Fifty years after: A taxonomic revision of the amphibian species from the Ecuadorian biodiversity hotspot Abra de Zamora, with description of two new Pristimantis species.

Paul Székely,Juan Sebastián Eguiguren,Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado,Diego Armijos-Ojeda,Diana Székely,Stefan Lötters

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0238306

Abstract

Abra de Zamora is an important biodiversity hotspot in southern Ecuador. Between 1938 and 2010, eleven species of frogs were described from here: Lynchius flavomaculatus, Gastrotheca psychrophila, Pristimantis balionotus, P. colodactylus, P. cryptomelas, P. percultus, P. versicolor, P. vidua, Telmatobius cirrhacelis, P. andinognomus, and Atelopus podocarpus. Unfortunately, many of these species were not re-encountered after their original description, and for the majority DNA samples were not available, making their phylogenetic position unknown. In this study, we assess the current state of the amphibians from Abra de Zamora, by: i. redescribing the species which were first reported from the area, by contributing genetic delimitation (for L. flavomaculatus, P. balionotus, P. colodactylus, P. percultus, and P. vidua), release call (L. flavomaculatus) and advertisement call descriptions (for P. balionotus, P. vidua and P. versicolor); ii. presenting an updated amphibian species list of Abra de Zamora, with the description of two additional Pristimantis species; iii. updating the distribution of these species, including data collected in similar montane habitats from surrounding areas; and iv. amending recommendations regarding their conservation status.

Highlights

Despite its small size, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries [1], showing the highest density of species in the case of amphibians [2] and reptiles [3], as well as a remarkable proportion of endemic species [4]
Pristimantis balionotus is currently categorized as Endangered [54] based on criteria B1 ab(iii). We suggest maintaining this category because its Extent of occurrence (EOO) and Area of occupancy (AOO) are estimated to be less than 30 km2, it is known from only two locations, with part of its populations found outside protected areas which could be severely affected in the near future by habitat destruction
Already in 1979, Lynch [9] observed the similarity between P. vidua and P. orestes and hypothesized a close relationship; this was later recognized as a distinct assemblage in 1997 by Lynch and Duellman [59], composed by three Ecuadorian species (P. orestes, P. simonbolivari and P. vidua)

Summary

Introduction

Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries [1], showing the highest density of species (number of species per area unit) in the case of amphibians [2] and reptiles [3], as well as a remarkable proportion of endemic species [4]. The term Abra is used in orography to refer to the depression in a line of mountain peaks, which generally, for logistical reasons, is used to build the roads that cross the mountain range [10]; this is the case of the road connecting two Ecuadorian cities from the tropical Andean region, Loja and Zamora. This name was not used by the local residents, who refer to the area between the two provinces closer to Loja as “El Tiro” (the Tiro Pass), and to the lower parts, close to El Tambo sector as “Los Trigales” (the Wheat Fields).

Ethics statement

Results

Discussion