New Species Of Eleutherodactylus Research Articles

A NEW ELEUTHERODACTYLUS (ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE) FROM MARAHUAKA TEPUI, AMAZONAS, VENEZUELA

New species of Eleutherodactylus of the unistrigatus species group is described from the summit of Cerro Marahuaka, Estado Amazonas, Venezuela. The new species is easily distinguished from other southern Venezuelan Eleutherodactylus by its indistinct tympanum, absence of calcars, indistinct metatarsal tubercles, smooth dorsal skin, weak fringes on fingers and toes, lack of basal webbing, iris colour pattern and overall body coloration. A historical resumé of southern Venezuelan Eleutherodactylus is provided.

A novel species of piping frog Eleutherodactylus (Anura, Eleutherodactylidae) from southern Mexico

We describe a new species of Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus) from Guerrero, Mexico, based on morphological and molecular data, as well as advertisement call analysis. Eleutherodactylus franzisp. nov. has unique features including widely expanded fingertips, indistinct, but visible lumbo-inguinal glands, an immaculate white venter and dark reticulations on a cream dorsal background colouration. The new species belongs to the Eleutherodactylus nitidus species group. Eleutherodactylus franzisp. nov. is micro-endemic, restricted to a small range in karstic hillsides on the southern extreme of the Mexican Transverse Ranges. We discuss conservation needs of this species, which we provisionally classify as Critically Endangered.

Two new species of Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus) from western Mexico.

We describe two new species of Eleutherodactylus, subgenus Syrrhophus, from two separate mountain ranges in western Mexico. Eleutherodactylus grunwaldi sp. nov. inhabits the Sierra de Manantlán in Colima and Jalisco from 1300 to 2200 m, whereas E. wixarika sp. nov. is known from a single locality in the Sierra Huichola of northern Jalisco at 2400 m, but is probably more widespread. Eleutherodactylus grunwaldi is readily distinguishable from most members of mainland Syrrhophus by a combination of its large size, broad, truncate digital pads more than three times the narrowest part of the digit, and a black and green marbled color pattern. This species is saxicolous, inhabiting limestone outcrops, and has been found in caves during the dry season. Eleutherodactylus wixarika is a moderate sized species, most similar to E. teretistes, E. pallidus and E. modestus. It is distinguished from all other members of the subgenus by the combination a tuberculate, reddish dorsum, lack of compact lumbar glands, and expanded digital pads less than twice the width of the narrowest part of the digit. This species inhabits areas with secondary vegetation in pine forest. Males of both species call at night during the rainy season. The advertisement call of both species consists of a short, narrow band, pure-tone note organized into a discrete train at a rate of about six times per minute. Spectral and temporal acoustic properties differ between species. The subgenus Syrrhophus of the genus Eleutherodactylus is one of the most poorly studied groups of frogs in Mexico but probably one of the most diverse.

A new species of palustrine Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Puerto Rico

We describe adult morphology, advertisement call, and natural history diagnostic of a new species of Eleutherodactylus from a fresh water (palustrine) herbaceous wetland of northern coastal Puerto Rico. The new species is apparently the smallest Puerto Rican Eleutherodactylus and is morphologically most similar to E. gryllus, which inhabits high-elevation humid forests and cloud forests. Although both species have well-developed glands throughout the body, morphological ratios, body coloration, frequency of calls, call structure, and habitat association indicate that it is a well-differentiated species. The new species and E. gryllus may have diverged from an ancestral wetland-dwelling species.

Two new species of the genus Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Valle de Sibundoy, Putumayo, Colombia

Two new species of Eleutherodactylus from the Valle de Sibundoy, Putumayo, Colombia, are described. These species can be distinguished easily from similar species by external morphology and by their distinctive coloration patterns. This report demonstrates that southwestern Colombia continues to be one of the least studied regions in terms of its amphibian fauna.

A new species of the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from the lowland rainforest canopy of Yasuni National Park, Amazonian Ecuador

A new species of Eleutherodactylus from the lowland rainforest canopy in northeastern Amazonian Ecuador is described. It is placed in the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage of the greater unistrigatus group. It is most similar to the sympatric species Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus, but differs by the lack of a papilla at the tip of the snout, tubercles on upper eyelids, tubercles on dorsum, dorsal markings, and larger body size, and the presence of lateral fringes on the fingers and a tarsal fold. The new species inhabits tank bromeliads in the upper strata of the rainforest canopy at heights of 23.5-38.0 m. The effects of implementation of canopy surveys on biological diversity are briefly discussed.

A NEW SPECIES OF FROG OF THE ELEUTHERODACTYLUS LACRIMOSUS ASSEMBLAGE (LEPTODACTYLIDAE) FROM THE WESTERN AMAZON BASIN, WITH COMMENTS ON THE UTILITY OF CANOPY SURVEYS IN LOWLAND RAINFOREST

We describe a new species of Eleutherodactylus from the lowlands of the western Amazon Basin. The new species is referred to the Eleutherodactylus unistrigatus group, lacrimosus assemblage. It differs from other members of the group by having a dorsal olive-green coloration with an interorbital creamy yellow stripe that extends posterolaterally and reaches the level of the sacrum, and low ulnar and tarsal tubercles. The new species inhabits western Amazon tropical rainforests and has been found in arboreal bromeliads by day and on vegetation by night. We discuss the effect of lack of sampling in the forest canopy in our understanding of tropical amphibian communities. Based on work conducted at two localities in Ecuadorian Amazonia, we find that even limited sampling effort in the canopy can greatly improve efficiency of biological inventories.

NEW SPECIES OF ELEUTHERODACTYLUS (ANURA: LEPTODACTYLIDAE) FROM THE EASTERN ANDES OF CENTRAL PERU WITH COMMENTS ON CENTRAL PERUVIAN ELEUTHERODACTYLUS

Four new species of Eleutherodactylus are described from montane forests at elevations of 1330–3000 m in the Cordillera Oriental in the central Peruvian Departamentos Huánuco, Junín and Pasco, Three of the new species are assigned to the Eleutherodactylus unistrigatus Group. Two of them lack a tympanum, but have distinct colorations and iris patterns: one has the groin and hind limbs partly orange to red and the iris with a brown vertical and black horizontal streak forming a cross, whereas the other has the groin and hind limbs partly yellow and the iris with a brown horizontal streak and a black vertical streak from the pupil to the lower margin of the eye forming a “T”. The third species, assigned to the Eleutherodactylus conspicillatus Group, is similar to E. rhabdolaemus, but differs from that in certain morphological characters and coloration. The fourth species, assigned to the E. lacrimosus assemblage, has a yellowish-tan dorsum with dark brownish-purple blotches and streaks and white flanks and venter. It inhabits terrestrial bromeliads and is compared with E. schultei from northern Peru. Morphological and distributional data are provided for seven previously described Eleutherodactylus from central Peru. The elevational distributions of Andean Eleutherodactylus, Phyllonastes, and Phrynopus from central Peru is compared.

A New Species of Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Darién Province, Panama

A new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from the Serrania de Pirre, Darien Province, Panama. This species is similar to Eleutherodactylus altae and Eleutherodactylus pardalis, but can be differentiated by the lack of red or white spots on groin and limbs.

A NEW SPECIES OF ELEUTHERODACTYLUS (ANURA: LEPTODACTYLIDAE) FROM THE NORTHWESTERN LOWLANDS OF ECUADOR

A new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from the lowlands of northwestern Ecuador. The new species is a small frog (snout–vent length <23 mm) characterized by: expanded and spadate disc cover on some fingers (usually III and IV) and most toes (usually III–V); bifid palmar tubercle; and brown dorsum with dark brown W-shaped scapular mark. A detailed osteological description of the new species is provided. Some of the osteological characters include relatively large nasals, small sphenethmoid, eight procoelous presacral vertebrae, manus with six carpal elements, and pes with four tarsal elements. A small portion of the frontoparietal fontanelle is exposed between the frontoparietals. Although the new species is small, there is no loss of skull bones and phalangeal elements.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF FROGS (LEPTODACTYLIDAE: ELEUTHERODACTYLUS) FROM THE HIGH ANDES OF NORTHERN ECUADOR

We describe two new species of Eleutherodactylus that are hypothesized to belong to the E. orcesi Group. Both species are found in Andean habitats of northern Ecuador at elevations above 3000 m. The presence of an anteriorly exposed frontoparietal fontanelle distinguishes the two new species from most other members of the genus, in which the frontoparietal fontanelle is covered by frontoparietal bones. Additionally, both species have fingers and toes with fleshy lateral fringes, and vomerine teeth reduced or absent. The new species differ from one another mostly by tuberculation and coloration patterns.

A New Species of Frog from the Sierra Maestra, Cuba (Leptodactylidae, Eleutherodactylus)

A new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from the upper elevations of the Sierra Maestra in eastern Cuba. It is a common and widespread species that calls from arboreal sites and is very similar, morphologically, to the common lowland species E. auriculatus. However, the two species occur sympatrically at intermediate elevations in the Sierra Maestra and have distinctive calls. ABSTRACT.-A new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from the upper elevations of the Sierra Maestra in eastern Cuba. It is a common and widespread species that calls from arboreal sites and is very similar, morphologically, to the common lowland species E. auriculatus. However, the two species occur sympatrically at intermediate elevations in the Sierra Maestra and have distinctive calls.

A new species of rainfrog of the Eleutherodactylus diastema group from the Alta Talamanca Region of Costa Rica

AbstractA new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from southeastern Costa Rica. It is a member of the Eleutherodactylus diastema group characterized by a vivid pattern of dark spots on a yellow-orange ground color and features of digital disk morphology.

A New Species of Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Lowland Rainforests of Amazonian Ecuador, with Notes on the Eleutherodactylus frater Assembly

A new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from the Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador. It is distinguished by bright red leg coloration in life, an acuminate snout in dorsal view, a partially concealed tympanum, a smooth dorsum, absence of a canthal stripe, and absence of labial bars anterior to the snout. The new species is most closely related to E. ockendeni and E. taeniatus, and all three species are members of the E. frater assembly. The defining characters and species roster of the E. frater assembly are discussed. The Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve is located on the Rio Napo in the lowland rainforests of Amazonian Ecuador. Intensive study of the her- petofauna of the reserve has revealed 15 de- scribed and at least two undescribed species of Eleutherodactylus. Herein we describe a distinc- tive new species distinguished by the conspic- uous red color of its legs in life. In the species account that follows, methods are after Flores (1987) except that the numerical diagnostic statement (as per Lynch and Duell- man, 1980) is placed in the definition section. Osteological descriptions are based on charac- ters in Flores (1984). Abbreviations employed

A New Marsh-Dwelling Species of Eleutherodactylus from Haiti (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

A new species of leptodactylid frog (Eleutherodactylus) is described from a coastal mangrove marsh at the distal end of the Tiburon Peninsula in Haiti. It is a member of the bakeri series of the subgenus Euhyas, and is distinguished by its high-frequency call and unique reticulate skin texture. Direct development and thus, the ability to lay eggs on land far from any water source, almost certainly played a large part in the enor- mous radiation of the leptodactylid frog genus Eleutherodactylus (approx. 500 spp.). The rela- tively few species that have reinvaded aquatic niches usually occur along small upland streams; none is known to regularly inhabit coastal swamps or marshes with standing water. Hence, we were surprised to encounter a new species of Eleutherodactylus in a coastal marsh dominat- ed by red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) at the distal (western) end of the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. MATERIALS AND METHODS The following abbreviations are used: EL, eye length; EN eye-naris distance; FTW, fingertip (III) width; HL, head length; HW, head width; kHz, kilohertz; SHL, shank length; SVL, snout- vent length; THL, thigh length; and TYM, tym- panum width. Museum abbreviations follow standardized usage (Copeia 1985:802-832). Measurements were taken with digital calipers (0.01 mm accuracy) and live weights were taken with a Pesola spring scale (0.01 g accuracy). Calls were recorded with a Sony TCM 5000 recorder and Electrovoice 635A microphone. Call anal- yses were made with a Digital Sona-Graph 7800 and Kay Sona-Graph 7900 printer. Terminology for call parameters follows Duellman and Trueb (1986).

Two New Species of Eleutherodactylus from Southwestern Colombia and the Proposal of a New Species Group (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)

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Three New Species of Eleutherodactylus from Eastern Cuba, with Notes on Vocalizations of Other Species (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Three new arboreal species of Eleutherodactylus are described from upland regions of eastern Cuba. Eleutherodactylus guantanamera is relatively widespread in Guantanamo Prov- ince and also occurs in Santiago de Cuba Province, E. mariposa is known only from the type- locality on the Meseta del Guaso (Guantinamo Province), and E. melacara is known only from Pico Turquino in Santiago de Cuba Province. Two of these species, E. guantanamera and E. melacara represent the first bromeliad specialists known from Cuba, and they possess a head shape and eye orientation found in other bromeliad-dwelling species. Call and chromosome variation are discussed for all 10 members of this arboreal subgenus in Cuba. THE grandiose frog genus Eleuthero- dactylus (>500 species) is represented in the West Indies by two large and wide- spread subgenera, Euhyas (80 species) and Eleutherodactylus (44 species), and one small subgenus (Pelorius; six species) on Hispaniola (Hedges, 1989). Molecular ev- idence suggests that the divergence of the two large subgenera occurred in the late Cretaceous or early Cenozoic (Hass and Hedges, 1991). Although members of each subgenus have invaded a wide range of ecological niches, these two groups can be characterized by their predominant eco- logical habits. Species in the subgenus Eu- hyas usually occupy terrestrial niches and commonly are found close to the ground or on rocks. West Indian species of the subgenus Eleutherodactylus nearly always

A New Species of Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Pacific Slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes, with Comments on the E. devillei Assembly

Eleutherodactylus alberchi, new species, is described from the cloud forests of the Pacific slopes of the Andes of Ecuador. It is distinguished by the combination of a concealed tympanum, low interocular fold, fairly sharp canthus rostralis, absence of vocal slits and vocal sac in males, gray testes with interspersed black chromatophores in males, presence of inguinal glands, boldly-patterned concealed surfaces, and a dark maroon venter with gray blotches and speckling in life. The new species is a member of the unistrigatus group, and appears to be closely allied to the devillei assembly. The relationships of E. alberchi and E. thymalopsoides Lynch are discussed.

A New Ovoviviparous Frog, Eleutherodactylus jasperi (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae), from Puerto Rico

A new species of Eleutherodactylus was discovered in southwestern Puerto Rico. This species is the first New World anuran reported to be ovoviviparous. E. jasperi is an obligate bromeliad-dwelling species, restricted to a small area with dense bromeliad growth. It is distinguished from all other Puerto Rican Eleutherodactylus by color and lack of prevomerine teeth. Metamorphosed embryos, prior to birth, are located in a distended section of the reproductive tract. Three to six eggs mature at a time, and gravid females have been found from April to August.

Eleutherodactylus gualteri, a New Species from the Organ Mountains of Brazil

A new species of Eleutherodactylus is described from rain-forest habitats of the Organ Mountains of Brazil.