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. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 152, 59–77.