brito et al 2017; Brito et al 2014; Terán-Valdez and Guayasamín 2010; Valencia et al 2017). Additional expeditions to Cordillera del Cóndor are likely to result in more discoveries since it remains largely unexplored.…”

Catalogue of type specimens deposited in the Herpetology Collection of the Natural History Museum Gustavo Orcés V. at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (Ecuador)

“…The Herpetology Collection of the Natural History Museum Gustavo Orcés at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN-H), started as a section of the Museum in 1983, with Ana Almendáriz serving as its first curator. Over time, the MEPN-H collection increased through contributions from its former curator ( Almendáriz et al 2014 , Almendáriz et al 2017 ), as well as national and international researchers, students and volunteers. To date, the Herpetology Collection holds 5402 reptile specimens and 10907 amphibian specimens.…”