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A new species of terrestrial-breeding frog (Amphibia, Craugastoridae, Pristimantis) from high elevations of the Pui Pui Protected Forest in central Peru
ZooKeys (2017)
  • Edgar Lehr
  • Rudolf von May
Abstract
We describe a new species of Pristimantis from upper montane forests and high Andean grasslands of the Pui Pui Protected Forest and its close surroundings, Región Junín, central Peru. The description of the new species is based on 34 specimens found at elevations between 3400 and 3936 m a.s.l. Pristimantisattenboroughisp. n. is characterized by a snout–vent length of 14.6–19.2 mm in adult males (n = 21), 19.2–23.0 mm in adult females (n = 10), and is compared morphologically and genetically with other taxonomically and biogeographically relevant species of Pristimantis. The new species is characterized by having narrow digits that lack circumferential grooves, irregularly shaped, discontinuous dorsolateral folds, and absence of both tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus. The high similarity in morphology between P.attenboroughisp. n. and members of the Andean genera Phrynopus and Bryophryne provides an example for convergent evolution, and highlights the importance of using molecular data to justify generic assignment. Pristimantisattenboroughisp. n. is most similar to Phrynopuschaparroi from the Región Junín, suggesting that the generic placement of this species needs to be revised. Phylogenetically the new species belongs to the Pristimantisdanae species Group, a clade that includes several Pristimantis species distributed in the montane forests of central Peru, including P.albertus, P.aniptopalmatus, P.ornatus, and P.stictogaster.
Keywords
  • Andes,
  • DNA barcoding,
  • frogs,
  • molecular phylogeny,
  • montane forest,
  • Pristimantis attenboroughi new species,
  • Puna
Publication Date
2017
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.660.11394
Publisher Statement
ZooKeys is an open access journal published by Pensoft. For more information on this publication please visit ZooKeys online.
Citation Information
Edgar Lehr and Rudolf von May. "A new species of terrestrial-breeding frog (Amphibia, Craugastoridae, Pristimantis) from high elevations of the Pui Pui Protected Forest in central Peru" ZooKeys Vol. 660 (2017) p. 17 - 42 ISSN: 1313-2989
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/edgar_lehr/88/