Una nueva rana venenosa del género Epipedobates (Dendrobatoidea: Dendrobatidae) desde los Andes del noroeste de Ecuador

Abstract

We describe a new species, Epipedobates darwinwallacei sp. nov., from the area of Mindo, on northwestern Ecuador. It inhabits low montane forests in an elevational range of about 1250-1390 m. It differs from all congeneric species by its strong aposematic coloration and tarsal keels. Among species of Epipedobates, the new species has been confused with E. boulengeri and E. espinosai, but it differs from them by its dorsal coloration with bright orange to yellow spots.Keywords. Epipedobates darwinwallacei sp. nov., Pichincha, Mindo, Aposematism, poison frog. AbstractDescribimos una nueva especie, Epipedobates darwinwallacei sp. nov., del área de Mindo en el noroccidente del Ecuador. Habita los bosques montanos bajos en un rango elevacional de 1250-1390 m. Difiere de todas las especies congenéricas por su fuerte coloración aposemática y quillas tarsales. Entre las especies de Epipedobates, la nueva especie ha sido confundida con E. boulengeri y E. espinosai, pero difiere de ellas por su coloración dorsal con manchas anaranjadas y amarillas.Palabras Clave. Epipedobates darwinwallacei sp. nov., Pichincha, Mindo, aposematismo, rana venenosa.

First record of partial erythrism in a species of poison-dart frog of the family Dendrobatidae: Mindo Poison Frog Epipedobates darwinwallacei Cisneros-Heredia and Yánez-Muñoz, 2010

“…2 D). It does not present the common dorsal pattern of the species-reticulated, uniformly dispersed spots and medial line forms [13]-nor the ventral mottled pattern that is generally present in most species of Dendrobatidae. The erythristic dorsal pattern and colouration are similar to the uniform brown to reddish-brown dorsal colouration presented by some populations of E. boulengeri [21], a species not found in sympatry.…”

“…Mindo Poison Frog Epipedobates darwinwallacei Cisneros-Heredia and Yánez-Muñoz, 2010 is endemic to cloud forests on the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes in north-western Ecuador, at an altitude between 1250 and 1390 m.a.s.l. This species inhabits near swamps and slow streams in primary and secondary forests [13][14][15]. E. darwinwallacei is a small frog characterised by having a black to dark brown dorsum with orange to bright yellow spots, pale yellow oblique longitudinal lateral stripe on flanks, dark throat and dark venter with large orange or yellow spots [13][14][15].…”

“…This species inhabits near swamps and slow streams in primary and secondary forests [13][14][15]. E. darwinwallacei is a small frog characterised by having a black to dark brown dorsum with orange to bright yellow spots, pale yellow oblique longitudinal lateral stripe on flanks, dark throat and dark venter with large orange or yellow spots [13][14][15].…”

“…Erythrism is the overexpression of xanthophores that provide yellow-orange and red-orange hues due to carotenoid and pteridine pigments [7]. During an expedition in February 2019, an adult male with partial erythrism (unvouchered specimen) identified as Epipedobates darwinwallacei by its straight and weakly curved tarsal keel [13] was found next to a temporary creek in a ravine near the River Mindo, province of Pichincha, Ecuador (0.059713 S, 78.774013 W, 1288 m.a.s.l. ), active at 22:00 p.m. (Fig.…”

Deep Divergences Among Inconspicuously Colored Clades ofEpipedobatesPoison Frogs

“…We compared frogs in life and our color photographs (Supplementary Figs. S4-S27) with published descriptions and taxonomic keys (e.g., Cisneros-Heredia and Yánez-Muñoz, 2010;Funkhouser, 1956;Grant et al, 2006Grant et al, , 2017Myers, 1987;Silverstone, 1976;Tarvin et al, 2017a). Briefly, the color and pattern characters included the presence or completeness of the oblique lateral stripe (Edwards 1974; different than dorsolateral stripe), paracloacal mark (Grant et al 2006), and ventrolateral stripe (Edwards 1974); the presence of flash spots in the inguinal region and concealed surfaces of the thigh and shank, and color pattern of dorsum, venter, flanks, head, and limbs.…”