Nueva especie de Sapo Andino del género Osornophryne (Amphibia: Bufonidae) del norte de Ecuador, con notas sobre la diversidad del género en Colombia

We describe a new species of Andean toad, Osornophryne angel sp. nov., based on specimens collected at Páramo del Angel, province of Carchi, Republic of Ecuador. This new species is a medium-sized toad diagnosed from other species of Osornophryne by having granular skin with glandular ridges and tubercles and by the presence of a projected papilla or a proboscis at the tip of the snout. Osornophryne angel sp. nov. exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, females are larger and have a projected papilla instead of the male’s extended proboscis at the tip of the snout. Considerations on the sexual dimorphism are important to evaluate intra and inter-specific variation in Osornophryne, and lack of its understanding has resulted in identification errors. We revised the taxonomic status of some Colombian populations recently reported in the literature, and found that specimens reported as O. bufoniformis in fact correspond to four different species, including a putatively undescribed species. Colombian specimens reported as O. antisana and O. guacamayo correspond to apparently undescribe taxa, thus the records of both species for Colombia are invalid.Describimos una nueva especie de sapo Andino, Osornophryne angel sp. nov., basados en especímenes colectados en el Páramo del Ángel, provincia del Carchi, República del Ecuador. Esta nueva especie es un sapo de tamaño medio que se diferencia de otras especies de Osornophryne por tener la piel granular con tubérculos y pliegues glandulares y por la presencia de una papila proyectada o una probóscide en la punta del hocico. Osornophryne angel sp. nov. exhibe un fuerte dimorfismo sexual, las hembras son más grandes y tienen una papilla proyectada en lugar de la probóscide extendida en la punta del hocico de los machos. Consideraciones sobre el dimorfismo sexual son importantes para evaluar la variación intra e inter-específica en Osornophryne, y la falta de su entendimiento ha resultada en errores de identificación. Revisamos el estado taxonómico de algunas poblaciones Colombianas recientemente reportada en la literatura y encontramos que especímenes reportados como O. bufoniformis de hecho corresponden a cuatro especies, incluyendo una especie putativamente nueva. Especímenes Colombianos reportados como O. antisana y O. guacamayo corresponden a taxones aparentemente indescritos, por lo que los registros de estas especies para Colombia no son válidos

Osornophryne puruanta Gluesenkamp & Guayasamin, 2008, new species

Osornophryne puruanta new species Holotype.— QCAZ 11471 (Fig. 1), an adult female, obtained near Laguna de Puruanta (00° 13 ' N, 77 ° 57 ' W, 3000 m.a.s.l.), Cordillera de Pimampiro, Provincia de Imbabura, Ecuador, by A. G. Gluesenkamp and D. A. Gluesenkamp on 17 December 1997. Paratypes.— QCAZ 7684 – 85, adult females, obtained near Laguna de Puruanta (00° 13 ' N, 77 ° 57 ' W, 3500 m.a.s.l.), Cordillera de Pimampiro, Provincia de Imbabura, Ecuador, by A. Vallejo, J. W. Izquierdo, and D. Almeida on 16 November 1996; QCAZ 13271, adult female, obtained near Laguna de San Marcos (00°07' 35 " N, 77 ° 55 ' 50 " W, 3400 m.a.s.l.), on the border between Provincia de Sucumbíos and Provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador, by S. R. Ron and L. A. Coloma on 29 June 1999; QCAZ 13320, adult female, obtained near Laguna de San Marcos, by J. M. Guayasamin on 21 July 1999; EPN 7081 – 83, adult females, obtained near Laguna de San Marcos, by A. Almendáriz and V. Corte on 20 September 1999. Diagnosis.—The following traits characterize Osornophryne puruanta: (1) females with large body size (SVL 40.5–47.1, x = 43.4 ± 2.3, n = 8), males unknown; (2) head rounded in dorsal view, rounded to slightlypointed in lateral view (Fig. 2); (3) tip of snout usually bears papilla; (4) skin on dorsum and flanks relatively smooth, interspersed with numerous glandular pustules some forming ridges, and lacking conical tubercules (Fig. 2); (5) dorsum with discontinuous dorsolateral, parasagittal, paravertebral, and sacral ridges; (6) dorsum pale brown to reddish-brown in life (pale brown in preservative); (7) venter brown with yellowish-brown spots in life (dark gray with pale yellow pustules or pale yellow with grayish-brown reticulations in preservative); and (8) six presacral vertebrae (atlas not fused to Presacral Vertebra II). Comparison with congeneric species.— Osornophryne puruanta can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its large body size (adult female SVL> 40 mm; IV> II> I; length of toes: IV> V> III> II> I. Inguinal fat bodies absent. Color of the holotype in preservative.— Dorsum yellowish pale brown. Venter dark brown with yellowish clusters of pustules. Cloacal area black. Palmar and plantar surfaces reddish-brown. Color of the holotype in life.— Dorsum yellowish-brown. Iris dark brown with few golden flecks. Venter reddish-brown with clusters of cream pustules. Flanks with clusters of yellow pustules on. Palmar and plantar surfaces pale pink. Measurements of the holotype (in mm).— SVL = 41.3; TIB = 13.5; FL = 16.2; HW = 13.5; HL = 12.4; IOD = 5.0; IND = 3.5; EN = 2.7; ED = 2.9; NR = 2.4; EW = 3.0. Morphometric ratios for holotype are followed by ranges of seven paratypes in parentheses: TIB/SVL = 0.33 (0.29–0.34); HW/HL = 1.09 (1.09–1.25); HL/SVL = 0.3 (0.25–0.29); HW/SVL = 0.33 (0.30–0.34). Osteological characteristics.—Six discrete presacral vertebrae present, atlas and axis free, width of transverse processes and sacral diapophyses: Sacrum = IV> III>V ≈ VI> II. Transverse processes nearly perpendicular to notochordal axis in Presacrals V and VI, directed anteriorly in Presacral II, and posteriorly in Presacrals III, IV. The bony sacral diapophyses are broadly expanded and fused to the urostyle, which is expanded laterally and bears a low dorsal crest throughout a third of its length (Fig. 4 A). The carpus is composed of a radiale, ulnare, Element Y, Carpal 1, and a large postaxial element assumed to represent a fusion of Carpals 2–4. The prepollex is composed of one small bone that articulates with the proximal end of Metacarpal I. All carpal elements are tightly articulated. Phalangeal formula of hand: 2 - 2-3 - 3 (Fig. 4 B); phalangeal formula of foot variable: 1-2 - 2-4 - 2 (QCAZ 7684) or 1-2 - 2-4 - 1 (QCAZ 13320). Posterior sternal elements covered by m. vagina recti (see da Silva and Mendelson 1999). Stapes absent. Va r ia ti o n. — Snout without papilla at tip, rounded in dorsal and lateral views (QCAZ 7685). Snout slightly protruding in lateral view (EPN 7083). Atlas and presacral Vertebra II partially fused (QCAZ 7684). Variation in measurements and proportions is presented in Table 1. In preservative, tongue slightly pigmented at base (QCAZ 13320) or unpigmented (QCAZ 13271, EPN 7082 – 83); venter mostly dark gray with pale yellow pustules (QCAZ 7685, EPN 7083) or mostly pale yellow with grayish-brown reticulations (QCAZ 13271, QCAZ 13320, EPN 7081 – 82). In life, dorsum pale reddish brown (QCAZ 13271, QCAZ 13320); iris dark gray with white flecks (QCAZ 13271, QCAZ 13320, EPN 7082 – 83); palmar and plantar surfaces pink (QCAZ 13271, QCAZ 13320) or red (EPN 7082 – 83). Etymology.— The specific name is an indeclinable noun and refers to the Laguna de Puruanta (or Puruhanta) in the vicinity of the type locality. Ecology.— Osornophryne puruanta is known from eight specimens, all adult females. Two specimens were collected active at night, one on an epiphytic bromeliad (QCAZ 7685) one on the ground (QCAZ 7684) and the remaining six specimens were found under logs (QCAZ 11471, QCAZ 13271, and QCAZ 13320) or in the bases of plants of the family Poaceae (EPN 7081 – 83) during the day. This species is probably nocturnal since no individuals were observed active during the day despite extensive search efforts. It is likely that Osornophryne species are semi-fossorial, at least during the day. Clutch size in Osornophryne puruanta is comparable to that reported for O. guacamayo (35– 50 eggs; Gluesenkamp and Acosta, 2001). One specimen of O. puruanta (QCAZ 7684) had 30 mature ovarian eggs with a maximum diameter of 3.15 mm (x = 2.73 ± 0.14), and another (QCAZ 13320) had 31 mature ovarian eggs with a maximum diameter of 3.61 mm (x = 3.05 ± 0.26). Osornophryne puruanta, as other member of the genus, is presumed to have terrestrial eggs that undergo direct development (Ruiz-Carranza & Hernández- Camacho 1976). Stomach contents of QCAZ 7684 consisted of a beetle (Chrysomelidae), hymenopteran wings, a coleopteran larvae, and incidental plant material. Anurans present at the type locality include Pristimantis buckleyi, P. trepidotus, Phrynopus brunneus, and three unidentified species of Pristimantis. Vegetation at Laguna de Puruanta consists of dense forest patches dominated by Miconia trees, which are covered with a variety of epiphytic plants including arboreal bromeliads of the genus Tillandsia, ferns of several genera (Polipodium, Jamesonia, and Elaphoglossum; Polypodiaceae), orchids (Epidendrum and Pleurothallis), and mosses. Patches of forest are surrounded by members of the Ericaceae (Pernettya, Cavendishia, Psammisia, and Va c c i n u m), Asteraceae (Baccharis and Gynoxis), and Melastomataceae (Brachyotum) families. Flat, wet areas are dominated by grasses (Cortaderia and Festuca), Hypericaceae (Hypericum laricifolium) and Asteraceae (Loricaria, Hypochaeris, and Werneria) (Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales 1987). Arborescent ferns (Blechnum) and terrestrial bromeliads (Puya) are present in the area. The anuran community at Laguna de San Marcos includes Pristimantis curtipes, P. devillei, P. trepidotus, Gastrotheca sp., and Atelopus ignescens (not observed since 1985). The forest canopy reaches 12 m and is dominated by Gaiadendorn punctatum (Loranthaceae), Weinmmania fagaroides (Cunnoniaceae), Oreopanax sp. (Araliaceae), and Miconia sp. (Melastomataceae). Numerous epiphytes (primarily mosses, orchids, lichens, and bromeliads) cover the trees. The middle stratum of the forest is composed of the genera Miconia (Melastomataceae), Berberis (Berberidaceae), and Gynoxys (Asteraceae). The lower stratum includes terrestrial ferns and species of the genera Piper (Piperaceae), Loricaria (Asteraceae), Pernnetya (Ericaceae), Ribes (Grossulariaceae), and Brachyotum (Melastomataceae) (S. R. Espinosa and R. Montúfar, pers. comm.). Both localities are in areas classified as Evergreen High Montane Forest (Valencia et al. 1999) or Very Wet Montane Forest life zone (Holdridge 1967), and have annual temperatures between 7 and 12 °C and an annual rainfall of 1000–2000 mm (Cañadas-Cruz 1983). Distribution.— This species is known only from Laguna de Puruanta (00° 12 ' N, 77 ° 57 ' W, 3000–3500 m) on the western slopes of the Cordillera de Pimampiro, Provincia Imbabura, and the vicinity of Laguna de San Marcos (00°07' 35 " N, 77 ° 55 ' 50 " W, 3400 m). Laguna de San Marcos is located on the eastern slopes of the Filo de Talcas, approximately 6 km S Laguna de Puruanta, on the border between Provincia Pichincha and Provincia Sucumbíos (Fig. 5).Published as part of Gluesenkamp, Andrew G. & Guayasamin, Juan M., 2008, A new species of Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Andean highlands of northern Ecuador, pp. 18-28 in Zootaxa 1828 on pages 19-25, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18315

Un nuevo Sapo Andino del género Osornophryne (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) desde el noroeste de Ecuador, con observaciones taxonómicas sobre el género

We describe a new species of Andean toad of the genus Osornophryne from montane cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador between 2500-2750 m above sea level. The new species is characterized by moderately large size (snout-vent length 32.5-36.0 mm in adult females, 21.1-23.2 mm in adult males), dorsal skin highly rugose with scattered irregular warts, dorsolateral ridges of round or oblong glandular warts, venter with clusters of flattened pustular warts, angular rostrum shaped like a four-sided pyramid protruding in dorsal and lateral views but not forming a proboscis, smooth borders of transverse processes of presacral vertebrae, a dark brown dorsum in life with ochre-brown warts, dorsolateral ridges maroon-brown, and abundant pale salmon spots on the venter. We suggest that it be classified as Endangered under IUCN criteria, because of its small distributional, narrow altitudinal range subjected to habitat loss and fragmentation. We discuss different aspects of taxonomy, natural history, and distribution of the different species of Osornophryne. In particular, we comment on the importance of morphological, chromatic, and molecular analyses that take into consideration ontogenic and dimorphic variation among species of Osornophryne.Describimos una nueva especie de sapo Andino del género Osornophryne de los bosques montano nublados del noroccidente de Ecuador entre 2500-2700 m sobre el nivel del mar. La nueva especie se caracteriza por su tamaño moderadamente largo (longitud hocico-cloaca 32.5-36.0 mm en hembras adultas, 21.1-23.2 mm en machos adultos), piel del dorso muy rugosa con verrugas irregularmente distribuidas, pliegues dorsolaterales compuestos de verrugas glandulares redondas u oblongas, vientre con agrupaciones de verrugas pustulares aplanadas, hocico angular con forma de una pirámide tetragonal proyectado en vistas dorsal y lateral pero sin formar una probóscide; bordes del proceso transverso lisos, dorso de color café oscuro en vida con pliegues dorsolaterales y verrugas café marrón y abundantes puntos salmón pálido en el vientre. Esta nueva especie es el único Osornophryne conocido que vive en las laderas occidentales de los Andes y recomendamos que sea clasificado como En Peligro bajo los criterios de la UICN debido a su reducido rango de distribución que está bajo fuerte presión debido a la pérdida de hábitat y fragmentación. También discutimos sobre diferentes aspectos de la taxonomía, historia natural y distribución de las diferentes especies de Osornophryne. En particular, comentamos sobre la importancia de detallados análisis morfológicos, cromáticos y moleculares que tomen en consideración la variación ontogénica y dimórfica para clarificar el complejo estado de la identidad de algunas especies de Osornophryne

Biogeography, phylogeny, and morphological evolution of central Texas cave and spring salamanders

BACKGROUND: Subterranean faunal radiations can result in complex patterns of morphological divergence involving both convergent or parallel phenotypic evolution and cryptic species diversity. Salamanders of the genus Eurycea in central Texas provide a particularly challenging example with respect to phylogeny reconstruction, biogeography and taxonomy. These predominantly aquatic species inhabit karst limestone aquifers and spring outflows, and exhibit a wide range of morphological and genetic variation. We extensively sampled spring and cave populations of six Eurycea species within this group (eastern Blepsimolge clade), to reconstruct their phylogenetic and biogeographic history using mtDNA and examine patterns and origins of cave- and surface-associated morphological variation. RESULTS: Genetic divergence is generally low, and many populations share ancestral haplotypes and/or show evidence of introgression. This pattern likely indicates a recent radiation coupled with a complex history of intermittent connections within the aquatic karst system. Cave populations that exhibit the most extreme troglobitic morphologies show no or very low divergence from surface populations and are geographically interspersed among them, suggesting multiple instances of rapid, parallel phenotypic evolution. Morphological variation is diffuse among cave populations; this is in contrast to surface populations, which form a tight cluster in morphospace. Unexpectedly, our analyses reveal two distinct and previously unrecognized morphological groups encompassing multiple species that are not correlated with spring or cave habitat, phylogeny or geography, and may be due to developmental plasticity. CONCLUSIONS: The evolutionary history of this group of spring- and cave-dwelling salamanders reflects patterns of intermittent isolation and gene flow influenced by complex hydrogeologic dynamics that are characteristic of karst regions. Shallow genetic divergences among several species, evidence of genetic exchange, and nested relationships across morphologically disparate cave and spring forms suggests that cave invasion was recent and many troglobitic morphologies arose independently. These patterns are consistent with an adaptive-shift hypothesis of divergence, which has been proposed to explain diversification in other karst fauna. While cave and surface forms often do not appear to be genetically isolated, morphological diversity within and among populations may be maintained by developmental plasticity, selection, or a combination thereof

Effect of time on similarity score.

<p>Similarity scores versus days between photo captures of the same individual for (A) low-quality (<i>n</i> = 896) and (B) high-quality photos (<i>n</i> = 1090). Tables.</p

Head pattern recognition in <i>Eurycea tonkawae</i>.

<p>Pair of images from (A) two different individuals and (B) the same individual one year apart. Lines connect matching SIFT features.</p

Summary of datasets used in false rejection rate (FRR) and false acceptance rate (FAR) error calculations.

<p>Standard errors are included in parentheses.</p>a<p>per iteration.</p