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

By

Reyes-Puig, Juan
Reyes-Puig, Carolina
Franco-Mena, Daniela
Jost, Lou
Yánez-Muñoz, Mario H. (Mario Humberto)

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1081

Pages

35--87

Subjects

Andes , Conservation , endemism , Llanganates-Sangay Ecologic Corridor , montane cloud forest , Pristimantis

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1081.71488

 

Abstract

We present the results of herpetological surveys in two adjacent mountains where the EcoMinga Foundation protects the cloud forest in the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed, in the Llanganates Sangay Ecological Corridor in Ecuador. A rapid assessment of the amphibian communities of the study sites reveals a diverse and heterogeneous composition, dominated by terrestrial frogs from the genusPristimantis. We also identify a cryptic diversity with a significant number of candidate new species. We describe two new species of terrestrial frogs of the genusPristimantis.Pristimantis maryanneaesp. nov.is characterised by not having tympanum externally visible and having 2–3 subconical tubercles in the upper eyelid; andPristimantis burtoniorumsp. nov.is characterised by the presence of red colouration in hidden surfaces of the hind-limbs, tubercles on the upper eyelid, interorbital tubercle and a row of rounded tubercles along the snout to the tip and a pale red venter with dark brown mottled pattern. Our samples from the two Reserves do not share species between them, so the proportion of shared species seems to be relatively low. In addition, we highlight the importance of updating the knowledge of amphibians that are restricted to this important conservation region and comment about the threats and composition of the amphibian communities on the eastern slopes of the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed.