Pristimantis mariaelenae, Venegas, Pablo J. & Duellman, William E., 2012

Venegas, Pablo J. & Duellman, William E., 2012, Two syntopic new species of the Pristimantis orestes Group (Anura: Strabomantidae) from northwestern Peru, Zootaxa 3249, pp. 47-59 : 48-55

Pristimantis mariaelenae new species

Figs. 1 (A & B), 2(A–F), 3, 4 (A–L)

Holotype: CORBIDI 0 2824, an adult female, from Cañaris, Provincia de Ferreñafe, Región Lambayeque, Perú (6˚7'14.4" S, 79˚18'4.43" W; 3596 m.a.s.l.) obtained on 16 June 2007 by Pablo J. Venegas.

Paratypes: CORBIDI 02827–28, two adult females; CORBIDI 0 2823, 02825–26, 0 2829, 0 2831, five adult males; CORBIDI 0 2830 and 0 2832, two juveniles, collected with the holotype by Pablo J. Venegas.

Diagnosis. A member of the Pristimantis (Pristimantis) orestes Group following the definition of Pristimantis and the Pristimantis orestes Group and their placement in Strabomantidae as arranged by Hedges et al. (2008) and followed by Duellman & Lehr (2009), having the following combination of characters: (1) skin on dorsum shagreen with scattered small tubercles; flanks tuberculate; skin on venter areolate; discoidal fold indistinct, evident as thoracic fold; dorsolateral fold weak or evident; (2) tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus present, distinct; (3) snout rounded in dorsal and lateral views; (4) upper eyelid bearing small, low, round tubercles; upper eyelid width slightly narrower than IOD; cranial crests absent; (5) dentigerous processes of vomers low, indistinct, separated, concealed by palatal mucosa; (6) vocal slits and spinous nuptial pads present; (7) Finger I shorter than Finger II; discs on outer fingers barely expanded, rounded to weakly truncate; (8) fingers lacking lateral fringes; (9) ulnar tubercles present, coalesced into a low fold; (10) heel and outer edge of tarsus bearing small tubercles; inner tarsal fold present; (11) inner metatarsal tubercle prominent, elliptical, two times larger than the lower, oval outer metatarsal tubercle; plantar surface areolate; (12) toes lacking lateral fringes; webbing absent; Toe V slightly longer than Toe III; toe discs barely expanded, round, weakly truncate, nearly as large as those on fingers; (13) dorsum entirely reddish ochre, brown or reddish brown with or without markings, such as interorbital bar or longitudinal dark stripes (especially in males); groin, posterior surface of thigh, concealed surface of shank, and dorsal surface of foot colored like dorsum but with white blotches; ventral surfaces pearly white, cream, or orange-ochre with dark brown or black scattered blotches; (14) SVL 16.0– 19.4 mm (x = 17.9; n = 5) in adults males, 23.7–27.8 mm in adult females (x = 25.5; n = 3).

From the fifteen previously known species of the Pristimantis orestes Group (i.e., P. atrabracus , P. chimu , P. cordovae , P. corrugatus , P. melanogaster , P. orestes , P. pataikos , P. pinguis , P. seorsus , P. simonbolivari , P. simonsii , P. stictoboubonus , P. vetriguttatus , P. vidua ; sensu Hedges et al. 2008 and P. b a m b u assigned to the group by Arteaga-Navarro & Guayasamin 2011), P. m a r i a e l e n a e is easily distinguished from P. atrabracus , P. melanogaster , P. pataikos , P. pinguis , and P. stictoboubonus by having tubercles on the upper eyelid, heel, and outer edge of the tarsus (absent in the aforementioned species). Furthermore, P. atrabracus differs by having the ventral surfaces of hind limbs black, whereas in P. m a r i a e l e n a e these are pearly white, cream, or orange-ochre; Pristimantis melanogaster differs by having the skin on dorsum nearly pustular (shagreen with scattered small tubercles in the new species), venter coarsely areolate (areolate), vocal slits and nuptial pads absent (present), and the groin (in life) with contrasting bright yellow spots (with white blotches); P. pataikos differs by having the skin of the dorsum smooth (shagreen with scattered small tubercles), venter coarsely areolate (areolate), and tympanum indistinct (distinct); P. stictoboubonus differs by males lacking vocal slits and nuptial excrescences (present), and fingers and toes bearing broad lateral fringes (lacking lateral fringes); P. pinguis differs by having the venter coarsely areolate (areolate), snout acutely rounded in dorsal view (rounded), dentigerous processes of vomers oblique, prominent, narrowly separated (low, indistinct, separated, concealed by palatal mucosa), and venter (in preservative) tan with brown flecks or reticulation (cream with scattered, brown blotches or dots). Pristimantis mariaelenae can be easily distinguished from P. s i m o n s i i and P. s t i p a sp.nov. by having discs barely expanded well defined by circumferential grooves, dorsum shagreen with scattered small tubercles, and venter areolate, whereas in the last two species, the discs are narrow lacking circumferential grooves, dorsum areolate, and venter coarsely areolate. Moreover, P. m a riaelenae differs from P. simonsii (characters in parenthesis), by having the tympanic annulus and tympanic membrane distinct (absent) and from P. stipa by having the ventral surfaces pearly white, cream, or orange-ochre with dark brown or black scattered blotches (dark brown with white spots or mottling). Pristimantis mariaelenae can be distinguished from P. corrugatus and P. ventriguttatus by having discs barely expanded and fingers lacking lateral fringes (discs broadly expanded and fingers bearing lateral fringes in the two last species). Additionally, P. m a r i a e l - enae differs from P. corrugatus by having the skin on dorsum shagreen with scattered small tubercles (shagreen with irregular longitudinal ridges), and low tubercles on the upper eyelid (prominent). Pristimantis ventriguttatus differs from the new species by having the snout acutely rounded in dorsal view (rounded in P. mariaelenae ), toes webbed basally (basal web absent), and the venter (in preservative) brown with tan blotches or dots (venter cream with brown blotches). Pristimantis mariaelenae differs from P. c h i m u and P. seorsus by having discs barely expanded and lacking cranial crests (discs narrow and cranial crests present). Pristimantis mariaelenae differs from P. c o rd o v a e by having the snout rounded in dorsal view lacking rostral tubercle or papillae (snout slightly pointed bearing small rostral papillae), and discs round (emarginate). In addition, P. m a r i a e l e n a e can be distinguished from P. cordovae (in life) by having groin, posterior surface of thighs, and concealed surface of shanks brown or reddish brown with white blotches (brown with orange spots), and venter pearly white, cream, or orange-ochre with dark brown or black scattered blotches (ventral surface tan with small gray spots). Pristimantis bambu differs from P. mariaelenae by having the snout acuminate in dorsal view and lacking heel or tarsal tubercles (snout rounded and heel and tarsus bearing tubercles in P. m a r i a e l e n a e). Pristimantis mariaeleneae differs P. o re s t e s, P. simonbolivari , and P. v i d u a by having dorsolateral folds weak or evident (absent in the three last species). Furthermore, P. o re s t e s and P. simonbolivari can be distinguished from P. m a r i a e l e n a e by having (in life) the groin and concealed surfaces of the shanks black with white spots, whereas in the new species these surfaces are reddish ochre, brown or reddish brown with white blotches. Pristimantis vidua differs from P. mariaelenae (characters in parenthesis) by having indistinct tubercles on the eyelids (distinct), narrows discs on fingers and toes (barely expanded), and heel tubercles absent (present).

Apart of Pristimantis orestes and P. simonbolivari (compared above) only three other species of Pristimantis in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador have contrasting white blotches in the groin (i.e. P. caeruleonotus , P. phalaroinguinis , and P. leucorrhinus ). These three species differ from P. mariaelenae by having broadly expanded discs on fingers and toes. Lynchius flavomaculatus , known from southern Ecuador and extreme northern Peru, also has pale spots (cream or pale yellow in life) in the groin and on the hidden surfaces of the thighs, but it differs from P. m a riaelenae by having smooth skin on the dorsum and venter, Finger I longer than Finger II, and cranial crests.

Description of the holotype. Adult female with robust body; head narrow, not as wide as body, wider than long; head width 36.6% of SVL; head length 32% of SVL; snout short, lacking terminal tubercle, rounded in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view; eye–nostril distance 77.4% of eye diameter; nostrils rounded, directed dorsolaterally; canthus rostralis curved in dorsal view, straight in profile; loreal region concave; lips rounded; upper eyelid bearing low diffuse tubercles; upper eyelid width 75.8% of IOD; tympanic annulus present, distinct, with posterodorsal and posteroventral margins obscured by supratympanic fold; tympanic membrane present, distinct; tympanum diameter 58% of eye diameter, tympanum–eye distance 120% of tympanum diameter; one enlarged postrictal tubercle. Choanae small, ovoid, not concealed by palatal shelf of maxilla; dentigerous processes of vomers low, indistinct, broadly separated, concealed by palatal mucosa, situated posteromedial to choanae; each vomer bearing two distinct teeth; tongue twice as long as wide, notched behind, free posteriorly for two thirds of its length.

Skin on dorsum shagreen with small tubercles, most dense posteriorly; dorsolateral fold weak, discontinuous posteriorly; skin on flanks tuberculate; skin on, belly, chest, throat, and ventral surfaces of thighs areolate; discoidal fold indistinct, evident only as thoracic fold; cloacal sheath short; skin in cloacal region tuberculate. Ulnar tubercles coalesced into low fold; palmar tubercles slightly elevated, outer palmar tubercle bifid, approximately twice size of ovoid, thenar tubercle; subarticular tubercles well defined, round in ventral view and round in lateral view; supernumerary tubercle at base of fingers present; fingers lacking lateral fringes; Finger I shorter than Finger II; discs on Fingers I and II narrow, barely expanded on Fingers III and IV; discs round weakly truncate; ventral pads on fingers well defined by circumferential grooves on all fingers ( Fig. 1 A).

Hind limbs slender, tibia length 37.4% of SVL; foot length 39.5% of SVL; upper surfaces of hind limbs tuberculate; posterior and ventral surfaces of thighs areolate; heel bearing one low tubercle; outer surface of tarsus bearing low tubercles; short inner tarsal fold present; inner metatarsal tubercle prominent, elliptical, rounded, three times size of low, oval, rounded outer metatarsal tubercle; plantar surface areolate; subarticular tubercles well defined, round in ventral view and subconical in lateral view; toes lacking lateral fringes; webbing between toes absent; discs nearly as large as those on fingers, most prominent on Toe IV; discs round, barely expanded, weakly truncate; Toes III, IV, and V having ventral pads well defined by circumferential grooves, less distinct on Toes I and II; relative lengths of toes: 1<2<3> 5<4 ( Fig. 1 B); Toe V slightly longer than Toe III (disc on Toe III not reaching distal subarticular tubercle on Toe IV, tip of the disc on Toe V not reaching the distal border of distal subarticular tubercle on Toe IV).

Measurements of the holotype (in mm): SVL 27.8; tibia length 10.4; foot length 11; head length 8.9; head width 10.2; eye diameter 3.1; tympanum diameter 1.8; interorbital distance 2.9; upper eyelid width 2.2; internarial distance 2.4; eye–nostril distance 2.4.

Color of holotype in life: The dorsum was entirely reddish ochre ( Fig. 2 A); the lips, canthus rostralis, and the supratympanic fold were orange-ochre. The groin, posterior surfaces of the thighs, concealed surfaces of the shanks, and dorsal surfaces of the feet were red-ochre with irregular white blotches; the throat, chest, belly, and ventral surfaces of the thighs were pearly white with orange-ochre mottling on the throat and scattered dark brown spots on the belly ( Fig. 2 B). The palmar and plantar surfaces were orange-ochre, and the iris was dark copper with fine brown reticulations.

Color of holotype in preservative ( Fig. 3 ): In ethanol, the dorsum is entirely dark brown; the lips, canthus rostralis, and the supratympanic fold are cream. The groin, posterior surfaces of the thighs, concealed surfaces of the shanks, and the dorsal surfaces of the feet are dark brown with irregular cream blotches. The throat, chest, belly, and, palmar and plantar surfaces are cream with scattered, irregular brown blotches on the belly.

TABLA 1. Variation of measurements (in mm) and proportions of the type series of Pristimantis mariaelenae and P. stipa . See text for abbreviations.

Pristimantis mariaelenae Pristimantis stipa

Variation. Males are smaller than females, and the sexes differ slightly in some proportions (Table 1). Males have vocal slits and tan nuptial pads on the dorsal and medial surfaces of the thumb. In respect to coloration and skin texture, Pristimantis mariaelenae is highly variable: CORBIDI 0 2828 ( Fig. 2 : C & D), an adult female, has a reddish brown dorsum in contrast to nearly black flanks and a well defined dorsolateral fold; CORBIDI 0 2827 ( Fig. 2 : E & F), an adult female, has the same coloration as the holotype except for an orange-ochre dot medially in the scapular region, but the ventral surfaces are orange-ochre instead of pearly white. The adult male paratypes COR- BIDI 02825–26 & 29 are identical to the holotype, except for a cream middorsal stripe in the CORBIDI 0 2826 ( Fig. 4 : A & B) and the presence of dorsal longitudinal folds in the paratype 0 2825. Four male paratypes exhibit the major variation in color and skin texture. Adult specimen CORBIDI 0 2823 ( Fig. 4 : C–E) has a dark brown dorsum with a greenish interorbital stripe and dorsolateral stripes, a thin yellow middorsal stripe, a red blotch on the anterior surface of thighs and axilla, a wrinkled dorsum, and a well defined dorsolateral fold; adult specimen CORBIDI 0 2831 ( Fig. 4 : F & G) has a brown dorsum with a dark brown middorsal stripe and well defined longitudinal folds; two juvenile males CORBIDI 0 2830 ( Fig. 4 : H–J) and 0 2832 ( Fig. 4 : K & L) have a distinct tuberculate dorsum and distinct sinusoidal ridges. Furthermore, these juveniles, CORBIDI 0 2830 and 0 2832, have a greenish dorsum.

Distribution and ecology. Pristimantis mariaelenae is known only from the type locality in a humid puna above tree line, at an elevation of 3596 m.a.s.l., on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Occidental in northwestern Peru. The type locality is a grassy region dominated by bunch grass ( Stipa ) with associated small bushes ( Baccharis sp.), and some scattered small patches of elfin forest ( Fig. 5 ). All specimens were in the bases of bunch grass and also under rocks near small streams by day.

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym for Maria Elena Venegas formerly from Lima, Peru, mother of the senior author. The new species is dedicated to Maria Elena for her continuous support of PJV’s love of nature.

Figures

FIGURE 1. (A, B) Hand and foot of Pristimantis mariaelenae. (C, D) Hand and foot of Pristimantis stipa. Scale bars = 3 mm. Photos by L. Alza.

FIGURE 2. Four living adult females of Pristimantis mariaelenae. (A, B) Dorsolateral and ventral views of holotype, COR- BIDI 0 2824, 27.8 mm SVL. (C, D) Dorsal and lateral views of the paratype, CORBIDI 0 2828, 23.7 mm SVL. (E, F) Dorsal and lateral views of the paratype, CORBIDI 0 2827, 25.2 mm SVL. Photos by PJV.

FIGURE 3. Preserved Pristimantis mariaelenae (holotype) in dorsal (left), and ventral (rigth) views. Photos by PJV.

FIGURE 4. Five male paratypes of Pristimantis mariaelenae in life. (A, B) Dorsolateral and ventral views of CORBIDI 0 2826, 19.4 mm SVL. (C – E) Dorsolateral, lateral, and ventral views of CORBIDI 0 2823, 17.3 mm SVL. (F, G) Dorsolateral and ventral views of CORBIDI 0 2831, 16 mm SVL. (H – J) Dorsolateral, lateral, and ventral views of CORBIDI 0 2830, 14.9 mm SVL. (K, L) Dorsolateral and ventral views of CORBIDI 0 2832, 13 mm SVL. Photos by PJV.

FIGURE 5. Distribution of Pristimantis mariaelenae and P. stipa in Peru. The red dot indicates the type locality of both species, the only locality where these species are known to date. White circles are major cities for reference.