Noblella thiuni sp. n., a new (singleton) species of minute terrestrial-breeding frog (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae) from the montane forest of the Amazonian Andes of Puno, Peru

We describe a new species of minute, terrestrial-breeding frog in the genus Noblella. We collected a single specimen in the leaf litter of primary montane forest (2,225 m a.s.l.) near Thiuni, in the Provice of Carabaya, Department of Puno, in the upper watershed of a tributary of the Inambari River of southern Peru, the same locality where we found the types of Psychrophrynella glauca Catenazzi & Ttito 2018. We placed the new species within Noblella on the basis of molecular data, minute size, and overall morphological resemblance with the type species N. peruviana and other species of Noblella, including having three phalanges on finger IV (as in N. coloma, N. heyeri, N. lynchi, N. madreselva, N. peruviana, and N. pygmaea), and terminal phalanges T-shaped and pointed. Noblella thiuni sp. n. is distinguished from all other species of Noblella by having ventral surfaces of legs bright red, and chest and belly copper reddish with a profusion of silvery spots. The new species further differs from known Peruvian species of Noblella by the combination of the following characters: tympanic membrane absent, eyelids lacking tubercles, dorsal skin finely shagreen, tarsal tubercles or folds absent, three phalanges on Finger IV, tips of digits not expanded, no circumferential grooves on digits, inguinal spots present. The new species has a snout–vent length of 11.0 mm in one adult or subadult male. Our new finding confirms the high levels of endemism and beta diversity of small, terrestrial-breeding frogs inhabiting the moss layers and leaf litter in the montane forests of the Amazonian slopes of the Andes and adjacent moist puna grasslands, and suggests much work remains to be done to properly document this diversity

Pristimantis achupalla sp. N., a new minute species of direct-developing frog (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae) inhabiting bromeliads of the montane forest of the Amazonian Andes of Puno, Peru

We describe a new species of bromeliad-dwelling Pristimantis from primary montane forest (2,225 m a.s.l.) in southern Peru. The type locality is near Thiuni, in the Department of Puno (province of Carabaya) in the upper watershed of a tributary of the Inambari River. Pristimantis achupalla sp. n. is characterized by a snout-vent length of 10.0-12.8 mm in adult males (n = 4), unknown in adult females, and is compared morphologically and genetically with species in the Pristimantis lacrimosus group, and with other similar species of Pristimantis. The new species is characterized by having skin on dorsum and flanks rugose, green brownish color, distinctive scapular folds, subacuminate or acuminate snout profile, upper eyelid bearing two or three subconical tubercles and some rounded tubercles, rostral papilla, flanks light brown to brown, with irregular dark brown marks

New Species of Marsupial Frog (Hemiphractidae: \u3ci\u3eGastrotheca\u3c/i\u3e) from an Isolated Montane Forest in Southern Peru

We describe a new species of marsupial frog (genus Gastrotheca) from an isolated patch of cloud forest in the upper reaches of the Pachachaca River, a tributary of the Apurimac River in southern Peru (Apurimac Region). The new species is small with males less than 30 mm and a single female 35.3 mm in snout–vent length. A juvenile was collected from inside an epiphytic bromeliad at ~3 m, suggesting that this species is arboreal or uses bromeliad tanks as microhabitats. We describe the advertisement call, which has a dominant frequency above 2.2 kHz. Based on morphology and advertisement call, the new species is most similar to Gastrotheca piperata described from the Yungas of Bolivia. The new species differs from G. piperata by having smaller size, no dermal fold on the tarsus, a bluntly rounded to vertical snout in profile, gray coloration on dorsal surfaces of Fingers I and II and by producing advertisement calls that have a higher dominant frequency and a smaller number of pulses

A new riparian Andean Potamites (reptilia, squamata, gymnophtalmidae) from El Sira Mountains, central Peru, with comments on P. ecpleopus cope 1875, and on the taxonomy and biogeography of Potamites

We describe a new species of riparian lizard from the foothills and submontane forest of El Sira Communal Reserve, Departamento de Huánuco, Peru, at elevations from 540 to 760 m. We name the new species Potamites hydroimperator sp. nov. because it is the only lizard living in streams in this isolated mountain. The new species is distinguishable from other congeners (except P. ecpleopus) by having longitudinal rows of keeled scales on dorsum, and males with 5-8 lateral ocelli on each flank. Potamites hydroimperator sp. nov. differs from P. ecpleopus by being smaller, having dorsal scales on forelimbs smooth or slightly keeled, subconical tubercles on forelimbs weakly present or absent, and four to five superciliar scales. We comment on variation in the pattern of keeling of dorsal scales among Amazonian lowland, Andean foothills and montane species of Potamites, and the potential relevance of this scalation pattern for taxonomic and biogeographic studies. The new species increases our knowledge of the diverse and endemic herpetofauna of El Sira, and of diversity within the genus Potamites. Despite El Sira’s status as natural protected area, gold mining activities are destroying the streams where we found P. hydroimperator sp. nov., threatening their populations

A New Species of Telmatobius (Amphibia, Anura, Telmatobiidae) from the Pacific Slopes of the Andes, Peru

We describe a new species of Telmatobius from the Pacific slopes of the Andes in central Peru. Specimens were collected at 3900 m elevation near Huaytará, Huancavelica, in the upper drainage of the Pisco river. The new species has a snout–vent length of 52.5 ± 1.1 mm (49.3–55.7 mm, n = 6) in adult females, and 48.5 mm in the single adult male. The new species has bright yellow and orange coloration ventrally and is readily distinguished from all other central Peruvian Andean species of Telmatobius but T. intermedius by having vomerine teeth but lacking premaxillary and maxillary teeth, and by its slender body shape and long legs. The new species differs from T. intermedius by its larger size, flatter head, and the absence of cutaneous keratinized spicules (present even in immature females of T. intermedius), and in males by the presence of minute, densely packed nuptial spines on dorsal and medial surfaces of thumbs (large, sparsely packed nuptial spines in T. intermedius). The hyper-arid coastal valleys of Peru generally support low species richness, particularly for groups such as aquatic breeding amphibians. The discovery of a new species in this environment, and along a major highway crossing the Andes, shows that much remains to be done to document amphibian diversity in Peru

Feeding Behaviour of the Columbretes Lizard \u3ci\u3ePodarcis atrata\u3c/i\u3e, in Relation to \u3ci\u3eIsopoda (Crustaceae)\u3c/i\u3e Species: \u3ci\u3eLigia italica\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eArmadillo officinalis\u3c/i\u3e

The lizard Podarcis atrata, endemic to the Columbretes archipelago (Mediterranean, Spain) occupies very small islands characterized by extreme aridity and a reduced availability of potential insect prey. The results of an experimental study have shown that adult lizards offered individuals of Ligia italica and Armadillo officinalis (marine and terrestrial isopods, respectively) consumed at high frequencies; with males consuming them at significantly higher frequencies than females. The results are discussed in light of the importance of the inclusion of marine prey into the diet in arid insular ecosystems

A new species of Noblella (Amphibia, Anura, Craugastoridae) from the humid montane forests of Cusco, Peru.

A new species of Noblella is described from the humid montane forest of the Región Cusco in Peru. Specimens were collected at 2330-2370 m elevation in Madre Selva, near Santa Ana, in the province of La Convención. The new species is readily distinguished from all other species of Noblella by having a broad, irregularly shaped, white mark on black background on chest and belly. The new species further differs from known Peruvian species of Noblella by the combination of the following characters: tympanic membrane absent, small tubercles on the upper eyelid and on dorsum, tarsal tubercles or folds absent, tips of digits not expanded, no circumferential grooves on digits, dark brown facial mask and lateral band extending from the tip of the snout to the inguinal region. The new species has a snout-to-vent length of 15.6 mm in one adult male and 17.6 mm in one adult female. Like other recently described species in the genus, this new Noblella inhabits high-elevation forests in the Andes and likely has a restricted geographic distribution

Natural History of Coastal Peruvian Solifuges with a Redescription of \u3ci\u3eChinchippus peruvianus\u3c/i\u3e and an additional new species (Arachnida, Solifugae, Ammotrechidae)

Two species of Chinchippus (Ammotrechidae) were studied in central Peru. Both species are endemic to the hyper-arid coastal desert and appear to derive most of their energy and nutrients from maritime prey, such as intertidal amphipods feeding on beach-cast algae or as arthropod scavengers feeding upon seabird and pinniped carcasses. Data on the spatial distribution of the two species were obtained from analyzing stomach contents of one common predator, the gecko Phyllodactylus angustidigitus, and suggest that both species are more abundant in insular than in mainland habitats. We redescribe Chinchippus peruvianus Chamberlin 1920, known only from a female specimen and describe the male for the first time while C. viejaensis is recognized as new. The new species is distinguished from C. peruvianus by its darker coloration, smaller size, and differences in cheliceral dentition

Variação morfológica em Telmatobius atahualpai (Anura: Telmatobiidae), com comentários sobre suas relações filogenéticas e sinapomorfias para o gênero.

Telmatobius atahualpai foi descrita com base em uma fêmea subadulta e três juvenis. Apresentamos aqui uma nova diagnose e uma descrição do esqueleto do adulto feita a partir de espécimes de duas localidades. Tecemos ainda comentários sobre sinapomorfias do gênero e sobre a possível relação filogenética de T. atahualpai com outras espécies congenéricas.Telmatobius atahualpai was described on the basis of a subadult female and three juveniles. A new diagnosis and a description of the adult skeleton of specimens from two localities are provided. We also comment on synapomorphies of the genus and on possible phylogenetic relationships of T. atahualpai with other members of the genus.Telmatobius atahualpai fue descrita en base a una hembra subadulta y tres juveniles. Se proporciona una nueva diagnosis y una descripción del esqueleto adulto de especímenes que proceden de dos localidades. También hacemos comentariossobre sinapomorfías del género y la posible relación filogenética de T. atahualpai con otros miembros del género

Two New Harlequin Frogs (Anura: \u3ci\u3eAtelopus\u3c/i\u3e) from the Andes of Northern Peru

Two new species of Atelopus (harlequin frogs) are described from the Andes of northern Peru, one from the northern Cordillera de Huancabamba (Departamento de Piura), 2,950 m elevation, and the other from an inter-Andean valley of the upper Marañon basin, Cordillera Central (Departamento de La Libertad), 2,620 m elevation. We also suggest the possible link between infection by the chytrid fungus and mortality of harlequin frogs in the upper Marañon basin in 999