Pristimantis quintanai, Urgiles, Veronica L., Szekely, Paul, Szekely, Diana, Christodoulides, Nicholas, Sanchez-Nivicela, Juan C. & Savage, Anna E., 2019

Urgiles, Veronica L., Szekely, Paul, Szekely, Diana, Christodoulides, Nicholas, Sanchez-Nivicela, Juan C. & Savage, Anna E., 2019, Genetic delimitation of Pristimantis orestes (Lynch, 1979) and P. saturninoi Brito et al., 2017 and description of two new terrestrial frogs from the Pristimantis orestes species group (Anura, Strabomantidae), ZooKeys 864, pp. 111-146 : 129-136

Pristimantis quintanai sp. nov. Figs 10 , 11 , 12

Type material.

Holotype. MZUA.AN.1881 ( Figs 10 - 12 ), an adult female collected in Guangras, Rivera perish, Azogues canton, Cañar Province, Ecuador (2.4826S, 78.6019W; datum WGS84), 2527 m above sea level, by Juan C. Sanchez-Nivicela, Amanda Quezada Bruno Timbe and Jhonny Cedeño.

Paratypes. Two males MZUA.AN.1880, MZUA.AN.1900, three females MZUA.AN.1873, MZUA.AN.1885, MZUA.AN.1874 and a subadult female MZUA.AN.1890 collected with the holotype. Two females MZUA.AN.1746, MZUA. AN.1748 and a subadult female MZUA.AN.1747 collected from Rivera, Rivera perish, Azogues canton, Cañar Province, Ecuador (2.5459S, 78.6303W; datum WGS84), 2699 m by Juan C. Sanchez-Nivicela, Eduardo Toral and Veronica L. Urgiles and a female MZUA.AN.2705 collected from Llavircay Rivera perish, Azogues canton, Cañar Province, Ecuador (2.5637S, 78.5957W; datum WGS84), 2830 m by Amanda Quezada and Jhonny Cedeño.

Diagnosis.

Pristimantis quintanai is a small species characterized by: (1) skin of dorsum finely tuberculated with low and rounded tubercles that vary in size (character more noticeable in life), notorious dermal crests, elevated; skin on venter coarsely areolate, dorsolateral folds present, low, middorsal fold low, discoidal fold barely noticeable; low sinusoidal scapular fold; (2) tympanic membrane indistinct, tympanic annulus differentiated, visible, rounded (57% of ED), postrictal tubercles present; (3) short snout, slightly subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in profile, canthus rostralis concave; (4) upper eyelid with one or two rounded tubercles and with several low ones, cranial crest absent; (5) dentigerous processes of vomer oblique, with one to two teeth, rounded choana; (6) males have small vocal slits but lack vocal sac and nuptial pads; (7) Finger I shorter than Finger II, discs rounded, with dilated pads in all fingers, well defined circumferential grooves; (8) lateral fringes of finger barely noticeable; (9) ulnar tubercles present, lacking antebrachial tubercles; (10) heel with one rounded and several low tubercles, shank lacking tubercles, tarsal tubercles low and small; (11) lateral fringes on toes barely noticeable, webbing absent; Toe V longer than Toe III; discs of toes rounded, dilated pads in all toes, well defined circumferential grooves; (12) inner metatarsal tubercles ovoid two times bigger than outer one, rounded; supernumerary plantar tubercles very low and small, smaller than subarticular tubercles; (13) iris grayish-gold with thin dark reticulations and a horizontal reddish stripe in the middle of the eye, dorsal coloration varies between dark brown, or light brown with cream; flanks vary between dark brown with minute white spots to light cream or yellowish-cream with minute white spots; ventral coloration varies between black, light reddish-brown or reddish-cream; groin and concealed surfaces of thighs are black with white irregular spots (whitish-cream and smaller in males); (14) SVL 19.0-21.8 mm in adult females (20.5 ± 0.90 SD, N = 6) and 15.5-16.4 mm in adult males (16.0 ± 0.64 SD, N = 2).

Comparison with simil ar species.

Pristimantis quintanai is morphologically most similar to P. simonbolivari , P. orestes , and P. saturninoi from the P. orestes complex. The new species is similar to P. saturninoi , P. orestes sensu stricto, and P. cajanuma and P. simonbolivari in having white spots on the groin. However, it can be distinguished from P. saturninoi by having expanded discs in fingers and toes (narrower in P. saturninoi ), by lacking tympanic membrane, and because males lack nuptial pads. The new species differs from P. orestes sensu stricto by having a low dorsolateral fold, a ventral coloration that varies between black, reddish-brown or reddish-cream (gray to pale brown spotted with cream and brown in P. orestes ), and because males lack vocal sacs. Pristimantis quintanai is different from P. cajanuma by having a finely tuberculated dorsal skin and a ventral coloration that can vary between black, reddish-brown or reddish-cream (light gray with or without dark flecks and skin texture shagreen in P. cajanuma ). Pristimantis quintanai differs from P. simonbolivari by having a finely tuberculated dorsal skin (smooth in P. simonbolivari ), males with vocal sacs, and a row of ulnar tubercles (indistinct in P. simonbolivari ).

Pristimantis bambu is different from the new species by having a finely granular dorsal skin, ulnar tubercles coerced into a fold, vocal sacs in males (absent in P. quintanai ), yellow coloration in the groin, and by lacking tubercles on the heel (one small rounded and several low in P. quintanai ). Pristimantis mazar is different by lacking tubercles on the upper eyelid (one or two small rounded and several low in P. quintanai ) and by having a well differentiated tympanic membrane, a dark reticulated pattern in the groin, a creamish-gray to dark brownish gray dorsal coloration and a whitish-cream coloration in the venter. Pristimantis andinognomus is different from the new species by having enlarged conical tubercles on heel and upper eyelids (one or two rounded and several low in P. quintanai ), a differentiated tympanic membrane, males with vocal sacs and pale cupper dorsal coloration. Pristimantis vidua is different by having a finely granular dorsal skin and by lacking ulnar tubercles. Finally, P. tiktik is different by lacking dorsolateral folds (present, low in P. quintanai ) and because males have vocal sacs, a reddish coloration on the groin (irregular white or whitish-cream in P. quintanai ) and a ventral coloration that varies between various shades of gray, brown, orange or green (black, reddish-brown or reddish-cream in P. quintanai ).

Description of holotype.

Adult female ( Figs 10 - 12 ) with head narrower than body and wider than long. HL is 87% of HW, HW 36% of SVL; HL 31% of SVL; snout short (snout to eye distance 6% of SVL), subacuminate in dorsal view, rounded in profile ( Fig. 12A, B ); canthus rostralis concave in dorsal view, angular in profile; loreal region flat; ED 60% of eye-nostril distance; nostrils oriented laterally; lips not flared; cranial crests absent; upper eyelid bearing one small subconical tubercle and low small tubercles, width of upper eyelid 57% of IOD; tympanic annulus, rounded, its upper and posterodorsal part obscured by a low and short supratympanic fold; tympanic membrane absent ( Fig. 12B ); diameter of tympanum 63% of ED; one postrictal tubercle posteroventral to the tympanic annulus; choanae small, round, no concealed by palatal shelf of maxillary arch; dentigerous processes of vomers triangular, slightly larger than the choanae, without space between the processes, bearing one teeth on the left one and two teeth on the right one; tongue 1.4 × as long as wide, slightly notched posteriorly, posterior half not adherent to floor of mouth.

Skin on dorsum finely tuberculated; middorsal fold present; low dorsolateral folds (more noticeable toward the end of dorsum); sinusoidal scapular fold present ( Fig. 11A ) skin of throat shagreen with few small scattered tubercles, skin on chest and belly coarsely areolate; discoidal fold low, barely noticeable ( Fig. 11B ); cloacal region with enlarged warts.

Ulnar tubercles present, outer palmar tubercle bifurcated (divided distally); thenar tubercle rounded; subarticular tubercles not projected, round and subconical in section; supernumerary palmar tubercles low and rounded, smaller than subarticular tubercles; fingers bearing lateral fringes; Finger I shorter than Finger II; discs on fingers laterally expanded, rounded; all fingers bearing dilated pads well defined by circumferential grooves ( Fig. 12C ).

Hindlimbs short; TL and FL are 40% of SVL; heel with two small subconical tubercles (the one closest to the tarsus bigger); outer edge of tarsus with a row of small and low tubercles; inner edge of tarsus bearing a fold; inner metatarsal tubercle broadly ovoid, about 2 × the rounded outer metatarsal tubercle; subarticular tubercles not projected; plantar supernumerary tubercles low, barely noticeable; toes bearing lateral fringes; webbing absent; discs on toes laterally expanded, rounded, wider than those on fingers; toes with dilated pads well defined by circumferential grooves; relative length of toes I <II <III <V <IV ( Fig. 12D ).

Measurements of holotype.

SVL 20.2; HW 7.2; HL 6.3; IOD 2.6; internarial distance 1.8; upper EW 1.5; ED 2.2; eye-nostril distance 1.3; TD 1.4; TL 8.8; FL 8.5.

Coloration of holotype.

In life ( Fig. 10 ) the dorsum is brown, but it becomes darker toward the flanks. The tips of the tubercles, that cover most of the dorsal surfaces, are slightly pinkish. A dark brown strip is visible in the supratympanic region. The loreal region, nostrils and upper lips have vertical dark brown chevrons. The dorsal surfaces of finger tips are dark cream. The throat is dark brown with minute pinkish-cream spots, the venter is dark brown, the groin and concealed surfaces of the thighs and tibia are black with irregular white spots (larger in the groin region). The venter is black. The ventral surfaces of hands are cream with dark brown spots. Toes I, II and III and the tips of Toes IV and V are cream, the plantar surfaces as well as Toes IV and V present a dense brown spatter. The iris is grayish-gold with dark reticulations and a reddish horizontal bar in the middle. The cloacal region presents a dark triangle delimited by a thin gray strip that extends to the thighs.

In preservative ( Fig. 11 ) the dorsum and flanks are dark brown with tiny light brown dots (the tip of the tubercles is light gray). The head and upper eyelids are grayish-brown, the dorsal surfaces of the limbs present the same coloration as the dorsum. The dorsal surfaces of hands and foot are light brown with cream spots, the dorsal surfaces of the tips in Fingers I and II are cream. The dorsal surfaces of toes I, II and III are cream with a tiny brown spatter. The throat and chest are light brown, the venter is dark brown, the groin and concealed surfaces of thighs and tibia are dark brown with white irregular spots. The ventral surfaces of hands are white whit brown spatter. Toes I, II and III and the tips of Toes IV and V are white, the plantar surface as well as Toes IV and V show a dense brown spatter. The cloacal region presents a dark triangle delimited by a thin gray strip that extends to the thighs.

Variation.

Morphometric variation is detailed in Table 5. In the males MZUA.AN.1900 ( Fig. 13A ) and MZUA.AN.1880 ( Fig. 13B ), the tubercles on the dorsum and on the upper eyelid are less distinguishable (character more notorious in life in these specimens). One individual, MZUA.AN.2705 ( Fig. 13C ) has smaller blueish-white spots on the groin, the dorsal surfaces of finger tips and toes and the ventral surfaces of hands and foot are pink. The throat is dark brown with minute dark gray spots. In the male MZUA.AN.1900, the flanks and posterior limbs have dark brown vertical chevrons delimited by cream. The throat, chest and the region of the flanks next to the belly is yellowish-cream, the venter is reddish-cream. The male, MZUA.AN.1880 presents a lighter dorsal coloration with a light brown and yellowish-cream pattern.

Etymology.

The specific epithet honors Dr Pedro Quintana-Ascencio for his contributions teaching young scientists from Ecuador and the USA and for promoting conservation studies in endangered ecosystems in the south of Ecuador. This is our tribute to Pedro as an ecologist, professor and friend.

Distribution and natural history.

Pristimantis quintanai is know from three localities in the Province of Cañar: Guangras, Rivera and Llavircay in an elevation range between 2500 and 2800 m. The ecosystem were the species is found is categorized as an evergreen high montane forest from the eastern Andes of Ecuador ( Ministerio de Ambiente del Ecuador 2012). All specimens were encountered during the night between small shrubs and in leaf litter. Some specimens were observed in small branches between 0 and 25 cm above ground. Other sympatric frogs include P. pycnodermis and two other unidentified species of Pristimantis .

Conservation status.

The localities where P. quintanai has been registered cover an estimated area of 40 km2. The landscape is highly fragmented and includes extensive areas of both active and abandoned paddocks and has been directly influenced by the infrastructure of the Mazar hydroelectric project. In all the localities, the montane forest has been drastically reduced, particularly next to villages and cities. Pristimantis quintanai is not a locally abundant species given that only a handful of individuals (<7) were found in each of the visited localities. We therefore recommend that this species be categorized as Endangered B1ab (iii), following the IUCN criteria, because its extent of occurrence is less than 5000 km2 and its natural habitat has been severely fragmented.

Figures

Figure 10. Holotype of Pristimantis quintanai sp. nov. in life.

Figure 11. Holotype of Pristimantis quintanai sp. nov. in preservative, adult female MZUA. AN. 1881. A dorsal view B ventral view C profile view.

Figure 12. Holotype of Pristimantis quintanai sp. nov. in preservative, adult female MZUA. AN. 1881. A head in dorsal view B head in profile view C palmar surfaces D plantar surfaces.

Figure 13. Morphological variation of Pristimantis quintanai sp. nov. in live. A MZUA. AN. 1900, profile and dorsal view B MZUA. AN. 1880, profile and ventral view C MZUA. AN. 2705, profile view.