Abstract
The taxonomic status of the Andean toad Bufo poeppigii has been controversial since its description by Tschudi in the 19th Century, because of the similar appearance of the species with respect to Bufo marinus , and the fact that both species may occur together in some localities at the foot of the Andes. Bufo poeppigii is a valid species occurring on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes, at least from central Bolivia to northern Peru. It differs from B. marinus mainly by a less marked sexual dimorphism in size, smaller size, rugose skin always present in males, distribution of nuptial excrescences, and some features of the parotoid glands. The variability of B. marinus encompasses that of B. poeppigii ; thus, in some cases it is difficult to identify some specimens.
Highlights
Among the rich anuran fauna of the Andes are several species groups within the toad genus, Bufo
Whereas the Bufo veraguensis and Bufo spinulosus groups are endemic to the Andes, other, primarily lowland groups have some representatives on the Andean slopes and/or at the foot of the mountains (Duellman & Schulte, 1992)
1925, a species closely related to B. marinus and known from Argentina, southeastern and central Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, that reaches the foot of the Andes in some parts of Bolivia (De la Riva, 1990); B. paracnemis does not present any problem regarding its identification or taxonomic status; and 6) Bufo gallardoi Carrizo, 1992, described from Andean Argentina; the species-group allocation and putative distribution of B. gallardoi in Bolivia are doubtful (Harvey, 1997; De la Riva et al, 2000) and beyond the scope of this paper
Summary
Among the rich anuran fauna of the Andes are several species groups within the toad genus, Bufo. Whereas the Bufo veraguensis and Bufo spinulosus groups are endemic to the Andes, other, primarily lowland groups have some representatives on the Andean slopes and/or at the foot of the mountains (Duellman & Schulte, 1992). Examples of these groups are the B. 1925 (type locality: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil), a species closely related to B. marinus and known from Argentina, southeastern and central Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, that reaches the foot of the Andes in some parts of Bolivia (De la Riva, 1990); B. paracnemis does not present any problem regarding its identification or taxonomic status; and 6) Bufo gallardoi Carrizo, 1992, described from Andean Argentina (type locality: Monolito, 1700 m, Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina); the species-group allocation and putative distribution of B. gallardoi in Bolivia are doubtful (Harvey, 1997; De la Riva et al, 2000) and beyond the scope of this paper
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