Out of taxonomic limbo: a name for the species of Tepuihyla (Anura: Hylidae) from the Chimantá Massif, Pantepui region, northern South America

We describe a new hylid species of the genus Tepuihyla from Pantepui, northeastern South America. The new species inhabits the Chimantá Massif, Bolívar state, Venezuela. The new species is likely part of a recent non-adaptive ra- diation, and was confused for more than a decade with T. edelcae, a morphologically similar species occurring on the sum- mit of Auyán-tepui, Bolívar state, Venezuela. The new species is mainly distinguished from known congeners by phyloge- netic data, as well as a medium size (37.1 mm maximum SVL in males, 38.4 mm maximum SVL in females), diameter of eye greater than distance from nostril to eye, skin on dorsum smooth in females, with scattered, fine, white-tipped spicules in males, skin on flanks smooth to faintly granular, presence of a pale labial stripe and a dark band or stripe from nostril to eye, a dorsal ground colour from pale grey to dark brown, usually suffused with small to minute dark brown or black mark- ings, no transverse bars on limbs, rear of thighs patternless, axillary membrane poorly developed, breeding males with conspicuous, usually black, nuptial pads extending beyond thenar tubercle, iris dark brown to copper with gold flecks and sometimes fine dark brown reticulation, and white limb bones. The new species inhabits open, mostly flat areas on tepui summits, between ca 1,800 and 2,600 m altitude, where it is intimately associated with carnivorous bromeliads of the genus Brocchinia. The species breeds in deep pools in marshy areas and small shallow rocky pools; its tadpole and advertisement call are described. The IUCN conservation status of the new species is considered Least Concern (LC) because population size still seems relatively large, the species occurs in a number of locations, and is apparently not declining fast enough to qualify for any of the threat categories. Differentiation in morphological, acoustic, and genetic traits of species endemic to tepui summits are briefly discussed. Finally, Tepuihyla rimarum is considered a junior synonym of T. rodriguezi.

Jaar van publicatie:2015

Trefwoorden:Amphibia, cryptic species, genetic divergence, Guyana, morphology, tepui, new species, T. rimarum, Venezuela

CSS-citation score:1

Toegankelijkheid:Open