Marco Rada

A Name for the Species of Allobates (Anura: Dendrobatoidea: Aromobatidae) from the Magdalena Valley of Colombia

Abstract We describe a new species of Allobates from the Magdalena Valley in Colombia. The new species and its sister species, A. talamancae, are the only two species of Allobates known to occur west of the Andes. The new species differs from A. talamancae in being smaller, possessing a diffuse pale oblique lateral stripe, and exhibiting strong swelling of finger III in adult males. Tadpoles also differ in the relative size of anterior and posterior labial papillae; in the new species anterior papillae are conspicuously larger than posterior papillae, whereas in A. talamancae they are subequal in size. Allobates talamancae and the new species are allopatric. Among the cis-Andean species of Allobates, the new species most resembles A. melanolaemus, which also possesses a diffuse pale oblique lateral stripe and a solid black throat in adult males, but from which it differs in being smaller and adult males having finger III strongly swollen and solid black pigmentation covering the chest and most of the belly.

Phylogenetic Systematics of Dart-Poison Frogs and Their Relatives Revisited (Anura: Dendrobatoidea)

Abstract. Despite the impressive growth of knowledge on the phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Dendrobatoidea) over the past decade, many problems remain to be addressed. We analyzed up to 189 phenomic characters (morphology, behavior, defensive chemicals) and 15 mitochondrial and nuclear loci scored for 564 dendrobatoid and outgroup terminals, including 76 newly sequenced terminals and > 20 previously unanalyzed species, using tree-alignment and the parsimony optimality criterion in the program POY v.5.1.1 and additional analyses of the implied alignment using TNT v.1.5. Even though data coverage was highly heterogeneous, the strict consensus of 639 optimal trees is highly resolved and we detected only one instance of wildcard behavior involving a small clade of outgroup species. The monophyly of the median lingual process (MLP) possessing genus Anomaloglossus is decisively refuted, with the cis-Andean species being sister to Rheobates within Aromobatidae and the trans-Andean species nested within Hyloxalinae, implying two independent origins of the structure in Dendrobatoidea. Although this result was unexpected, it is not surprising given that the MLP evolved at least five times in Asian and African ranoids, including Arthroleptidae, Dicroglossidae, Mantellidae, and Rhacophoridae and either once in the most recent common ancestor of the massive clade Victoranura followed by independent losses or multiple times within component lineages. We restrict Anomaloglossus to the cis-Andean MLP-possessing species, describe a new genus for the trans-Andean MLP-possessing species, and resurrect Paruwrobates for its sister group, which includes Dendrobates andinus (formerly Ameerega), D. erythromos (formerly Hyloxalus and, until recently, Ameerega), and Prostherapis whymperi (formerly Hyloxalus). We also transfer Dendrobates maculatus from Ameerega to Epipedobates, making Ameerega an exclusively cis-Andean group. We describe two new species of the trans-Andean MLP-possessing genus—one from Cerro Tacarcuna, near the Colombo-Panamanian border, and the other from 800–900 m elevation on the western versant of the Colombian Cordillera Occidental (Cauca Department)—bringing the total number of species in the genus to seven. The discrete, round, white to yellowish-brown dots found on the venter of the new species from Cerro Tacarcuna and at least one other trans-Andean MLP-possessing species are formed by large, ellipsoid, densely distributed (up to 80 glands/mm2) granular glands. Although specimens of the new species from Cerro Tacarcuna exuded a noxious milky substance when handled, lipophilic alkaloids were not detected. In addition to the unexpected placement of the trans-Andean MLP-possessing species, major findings include the unexpected placement of Colostethus ruthveni and its undescribed sister species (the “C.” ruthveni group) within Dendrobatinae as sister of the newly recognized tribe Dendrobatini (all dendrobatines except Phyllobates and the “C.” ruthveni group). We describe a new genus for C. argyrogaster and C. fugax to remedy the paraphyly of Colostethus caused by the placement of those species as sister to Ameerega. Our evidence rejects the sister group relationship of Dendrobates + Oophaga in favor of Dendrobates + Adelphobates, which is consistent with their uniquely low diploid chromosome number of 2n = 18 (2n = 20 in Oophaga). With the exception of Anomaloglossus and Colostethus, all other genera are monophyletic. We recognize several monophyletic species groups—including the Atlantic Forest, trans-Andean, and 22-chromosome groups within Allobates, the An. stepheni, An. megacephalus, and An. beebei groups in Anomaloglossus, the C. latinasus (formed by the C. inguinalis and C. latinasus clades) and C. fraterdanieli groups within Colostethus, and the Am. braccata and Am. rubriventris groups within Ameerega—identify unambiguously optimized phenomic synapomorphies, and summarize patterns in the evolution of the diploid chromosome number, swelling of Finger IV in males, relative length of Fingers II and III, length of Finger V, and testicular and intestinal pigmentation. Finally, we address criticisms of the current taxonomy of Neotropical poison frogs and their relatives, concluding that they are either overstated, misguided, or false, and that the current system of names better communicates knowledge of the diversity of these frogs. Our results highlight the importance of increased taxon sampling, and we conclude by identifying key species to include in future phylogenetic analyses.

Descripción de las larvas de dos centrolénidos (Anura: Centrolenidae) del noroccidente de la Cordillera Oriental, Colombia

Se describen las larvas de dos especies de la familia Centrolenidae (Hyalinobatrachium ibama y Cochranella daidalea) procedentes del flanco occidental de la cordillera Oriental en el departamento de Norte de Santander, Colombia. En la descripcion de las larvas, ademas de las caracteristicas morfologicas tradicionales, se incorporaron nuevos elementos de juicio como la longitud del tubo cloacal, la forma del rostro, el patron de color y la posicion del espiraculo, los cuales resultaron ser informativos y muy utiles en la diferenciacion de las especies. Se proporciona una discusion acerca de la validez taxonomica de algunos de los caracteres morfologicos empleados usualmente en las descripciones y comparaciones de los renacuajos de la familia Centrolenidae.

The advertisement calls of three hylid frogs from Hispaniola

Abstract In this study, we provide detailed descriptions of the previously unknown advertisement calls of Osteopilus dominicensis and Hypsiboas heilprini, as well as a complete redescription of that of O. pulchrilineatus, three of the four hylid frogs known from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The call of O. dominicensis is composed of a single multi-pulsed note with a mean dominant frequency of 2058 Hz. In contrast, the call of O. pulchrilineatus consists of two different pulsed notes (the second repeated many times in one call) with a mean dominant frequency of 2950 and 2060 Hz, respectively. The call of H. heilprini, in turn, is a trill consisting of multi-pulsed notes (emitted in a consecutive series) with a mean dominant frequency of 1738 Hz. We compare these three calls to those of closely related species.

Hylid Tadpoles from the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola: Ontogeny, Description and Comparison of External Morphology

Abstract The island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) is home to four endemic species of treefrogs: Hypsiboas heilprini, Osteopilus dominicensis, O. pulchrilineatus and O. vastus. These species occur sympatrically over large areas below 1,850 m elevation and are commonly encountered together. We redescribe the external larval morphology of O. dominicensis, O. vastus, and Hybsiboas heilprini, and describe the tadpole of O. pulchrilineatus for the first time based on laboratory-reared specimens representing stages from early—late metamorphosis. Some tadpoles were raised to adults in order to confirm species identity. We document intraspecific variation in labial tooth-rows formulas, report ontogenetic changes in coloration, compare tadpoles of related species, and provide an identification key to the hylid tadpoles of Hispaniola. Hispaniolan hylid tadpoles inhabit fast-running streams or pools. Whereas the lotic larvae of O. vastus and H. heilprini exhibit characteristics commonly associated with flowing water (robust body with strong tail musculature, small to medium fins, relatively enlarged oral disc, increased number of labial tooth rows, and complete marginal papillae), the lentic tadpoles of O. dominicensis and O. pulchrilineatus are characterized by morphological adaptations to ponds (medium-sized body and tail musculature, high fins, small oral disc, fewer number of labial tooth rows and incomplete marginal papillae). Consequently, the tadpole of O. vastus is more similar to that of H. heilprini than it is to its congeners.

A New Species Of Glassfrog (Anura: Centrolenidae) From The Western Slope Of The Cordillera Oriental, Colombia

Abstract A new species of Glassfrog of the genus Nymphargus from the Andean cloud forest of Cordillera Oriental, Colombia, is described. This species can be recognized by some morphological characteristics that include: parietal peritoneum 1/2–3/4 white, visceral and hepatic peritonea translucent; webbing on hand reduced between outer fingers; and males lacking humeral spine. The new species reported herein is close related with Nymphargus garciae of the Central Andes and is added to the 20 previously known species of the family that occur in the eastern Andes of Colombia. Moreover, it is the northernmost record for the genus in the Cordillera Oriental.

The advertisement calls of three Eleutherodactylus species from Hispaniola (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae)

Abstract We provide detailed descriptions of the poorly known advertisement calls of Eleutherodactylus abbotti, E. flavescens and E. inoptatus, three rain frogs endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. We compare these three advertisement calls to those of closely related and/or geographically proximate Eleutherodactylus species. The call of E. abbotti lasts 0.5–6 s and consists of four notes that differ in amplitude and duration, with a mean dominant frequency of 4527 Hz. In turn, the call of E. flavescens, endemic to the Dominican Republic, lasts 0.02–0.09 s and consists of two different notes with dominant frequencies of 2288 and 3025 Hz. In contrast, the call of E. inoptatus lasts 0.25–0.39 s and is composed of a single multi-pulsed note with two harmonics, the first one with a dominant frequency of 660 Hz and the second one with a dominant frequency of 1220 Hz. These congeneric species occur sympatrically over large areas below 1000 m elevation and are commonly encountered together, which suggests that, in addition to interspecific variation (e.g. body size), the remarkable differences in their calls (e.g. dominant frequency) may be due to partitioning of the acoustic environment.

Phylogenetic relationships and morphology of the Pristimantis leptolophus species group (Amphibia: Anura: Brachycephaloidea), with the recognition of a new species group in Pristimantis Jiménez de la Espada, 1870

We evaluate the monophyly and phylogenetic relationships of the Pristimantis leptolophus species group and describe its external morphology, osteology, and some myological characteristics. We also compare the P. leptolophus species group to other related species groups. The P. leptolophus group is not monophyletic due to the inclusion of P. acatallelus, formerly believed to be part of the P. devillei group. The revised P. leptolophus group is composed of nine named species and six unnamed species. Based on our results, we recognize a new species group, the P. boulengeri species group, composed of eight species, many of which were previously assigned to the P. lacrimosus species group.

Out of Amazonia: the unexpected trans-Andean distribution of Cochranella resplendens (Lynch and Duellman, 1978) (Anura: Centrolenidae)

The glassfrog genus Cochranella, with nine recognized species, is distributed in the lowlands and mid elevation of the Neotropical forests, from Nicaragua to Bolivia (Guayasamin et al. 2009; Twomey et al. 2014). Four species are trans-Andean-C. granulosa (Taylor 1949) occurs in the lowlands and mountains, at mid elevation, of Central America, C. litoralis (Ruiz-Carranza & Lynch 1996) and C. mache Guayasamin & Bonaccorso 2004 occur in the Pacific lowlands and the western cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador, and C. euknemos (Savage & Starrett 1967) occurs both in Central America and South America (northwestern Colombia).-The other five species have cis-Andean distributions in the Amazonian slopes and lowlands, from Colombia to Bolivia: C. nola Harvey 1996, C. guayasamini Twomey, Delia & Castroviejo-Fisher 2014, C. resplendens (Lynch & Duellman 1973), C. erminea Torres-Gastello, Suárez-Segovia & Cisneros-Heredia 2007, and C. phryxa Aguayo-Vedia & Harvey 2006. In Colombia, C. resplendens is known from the foothills of the Amazon versant in Caquetá (Malambo et al. 2013) and Putumayo (Lynch & Duellman 1973; Ruiz-Carranza et al. 1996). The species is also known from Ecuador (Lynch & Duellman 1973) and Peru (Twomey et al. 2014). Here, we report two new records of Cochranella resplendens, extending the species distribution beyond the Amazonian lowlands into the northern Cordillera Central in Colombia.

A Remarkable New White-Eyed Glassfrog Species of Sachatamia from Colombia (Anura: Centrolenidae), with Comments on the Systematics of the Genus

Abstract. We describe a striking new species of the genus Sachatamia from the eastern slope of Colombias Central Andes. The new species differs from the most closely related species (i.e., Sachatamia albomaculata and S. punctulata) by its green dorsal coloration in life with yellow and blue dots, and unique semicirclular, white blotch in the dorsal portion of the iris. With this new species, we increase the currently recognized species in the genus to five. Mitochondrial DNA sequences corroborate both the phylogenetic position of the new species within Sachatamia and its status as a new species. In addition, in light of our results some taxonomic implications are briefly discussed.