Abstract
A new species of Leptodactylus frog (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the South American Gran Chaco, morphologically similar and previously confused with the widespread Leptodactylus mystacinus, is described through the use of multiple sources of evidence (molecular, external morphology, coloration, osteology, bioacoustics, and behavior). The phylogenetic analysis with partial sequences of mitochondrial rDNA genes (12S and 16S) recovered the new species within the L. fuscus group, being highly divergent (>3% genetic distance in 16S). The new species was recovered as sister taxa of L. mystacinus, from which it is distinguished by tympanum coloration, cephalic index, dorsum and legs coloration, and some osteological differences in nasals and prevomers. This new frog is characterized by a moderate body size (SVL 46.80–66.21 mm), distinctive color pattern (reddish dorsal surfaces of body with noticeable black stripes in the dorsolateral folds), a circular and dark tympanum with dark tympanic annuli, and behavior of males that call on top of fallen logs and tree branches close to the ground.
Highlights
The South American Gran Chaco ecoregion includes portions of northern and central Argentina, southeastern Bolivia, western of Paraguay, and a small area in southwestern Brazil
The L. fuscus group was recovered as sister of a clade formed by the L. melanonotus + L. latrans groups, but poorly supported
Specimens belonging to the L. mystacinus species complex were recovered nested in a clade along with L. cupreus, L. troglodytes, and L. bufonius, but forming two independent lineages, strongly supported (Fig. 1B): lineage (I) specimens from the Dry Chaco and surroundings areas, and lineage (II) specimens from the rest of the distribution currently known for L. mystacinus
Summary
The South American Gran Chaco ecoregion includes portions of northern and central Argentina, southeastern Bolivia, western of Paraguay, and a small area in southwestern Brazil. This ecoregion has a high richness of anurans, with frogs of the genus Leptodactylus being one of its most widespread and abundant components (Köhler, 2000; Brusquetti & Lavilla, 2006; Álvarez et al, 2009). This genus comprises 74 species, occurring from southern North America to central South America, including the West Indies (Frost, 2019). The L. marmoratus group was later transferred by this same author to Adenomera (Heyer, 1974), and the remaining four species groups have suffered numerous taxonomic rearrangements (Heyer, 1969a, 1969b, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979; Maxson & Heyer, 1988; Frost et al, 2006; Ponssa, 2008; De Sá et al, 2014)
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