Niceforonia sp.

Reyes-Puig 1,2, Juan Pablo, Reyes-Puig 1,3,4, Carolina, Franco-Mena 5,6, Daniela, Jost 2, Lou & Yanez-Munoz 1,2, Mario H., 2022, Strong differentiation between amphibian communities on two adjacent mountains in the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed of Ecuador, with descriptions of two new species of terrestrial frogs, ZooKeys 1081, pp. 35-87 : 35

Niceforonia sp.

Figure 14

Remarks.

These records correspond to a candidate new species; this is a new terrestrial frog very different from the Niceforonia elassodisca expected to be found in the region. Two female specimens (DHMECN 14417-14418) with body sizes of 16.36 mm to 16.95 mm, one male individual (DHMECN 14419) with body size of 19.15 mm and one immature specimen (DHMECN 14488) with body size of 12.73 mm, were collected between dry leaves of Clusia and bulrush in the leaf-litter in montane forest of the Machay Reserve between 2480 and 2960 m elevation. Its uniformly cream-coloured ventral pattern clearly distinguishes it from H. elassodisca . Niceforonia elassodisca has a dark venter and no defined subocular and supratimpanic cantal bands, while Niceforonia sp. has a defined subocular and supratimpanic cantal band, as well as a dark brown anal ornamentation.

Figures

Figure 14. Niceforonia sp. Up row female (DHMECN 14418), lower row male (DHMECN 14419). A, B Male dorsal and lateral view C, D Female Dorsal and lateral view. Photographs by Mario H. Yanez-Munoz.