A new minute Pristimantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Andes of southern Ecuador

PLoS One. 2018 Aug 29;13(8):e0202332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202332. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

We describe a new rainfrog species (Pristimantis), from the wetland complex Oña, Nabón, Saraguro and Yacuambi, in the Andes of southern Ecuador, at altitudes ranging between 3000-3400 m a.s.l. Pristimantis tiktik sp. nov. is a small frog, displaying sexual dimorphism (the males with dorsum of various shades of gray, brown, orange or green and a whitish or pinkish yellow venter; females with brownish gray or gray dorsum and a reticulated white and black venter), with SVL ranging between 19.7-20.4 mm in females (n = 3) and 16.1-18.4 mm in males (n = 6). The skin on dorsum is tuberculated, that on venter is coarsely areolate, dorsolateral folds are absent, tympanic membrane is absent but the tympanic annulus is evident, cranial crests are absent, discs on fingers just slightly expanded, heel is lacking enlarged tubercles, inner edge of tarsus is bearing a long fold, Toe V is slightly longer than Toe III and the iris coloration is bronze with fine black reticulations. The males have a large subgular vocal sac that extends onto the chest and vocal slits but lack nuptial pads. The unique advertisement call consists of long duration series of periodically repeated clicks: "tik". Molecular analyses place the new species in the recently resurrected P. orestes group, as the sister species of the assemblage that contains P. bambu, P. mazar, P. simonbolivari and an undescribed species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Altitude
  • Animal Distribution
  • Animals
  • Anura / anatomy & histology*
  • Anura / classification*
  • Anura / genetics
  • Body Size
  • Ecuador
  • Female
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Pigmentation
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Vocalization, Animal
  • Wetlands

Grants and funding

PS and DC received funding from Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Republic of Ecuador (SENESCYT) through the Prometeo Project. Research was supported by SYNTHESYS grants: SE-TAF-4807 to PS and GBTAF-4710 to DC. The SYNTHESYS Project is financed by the European Community–Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 “Capacities” Specific Programme. Field work was partially financed by the Municipalidad de Saraguro trough the project “Inventario de áreas protegidas de cantón Saraguro e implementación de un plan de conservación de áreas de interés ecológico y reforestación con especies nativas” (PY2029) granted to LOD.