Description of the tadpoles of Hypsiboas aguilari and H. melanopleura (Anura: Hylidae: Hypsiboas pulchellus group)

We describe the tadpoles of Hypsiboas melanopleura and H. aguilari and compare them with the tadpoles of other species in the Hypsiboas pulchellus group. The description of the tadpole of H. aguilari is based on an individual at Gosner Stage 29 and that of H. melanopleura on an individual at Gosner Stage 28. Both tadpoles have a labial tooth row formula of 2(2)/4(1). At Stage 35, the tadpole of H. aguilari had a total length of 52.2 mm, at Stage 37, the tadpole of H. melanopleura had a total length of 60.7 mm. In life, the tadpole of H. aguilari has a brownish olive body with dark brown spots; fins transparent with dark brown reticulations, anterior half of tail muscle brown laterally, its posterior half pale brown with dark brown reticulations, and iris gold with black reticulations. In life, the tadpole of H. melanopleura has a pale beige ground coloration with brown flecks; tail laterally and ventrally whitish with grey flecks, and a beige iris. The tadpole morphology in Hypsiboas aguilari, H. melanopleura, and H. palaestes is similar, but tadpoles differ by their species-specific coloration patterns.Fil: Lehr, Edgard. Illinois Wesleyan Universit; Estados UnidosFil: Faivovich, Julián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Jungfer, Karl Heinz. Universitat Koblenz; Alemani

Relações filogenéticas entre espécies de "Flectonotus" (Anura: Hemiphractidae) isoladas geograficamente reveladas por dados moleculares, de comportamento e morfológicos

Phylogenetic analyses of data derived from one mitochondrial gene and one nuclear gene show that the five species of small marsupial frogs currently recognized as Flectonotus are in fact two distinct and not closely related lineages. This conclusion is strongly supported by reproductive behavior and morphological characters. Thus, we recognize the genus Fritziana Mello-Leitão for the three species in southeastern Brazil and Flectonotus Miranda-Ribeiro for the two species in northern South America.Análises filogenéticas de dados derivados de um gene mitocondrial e um gene nuclear mostram que as cinco espécies de pererecas-marsupiais de pequeno porte atualmente incluídas no gênero Flectonotus pertencem, na verdade, a duas linhagens distintas e não intimamente aparentadas. Essa conclusão é fortemente sustentada por caracteres morfológicos e características do comportamento reprodutivo. Dessa forma, reconhecemos os gêneros Fritziana Mello-Leitão, para as três espécies do sudeste do Brasil, e Flectonotus Miranda-Ribeiro, para as duas espécies do norte da América do Sul

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Osteocephalus mimeticus Melin 1941

Osteocephalus mimeticus (Melin, 1941) (Fig. 6) Hyla mimetica Melin, 1941 Osteocephalus pearsoni – Trueb & Duellman 1971 (partim) Hyla triangulum – Duellman 1974 (synonymized mimetica with triangulum) Hyla elkejungingerae Henle, 1981 Hyla elkejungingerae – Henle et al. 1983 Hyla elkejungingerae – Frost 1985 Osteocephalus verruciger – Schütte & Spieler 1986 Osteocephalus elkejungingerae – Henle 1992 (nov. comb.) Osteocephalus mimeticus – Smith & Noonan 2001 (nov. comb.) Osteocephalus elkejungingerae – Frost 2009 Hyla mimetica was described from two syntypes both bearing GNM “no. 469 ” from the village of Roque, Departamento San Martín, Peru. I designate the specimen that coincides in details of coloration with Melin’s (1941) Fig. 10 a, which his description apparently is based on, a subadult specimen of 34.0 mm SVL, as the lectotype. This frog has been confused many times since its description. One reason may be the fact that the type specimens are juvenile frogs with rows of bold paravertebral spots on the dorsum lacking many characteristic features of adult male Osteocephalus. Trueb & Duellman (1971) referred an adult specimen from Yaupi, Río Paucartambo, Departamento Pasco, Peru (KU 136312) to O. pearsoni and illustrated it as such. The dorsal coloration of the holotype apparently led Duellman (1974) to synonymize Hyla mimetica with Hyla triangulum Günther, 1869 (= Dendropsophus triangulum). However, the lectotype (he mentions a frog of 23.5 mm SVL; apparently the other syntype) lacks the axillary membranes and glandular thoractic patches of frogs of the Dendropsophus leucophyllatus group, which triangulum is a member of. Henle (1981) described Hyla elkejungingerae on the basis of juveniles collected as tadpoles and raised in captivity from Boquerón del Padre Abad, Departamento Ucayali, Peru. He later transferred it to Osteocephalus when frogs raised to adult size and more specimens were available (Henle 1992). Before, Frost (1985) had listed the taxon under Hyla elkejungingerae, but added a note by Hoogmoed that it was likely to be a synonym of Osteocephalus taurinus. Eric Smith (pers. comm. 2002) and I independently inspected the holotype of Hyla mimetica and agree that it is a valid taxon in the genus Osteocephalus. Earlier, Smith & Noonan (2001), without further comment, had referred to material examined by them as Osteocephalus mimeticus in their description of Osteocephalus exophthalmus. The species (as Osteocephalus elkejungingerae) was described in detail by Henle (1992), so it need not be repeated here. The lectotype agrees with the holotype of Hyla elkejungingerae, also a subadult (22 mm SVL) as well as with the large series of “topotypes” at the ZFMK, namely the subadult specimens (e. g. ZFMK 39164, 40152– 3). The lectotype of Hyla mimetica has still retained some juvenile characters: Large white supralabial spots (reduced to a large subocular mark in many adults), dark paravertebral markings (a uniform dorsum or variable markings on the entire dorsum in adults), light elbows, knees and tibiotarsal articulations (dark like the rest of the extremities in adults). But the iris coloration, black with some golden blotches (a character shared among the genus only with the allopatric Colombian O. carri) is already reminiscent of that of an adult. In contrast, recently metamorphosed juveniles have bright red irises. Live subadults have intermediate irises with black blotches on light red ground. The red color quickly fades in preserved frogs. Sexes at this stage can already be identified by dorsal skin structure. The specimen’s back is smooth, indicating that it is a female. The ontogenetic change in this species has been described and illustrated several times (Henle 1981, Henle et al. 1983, Schütte and Spieler 1993) under various names. Females from the type locality of Hyla elkejungingerae that I placed together with a male from Tarapoto, about 45 km east of the type locality of Hyla mimetica, laid eggs that were fertile. Frogs raised from these eggs were also fertile. The maximum size for males measured is 62.7 mm SVL from Boquerón del Padre Abad, Departamento Ucayali, Peru (Henle 1992), the largest female, KU 209454 from the Río Cainarache, 33 km NE Tarapoto, San Martín, Peru, is 82.7 mm in SVL. Measurements of the lectotype of Hyla mimetica (in mm): SVL 34.0; HL 12.5; HW 12.0; TL 23.0; FL 12.6; ED 4.3; TD 2.1; FD 1.8; EN 3.6; IN 2.8; TE 1.9. Distribution: Osteocephalus mimeticus is a widespread species in the Andean foothills from about 260 to 1650 m a.s.l. from the Huancabamba Depression southward from Departamento San Martín, Peru, at least to Departamento Cuzco, Peru. I have seen photographs of a preserved specimen from Pilon Lajas, Departamento Beni, Bolivia, that I tentatively identified as O. mimeticus. This would be the southernmost locality record of the species. Similar frogs from north of the Huancabamba Depression in the Departamentos Amazonas and Cajamarca, Peru, and adjacent Provincia de Loja, Ecuador, represent an undescribed species most closely related to O. verruciger.Published as part of Jungfer, Karl-Heinz, 2010, The taxonomic status of some spiny-backed treefrogs, genus Osteocephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae), pp. 28-50 in Zootaxa 2407 on pages 39-41, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29392

Osteocephalus vilarsi Melin 1941

Osteocephalus vilarsi (Melin, 1941) nov. comb. (Fig. 7) Hyla (Trachycephalus) vilarsi Melin, 1941 Osteocephalus taurinus – Bokermann 1966 (synonymized vilarsi with taurinus) Osteocephalus leprieurii – Cochran and Goin 1970 (synonymized vilarsi with leprieurii) Osteocephalus taurinus – Trueb and Duellman 1971 Osteocephalus taurinus – Frost 2009 Hyla vilarsi (GNM 488) was described by Melin (1941) from a single female that he had obtained from indigenous people at Taracuá (on modern maps also Taracua or Missão Taraquá; for information on the type locality see Caldwell et al. 2002), about 100 m a.s.l., Rio Uaupés, in the upper Rio Negro drainage of Estado Amazonas, Brazil, on 7 April 1924. The holotype is a female of 62.2 mm snout-to-vent length (SVL) that contains eggs and therefore must be an adult. A striking feature are two distinct, almost parallel longitudinal frontoparietal ridges on the head, a character found in a few species of Osteocephalus. Bokermann (1966) listed the taxon without explanation as a synonym of Osteocephalus taurinus Steindachner, 1862. Cochran and Goin (1970) considered vilarsi and Osteocephalus planiceps Cope, 1874, to be synonymous with Osteocephalus leprieurii (Duméril and Bibron, 1841). Trueb and Duellman (1971) included vilarsi and O. planiceps, among others, in the synonymy of O. taurinus, a widespread species ranging from the Guyanas and southern Venezuela throughout the Amazon Basin southward to Bolivia. Duellman and Mendelson (1995) resurrected O. planiceps as a valid species. The status of vilarsi was not addressed by them. Thus, according to those previous authors, the taxon should either be a synonym of O. leprieurii, O. planiceps, or O. taurinus. Redescription of the holotype: Melin (1941) described the species in some detail. This is expanded here in order to facilitate the comparison between species, for while he mentioned the similarity between vilarsi and O. taurinus, he did not explicitly state the differences between them. Adult female of 62.2 mm SVL. Snout bluntly rounded in dorsal and lateral view. Head slightly longer than wide. Lateral edges of frontoparietals raised, forming two almost parallel ridges. Canthus rostralis very distinct, almost straight (very slightly curved inwardly). Loreal region deeply concave. Nostrils elevated, opening laterally. Dentigerous processes of vomers in contact with each other, bearing 11 teeth on the left and 15 on the right, angular, in between choanae, their anterior edges at about midlevel of the choanae, their posterior edges reaching slightly beyond the posterior edges of the choanae. The latter are large, oblique and bean-shaped though somewhat angular. Tongue elliptical, about 1.4 times longer than wide. Supratympanic fold from the anterior edge of the tympanum sloping towards the upper edge of the arm insertion in an almost straight line. Tympanum large, conspicuous, elliptical, slightly wider than high and about 77 % of the eye diameter. Skin on dorsum smooth with a few scattered, small, flat tubercles (under magnification) in the posterior half of the back. Dorsal surfaces of head rugose. Loreal region granulate. Skin loose or missing (removed) above the sphenethmoid and on the right nostril. Skin of body smooth laterally and on lateral and dorsal surfaces of the extremities. Ventrally smooth in thoracic area and on chin, granulate on belly and posterior two thirds of the thighs. Axillary membrane absent. Cloacal opening at about three fourths of thigh height. The finger and toe discs are desiccated. Melin described them as being scarcely half the size of the tympanum and slightly oblong, but it is not clear whether they were in a better state then. The disc of Finger III is 52 % of the tympanum width. The thumb bears a large elliptical thenar tubercle and there is a prominent supernumerary tubercle proximal to the proximal subarticular tubercle. A few low tubercles are present on the outer edge of the fourth finger. The distal subarticular tubercle on Finger IV is barely bifid, the others are simple. The relative length of the adpressed fingers is I 1400 m on Mount Ayanganna has about the same size as vilarsi and also shares cranial ridges, but vilarsi lacks an axillary fold (one half of humerus length in phasmatus) and the width of the disc of Finger III is about half the tympanum width (larger than tympanum). Since vilarsi can be distinguished from all other species in the area it is here considered a valid member of the genus Osteocephalus characterized by (1) medium size (female 62.2 mm SVL), sexual dimorphism unknown; (2) skin on dorsum of females smooth anteriorly, interspersed with small flat tubercles on the posterior 2 / 3 of the back, unknown in males; (3) skin on flanks smooth; (4) very prominent, almost straight canthus rostralis; (5) frontoparietal ridges present, well visible through skin; (6) dentigerous processes of vomers angular; (7) straight supratympanic fold, sloping in a fairly straight line posterior to the tympanum; (8) web on inner edge of third finger reaching distal end of penultimate subarticular tubercle; (9) distal subarticular tubercle on Finger IV barely bifid; (10) dorsum uniform tan; (11) venter cream with some small brown spots posterior to the clavicle; (12) narrow white labial stripe to posterior edge of tympanum, extended into large subocular spot; (13) flanks brown with a few small irregular tan spots; (14) position of vocal sacs unknown; (15) juvenile coloration unknown; (16) tadpole habitat and labial tooth row formula unknown; (17) color of bones white (?). Distribution: Osteocephalus vilarsi is still only known from the type locality in the extreme northwest of Brazil, close to the Colombian border.Published as part of Jungfer, Karl-Heinz, 2010, The taxonomic status of some spiny-backed treefrogs, genus Osteocephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae), pp. 28-50 in Zootaxa 2407 on pages 41-46, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29392

Osteocephalus inframaculatus Boulenger 1882

Osteocephalus inframaculatus (Boulenger, 1882) nov. comb. (Fig. 5) Hyla inframaculata Boulenger, 1882 Hyla inframaculata – Nieden 1923 Hyla inframaculata – Duellman 1977 Hyla inframaculata – Frost 2009 This species, known only from the holotype, BM 1947.2. 13.10, has only appeared in species lists after its description. Its type locality is “Santarem”, Estado do Para, Brazil. Although there are few characters found in species of Osteocephalus that are not present in other hylid genera (Jungfer and Hödl 2002), the combination of angular vomers, a bifid ultimate subarticular tubercle of Finger IV and tuberculate dorsal skin characterize Hyla inframaculata as a species of Osteocephalus. The tuberculate dorsal skin in a female specimen together with areolate skin on the flanks, non-uniform coloration of the posterior surfaces of the thighs and a row of tubercles on the tarsus indicate that the species is a member of the buckleyi complex. With only one undissected specimen at hand, neither sex, identified by lack of nuptial excrescences, lack of vocal sac apertures and externally visible vocal sacs, nor adult size can be taken for completely granted. Redescription of the holotype: Snout rounded in dorsal and lateral view, as long as the diameter of the orbit. Head slightly wider than long, without raised lateral edges of the frontoparietals. Canthus rostralis rounded, indistinct; loreal region slightly concave; interorbital space as broad as the upper eyelid. Dorsal surfaces of head and canthus rostralis covered with small, irregular tubercles; larger tubercles on the orbits. Tympanum distinct, large, about 70 % of the diameter of the eye. A heavy tuberculate supratympanic fold from the midlevel of the eye to a point at about 2 h (when tympanum is thought as a clock face), sloping towards the flanks to a point at about midlevel of the tympanum. Tongue circular, vomers angular, almost between the large choanae. Anteriorly, the choanae reach slightly beyond the anterior parts of the vomers, posteriorly it is vice versa. Dorsum tuberculate. Two dorsal folds not mentioned in the original description, but shown in Plate XXIII (Boulenger 1882) and still present, are irregular and obviously artefacts of preservation. Anterior two thirds of the flanks areolate. Ventrally granulate. Cloacal opening at about midlevel of the thighs. Anal sheath absent. Circumanal tubercles present, low. Axillary membrane weak. Upper surfaces of limbs weakly tuberculate. A row of irregular tubercles on the outer ventrolateral edge of the lower arm and the tarsus. Hidden surfaces of limbs smooth. When bent forward, the tibiotarsal articulation reaches nearly the tip of the snout. Finger discs rounded. Disc on Finger III about 70 % the diameter of the tympanum. The relative lengths of the adpressed fingers is I <II <IV <III. Finger webbing formula is I basal II 1 ½ — 2 2 / 3 III 3 – — 2 + IV. Webbing on the inner edge of Finger III reaches halfway between penultimate and ultimate subarticular tubercle. The distal subarticular tubercle on Finger IV is bifid. The relative length of adpressed toes is I <II <III ≤ V <IV. The webbing formula is I 1 + — 2 II 1 + — 2 ½ III 1 1 / 3 — 2 1 / 3 IV 2 ½ — 1 V. Measurements of the holotype (in mm): SVL 41.9; HL 14.2; HW 14.5; TL 22.4; FL 27.6; ED 5.2; TD 3.7; FD 2.2; EN 4.6; IN 3.1; TE 2.2. Coloration: Dorsally grayish brown, indistinctly marbled with dark brown; Flanks marbled white and brown; throat and chest with bold brown blotches on cream ground; posterior half of abdomen and ventral surfaces of thighs light brown; hidden surfaces of arms and legs boldly marbled with brown and cream. The tibiofibular bones are white. Comparisons: The only known female is much smaller than both female O. festae (78.9 mm) and O. cabrerai (71.8 mm), and smaller than female O. buckleyi (54.1 mm). Other differences to O. cabrerai include the outer edge of Finger IV, which is tuberculate in its proximal half and smooth in the distal half (with an irregular fringe in O. cabrerai) and there are no tubercles on the lower jaw (present in O. cabrerai). It differs from O. festae in the coloration of the posterior surfaces of thighs in preservative, which are tan with light short vermiculation (uniform brown). It differs from O. buckleyi, O. cabrerai and O. festae in having a longer snout. The snout is round in dorsal view, while O. buckleyi usually has a bluntly rounded to truncate snout. Osteocephalus inframaculatus may be diagnosed as (1) a medium-sized species with sexual dimorphism unknown; (2) skin on dorsum of female tuberculate; (3) anterior two thirds of the flanks areolate; (4) canthus rostralis indistinct, rounded, curved inward; (5) frontoparietal ridges not visible through skin; (6) dentigerous processes of vomers angular; (7) tuberculate supratympanic fold from the midlevel of the eye sloping posterior to the tympanum towards the flanks up to about midlevel of the tympanum; (8) web on inner edge of third finger reaching halfway between penultimate and ultimate subarticular tubercle; (9) distal subarticular tubercle on Finger IV bifid; (10) dorsum grayish brown, indistinctly marbled with dark brown; (11) ventrally anterior half with large brown blotches on cream ground, posterior half light brown; (12) several light markings on the upper lip, the largest one posteroventral to the midlevel of the eye to the tympanum; (13) flanks marbled white and brown; (14) position of vocal sacs unknown; (15) juvenile coloration unknown; (16) tadpole habitat and labial tooth row formula unknown; (17) color of tibiofibular bones white in preservative.Published as part of Jungfer, Karl-Heinz, 2010, The taxonomic status of some spiny-backed treefrogs, genus Osteocephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae), pp. 28-50 in Zootaxa 2407 on pages 36-38, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29392

Osteocephalus cabrerai Cochran and Goin 1970

&lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; (Cochran and Goin, 1970) &lt;p&gt;(Figs. 1, 2, 8 a)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Hyla cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; Cochran and Goin, 1970&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; &ndash; Trueb and Duellman 1971 (synonymized &lt;i&gt;cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; with &lt;i&gt;buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;) &lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; &ndash; Duellman and Mendelson 1995 (revalidated &lt;i&gt;cabrerai&lt;/i&gt;, nov. comb.) &lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; &ndash; Lynch 2002&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; &ndash; Frost 2009&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; The holotype of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; (USNM 152759) is from the Ca&ntilde;o Guacay&aacute;, a tributary of the lower R&iacute;o Apaporis, Departamento Amazonas, Colombia. Cochran and Goin (1970) described it in detail and differentiated it from &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; by chest and throat coloration, a variable character in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;, and by more webbing. Trueb and Duellman (1971) synonymized &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; with &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; stating that its morphological characters were within the variation of the latter. Duellman and Mendelson (1995) revalidated &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; on the basis of a green male with nuptial excrescences from San Jacinto, Departamento Loreto, Peru. Subsequently, most authors dealing with &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; -like frogs that were predominantly green called them &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; (Gorzula and Se&ntilde;aris 1998, Lescure and Marty 2000, Lynch 2002). I was able to examine the holotype and also the specimen from San Jacinto (KU 221927), among others, and identified the latter as &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;. Nonetheless, &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; is considered a valid species here. I have seen Colombian and Peruvian material and concur with Lynch (2002) that frogs he collected near Leticia, Departamento Amazonas, Colombia, are &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt;. Figure 1 in Lynch (2002) lower right (not as stated upper left) depicts a specimen.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Cochran and Goin (1970), Trueb and Duellman (1971) and Duellman and Mendelson (1997) provide details of the morphology of the holotype, so no detailed description is given here. These authors all agree that &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; has more webbing and is much more tuberculate than &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Comparisons:&lt;/b&gt; The holotype and additional material is compared with &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; from northwestern Amazonia (Colombia, Ecuador, northern Peru) (see Appendix for specimens examined). Females of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; (SVL up to 71.4 mm) from Colombia and Peru are much larger than those of &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; (SVL up to 54.2 mm). Males are up to 54.8 mm (up to 46.7 in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; There are several tubercles ventrally on the posterior part of the lower jaw (absent in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;). The webbing (Fig. 8 a) between Finger I and II of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; reaches beyond the subarticular tubercle on Finger I and is continued to the disc as a smooth fringe. It reaches the subarticular tubercle on Finger II and is continued to the disc as a smooth fringe. In &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; (Fig. 8 b) it is basal (i. e. considerably lower than the only subarticular tubercle on Finger I and the proximal subarticular tubercle on Finger II). In &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; webbing on the inner side of Finger III reaches the proximal part of the ultimate subarticular tubercle and continues as a fringe to the finger disc. In &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; webbing on the inner side of Finger III varies. It reaches the penultimate subarticular tubercle or less than half way between the penultimate and the ultimate subarticular tubercle. In &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt;, the outer edge of Finger IV is irregularly fringed (either smooth, tuberculate, a smooth fringe, or a fringe with a few slightly raised tubercles in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;) and the ulna bears several large tubercles posteriorly (several low tubercles in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;). A row of tubercles along the posteroventral margin of the tarsus is very prominent in &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; (variable, i.e. low to prominent, in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;). Only the disc is free of webbing on Toe I, while the intercalary tubercle is free in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;. An axillary membrane extends for about one third or slightly more the length of the upper arm (one fourth in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;). The tympanum is elliptical (its height about 90% its width in the holotype) to round (same as in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;). Both species can be predominantly green, but while this is almost exclusively so in &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; may have dorsal and lateral colorations of all shades of brown, grey and green.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; The iris color of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; is whitish to light golden with dark venation that varies with light from fine to wide. There is a dark brown horizontal bar and a dark brown vertical streak in the lower half of the iris (Fig. 2).The iris coloration varies in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;. There are specimens with almost clear golden or yellow irises, but also darker ones (golden tan), with irregular venation, some with a hue of radiating dark lines. There is usually a dark horizontal mid-eye bar varying in intensity, and often a dark vertical streak in the lower half of the iris (Fig. 3).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; The posterior surfaces of the thighs of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; are light tan with dark tan spots or irregular tan markings in preservative. In life, they are bright blue with tan spots or irregular tan markings. The hidden surfaces of tibia, tarsus, parts of Toe I and II, axillary membrane and posterior part of upper arm are bright blue. In &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; the posterior surfaces of the thighs are variable: in preservative tan with or without dark brown and/or light marbling or irregular crossbars. In life they are tan to dark purple with or without black and/or green marbling or ill-defined crossbars. Breeding males of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; with well-developed nuptial excrescences found in amplexus lack keratinized tips on dorsal tubercles (present in &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; The tibiofibular bones are green in life in both species. Bones of some preserved specimens of &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt; are pale with no green visible.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Snout-to-vent lengths are similar in &lt;i&gt;O. festae&lt;/i&gt; (males up to 48.1 mm, females up to 78.9 mm) and &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; (males up to 54.8 mm SVL, females up to 71.4 mm), but the latter differs from &lt;i&gt;O. festae&lt;/i&gt; (in parentheses) in a truncate snout in dorsal and lateral aspect (rounded), in a larger tympanum in females of &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; with TD/HL = 0.20&ndash;0.22 and TD/FD = 1.11&ndash;1.31 (TD/HL = 0.16&ndash;0.19 and TD/FD = 0.87&ndash;1.08 in females of &lt;i&gt;O. festae&lt;/i&gt;), tubercles ventrally on the posterior part of the lower jaw (smooth), a tuberculate supratympanic fold (smooth) and more extensive webbing. On the hand the webbing reaches at least the proximal end of the ultimate subarticular tubercle on the inner side of Finger III (the penultimate subarticular tubercle). The outer edge of Finger IV is irregularly fringed (a row of low tubercles). The tibiofibular bones are green (white).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Reaching an SVL of 71.4 mm in females, &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; appears to be a much larger species than &lt;i&gt;O. inframaculatus&lt;/i&gt; (41.9 mm in the only known female specimen). The latter species also lacks tubercles ventrally on the posterior part of the lower jaw. The posterior surfaces of the thighs are tan with light short vermiculation (light with tan spots or irregular tan markings in &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt;). Webbing of &lt;i&gt;O. inframaculatus&lt;/i&gt; (see below) is similar to that of &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;, i. e. considerably less extensive than in &lt;i&gt;O. cabrerai&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; may be diagnosed as (1) a medium to large-sized species with considerable sexual dimorphism in SVL (71.4 mm in females, 54.8 mm in males) and minor differences in dorsal tuberculation; (2) skin on dorsum granulate in females, tuberculate in males; tubercles lacking keratinized tips in breeding males; (3) skin on flanks areolate; (4) canthus rostralis weakly angular, strongly curved inward; (5) frontoparietal ridges not visible from outside; (6) dentigerous processes of vomers angular; (7) a tuberculate supratympanic fold from midlevel of eye to midlevel of tympanum posteriorly, sloping towards arm insertion up to lower tympanum level; (8) web on inner edge of third finger reaching proximal part of ultimate subarticular tubercle or beyond, continued as a fringe to finger disc; (9) distal subarticular tubercle on Finger IV broad-edged to bifid; (10) dorsum variable in shades of green with tan and brown blotches, streaks, or a reticulate pattern; (11) venter creamy white with or without tan spots; (12) a pale supralabial mark posteroventrally from eye to mid-tympanum; (13) flanks light with or without tan blotches; (14) position of vocal sacs paired, protruding posteroventral to angles of jaws; (15) juvenile coloration unknown; (16) tadpoles in streams, labial tooth row formula unknown; (17) color of tibiofibular bones green in preservative.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Distribution:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Osteocephalus cabrerai&lt;/i&gt; is known from several lowland sites below 250 m a.s.l. in Amazonian Colombia (Departamento Amazonas) and Peru (Departamentos Loreto and Ucayali). There are also specimens from the Guiana Shield and the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela (Gorzula and Se&ntilde;aris 1998, Lescure and Marty 2000, Lima &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2005 [as &lt;i&gt;O. buckleyi&lt;/i&gt;]) that I refrain from including in the present study.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Jungfer, Karl-Heinz, 2010, The taxonomic status of some spiny-backed treefrogs, genus Osteocephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae), pp. 28-50 in Zootaxa 2407&lt;/i&gt; on pages 29-33, DOI: &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/293925"&gt;10.5281/zenodo.293925&lt;/a&gt

Pristimantis yuruaniensis Rödder & Jungfer, 2008, sp. nov.

Pristimantis yuruaniensis sp. nov. (Figs. 1–3) Yuruaní Rainfrog Holotype. ZFMK 87278 (Fig. 1, 2), an adult female, collected on Yuruaní-tepui, Estado Bolívar, Municipio Gran Sabana, Venezuela (Fig. 3), approximately 5 ° 19´31 ´´ N, 60 ° 50´40 ´´ W, 2300 m a.s.l., by Karin and Helmut Mägdefrau on 18 February 1991. Paratypes. Two specimens, both collected with the holotype. SMNS 0 9855, adult female; ULABG (Colección de Anfibios y Reptiles, Laboratorio de Biogeografía, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela) 7023, adult female. Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the type locality of the new species (Yuruaní-tepui) and the Latin suffix – ensis (meaning native of, or belonging to). Diagnosis. A small-sized Pristimantis sharing the following characters with strabomantid frogs: head about as wide as body; tympanic membrane differentiated or not; cranial crest usually absent; dentigerous process of vomers usually present; terminal discs on digits expanded (with apical papillae in members of the P. calceus Group), bearing well-defined circumferential grooves, supported by T-shaped terminal phalanges; comparative length of fingers I and II variable; subarticular tubercles not protruding; texture of skin on dorsum variable; venter smooth or areolate; range in SVL 13–73 mm (Hedges et al. 2008). In strabomantid frogs, Toe V is commonly as long as or longer than Toe III (Hedges et al. 2008), but slightly shorter in P. yuruaniensis. The species cannot be assigned to any of the species groups of Pristimantis sensu Hedges et al. (2008) (Character status of P. yuruaniensis in parentheses): Species of the bellona, chalceus, frater, galdi, lacrimosus, leptolophus, loustes, orcesi, and unistrigatus species groups have Toe V much longer than Toe III (shorter). Members of the conspicillatus species group have Toe V slightly longer than Toe III (shorter), and commonly basal webbing between toes (absent). Members of the curtipes species group have narrow and rounded digital discs (expanded) and cranial crests (absent). Species of the devillei species group have commonly cranial crests (absent), and Toe V slightly longer than Toe III (shorter). Members of the myersi and orestes species groups have Toe V slightly longer than Toe III (shorter) and narrow and rounded digital discs (expanded). In species of the peruvianus and surdus species group Toe V is slightly longer than Toe III (shorter). Pristimantis yuruaniensis has (1) dorsal skin tubercular in life becoming smooth in preservative, that of venter smooth; (2) tympanum small but distinct, tympanic annulus present, supratympanic fold distinct, consisting of a row of enlarged tubercles, weak middorsal raphe present in preserved specimens, well visible in living specimens; (3) snout rounded to slightly subovoid in dorsal view, acuminate in profile; canthus rostralis slightly concave, edge rounded and indistinct; (4) upper eyelid with one prominent, conical tubercle and irregularly scattered smaller tubercles (tubercles are absent in preserved specimens); (5) choanae elliptical, same size as nostrils; very small and indistinct vomers posterior and medial to choanae, no vomerine dentigerous processes; tongue round, filling the whole mouth; (6) status of vocal slits and nuptial pads unknown (only females available); (7) Finger I slightly shorter than Finger II; (8) fingers without lateral keels; (9) axillary tubercle absent; (10) ulnar tubercles absent; (11) calcars absent; (12) inner metatarsal tubercle oval, outer metatarsal tubercle half the size of inner, indistinct metatarsal tubercle; (13) toes without lateral keels; no webbing; Toe IV with relatively broad elliptical disc, same size than disc on Toe V; discs on Toes I, II and III about 3 / 4 the size of disc of Toe IV (Fig. 4); (14) in preservative, dorsal and dorsolateral ground color uniform dark brown; ventral coloration light brown; no markings on forearm, shanks and anterior thigh surfaces; in life, dorsum dark brown to grayish-black laterally paler with diffuse yellowish-orange reticulation in the groin, neither lip bars nor crossbars on forearms and shanks; coloration of iris silver to bluish silver with fine black reticulation and a diffuse darker horizontal bar (Fig. 3); (15) SVL 30.4–31.6 mm in females. Pristimantis yuruaniensis is unique among other Venezuelan tepui and Guiana Shield Pristimantis in the following combination of characters: its rather uniform dorsal coloration, absence of lip, forearm and shank bars, its small tympanum, and its advertisement call. In addition, the new species is easily distinguished from other Guiana Shield species by the following characters (those of P. yuruaniensis in parentheses). Pristimantis aracamuni (Barrio-Amorós and Molina) has distinctly notched finger discs (not notched), and a very short Finger I not reaching disc on Finger II (Fingers I and II nearly equal in length) (Barrio-Amorós and Molina 2006). Pristimantis auricarens (Myers and Donnelly) has no tympanic membrane and annulus (present). Adults of P. a v i u s (Myers and Donnelly) have a brown or grey mottled throat in preservative (light brown, no mottling), dark bars reaching from the eye to the upper lip (absent), tympanum 33–41 % of eye length (29.3 and 32.5 %, smaller), a supratympanic fold originating at the corner of the eye and extending to shoulder (consisting of a row of enlarged tubercles), and tip of Toe V extending to distal edge of ultimate subarticular tubercle of Toe IV (reaching to the proximal edge of subarticular tubercle of Toe IV) (Myers and Donnelly 1997). Pristimantis cantitans (Myers and Donnelly) and P. yaviensis (Myers and Donnelly) have basal webbing on toes (absent); hands and feet of P. cantitans bear weak lateral fringes (absent), lip bars radiating from the eye to the lip vary from distinct to vague, but are visible (absent), and it has axillary tubercles (absent) (Myers and Donnelly 2001). Pristimantis cavernibardus (Myers and Donnelly) has deeply notched finger discs (not notched), a pale gular stripe (absent), and P. pruinatus (Myers and Donnelly) has flat warts on the eyelids (absent); in P. cavernibardus and P. pruinatus, when Toe V is adpressed against Toe IV, its disc reaches just beyond the penultimate subarticular tubercle (reaching to the proximal edge of subarticular tubercle of Toe IV). Pristimantis chiastonotus (Lynch and Hoogmoed) has a dorsolateral fold represented by a row of pustules (absent), a large tympanum (small), and small discs on fingers (broad discs). Pristimantis dendrobatoides Means and Savage has a purplish black dorsum with several large red sports (no red spots), venter and undersurfaces of limbs bright red in life (different), and produces malodorous and distasteful skin secretions when handled (not reported). Pristimantis fenestratus (Steindachner) has scattered enlarged tubercles on a shaggreened dorsum (no enlarged tubercles) and prominent lip bars (absent). Pristimantis guaiquinimensis (Schlüter and Rödder) lacks tubercles in the tympanic region (present). Pristimantis gutturalis (Hoogmoed) has upper eyelids covered by somewhat larger warts than ton the rest of the body (no warts), an enlarged heel tubercle (absent), and a white-spotted black throat with a median cream wide stripe (uniform light brown). Pristimantis inguinalis (Parker) has Toe V much longer than Toe III (shorter). Pristimantis jester Means and Savage lacks an auditory apparatus (present) and has Toe V much longer than Toe III (shorter). In P. marahuaka (Fuentes-Ramos and Barrio-Amorós) the tympanum is indistinct (distinct), and no middorsal raphe in preservative (present). Pristimantis marmoratus (Boulenger) has a sparsely tubercular dorsum (tubercular), basal Toe webbing (absent), two black, curved, longitudinal lines from near the upper eyelid toward the scapular region (absent), few, sometimes indistinct bars radiate from the eye to the upper lip (absent), and crossbarred hind limbs (no crossbars) (Rivero 1961; Lescure and Marty 2000). Pristimantis memorans (Myers and Donnelly) has a dark W-shaped dorsal mark, 2-3 dark bars radiating from the eye to the upper lip, with intervening light spots (absent) and low and weak ulnar tubercles (absent) (Myers and Donnelly 1997). In P. ockendeni (Boulenger) Toe V is much longer than Toe III (shorter). Pristimantis pulvinatus (Rivero) has a Wshaped mark dorsally, dark crossbars on arms and shanks (absent) and variably distinct oblique lateral bars (absent) (Myers & Donnelly 1997). Pristimantis saltissimus Means and Savage has Toe V much longer than Toe III (shorter). Pristimantis stegolepis (Schlüter and Rödder) has the first finger longer than the second (shorter). Pristimantis tepuiensis (Schlüter and Rödder) has Toe V much longer than Toe III (shorter). Pristimantis vilarsi (Melin) has a W-shaped mark dorsally, and Finger I longer than Finger II (slightly shorter) (Barrio-Amorós and Molina 2006). Pristimantis yaviensis (Myers and Donnelly) has the tympanum concealed beneath skin or absent (distinct) (Myers and Donnelly 2001). Pristimantis zeuctotylus (Lynch and Hoogmoed) has a large tympanum (small), and Finger I is longer than Finger II (slightly shorter) (Lynch and Hoogmoed 1977). In P. zimmermanae (Heyer and Hardy) Toe V is much longer than Toe III (shorter). Description of the holotype. Snout outline rounded to slightly subovoid in dorsal view, acuminate in profile; head weakly distinct from body in dorsal view, HW 41.1 % SVL; canthus rostralis concave, rounded and indistinct; nostrils slightly protuberant, directed dorsolaterally; choanae elliptical, only slightly larger than nostrils; very small and indistinct vomers posterior and medial to choanae, no vomerine dentigerous processes; tongue slightly cordiform, filling the whole mouth; cranial crests absent; nostrils separated by a distance of 3 / 5 of IOD; eyes large, their diameter slightly smaller than EN; IOD 84.1 % of UEW; upper eyelids with prominent, conical tubercles and many scattered, smaller tubercles (tubercles are absent in preserved specimen, but visible in Fig. 2 A); tympanum distinct, 32.5 % of the diameter of the eye, separated from the eye by a distance of twice the TD; supratympanic fold consisting of a row of well developed tubercles, extending from the corner of the eye posterior to arm insertion; dorsal skin tuberculate in life becoming smooth in preservative, ventral skin smooth; relative length of adpressed fingers I <II <IV <III, not webbed, discs elliptical; discs of Fingers II, III and IV 1.5 times the tympanum diameter, disc of Finger I smaller; palmar and thenar tubercle not identifiable in our preserved specimens; subarticular tubercles as broad as finger, not protruding; status of supernumerary tubercles not identificable due to poor preservation; relative length of adpressed toes I <II <III <V <IV, unwebbed, discs elliptical; disc of Toe IV equal to disc of Finger IV; inner metatarsal tubercle protuberant, oval, larger than outer tubercle; outer metatarsal tubercle ovoid, but weakly identificable due to preservation, subarticular tubercles round, equal to toe width and slightly protruding; status of supernumerary tubercles not identificable due to poor preservation; calcars absent (Figs. 2, 4); TiL 49.4 % of SVL. Variation. HW 37.7–41.1 % SVL (mean = 39.2; n = 3); IOD 71.7–84.1 % (mean= 76.6; n= 3) of UEW; tympanum 29.3 and 32.5 % of the diameter of the eye; TiL 47.6–55.3 % of SVL (mean= 50.7; n= 3). Colouration. In preservative, dorsal ground color uniform dark brown; ventral coloration light brown, no crossbars on the forearms and the shanks or anterior thigh surfaces; in life, dorsum dark brown to grayishblack becoming lighter laterally with diffuse yellowish-orange reticulation in the groin; ventral surfaces are dirty cream with many minute brownish spots, which become denser on the throat; neither lip bars nor crossbars on forearms and shanks; coloration of iris silver to bluish silver with fine black reticulation and a diffuse darker horizontal bar (Figs. 2, 3). Measurements of type specimens (holotype / paratype SMNS 0 9855 / paratype ULABG 7023; in mm): SVL: 31.6 / 30.4 / 31.5; TiL: 15.6 / 16.8 / 15.0; FeL: 16.7 / 16.6 / 15.7; HeL: 13.6 / 12.7 / 12.7; HW: 13.0 / 11.8 / 11.9; Ind: 2.8 / 2.6 / 2.6; UEW: 4.4 / 4.6 / 4.6; IOD: 3.7 / 3.4 / 3.3; EN: 3.6 / 3.8 / 3.6; ED: 4.1 / 3.7 / 3.9; TD: 1.4 / 1.4 / 1.2; FD: 1.8 / - / -; 4 TD: 1.8 / - / -; ETS: 5.0 / 4.7 / 5.0; 1 FiL: 4.6 / 4.1 / -; 2 FiL: 5.2 / 4.5 / -; TaL: 9.7 / 10.4 / 9.9; FL: 14.7 / 13.4 / 13.2. Some morphological features could not be properly measured (indicated by a ‘-’) due to dehydration during preservation. Vocalization. The advertisement call of an uncollected male (taken on Yuruaní-tepui on 18 February 1991 between 18: 45 and 19:00 h, temperature not recorded; probably about 15 °C) can be characterized as a series of indistinctly pulsed, unmodulated notes. The dominant frequency is between 1.86 and 2.08 kHz (maximum energy at 1.98 ± 0.01 kHz; n = 24). Further harmonics are visible in the spectrogram between 2.14 and 2.26 kHz and between 5.73 and 6.38 kHz (Fig. 5). The note repetition rate is 0.39 notes s - 1 and the note length is between 0.093 and 0.139 s (mean = 0.122 ± 0.010 s; n= 24). Internote intervals range between 0.504 and 1.968 s (mean = 1.417 ± 0.374 s; n= 22). A second advertisement call of an uncollected specimen (illustrated on Fig. 3 F) putatively belonging to P. yuruaniensis sp. nov. recorded on Kukenán-tepui can be characterized as a series of indistinctly pulsed, not modulated notes. The dominant frequency is between 1.88 and 2.09 kHz (maximum energy at 2.08 ± 0.05 kHz; N = 8). Further harmonics are visible in the spectrogram between 2.23 and 2.28 kHz. The note repetition rate is 0.35 notes s - 1 and the note length is between 0.074 and 0.082 s (mean = 0.082 ± 0.006 s; n= 9). Internote intervals range between 2.86 and 3.86 s (mean = 3.14 ± 0.31 s; n= 7). Habitat and Natural History. On the tepui, all specimens were found sitting in dense vegetation mainly composed of Rapateaceae, Bromeliaceae, Xyridaceae, Eriocaulaceae and Orchidaceae (Mägdefrau and Mägdefrau 1994). Four specimens were taken to Germany alive and kept in a terrarium. During captivity, raised air humidity enhanced call activity. A single clutch consisting of nine whitish eggs was laid onto a plastic dish covered with moss during captivity (Fig. 3 D). Unfortunately, the clutch was destroyed by a fungus infection. Three of the specimens are included in the type series, one – apparently a male – was unfortunately lost. Distribution. Pristimantis yuruaniensis is only known from Yuruaní-tepui (approximately 5 ° 19´31 ´´ N, 60 ° 50´40 ´´ W, 2300 m a.s.l.) and Kuenán-tepui (approximately 5 ° 11´13 ´´ N, 60 ° 49´20 ´´ W, 2550 m a.s.l.), Estado Bolívar, Municipio Gran Sabana, Venezuela (Fig. 6).Published as part of Rödder, Dennis & Jungfer, Karl-Heinz, 2008, A new Pristimantis (Anura, Strabomantidae) from Yuruaní-tepui, Venezuela, pp. 58-68 in Zootaxa 1814 on pages 59-65, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18287

A New Species of \u3cem\u3eOsteocephalus\u3c/em\u3e with Bicoloured Iris from Pozuzo (Peru: Departamento de Pasco) (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)

A new species of hylid frog, genus Osteocephalus is described from the eastern Andean slopes of central Peru (Pozuzo, Departamento Pasco) between 780 and 1000 m above sea level. It differs from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: small size, smooth dorsum in males, bicoloured iris lacking radiating dark lines, but finely reticulate ventrally, light, pale nuptial pads not keratinized, and subgular vocal sac. Females of the new species are unknown

A New Andean Species of the Hypsiboas Pulchellus Group: Adults, Calls, and Phylogenetic Relationships

We describe a new species of the Hypsiboas pulchellus Group from the eastern Andes of central Peru (Region Pasco). Calls of both H. melanopleura and the new species are described. The new species is more similar to H. melanopleura and H. palaestes but differs in morphological characters and in coloration pattern. The new species and H. melanopleura are included in a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the H. pulchellus Group that shows them to be sister species and forming a second, independent, Andean clade within the group. New collecting sites for H. melanopleura are provided with the first record in the Region of Junin and the distribution of H. melanopleura, H. palaestes, and the new species is illustrated in a map