Cryptobatrachus pedroruizi, Lynch, John D., 2008

Lynch, John D., 2008, A taxonomic revision of frogs of the genus Cryptobatrachus (Anura: Hemiphractidae), Zootaxa 1883, pp. 28-68 : 62

Cryptobatrachus pedroruizi sp. nov.

Holotype: ICN 38716 (original number PR 16770), an adult male, one of a series collected in La Victoria, quebrada Tucuy, municipio La Jagua de Ibirico, Cesar, Colombia, 928 m by Olga V. Castaño and others, 7 March 1996.

Paratypes: All collected with holotype. ICN 38692-98, 38715, 38717-25.

Diagnosis: A Cryptobatrachus with thin dorsolateral folds, finely granular skin on the dorsum with scattered larger warts ( Fig. 10 A), fingers lacking webbing, with subarticular adhesive pads, expanded disks on the digits, exhibiting sexual dimorphism in the size of the tympanum where the tympanum in males is 60.6-67.7% size (mean 65.8 ± 0.9) of the eye, and not having the anterior part of the braincase broader than the middle part.

Etymology: Named for my late very close friend, Pedro Miguel Ruiz Carranza, who served a pioneering role in Colombian herpetology and was long-interested in frogs of this genus.

Description: Head width greater than head length, equal or less than body width; snout subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in profile; nostrils protuberant, directed dorsolaterally; canthus rostralis rounded (but evident), weakly concave; loreal region concave; upper lips not flared; interorbital space flat (no cranial crests); skin of upper eyelid finely granular, without enlarged warts; temporal region sloping abruptly to lips; tympanum longer than high, nearly in contact with orbit; supratympanic fold pustular, extending posteroventrally to tympanum; postrictal tubercles subconical; an elongate tubercle lying on upper lip just anteriad to anteriormost postrictal (anteroventral to tympanum); choanae triangular in outline, not concealed by palatal shelf of maxillary arch; dentigerous processes of vomers posterior to choanae, bearing a row (straight to slightly arched) of 12-15 teeth; dentigerous processes narrowly separated medially; tongue broader than long, posterior edge feebly notched, completely adherent to floor of mouth; males lack vocal slits or vocal sac.

Skin of dorsum granular with larger warts scattered above shoulders; dorsolateral folds from above forearm to level of sacrum; skin of abdomen coarsely granular.

Thenar tubercle oval, twice size of oval palmar tubercle; no supernumerary palmar tubercles; basal subarticular tubercles round, distal subarticular tubercles broader than long, swollen on Fingers III-IV, bearing adhesive pads (defined by circumferential grooves); fingers bearing lateral keels; discs broader than long; first finger longer than second.

Heel lacking tubercles; inner edge of tarsus without fold or tubercles (or a slight keel evident, probably preservation artifact); outer edge of tarsus bearing faint series of low tubercles; inner metatarsal tubercle oval, its length 2 ½ times width; outer metatarsal tubercle oval, 1/3 to ½ size of inner metatarsal tubercle; no supernumerary plantar tubercles or only at base of Toe IV; ill-defined series of tubercles along outer edge of plantar surface; Toe III reaches to base of distal subarticular tubercle of Toe IV; Toe V reaches 1/3 distance between penultimate and distal subarticular tubercle of Toe IV; basal subarticular tubercles of Toes IV-V small, round; other subarticular tubercles larger; subarticular tubercles of Toes I-II with circumferential groove along lateral borders; distal subarticular tubercles of Toes III-V with circumferential grooves defining medial, lateral, and proximal edges of subarticular pads; heels of flexed hindlimbs (held perpendicular to sagittal plane), overlapping.

Coloration in alcohol: dorsum brown with pale pre-sacral spot and darker brown blotches; limbs pale brown with dark brown bands; chin mottled with brown or grey; venter cream; posterior edge of underside of thighs spotted with brown; posterior surfaces of thighs dark brown with cream spots or reticulum.

Measurements of holotype in mm.: SVL 44.5, shank 27.9, head width 17.7, upper eyelid width 4.6, IOD 3.4, tympanum length 4.2, eye length 6.2, E-N 4.5.

Distribution: This species is known from the western flank of the Serranía de Perijá at elevations between 930 and approximately 1800 m.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Skin texture (distribution of enlarged tubercles and folds) of Cryptobatrachus. (A) C. pedroruizi (ICN 38720) and (B) C. ruthveni (ICN 7151). Scale equals 2 mm.