Osornophryne simpsoni Paez-Moscoso , Guayasamin & Yanez-Munoz , 2011

Reyes-Puig 1,2, Juan Pablo, Reyes-Puig 1,3,4, Carolina, Franco-Mena 5,6, Daniela, Jost 2, Lou & Yanez-Munoz 1,2, Mario H., 2022, Strong differentiation between amphibian communities on two adjacent mountains in the Upper Rio Pastaza watershed of Ecuador, with descriptions of two new species of terrestrial frogs, ZooKeys 1081, pp. 35-87 : 35

Osornophryne simpsoni Paez-Moscoso, Guayasamin & Yanez-Munoz, 2011

Figure 11

Remarks.

We recorded three adult female specimens (DHMECN 14412-14413-14414) with body sizes between 26.58 mm and 33.57 mm collected at night on bromeliad leaves, palms and Neurolepis ( Poaceae ), between 40 cm and 170 cm from the ground and a juvenile (DHMECN 14415) with body size 12.38 mm, collected in a bromeliad 20 cm from the ground. According to the original species description, O. simpsoni was known only from two localities in the upper Rio Pastaza watershed and Cordillera Abitahua ( Páez et al. 2012). The record in Machay Reserve corresponds to the third locality of the species within Ecuador. This taxon is characterised by having Toes IV and V longer than Toes I-III, a short and rounded snout with a small rostral papilla and conical pustules on flanks. This species of plump toad inhabits the high montane forests of the Machay Reserve, between 2430 and 2490 m in elevation, this forest being characterised by low trees with abundant bryophytes and bromeliads. Under direct manipulation, this species tends to escape with slow movements and lets itself fall in a ball-like position.

Figures

Figure 11. Osornophryne simpsoni, male A, B Frontal view of the head C dorsal view and D view of the flanks. (DHMECN 14412). Photographs by Mario H. Yanez-Munoz