title: A new species of the genus Pristimantis (Amphibia, Craugastoridae) associated with the moderately elevated massifs of French Guiana.
abstract: We describe a new Pristimantis from French Guiana, northern South America, which is mainly distinguished from known phenotypically related congeners (i.e. species from the polyphyletic unistrigatus species group) occurring at low and middle elevations in the Guiana Shield by the combination of a distinct tympanum, a lower ratio of tibia vs. hand length, a reddish groin region, and a distinct advertisement call consisting of clusters of generally four short notes. The new species inhabits pristine primary forests on the slopes of isolated massifs reaching more than 400 m elevation, and seems not to occur below ca. 200 m above sea level. Such a sharp altitudinal limit suggests a strong influence of thermal variation on the distribution of the species, and therefore a potential sensitivity to climate change. With only nine isolated populations documented so far, the new species should be prioritized for conservation. Historical climate fluctuations during the Quaternary are likely responsible for the distribution pattern of the new species.
authors.affiliation: CNRS Guyane USR3456, Immeuble Le Relais, 2 Avenue Gustave Charlery, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana; Email: fouquet.antoine@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fouquet
authors.affiliation: CNRS Guyane USR3456, Immeuble Le Relais, 2 Avenue Gustave Charlery, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Quentin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: CNRS Guyane USR3456, Immeuble Le Relais, 2 Avenue Gustave Charlery, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Elodie A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Courtois
authors.affiliation: Biotope, Agence Amazonie-Caraïbes, 30 Domaine de Montabo, Lotissement Ribal, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Maël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dewynter
authors.affiliation: Biotope, Agence Amazonie-Caraïbes, 30 Domaine de Montabo, Lotissement Ribal, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Kévin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pineau
authors.affiliation: CNRS Guyane USR3456, Immeuble Le Relais, 2 Avenue Gustave Charlery, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaucher
authors.affiliation: Pointe Maripa, RN2/PK35, Roura, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.affiliation: Impasse Jean Galot, Montjoly, French Guiana; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.affiliation: 5Biology Department, Amphibian Evolution Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 2 Pleinlaan, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium and Department of Vertebrates, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 29 rue Vautier, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Philippe J R
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kok
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D006172:Guyana; D008297:Male; D014828:Vocalization, Animal