Abstract
We describe a new glassfrog from Río Manduriacu Reserve, Imbabura Province, on the Pacific slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. The new species can be distinguished from most other glassfrogs by having numerous yellow spots on the dorsum and lacking membranes among fingers. Both morphological and molecular data support the placement of the species in the genus Nymphargus. We present a new mitochondrial phylogeny of Nymphargus and discuss the speciation patterns of this genus; most importantly, recent speciation events seem to result from the effect of the linearity of the Andes. Finally, although the new species occurs within a private reserve, it is seriously endangered by mining activities; thus, following IUCN criteria, we consider the new species as Critically Endangered.
Highlights
Glassfrogs represent one of the most charismatic Neotropical radiations
Our work presents several novel components, we would like to stress the discussion on the conservation problems that the Chocó-Andean forests of Ecuador are currently facing
The main threats for the species are habitat destruction and contamination associated with cattle ranching, agriculture and, most seriously, mining activities
Summary
Glassfrogs represent one of the most charismatic Neotropical radiations (see Guayasamin et al, 2009; Hutter, Guayasamin & Wiens, 2013; Castroviejo-Fisher et al, 2014) This clade contains more than 150 species, with an amazing variety of morphology (Cisneros-Heredia & McDiarmid, 2007; Guayasamin et al, 2009), behavior (Delia, Bravo-Valencia & Warkentin, 2017; Delia et al, 2018), and unresolved taxonomic problems. Nymphargus is a monophyletic taxon containing 36 species (Frost, 2018) This Andean genus is primarily composed of species with restricted distributions and, it is not unusual to find new taxa in previously unexplored areas (e.g., N. caucanus Rada, Ospina-Sarria & Guayasamin, 2017; N. sucre Guayasamin, 2013; N. buenaventura Cisneros-Heredia & Yánez-Muñoz, 2007)
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