Specific Status of the Honduran Frogs Formerly Referred to Plectrohyla teuchestes (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract

-A new species of Plectrohyla, previously identified as P teuchestes, is described from Parque Nacional El Cusuco in northwestern Honduras. Adults of the new species differ from those of P teuchestes in snout shape, size, and several features of color in life. Several differences in tadpole morphology also exist between the two species. Plectrohyla teuchestes was described by Duellman and Campbell (1992; type locality: Finca Los Alpes, Departamento Alta Verapaz, Guatemala). These authors also assigned a series of frogs and tadpoles collected by us at El Cusuco, Departamento de Cortes, Honduras, to that speces. Subsequently, we have collected additional adults and tadpoles of this frog from this locality on Cerro Cusuco. Mario Espinal also has made available to us additional adults that he recently collected in Parque Nacional El Cusuco. Comparison of the Honduran material to four paratypes and one lot of tadpoles of P teuchestes from the type locality convinces us that the Honduran population represents an undescribed speces. A description of this new species is provided below. MATERIALS AND METHODS All measurements were made to the nearest 0.1 mm with dial calipers under a dissecting microscope. Abbreviations used are SVL (snoutvent length), SHL (shank length), FL (foot length; distance from proximal edge of inner metatarsal tubercle to tip of longest toe), HL (head length; tip of snout to angle of jaw), HW (greatest width of head), EW (width of upper eyelid), IOD (interorbital distance; measured at midlength of upper eyelid), TPL (tympanum length), EL (eye length), and DW (third finger disc width). Two male (KU 64101-02) and two female (KU 64099, 64103) paratypes and one tadpole lot (KU 68522) of Plectrohyla teuchestes were examined for comparative purposes. Some data used in the Diagnosis concerning P teuchestes were taken from Duellman and Campbell (1992), as were all such data for P acanthodes and P pokomchi. Color names and numbers for color in life descriptions refer to those in Smithe (1975). Tadpole stages refer to those of Gosner (1960).