Oreobates ibischi, (REICHLE ET AL., 2008

Padial, José M., Chaparro, Juan C. & Riva, Ignacio De La, 2008, Systematics of Oreobates and the Eleutherodactylus discoidalis species group (Amphibia, Anura), based on two mitochondrial DNA genes and external morphology, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152 (4), pp. 737-773 : 759

OREOBATES IBISCHI (REICHLE ET AL.,

2001) COMB. NOV.

Eleutherodactylus ibischi Reichle et al., 2001 ( Fig. 3H)

Eleutherodactylus ibischi Reichle, Lötters & De la Riva, 2001 . Holotype: CBF 3341 , by original designation. Type locality: ‘km 68.5 on Santa Cruz de la Sierra-Samaipata road, close to the village of Bermejo, Provincia Florida, Departamento Santa Cruz, Bolivia’, coordinates: 18°11′S, 63°34′W, approximately 750 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 4 ).

Diagnosis: A small Oreobates (SVL of adults, 31.3– 38.7 mm) characterized as follows: (1) skin on dorsum finely shagreened with some low, inconspicuous warts; venter smooth; posterior surfaces of limbs smooth; discoidal fold present; postrictal glands present; (2) tympanic membrane and annulus distinct, its length slightly more than two-thirds of the eye length; supratympanic fold weak; (3) head wider than long; snout round in dorsal view and lateral profile; canthus rostralis slightly convex, round; (4) cranial crests absent; upper eyelid tubercles absent; (5) dentigerous process of vomers medial and almost at the level of choanae; (6) males with vocal slits and a single faint nuptial pad; (7) hands with long and slender fingers, first finger longer than second; subarticular tubercles enlarged and subconical; supernumerary tubercles small, rounded; terminal discs of fingers I and II rounded, not enlarged, but with those of fingers III and IV markedly enlarged and ovate; lateral fringes and keels on fingers absent; (8) ulnar tubercles absent; (9) no tubercles on heel and tarsus; (10) inner metatarsal tubercle small, high, ovoid; outer more rounded, subequal; supernumerary tubercles round, small; (11) lateral fringes absent, webbing absent; fifth toe shorter than third; tips of toes scarcely enlarged, rounded, ungual flap not indented; (12) axillary gland present; (13) dorsal coloration cream to pale brown with dark brown to black spots and undefined marks, outlined by cream; in preservative, dorsal regions pinkish grey with undefined dark brown marks; venter immaculate.

Oreobates ibischi can be distinguished from O. choristolemma , O. cruralis , O. granulosus , O. lehri , O. madidi , O. quixensis , O. sanctaecrucis , O. sanderi , O. saxatilis , O. simmonsi , and O. zongoensis by having dorsal skin finely shagreened and enlarged, and ovate finger tips on fingers III and IV. O. ibischi can be easily distinguished from the most similar species ( O. discoidalis , O. heterodactylus , and O. cruralis ) by having a head wider than long. Moreover, O. discoidalis and O. heterodactylus have sharp, distinct canthus rostralis in frontal profile, whereas the canthus rostralis is round and indistinct in O. ibischi .

Remarks: The original description and diagnosis are accurate ( Reichle et al., 2001). Nevertheless, the authors mention that the dorsal skin is finely tuberculate, but following Lynch & Duellman’s (1997) terminology the dorsal skin of this species is finely shagreened with some low, inconspicuous warts. Moreover, Reichle et al. (2001) mention the absence of nuptial pads in males of O. ibischi , but re-examination of the adult holotype revealed single, white, glandular nuptial pads on the dorsal surface of each thumb. They distinguished this species from O. discoidalis on the basis of enlarged tips of fingers III and IV, but this character is present in both species ( O. discoidalis has more developed finger tips). In contrast, the presence of nuptial pads was mentioned for O. discoidalis , but we were not able to detect this structure in any adult male of O. discoidalis . Moreover, a diagnostic character provided by Reichle et al. (2001) that allows for the separation of O. cruralis from O. ibischi (TYL> 1/2EL) is not applicable for distinguishing O. ibischi from O. discoidalis , because both share a large tympanic membrane.

Distribution: Only known from the semideciduous forests of the type locality and a nearby locality in Central Bolivia (see Appendix and Figs 4 , 5 ). It is expected to occur in the semideciduous forests from Department Santa Cruz to Northern Argentina.

Figures

Figure 4. Type localities of members of Oreobates: (1) O. quixensis, San José de Moti, Prov. Napo, Ecuador; (2) O. simmonsi, Río Piuntza, 1830 m a.s.l., Cordillera del Cóndor, Prov. Morona-Santiago, Ecuador; (3) O. saxatilis, Ponga de Shilcayo, 470 m a.s.l., Department San Martín, Peru; (4) O. lehri, Apurimac River Valley, 2445 m a.s.l., Department Cusco, Peru; (5) O. granulosus, Santo Domingo, Carabaya, Department Puno, Peru, 1800 m a.s.l.; (6) O. madidi, Arroyo Huacataya, Serranía Eslabón, 1500 m a.s.l., Department La Paz, Bolivia; (7) O. sanderi, Arroyo Bilunto, Chunirumi Valley, 1800 m a.s.l., near Santa Cruz de Valle Ameno, Department La Paz, Bolivia; (8) O. zongoensis, Valle de Zongo, 1250 m a.s.l., Department La Paz, Bolivia; (9) O. choristolemma, Serranía de Bellavista c. 1000 m a.s.l., Department La Paz, Bolivia; (10) O. cruralis, Department La Paz, Bolivia, 4000 m a.s.l. (in error); (11) O. heterodactylus, gruta Facendinha, State Mato-Grosso, Brazil; (12) O. ibischi, km 68.5 on Santa Cruz de la Sierra-Samaipata road c. 750 m a.s.l., Department Santa Cruz, Bolivia; (13) O. sanctaecrucis, El Chapé, Department Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 2060 m a.s.l.; (14) O. discoidalis, Tucumán, Prov. Tucumán, Argentina.

Figure 5. Altitudinal distribution across habitat types of members of the genus Oreobates.