Advertisement calls and DNA sequences reveal a new species of Scinax (Anura: Hylidae) on the Pacific lowlands of Ecuador.

Santiago R Ron,Marcel A Caminer,Diana Pazmiño,William E Duellman

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0203169

Santiago R Ron, Marcel A Caminer + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203169

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Abstract

Scinax is a speciose genus of Neotropical hylid frogs. We describe a new species from western Ecuador (elevations between 0 and 1207 m) using morphology, vocalizations, and DNA sequences. We also present a new phylogeny for Scinax based on mitochondrial DNA genes 12S rRNA, Cytochrome Oxidase sub-unit I, Cytochrome B, 16S rRNA, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, and adjacent tRNAs. The new species, Scinax tsachila sp. nov. was previously confused with S. quinquefasciatus, a morphologically similar sympatric species. They differ by having markedly different advisement calls, distinct skin texture in the dorsum, and different bone coloration. The new species is sister to S. elaeochroa, a species that differs in advertisement call and color pattern. We provide an updated species account for Scinax quinquefasciatus and a redescription of its holotype.

Highlights

Genetic data have revealed the existence of many species of frogs that show little morphological differences
Scinax garbei is paraphyletic relative to S. proboscideus, a topology that suggests the existence of cryptic species within S. garbei
The new species differs from S. elaeochroa genetically, in coloration, and in advertisement call we provide an updated species account for S. quinquefasciatus and describe the new species

Summary

Introduction

Genetic data have revealed the existence of many species of frogs that show little morphological differences. This is especially true among Andean strabomantid frogs of the genus Pristimantis as shown by Duellman and Hedges [1,2], as well as in Amazonian hylids, where Caminer and Ron [3] showed that “Boana fasciata” contains up to 11 species. Genetic data revealed that the hemiphractid frog Gastrotheca monticola in northern Andean Peru was made up of three species that were genetically distinct but morphologically alike [4]. Fouquet et al [13] reported the existence of up to six undescribed species within Scinax ruber. Ferrão et al [14] reported that 82% of regional species richness of Scinax

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