A new species of terrestrial-breeding frog (Amphibia, Craugastoridae, Pristimantis) from high elevations of the Pui Pui Protected Forest in central Peru

Edgar Lehr, Rudolf von May

Research output: Journal ArticleArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We describe a new species of Pristimantis from upper montane forests and high Andean grasslands of the Pui Pui Protected Forest and its close surroundings, Región Junín, central Peru. The description of the new species is based on 34 specimens found at elevations between 3400 and 3936 m a.s.l. Pristimantisattenboroughi sp. n. is characterized by a snout–vent length of 14.6–19.2 mm in adult males (n = 21), 19.2–23.0 mm in adult females (n = 10), and is compared morphologically and genetically with other taxonomically and biogeographically relevant species of Pristimantis . The new species is characterized by having narrow digits that lack circumferential grooves, irregularly shaped, discontinuous dorsolateral folds, and absence of both tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus. The high similarity in morphology between P.attenboroughi sp. n. and members of the Andean genera Phrynopus and Bryophryne provides an example for convergent evolution, and highlights the importance of using molecular data to justify generic assignment. Pristimantisattenboroughi sp. n. is most similar to Phrynopuschaparroi from the Región Junín, suggesting that the generic placement of this species needs to be revised. Phylogenetically the new species belongs to the Pristimantisdanae species Group, a clade that includes several Pristimantis species distributed in the montane forests of central Peru, including P.albertus , P.aniptopalmatus , P.ornatus , and P.stictogaster .
Original languageAmerican English
JournalZooKeys
Volume660
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Andes
  • DNA barcoding
  • Pristimantis attenboroughi new species
  • Puna
  • frogs
  • molecular phylogeny
  • montane forest

Disciplines

  • Life Sciences
  • Animal Sciences
  • Zoology
  • Biology

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