Phrynopus vestigiatus, Lehr, Edgar & Oróz, Anahí, 2012

Lehr, Edgar & Oróz, Anahí, 2012, Two new species of Phrynopus (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera de Carpish in central Peru (Departamento de Huánuco), Zootaxa 3512, pp. 53-63 : 59-62

Phrynopus vestigiatus sp. nov.

( Figs. 4–5 )

Holotype. MUSM 29542 ( Figs. 4–5 ), an adult, gravid female, collected at Cordillera de Carpish , San Pedro de Carpish , Predio Unamachay (09°42.82''S, 76°04.98'''W), at 3100 m elevation, Distrito de Chinchao, Provincia and Departamento de Huánuco, Peru, on 27 October 2010 by Anahí Oróz and David Geale.

Diagnosis. A species of Phrynopus having the following combination of characters: (1) Skin on dorsum shagreen with small scattered tubercles, and larger elongated tubercles forming X-shaped ridge on occipital region, and a Y-shaped middorsal ridge with its open end facing caudally; skin on venter areolate; discoidal and thoracic folds absent; prominent undulated dorsolateral fold, discontinuous towards its posterior end; short postocular fold from posterior margin of upper eyelid to level of insertion of arm; (2) tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus absent; (3) snout truncate in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view; (4) upper eyelid with enlarged tubercles; width of upper eyelid narrower than IOD; cranial crests absent; (5) dentigerous processes of vomers minute; (6) males unknown; (7) Finger I shorter than Finger II; tips of digits narrowly rounded, slightly pointed; (8) fingers with lateral fringes; (9) ulnar and tarsal tubercles present; (10) heel with minute tubercles; inner tarsal fold absent; (11) inner metatarsal tubercle ovoid, about twice as larger as rounded outer metatarsal tubercle; supernumerary plantar tubercles absent; (12) toes with lateral fringes; basal webbing absent; Toe V and Toe III about equal in length; toe tips narrowly rounded, slightly pointed, about as large as those on fingers; (13) in life, dorsum creamish brown with Y-, and X-shaped ridges, and postocular fold dark brown, venter dark brown with white spots, groin dark brown with red blotches; (14) SVL in single female 18.8 mm.

Phrynopus vestigiatus is readily distinguished from its congeners by having the dorsum with a X-shaped ridge on occipital region, and a Y-shaped middorsal ridge, prominent undulated dorsolateral folds, and a brown groin with red blotches.

Furthermore, Phrynopus vestigiatus is distinguished from those species of Phrynopus (auriculatus, montium, peruanus ) that have a tympanum (absent in P. vestigiatus ).

Few species of Phrynopus have dorsolateral folds and dentigerous processes of vomers. Those are P. dagmarae , P. interstinctus , P. kotosh , and P. vestigiatus . Phrynopus vestigiatus can be easily distinguished from the latter ones by having the dorsolateral folds undulated (not undulated in dagmarae , interstinctus , kotosh ), and the occipital region with a X-shaped ridge, short postocular folds, and a middorsal Y-shaped ridge (ridges, and postocular folds absent in dagmarae , interstinctus , kotosh ). The only other species of Phrynopus that has dorsal ridges is P. n i c o l e a e from the Puna of Santa Bárbara of the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park. Phrynopus vestigiatus differs from P. nicoleae in having dorsolateral folds (absent in P. n i c o l e a e), in having occipital region with a X-shaped ridge, short postocular folds, and a middorsal Y-shaped ridge (only a X-shaped ridge present in P. nicoleae ), upper eyelids with enlarged tubercle (small tubercles), groin black with red blotches (groin tan with bluish white spots and one orange spot), and belly dark brown with white spots (bluish gray with dense brown reticulations).

Phrynopus vestigiatus shares with seven other species of Phrynopus ( bracki , dagmarae , heimorum , interstinctus , nicoleae , paucari, peruanus ) an aposematic coloration consisting of red, orange, salmon or flesh colored blotches in the groin. However, none of which has the dorsum with X- and Y-shaped ridges. Phrynopus interstinctus differs from P. tribulosus from the Cordillera Yanachaga in lacking a single subconical tubercle on the heel (present in P. tribulosus ), in lacking a row of subconical tubercles on the outer edge of the tarsus (present in P. tribulosus ), and by having a brown dorsum (green in P. tribulosus ).

Three other species of Phrynopus have been recorded from the Cordillera de Carpish . Those are P. dagmarae , P. horstpauli , and P. interstinctus .

Phrynopus dagmarae differs from P. vestigiatus in having the dorsum tuberculate (shagreen with small scattered tubercles in P. vestigiatus ), in having broad dark brown canthal and supratympanic stripes (narrow, ill defined in P. vestigiatus ), and in lacking X- and Y-shaped ridges on the dorsum (present). Phrynopus horstpauli and P. vestigiatus have the dorsolateral folds discontinuous, but females of P. horstpauli are much larger (SVL to 39.7 mm vs. 18.8 mm in P. vestigiatus, Lehr et al. 2000 ), and the venter pale gray with grayish-brown blotches (dark brown with white spots). Phrynopus interstinctus has continuous, not undulated dorsolateral folds (discontinuous, undulated in P. vestigiatus ), dorsum without ridges (ridges present), and the venter black with white blotches and flecks (dark brown with minute white spots).

Description of the holotype. Head narrower than body, wider than long, HW 110% of HL; HW 35.1% of SVL; HL 35.6% of SVL; snout short, truncate in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view, ( Figs. 4 A, B), E-N slightly larger than ED; nostrils slightly protuberant, directed dorsolaterally; canthus rostralis straight in dorsal view, rounded in profile; loreal region slightly concave, nearly vertical; lips rounded; upper eyelid each with an enlarged, conical tubercle at its posterior end; EW about half the size of IOD (EW 47.84% of IOD); supratympanic fold short and broad, extending straight from posterior corner of eye to level of jaw articulation, barely distinguishable from surrounding tubercles; tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus absent; three conical postrictal tubercles on each side. Choanae small, ovoid, not concealed by palatal shelf of maxilla; dentigerous processes of vomers minute, oblique; tongue ovoid, slightly longer than wide, not notched posteriorly, posterior one half free.

Skin on dorsum shagreen with small scattered tubercles, and larger elongated tubercles forming a X-shaped ridge on occipital region, and a middorsal Y-shaped ridge with its open end facing caudally; prominent undulated dorsolateral fold (not discernible in preservative), extending from posterior margin of upper eyelid to sacral region, discontinuous towards its posterior end; skin on flanks tuberculate; skin on throat smooth, skin on chest, and belly weakly areolate; discoidal fold absent, thoracic fold present; cloacal sheath not discernible; large tubercles absent in cloacal region. Outer surface of forearm with minute tubercles; outer and inner palmar tubercles low, barely discernible in preservative, outer bifid about twice the size of inner, ovoid palmar tubercle; supernumerary tubercles indistinct; subarticular tubercles low, ovoid in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view; fingers with lateral fringes; Finger I shorter than Finger II; tips of digits rounded, slightly pointed, lacking marginal grooves.

Hind limbs slender, moderate, TL 42 % of SVL; FL 46.8% of SVL; upper surface of hind limbs shagreen with small, scattered tubercles; posterior and ventral surfaces of thighs areolate; heel each with small tubercles and one enlarged conical tubercle at its middle; outer surface of tarsus with minute tubercles; inner metatarsal tubercle ovoid, about three times larger as rounded outer metatarsal tubercle; supernumerary plantar tubercles indistinct; subarticular tubercles low, ovoid in dorsal view; toes with lateral fringes; basal webbing absent; toe tips rounded, lacking marginal grooves, about as large as those on fingers; relative lengths of toes: 1 <2 <3 = 5 <4; toes of left foot (accidentally) cut off and not available as tissues.

Measurements (in mm) of holotype: SVL 18.8; TL 7.9; FL 8.8; HL 6.7; HW 6.6; ED 1.6; IOD 2.3; EW 1.1; IND 1.9; E-N 1.7.

Coloration of holotype in life ( Fig. 4 ): Dorsum creamish brown with dark brown flecks and dark brown Xshaped ridge, postocular folds, and a middorsal Y-shaped ridge, dorsolateral folds pale creamish brown; dorsal surfaces of forearms and hind legs dark brown, angel of tarsus creamish brown; ill defined dark brown canthal and supratympanic; flanks colored as dorsum, slightly darker; groin dark brown on each side with a large red blotch and three smaller blotches above ( Figs. 4 B, C); throat, chest, belly, and extremities dark brown with white spots; iris copper with fine black reticulations.

Coloration of holotype in preservative ( Fig. 5 ): As described above with pale creamish coloration being white, and red coloration being white; posterior surfaces of thighs and concealed surfaces of shanks dark brown with white blotches; axilla black with a white fleck; iris gray.

Etymology. The specific name vestigiatus is derived from the Latin noun vestigium meaning footstep, footprint, track. It refers to the contrasting groin coloration consisting of a large red blotch and three smaller red blotches on a dark brown background reminding us of a footprint.

Distribution, ecology, and threat status. Phrynopus vestigiatus is only known from the type locality at 3100 m elevation. The specimen was found during day within moss in a primary humid montane forest characterized by the presence of plants of the families Myrthaceae, Clusiaceae , Cunnoniaceae, Ericaceae , Asteraceae , as well as the presence of the bamboo species Chusquea scandens . The area is little disturbed, but observed human activities include logging for firewood. The species was found sympatrically with Phrynopus dagmarae , Cochranella sp., and Rhinella chavin . Based on the small geographic range of distribution and fragmentation of the habitat, we assume that Phrynopus vestigiatus is threatened. However, we refuse to assign an IUCN red list category because of the data deficiency of the distribution of this species.

Remarks. The assignment of the two new species of Phrynopus are based on the structure of the digital discs that lack circumferential groves as well as the overall morphological similarity both share with the members of the genus. Phrynopus have a cryptic mode of life restricted to the leaf litter, moss layers, and consequently are difficult to find except for those species that are arboreal at night (e.g., Phrynopus horstpauli, Lehr et al. 2000 ). This contributes to the fact that the type series of most Phrynopus contain few individuals, or often just the holotype (e.g., Chaparro et al. 2008, this paper). A limited number of type specimens complicates species description as some characters or character states may not be observed (e.g., absence of male characters, or range of SVL for females). However, based on the distinct diagnostic characters both species have, and the high degree of regional endemism which is known for Phrynopus , we feel confident in describing the two new species. The description of both species was facilitated by the availability of numerous digital photos taken in the field of the entire type series.

Additional new species of Phrynopus will be described by Lehr and colleagues, Venegas, and Chaparro from the department of Pasco in the near future. The currently known 23 species are allocated to the departments of La Libertad (1 species), Huánuco (10), Pasco (9), and Junín (4). The high species diversity in the departments of Huánuco and Pasco is likely the result of intense field work in this area over the past 20 years, and the number of species in other regions most likely increases if more fieldwork is dedicated to high Andean habitats with search affords focussed on Phrynopus .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Holotype of Phrynopus vestigiatus in life (MUSM 29542, female, SVL 18.8 mm) in dorsal (A), lateral (B), and ventral (C) views. Photos by A. Oróz.

FIGURE 5. Holotype of Phrynopus vestigiatus in preservative in dorsal (A), and ventral (B) views. Photos by E. Lehr.