Dendropsophus meridensis ( Rivero 1961 )

Barrio-Amorós, César L., Rojas-Runjaic, Fernando J. M. & Señaris, J. Celsa, 2019, Catalogue of the amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and annotated species list, distribution, and conservation, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 180) 13 (1), pp. 1-198 : 74

Dendropsophus meridensis ( Rivero 1961) *

Holotype: MCZ 2527 .

Type locality: “ Mérida, 1,630 m.”

Distribution: Region 1. Cordillera de Mérida (Venezuelan Andes) in Mérida and Táchira States (see current map by Armesto et al. 2015).

Remarks: So far, differences between Dendropsophus meridensis and D. pelidnus are almost nonexistent or insignificant. Dendropsophus meridensis is known to inhabit stagnant waters, but specimens of D. pelidnus that Duellman (1989) obtained in Tachira were from a stream. Guarnizo et al. (2012) found a maximum genetic distance of 0.9% between central Cordillera de Mérida specimens and others from near the type locality of D. pelidnus , which is not significant. Aside from this molecular evidence, calls and morphology should be compared between these populations before proposing a synonymy. Armesto et al. (2015) provide an updated distribution map and model of potential distribution in the Venezuelan Andes. If D. pelidnus is a junior synonym of D. meridensis , then the latter would be present in Colombia.

Selected references: Rivero (1961, 1963b, 1964d); Duellman (1989a); Mijares-Urrútia (1990b); La Marca (1991b “1994,” 1992); Guarnizo et al. (2012); Armesto et al. (2015).