Cryptobatrachus nicefori Cochran & Goin, 1970

Lynch, John D., 2008, A taxonomic revision of frogs of the genus Cryptobatrachus (Anura: Hemiphractidae), Zootaxa 1883, pp. 28-68 : 61

Cryptobatrachus nicefori Cochran & Goin, 1970

Cryptobatrachus nicefori Cochran & Goin, 1970:156 (holotype, adult male, MLS 138, La Salina, Casanare, Colombia).

Diagnosis: A Cryptobatrachus lacking dorsolateral folds and subarticular adhesive disks, having smooth skin on the dorsum, broad interorbital space, narrow digital disks, basal webbing of the outer fingers ( Fig. 13 ), less webbing of the toes ( Fig. 16 ) than in other Cryptobatrachus , and dark barring on the upper surfaces of the thighs and undersurfaces of the shanks.

Each of the diagnostic features of C. nicefori is sufficient to distinguish it from all other Cryptobatrachus . Data for cranial anatomy are unknown but I predict that this species will not exhibit anterior expansion of the braincase.

Description: The description by Cochran & Goin (1970) is relatively complete aside from not noting several characters reported here. Cochran & Goin (1970: 158) suggest that E. R. Dunn knew of this species, based on a cryptic comment by Dunn (1943: 310-11) that there is another undescribed species from northern Colombia. Dunn’s (1943) comments may or may not apply to Cryptobatrachus but it seems unlikely that the holotype of C. nicefori was seen by Dunn because it was collected in 1945 or 1946.

Distribution: The species remains known from a single individual collected at La Salina, on the western edge of modern Casanare, Colombia.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Hands in palmar view of (A) Cryptobatrachus pedroruizi (ICN 38697) and (B) C. nicefori (MLS 138). Scales equal 2 mm.

FIGURE 16. Feet in plantar view of (A) Cryptobatrachus ruthveni (ICN 35257) and (B) C. nicefori (MLS 138). Scales equal 2 mm.