Stefania evansi

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Hylid frogs from Mount Ayanganna, Guyana: new species, redescriptions, and distributional records

A new species of Osteocephalus, one species of Hyla, three species of Hypsiboas and one of Myersiohyla were collected on Mount Ayanganna, a sandstone Guiana Shield tepui. Hyla warreni, Hypsiboas roraima, H. sibleszi, Myersiohyla kanaima and the new Osteocephalus were collected in high-tepui forest at 1500 m elevation, while Hypsiboas lemai, H. roraima and M. kanaima were also collected in lower montane forest at 870 m. Supplementary descriptions of adults of all species of Hyla, Hypsiboas and Myersiohyla based on the newly collected specimens are provided. Tadpoles of M. kanaima are described. The specimens from Ayanganna represent significant distributional records for several species. This is the first record of Osteocephalus as a member of the Guiana Shield high-tepui herpetofauna

Stefania coxi

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Micrurus ibiboboca (Serpentes, Elapidae) is not a Guiana Shield Species

Micrurus ibiboboca (Serpentes, Elapidae) is not a Guiana Shield specie

Stefania ayangannae

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Stefania roraimae

Number of Pages: 2Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Exceptional diversity of Stefania (Anura, Cryptobatrachidae) II: six species from Mount Wokomung, Guyana

Six species of Stefania were collected on Mount Wokomung, a tepui in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. This unusually high diversity of Stefania is similar to that found on a neighbouring tepui, Mt. Ayanganna. The two tepuis support slightly different habitats. Conspecific Stefania from the two mountains differ somewhat in body size, toe disc size and colouration. Specimens from Mt. Wokomung are used to expand descriptions and distributions of some species

Morphological variation in Leptodactylus lutzi (Anura, Leptodactylidae) with description of its advertisement call and notes on its courtship behavior

Prior to this study, Leptodactylus lutzi was known only from three localities in west-central Guyana. We refer here to a series of 60 additional specimens of L. lutzi collected in Kaieteur National Park, Mount Ayanganna, Mount Wokomung and the Merume Mountains in the Pakaraima Mountains region, substantially extending the known distribution of the species. We provide a revised diagnosis and an expanded description of L. lutzi discussing the extent of color-pattern variation in the species. Additionally, we describe its advertisement call and provide data on its reproductive biology

A new species of Colostethus (Anura, Dendrobatidae) from French Guiana with a redescription of Colostethus beebei (Noble, 1923) from its type locality

A new species of Colostethus, long mistaken for Colostethus beebei, is described from French Guiana. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by absence of median lingual process, first finger longer than second, third finger not distinctly swollen in males, differences in tadpole morphology, coloration and pattern (e.g. absence of dorsolateral stripe), bioacoustics, and reproductive behavior. A complete redescription of Colostethus beebei plus description of its tadpole and call is provided on the basis of recently collected topotypic specimens. The range of C. beebei is restricted to the Kaieteur plateau, Pakaraima Mountains, Guyana

Cascade frog from Southeast Asia

60 p. : ill. (some col.), map ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-59).The Southeast Asian cascade frog, Rana livida (Blyth, 1856), has long been suspected to be a complex of species. Several different forms are described from across its vast range. The loss of type material and disparate sampling efforts are challenges. Is variability in this species due to geographic variation or to the presence of multiple species? We use concordant evidence from morphology, morphometrics, cellular DNA content, and allozyme electrophoresis to investigate diversity in R. livida from Vietnam. Three distinct species are recognized on the basis of morphology, as are four other suspect groups (morphotypes). Discriminant function analyses of morphometric data detect patterns of morphological variation among all seven groups. Pairwise comparison of cellular DNA content using t-tests shows significant differences among sympatric morphotypes, suggesting they represent distinct species. This hypothesis is supported by an analysis of 14 allozymic loci, in which fixed allelic differences are found among specimens in sympatry and allopatry. Examination of available type material of four junior synonyms of R. livida results in their recognition as species. One of these species, R. chloronota, is a wide-ranging species erroneously referred to as R. livida. Seven species occur in Vietnam. We describe six new cryptic species belonging to the Rana chloronota complex, redescribe R. chloronota, R. livida, R. sinica, and R. graminea, and give comments on R. leporipes. Three of these new species (R. bacboensis, new species, R. hmongorum, new species, and R. daorum, new species) occur in montane forests in northern Vietnam, and two (R. banaorum, new species and R. morafkai, new species) are known only from the Tay Nguyen Plateau of Vietnam's Central Highlands. One species, R. megatympanum, new species, occurs in portions of both northern Vietnam and the Central Highlands. An identification key for the Rana chloronota complex from Vietnam is provided. The finding of six cryptic species within a small portion of the geographic region of R. chloronota suggests that many more cascade ranids await discovery. This documentation has serious implications for conservation; each of the new species occurs in sympatry with at least one other member of the complex. Consequently, far more species are being affected by habitat loss than was previously thought