A new species of the Rhinella margaritifera species group (Anura, Bufonidae) from the montane forest of the Selva Central, Peru.
We describe a new species of the bufonid toad genus Rhinella from transition montane forest of the buffer zones of the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and the Pui Pui Protected Forest (eastern slopes of Andes, Selva Central, Peru). The new species belongs to the Rhinella margaritifera species group (confirmed by mtDNA data) and differs from all its members by the absence of tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus. It is characterized by medium size (SVL 57.5-65.5 mm, n = 5), moderately developed cranial crests, absence of neural crest of vertebrae, absence of bone protrusion at angle of jaw, presence of lateral rows of enlarged tubercles, and absence of subgular vocal sac and vocal slits in males. In addition, based on the molecular phylogenetic analyses of selected Rhinella species we propose the monophylum containing R. chavin, R. festae, R. macrorhina, R. manu, R. nesiotes, R. rostrata, and R. yanachaga as a new species group under the name Rhinella festae species group.
Department of Zoology, National Museum, 19300 Praha 9, Czech Republic.
Jiří
J
Moravec
Department of Biology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL 61701, USA.
Edgar
E
Lehr
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Av. Arenales 1256, Lince, Lima 14, Perú
Juan Carlos
JC
Cusi
Departamento de Herpetología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Av. Arenales 1256, Lince, Lima 14, Perú
Jesús H
JH
Córdova
Department of Zoology, National Museum, 19300 Praha 9, Czech Republic.
Václav
V
Gvoždík
Amphibia; Andes; Rhinella festae; Rhinella yunga; new species; new species group