Acoustic signals, species diagnosis, and species concepts: the case of a new cryptic species of Leptodactylus (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) from the Chapare region, Bolivia

Abstract

Overall morphological similarity and intrapopulation variation of morphological features make species identification in cryptic species complexes challenging. In such cases, additional features, such as acoustic and/or genetic characters, are being used to aid species identification. The use of acoustic signals as a suite of diagnostic features can be especially rewarding in certain taxonomic groups that rely on acoustic communication. Such is the case of the Neotropical leaf litter frogs of the Leptodactylus marmoratus group (formerly Adenomera). Recent studies using different suites of features for field identification have revealed a previously undetected species richness for this group. It is in the light of acoustic signals that we identify a new species for this group, and describe it herein. We also discuss the systematics of populations associated with the Amazonian realm. We further explore the use of acoustic signals in species identification and diagnosis in anurans and other taxa that communicate acoustically (e.g. lacewings, orthopterans, and birds), and the relevance and importance of the use of species concepts in species diagnosis and descriptions.

Amphibians from Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, Brazilian Amazonia

“…However, some authors (Fouquet 2007, Angulo and Reichle 2008, Funk 2012 have suggested that undescribed cryptic diversity may increase this number markedly. Minimally 332 amphibian species occur in Amazonian Brazil; these include 309 salamanders (Brcko 2013, Hoogmoed 2016a, and 18 caecilians (Hoogmoed 2016b).…”

Vocalizações de Hypsiboas beckeri e H. stenocephalus (Anura: Hylidae), duas espécies do grupo de H. polytaenius do sudeste do Brasil

“…Anuran vocalizations are critical for sexual Bee 2007, Wells 2007), which have made their descriptions an important taxonomic tool (e.g., Angulo and Reichle 2008, Glaw et al 2010, Martins and Giaretta 2011, Carvalho and Giaretta 2013. Therefore, describing the calls of the remaining species and comparing topotypical data among populations might be relevant for the taxonomy of species in the Hypsiboas polytaenius group.…”

A safe place for amphibians? A cautionary tale on the taxonomy and conservation of frogs, caecilians, and salamanders in the Brazilian Amazonia

“…Two species are considered widespread in the Amazon (L. andreae Müller, 1923 andL. hylaedactylus (Cope, 1868) but it is widely known that both represent complexes of species (ANGULO & REICHLE 2008, A. Angulo pers. comm.…”