Rhaebo atelopoides ( Lynch & Ruíz-Carranza 1981 ) Lynch & Ruiz-Carranza, 1981

Ron, Santiago R., Mueses-Cisneros, Jonh Jairo, Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, Paul David Alfonso, Rojas-Rivera, Alejandra, Lynch, Ryan L., Duarte Rocha, Carlos F. & Galarza, Gabriela, 2015, Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae): phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo, Zootaxa 3947 (3), pp. 347-366 : 354-355

Rhaebo atelopoides ( Lynch & Ruíz-Carranza 1981) new combination

( Fig. 4 F)

Bufo atelopoides Lynch & Ruíz-Carranza 1981 . Holotype: ICN 0 6373, by original designation. Type locality: Quebrada Sopladero, Parque Nacional Natural de Munchique, road from Uribe to La Gallera (ca. km. 54), western slope of Cordillera Occidental, Departamento del Cauca, Colombia; 2190 m.

Andinophryne atelopoides ( Hoogmoed 1985)

Diagnosis. A medium sized bufonid (SVL 41.2–42.3 mm in males, females unknown) characterized by the absence of enlarged cephalic crests, short and rounded parotoids, extensive webbing on the toes and flanks with a row of medium sized tubercles connecting the parotoid gland with the groin. The color of its skin secretions and the size of testicles are unknown.

Comparisons with other species. Rhaebo atelopoides is most similar to R. colomai and R. olallai , species that also have extensive webbing in the toes. It differs from both species by the presence of light dorsal marks (yellowish green in life; Fig. 4 F). Short and rounded parotoid glands are also distinctive (elongated in R. colomai and R. olallai ). It further differs from R. colomai in having a weakly truncated snout in profile (slightly projected in R. colomai ).

Description. Based on two adult males. A medium sized bufonid, SVL in males 41.2 and 42.3 mm (n = 2); females unknown. Head narrower than body, slightly wider than long, head width is 104.4% of head length and 47.4% of SVL; head length is 45.7% of SVL; head subacuminate in dorsal view, weakly truncated in profile; vertical fleshy fold at rostrum tip; distance between nostril and tip of the snout 73.5–75.7% of the distance from the nostril to the eye; nostril posterior to the anterior edge of the upper lip, below canthus rostralis on slightly protruding area; nostril oval to elongated, oblique, directed laterally; area between the nostrils concave; area from tip of the snout to anterior border of eyelid concave; interorbital and occipital region flat, with numerous high rounded tubercles extending to the interparotoideal region; interorbital area much wider than the upper eyelid; upper eyelid with numerous tubercles and few spinules, internal and external border not delineated with tubercles, external border fleshy and protruding; cephalic crests absent; canthus rostralis flat and fleshy, projected into the loreal region; loreal region concave with numerous rounded and low tubercles; lips not prominent; eyes with horizontally rounded pupil; tympanum oval, visible anteriorly over 3/5 of its area, 35.5 to 37.0% of eye diameter, with a fleshy fold between the posterior corner of the eyelid and the parotoid gland; parotoid glands ovoid, pointed anteriorly, rounded posteriorly, longer than wide, elevated, without evident pores and with undulations in the outer edge; parotoid width 39.7 to 41.2% of the length of the gland and 31.0 to 32.0% of the distance between the two parotoid glands; two elevated crests are present between parotoids, from the anterior border or from mid-gland length to the posterior border; dorsal skin with abundant elevated subacuminate tubercles and spicules; oblique lateral row of 5 to 8 elevated tubercles extending from the parotoid gland to the groin, with a ventrolateral line of 6 to 13 isolated tubercles; ventral skin with abundant low tubercles, much more abundant at the tip of the gular region and the chest.

Forelimbs slender, long, with dorsal and ventral spicules, more abundant dorsally; length of hand is 29.9 to 34.3% of SVL; fingers basally webbed, webbing formula I1– 2 II1.5– 4 III3– 2IV, fingers thin, with fleshy tip, not swollen; Finger I much shorter than II; smooth palms, supernumerary tubercles inconspicuous, subarticular tubercles low, slightly visible; palmar and thenar tubercles evident, palmar tubercle rounded, 1.1 times larger than the elongated thenar tubercle; ulnar tubercles and ulnar fold absent; metacarpal fold absent.

Hindlimbs thin, densely tuberculate, with abundant spicules; tibia and foot length equal 37.5–40.4% and 41.1– 45.2% of SVL, respectively; toes with thin fleshy tip, not bulbous, with extensive membranes, all toes distinguishable from it; webbing formulae I0– 1 II1–1.5III1– 4 IV3.5–2.5V; supernumerary plantar tubercles inconspicuous; subarticular tubercles ill defined; conspicuous inner metatarsal tubercle, oval, 1.2–1.3 times the size of oval external metatarsal tubercle; inner tarsal fold absent.

Tongue oval, much longer than wide, attached to the mouth floor anteriorly along three fifths of its length, unnotched posteriorly; choanae round, small; males with subgular vocal sac and elongated vocal slits; nuptial pads on Finger I with minute low spicules; cloacal opening directed dorsolaterally.

Coloration in life. dorsum brown with green to yellowish green marks; venter cream with a greenish tone and brown reticulations; posterior areas of thighs brown with yellow dots; anal patch black; iris yellow above, gray below, with a mid-horizontal reddish brown band and black reticulations ( Lynch & Ruíz-Carranza 1981).

Distribution and ecology. Only known from its type locality in Munchique Natural National Park, Departamento de Cauca, 2190 m above sea level. The area where the species was collected was very humid and covered by primary forest. Individuals were captured next to a highway and on vegetation 40 cm above ground.

Conservation status. The species has not been found after the collection of the type material (two individuals) in 1980. Searches at the type locality and nearby sites by F.J. López-López in 2003 were unsuccessful. Because of its restricted extent of occurrence, limited number of known localities and absence of records since 1980, we suggest that R. atelopoides is assigned to the Critically Endangered category (CR) under criteria B1a,b(v).

Remarks. Lynch and Ruíz-Carranza (1981) assigned this species to the “ Bufo margaritifer ” (= Rhinella margaritifera ) group. Hoogmoed (1985) transferred it to the genus Andinophryne . Lynch and Ruíz-Carranza (1981) provide a description and drawings of holotype (dorsal view) and the paratype (pectoral girdle, hands and feet).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Dorsolateral and ventral views of Rhaebo olallai and Rhaebo atelopoides. A – E: Rhaebo olallai, from Ecuador, Provincia de Imbabura, Manduriacu. F: Rhaebo atelopoides, from Colombia, type locality. A – B: adult female, SVL = 60.0 mm. C – D: adult male (QCAZ 56576), SVL = 43.9 mm. E: metamorph showing pattern of contrasting clear lines in the dorsum. F: adult male (IAvH 278), SVL = 42.3 mm. Photographs by SRR (R. olallai) and J. D. Lynch (R. atelopoides).