Bryophryne nubilosus

Condori, F. Peter, Acevedo, Aldemar A., Mamani, Luis, Delgado, J. Amanda & Chaparro, Juan C., 2020, A new species of terrestrial-breeding frog of the genus Psychrophrynella (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, southeastern Peru, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 260) 14 (3), pp. 127-137 : 132-133

Bryophryne nubilosus

Bryophryne phuyuhampatu

Holoaden luederwaldti

Microkayla chilina

Microkayla iatamasi

Microkayla katantika

Noblella lochites

Psychrophrynella vilcabambensis sp. nov. Noblella losamigos

Noblella myrmecoides

Noblella pygmaea

Noblella madreselva

Noblella thiuni

Psychrophrynella chirihampatu Psychrophrynella glauca Psychrophrynella usurpator

Phrynopus peruanus

Psychrophrynella sp. MUSM27619 upper part of pupil. Throat, chest, and anterior part of belly dark brown, fading into light brown posteriorly, with moderate small pale gray flecks and abundant tiny dots of the same color. Ventral parts of limbs brown with moderate small pale gray flecks. Dorsal surfaces of hind limbs with a dark transverse bar. Posterior surfaces of thighs and groin grayish brown; plantar and palmar surfaces brown ( Fig. 3 ).

Coloration in preservative. Similar to coloration in life, but dorsal coloration varies from brown to light brown. The parts that were reddish brown lose the red coloration, and ventral surfaces become more gray than brown.

Variation. Dorsum coloration varies from dark reddish brown to light brown. Flecks on the back are irregular in shape. The dark brown lateral stripe extends from the tip of the snout to the insertion of the forelimb in the holotype, while in the paratypes it reaches the anterior half of the body, and the posterior half has similar coloration as the dorsum. The belly coloration in the female paratype ( MUBI 13486 ) is light brown with abundant tiny pale gray spots. The juvenile paratype ( MUBI 13484 ) has a creamy dorsal midline extending from the tip of the snout to the cloaca; the male holotype and female do not differ in size or general color pattern .

Etymology. The specific epithet, vilcabambensis , is given after the name of the mountain range “Cordillera de Vilcabamba” where the species was found.

Distribution, natural history, and threats. Psychrophrynella vilcabambensis sp. nov. is known only from elevations of 3,707 m asl in the type locality (Challcha, department of Cusco), near the road between Vilcabamba and Pampaconas ( Fig. 4 ). All specimens were found in high Andean puna ( Fig. 5 ) during the day, under mosses covering the rocks. Sympatric amphibian and reptile species include Bryophryne flammiventris , Nannophryne sp. , and Proctoporus lacertus . The type locality suffers from anthropogenic activities, such as farming and livestock production, which might be potential threats to this species. Following the IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2019), in the absence of more detailed data concerning population status, extent, and occurrence, we suggest this species be placed in the Data Deficient category of the Red List.

Figures

Fig. 3. Morphological details of Psychrophrynella vilcabambensis sp. nov. (A) Plantar surface with a red arrow indicating the presence of lateral fringes (MUBI 13484); (B) lateral view of forelimb with white arrows indicating the presence of ulnar tubercles (MUBI 13485).

Fig. 4. Map of Peru indicating the type localities of species of Psychrophrynella and Noblella from the southeastern region of the country.

Fig. 5. View of the type locality of Psychrophrynella vilcabambensis sp. nov.