Research Article |
Corresponding author: Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis ( aacosta@humboldt.org.co ) Corresponding author: Mario Vargas-Ramírez ( maavargasra@unal.edu.co ) Academic editor: Anthony Herrel
© 2020 Andrés R. Acosta-Galvis, Ana M. Saldarriaga-Gómez, Beatriz Ramírez, Mario Vargas-Ramírez.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Acosta-Galvis AR, Saldarriaga-Gómez AM, Ramírez B, Vargas-Ramírez M (2020) A new Terrarana frog of genus Pristimantis from an unexplored cloud forest from the eastern Andes, Colombia. ZooKeys 961: 129-156. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.961.51971
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A new species of Pristimantis (Craugastoridae, subgenus Pristimantis) is described from a relict and unexplored cloud forest in the western slope from Cordillera Oriental of the Colombian Andes. The specific name was chosen by consensus expert scientists and local people. Pristimantis chamezensis sp. nov. is easily distinguished from congeneric species by having a gray iris with black reticulations in life, subconical tubercles on the upper eyelid, the chin edged with irregular, dark-brown blotches, and conical heel tubercles. The phylogenetic analyses suggest that the origin and radiation of its clade may have occurred in the highlands. With the description of P. chamezensis sp. nov., we identify 14 species distributed throughout the eastern slope of the Andes that are associated with the Orinoco Basin.
Casanare, Cis-Andean, Cordillera Oriental, diversity, phylogeny, South America, taxonomy
The amphibian fauna from Colombia is among the richest and most diverse in the world (
Morphologically, frogs of the genus Pristimantis are easily recognizable among other features by terminal discs on expanded digits and T-shaped terminal phalanges, a dentigerous process of the vomers usually present, and toe IV much longer than toe III (
The genus Pristimantis in Colombia is represented by 223 formally described species (
Species of the genus Pristimantis from the eastern slope of Cordillera Oriental (Orinoco Basin) in Colombia.
Genus (Subgenus) Species | Species group | Ecoregional distribution | Altitude(m a.s.l) | Reference |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) vilarsi | conspicillatus group | sub-Andean, Amazonian and Orinoco. | 200–600 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) medemi | conspicillatus group | Andean and sub-Andean. | 450–2400 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) carranguerorum | conspicillatus group | Andean. | 1350–2060 |
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Pristimantis (Hypodictyon) w-nigrum | ridens group | Andean and sub-Andean. | 800–3000 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) savagei | Unassigned | Andean and sub-Andean. | 600–3000 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) frater | Unassigned | Andean and sub-Andean. | 600–3000 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) bogotensis | Unassigned | Andean, sub-paramos and paramos. | 2410–3520 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) anolirex | Unassigned | Andean, sub-paramos and paramos. | 1800–3550 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) lynchi | Unassigned | Andean, sub-paramos and paramos. | 1600–3590 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) dorado | Unassigned | Andean. | 2650 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) terrapacis | Unassigned | sub-Andean | 713 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) ardilae | conspicillatus group | sub-Andean | 400–700 |
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Pristimantis (Pristimantis) bowara | Unassigned | sub-Andean | 500–665 |
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During field studies along an unexplored cloud forest (2140 m a.s.l.) in the Cordillera Oriental, we collected several specimens of Pristimantis that, due to their morphological characters, are not assignable to any described species in this region. Based on the analysis of its molecular data and morphology, we describe a new species recognized by its molecular and morphological distinctiveness.
We collected by actively searching from September 2 to November 29, 2010, using intensive visual encounter surveys (
Geographic location in Colombia showing the type locality of Pristimantis chamezensis sp. nov. in the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental A red dot shows the type locality B the landscape of natural pristine forest on the eastern slopes of the Central Cordillera Oriental. Map produced using Arc Map, World Imagery.
Molecular distinctiveness and phylogenetic relationships of the new species were assessed by analyzing DNA sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which included a fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA (16S) and a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) genes. We assembled a data set that included only the 16S gene fragment by aligning sequences from all known Pristimantis species from the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia together with the most similar sequences already published in Genbank (Table
Species of Eleutherodactylus, Pristimantis, and GenBank accession numbers of the DNA sequences used in the phylogenetic analyses.
Species | Accession numbers | Voucher code | Source | |
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16S rRNA | COI | |||
E. johnstonei | EF493561 | – | USNM336018 |
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P. acatallelus | JN371032 | – | UVC:15863 |
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P. achatinus | EF493660 | – | KU217809 |
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P. achatinus | JN104676 | – | UVC:15867 |
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P. aniptopalmatus | EF493390 | – | KU291627 |
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P. bipunctatus | EF493702 | – | KU291638 |
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P. bogotensis | JN991432 | JN991362 | NRPS003 |
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P. bowara | MN215434 | – | MCNUPH304 |
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P. buccinator | KY652650 | – | MUSM:33269 |
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P. buckleyi | EF493350 | – | KU217836 |
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P. caprifer | EF493391 | – | KU177680 |
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P. carranguerorum | KP149324 | KP149128 | LSB385 |
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P. chamezensis sp. nov. | MK776946 | MK789293 | ARA5848 | This study |
P. chamezensis sp. nov. | MK776947 | MK789294 | ARA5849 | This study |
P. citriogaster | EF493700 | – | KU212278 |
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P. condor | EF493701 | – | KU217857 |
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P. conspicillatus | EF493529 | – | QCAZ28448 |
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p. curtipes | EF493513 | – | KU217871 |
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P. devillei | EF493688 | – | KU217991 |
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P. dorado | KU496877 | – | MRC636 |
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P. duellmani | AY326003 | – | WED 53050 |
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P. fenestratus | EF493703 | – | – |
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P. frater | KP149461 | – | AJC 4015 |
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P. gentryi | EF493511 | – | KU218109 |
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P. koehleri | EU192279 | – | MNKA 6627 |
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P. lasalleorum | KY494221 | – | ICN55758 |
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P. latro | MK174413 | – | LZA 1340 | Cornelio et al. unpublished |
P. leptolophus | KY494226 | – | JJS093 |
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P. lutitus | KP149401 | KP149196 | AJC3490 |
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P. lymani | EF493392 | – | KU218019 |
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P. maculosus | KY494240 | – | ICN55760 |
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P. malkini | EU186663 | – | QCAZ28296 |
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P. medemi | MK776948 | MK789295 | ARA2655 | This study |
P. nicefori | MN215436 | MN218387 | MCNUPH48 |
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P. parectatus | KY627810 | – | MHUAA9977 |
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P. peraticus | KY494224 | – | WB1301 |
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P. peruvianus | EF493707 | – | – |
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P. quinquagesimus | EF493690 | – | KU179374 |
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P. rhabdolaemus | EF493706 | – | KU173492 |
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P. sagittulus | EF493705 | – | KU291635 |
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P. samaipatae | EU192290 | – | MNCN 42988 |
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P. savagei | KP149382 | KP149180 | AJC3995 |
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P. scoloblepharus | KY494236 | – | ICN55768 |
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P. skydmainos | EF493393 | – | – |
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P. simonbolivari | EF493671 | – | KU218254 |
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P. simonsii | EU186665 | – | KU212350 |
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P. surdus | EF493687 | – | KU177847 |
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P. sp.1 | KY494239 | – | JJS122 |
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P. sp.2 | KY494238 | – | ICN55759 |
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P. sp.3 | KY494230 | – | ICN55756 |
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P. sp.4 | KY494234 | – | ICN55774 |
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P. sp.5 | KY494223 | – | ICN55775 |
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P. stictogaster | EF493704 | – | KU291659 |
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P. thymalopsoides | EF493514 | – | KU177861 |
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P. toftae | EF493353 | – | KU215493 |
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P. unistrigatus | EF493387 | – | KU218057 |
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P. uranobates | KY494223 | – | ICN55787 |
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P. vertebralis | EF493689 | – | KU177972 |
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P. vilarsi | KP149391 | KP149187 | AJC2113 |
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From two tissue samples of the new species and a tissue sample of Pristimantis medemi we extracted total genomic DNA using a standard Phenol-Chloroform method (
We analyzed the complete evidence dataset using the following partition scheme: (i) unpartitioned; (ii) partitioned by gene (i.e., each gene fragment treated as a distinct partition); and (iii) maximum partitioning (i.e., we treated each codon of the protein-coding gene COI and the ribosomal gene fragment as distinct partitions). We assessed the optimal partitioning scheme and best-fit evolutionary models using PartitionFinder v. 1.1.1 and the Bayesian Information Criterion (
We euthanized specimens using Clorethone, which were then fixed in 10% formalin, preserved in 70% ethanol, and deposited in the biological collections of the Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia (IAvH-Am). Other specimens examined are listed in Suppl. material
The resulting phylogenetic tree including all 58 sequence of the 16S fragment is shown in the Suppl. material
Maximum likelihood inference tree showing the evolutionary relationships of Pristimantis chamezensis sp. nov. (bold) and its 28 more closely related Pristimantis species based on 528 bp of the 16S rRNA gene. Numbers before nodes: thorough maximum likelihood (ML) bootstrap percentages left and Bayesian analysis (BA) posterior probability values right. Bootstrap values below 50% and posterior probabilities below 0.5 not shown. Outgroup taxon removed.
Uncorrected p-distances for the fragment of 16S gene (528 bp) of the Pristimantis species, expressed as percentages (means).
n | cha | nic | car | sav | med | lut | bow | cit | mal | con | buc | lym | ach | con | sti | rha | cap | ach | tof | plu | ani | bip | lat | koe | fen | sam | sag | vil | dor | sky | |
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chamezensis sp. nov. | 2 | 0.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
nicefori MN215436 | 1 | 4.8 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
carranguerorum KP149324 | 1 | 5.2 | 4.8 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
savagei KP149382 | 1 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 5.5 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
medemi MK776948 | 1 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.0 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
lutitus KP149401 | 1 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 7.6 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
bowara MN215434 | 1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 6.9 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||||
citriogaster EF493700 | 1 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 6.4 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
malkini EU186663 | 1 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 10.2 | 9.2 | 10.0 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
conspicillatus EF493529 | 1 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 9.5 | 8.8 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.2 | 3.1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
buccinator KY652650 | 1 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 9.3 | 9.7 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 | – | |||||||||||||||||||
lymani EF493392 | 1 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 10.5 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 10.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 2.1 | – | ||||||||||||||||||
achatinus EF493660 | 1 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 9.7 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 5.0 | – | |||||||||||||||||
condor EF493701 | 1 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 10.0 | 10.2 | 10.5 | 11.7 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 4.3 | – | ||||||||||||||||
stictogaster EF493704 | 1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.5 | – | |||||||||||||||
rhabdolaemus EF493706 | 1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 10.9 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 9.7 | – | ||||||||||||||
caprifer EF493391 | 1 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 3.1 | – | |||||||||||||
achatinus JN104676 | 1 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 10.3 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 8.6 | – | ||||||||||||
toftae EF493353 | 1 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 11.1 | 11.1 | 13.1 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 5.9 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 11.2 | – | |||||||||||
aniptopalmatus EF493390 | 1 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 10.9 | 9.7 | 10.9 | 10.4 | 10.7 | 11.6 | 10.9 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 4.3 | – | |||||||||
bipunctatus EF493702 | 1 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 9.2 | 10.2 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 10.2 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 9.5 | 11.1 | 3.6 | 2.8 | – | ||||||||
latro MK174413 | 1 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 9.0 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 11.0 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 9.3 | 7.8 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.2 | – | |||||||
koehleri EU192279 | 1 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 11.5 | 10.5 | 9.4 | 12.2 | 10.8 | 11.3 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 8.6 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 11.2 | 9.8 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 9.4 | – | ||||||
fenestratus EF493703 | 1 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 10.2 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 7.6 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 10.9 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 11.1 | 8.6 | 6.9 | – | |||||
samaipatae EU192290 | 1 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 11.4 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 11.2 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 8.8 | 10.2 | 12.1 | 10.9 | 9.3 | 6.7 | 1.2 | – | ||||
sagittulus EF493705 | 1 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 10.2 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 7.6 | 8.6 | 7.8 | 10.5 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 11.1 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 | – | |||
vilarsi KP149391 | 1 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 12.1 | 11.1 | 10.5 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 10.7 | 13.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 11.6 | 11.0 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 11.1 | – | ||
dorado KU496877 | 1 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 12.1 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 11.2 | 10.9 | 10.8 | 10.9 | 12.8 | 13.1 | 11.4 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 10.2 | 10.5 | 9.3 | 12.6 | – | |
skydmainos EF493393 | 1 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 13.1 | 11.4 | 14.1 | 13.6 | 12.8 | 14.1 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 11.4 | 11.9 | 9.6 | 12.1 | 13.3 | 12.7 | 12.6 | 13.8 | 13.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 11.2 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.6 | 14.1 | 12.8 | – |
IAvH-Am-10269 (field number ARA 5852. Figs
(Figs
(11) (Fig.
Pristimantis chamezensis sp. nov., live specimens. A Holotype, adult female, IAvH-Am-10269 (SVL= 23.8 mm) B juvenile, IAvH-Am-10283 (SVL = 17.5 mm) C paratype, adult female, IAvH-Am-10277 (SVL = 19.7 mm) D paratype, adult male, IAvH-Am-10267 (SVL = 22.6 mm). Photographs by Andrés Acosta-Galvis.
IAvH-Am-10268, IAvH-Am-10278–10281, IAvH-Am-10283–10287, juveniles, same locality and date as paratypes.
(Figs
Morphometric (in mm) of the type series of Pristimantis chamezensis sp. nov. Abbreviations are given in Methods.
IAvH–Am | Sex | SVL | HW | HL | IOD | ED | EN | UEW | ETS | TD | FL | FtL | InD | RW | TL | HnL |
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10267 | M | 22.6 | 7.9 | 10.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 10.6 | 10.9 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 12.5 | 6.4 |
10271 | M | 23.7 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 12.6 | 10.8 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 12.6 | 6.5 |
10273 | M | 20.9 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 11.6 | 5.9 |
10270 | M | 19.6 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 11.7 | 6.1 |
10274 | M | 21.2 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 10.5 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 11.8 | 5.9 |
10272 | M | 20.3 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 12.2 | 6.3 |
Means | 21.4 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 10.9 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 12.1 | 6.2 | |
Standard error | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | |
10276 | F | 24.9 | 11.0 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 14.3 | 12.9 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 14.4 | 8.4 |
10277 | F | 19.7 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 11.0 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 12.1 | 6.0 |
10269 | F | 23.8 | 9.8 | 10.4 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 13.6 | 12.1 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 14.5 | 7.4 |
10275 | F | 19.0 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 11.5 | 5.6 |
Means | 21.9 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 11.5 | 6.8 | |
Standard error | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
(Figs
Live specimens (lateral view) of Pristimantis currently known from the eastern Andean Cordillera associated with the Orinoco basin in Colombia. A Pristimantis carranguerorum, Medina Municipality, Cundinamarca Department, IAvH-Am-14954 (adult female, SVL = 22.6 mm) B Pristimantis medemi, Medina Municipality, Cundinamarca Department, IAvH-Am-15025 (adult male, SVL = 32.5 mm) C Pristimantis frater, Medina Municipality, Cundinamarca Department, IAvH-Am-14923 (adult female, SVL = 27.8 mm) D Pristimantis savagei, Medina Municipality, Cundinamarca Department, IAvH-Am-14933 (adult male, SVL = 23.2 mm) E Pristimantis vilarsi, La Macarena Municipality, Meta Department, IAvH-Am-15095(Adult female, SVL = 44.8 mm) F Pristimantis bogotensis, Cabrera Municipality, Cundinamarca Department, IAvH-Am-15345 (adult male, SVL = 21.9 mm) G Pristimantis anolirex, Santa Barbara Municipality, Santander Department, IAvH-Am-15654 (juvenile female, SVL = 22.3 mm) H Pristimantis lynchi, Tasco Municipality, Boyacá Department, IAvH-Am-15871 (adult male, SVL = 22.1 mm) I Pristimantis nicefori, Santa Barbara Municipality, Santander Department, IAvH-Am-15730 (SVL = 24.5 mm). Photographs by Andrés Acosta-Galvis.
An adult female (Figs
Forelimbs of moderate size, forearm length 6.4 mm; ulnar tubercles absent. Hand length (HnL) 7.4 mm its length 31.0% of SVL. Palmar tubercle bifid, about two-thirds the length of oval thenar tubercle (Fig.
Hindlimbs slender; foot length (FtL) 12.1 mm, 50.8% of SVL. Toe webbing and toe fringes absent. Relative lengths of appressed toes IV>V>III>II>I. Discs of the toes expanded; width of adjacent phalange 53.7% of disc of toe IV; disc of toe III does not reach penultimate subarticular tubercle of toe IV; toe V beyond that of the level of penultimate subarticular tubercle of toe IV. Femur length (FL) 13.6 mm, tibia length (TL) 14.5 mm, its length is equivalent to 60.9% of SVL. Subarticular tubercles 1–1–2–3–2; supernumerary plantar tubercles numerous, suboval, and low; inner metatarsal tubercle oval; outer metatarsal tubercle rounded, prominent, and smaller than inner metatarsal tubercle. Diameter outer metatarsal tubercle 52.8% of inner metatarsal tubercle; outer tarsal fold absent; inner tarsal fold short. Numerous supernumerary plantar tubercles rounded and barely visible; subarticular tubercles large, round, and conical; toes without lateral fringes; no webbing. Cloacal sheath absent; subcloacal tubercles absent.
Color of holotype in preservative
(Fig.
Color of holotype in life
(Fig.
(Fig.
This species is only known from the type locality at an altitude between 2125–2160 m a.s.l. in an Andean and relictual cloud forest in the Casanare region on the eastern flank of the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia (Fig.
The specific epithet is derived from the Municipality of Chámeza, a geopolitical area where the type locality is located. We decided on this name using a citizen science approach, where expert scientists and local people met and discussed a list of possible names and their corresponding meanings. There was consensus on P. chamezensis as the preferred name.
The direct evaluation of the landscape units (e.g., broad-leaved forest) at the type locality, as well as the map of land cover of Colombia (CORINE Land Cover,
The genus Pristimantis, with 556 described species, comprises of a substantial number of identified taxa (
Despite this rough correspondence between the geological history of the Colombian Andes and Pristimantis diversity, the inventory of species in each region is far from being completed. Socio-political factors affecting the various regions of Colombia have limited scientific access, leaving several crucial regions with pronounced gaps in our knowledge of amphibians. Among these regions, we highlight the northern lowland regions of the upper Amazon, including Putumayo, Caquetá, Guaviare, Guainía, and Vaupés departments, as well as neighboring areas such as the Darien region. Additionally, some other unsampled areas are the tropical rainforests in the Pacific basin and the Andean region, such as the Serranias of Perijá and San Lucas, southern Cordillera Oriental (including the Andean-Amazonian foothills) and mountainous areas associated with the Orinoco drainage (Fig.
Over the past six years of scientific studies in unexplored mountainous areas within the Orinoco drainage, including cloud forests and foothills of the Cordillera Oriental, several species of Pristimantis have been described (e.g.,
In our research, the integration of morphological and genetic data allowed us to establish that P. chamezensis is distinct from the other 13 Pristimantis species from Andean and sub-Andean forests on the eastern flank of the Cordillera Oriental. Taking into account the agreement between all phylogenetic analyses revealing a supported monophyletic group comprised of P. chamezensis, P. carranguerorum, P. bowara, P. lutitus, P. medemi, P. nicefori, and P. savagei, as well as the altitudinal (450–4170 m a.s.l.) and longitudinal distribution of those species along the Andean and sub-Andean forest on the eastern flank of the Cordillera Oriental (almost all are syntopic except by P. lutitus and P. nicefori from the western flank), it is probable that the origin of the new species and the radiation of the monophyletic group may have occurred at higher altitudes within this region. It might be possible that these Pristimantis lineages show the same pattern of recent diversification due to climatic changes, as seen in both, a high altitude dendrobatid frog (Hyloxalus felixcoperari Acosta-Galvis & Vargas-Ramírez, 2018) and a group of Andean anoles (Anolis heterodermus species group;
Nevertheless, the generalized low support of the phylogenies emphasizes the need to increase the molecular dataset to reveal with confidence the evolutionary relationships within Pristimantis. This is clear from the recent changes in the phylogenetic position of several species (e.g.,
Our phylogenetic analyses unequivocally revealed that P. chamezensis is part of the subgenus Pristimantis. However, we do not force its allocation into one of the several species group (
Pristimantis chamezensis is described as an endemic species from Chámeza forest. This new species is closely related to P. carranguerorum, P. bowara, P. lutitus, P. medemi, P. nicefori, and P. savagei.
We extend our thanks to all inhabitants of the Municipality of Chámeza, who by referendum selected the name of the species described here. Many thanks go to our local guides, José Pérez and Antonio Montaña. Natalia Novoa and Luis Daniel Prada offered their support and helped with fieldwork during the monitoring of Chameza’s forest between 2010 and 2011. We also thank Dr José Rigoberto Ruiz Castillo and Dr Campo Elias Cardozo Tafur from the local government of Chámeza. Corporinoquia granted the collection permit (resolution 200.41–10.1409 on 8 October 2010). Fieldwork support was provided through several projects: “Discovering the biodiversity of Chámeza”, funded by Chameza’s municipality and executed by Asociación de Becarios de Casanare ABC; and “Detection of chytridiomycosis in Colombia”, funded by COLCIENCIAS-Javeriana University. The final development of this contribution was produced under the resolution 0041–2020 of the Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de Colombia and Biological Collections of Research Institute of Biological Resources Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH). We thank Thomas Defler for his assistance with the English proofing of the manuscript. Finally, special thanks to Santiago Ron, Robert Forsyth, and Carolina Reyes-Puig provided comments, suggestions and corrections that greatly improved the manuscript.
Additional specimens examined. IAvH-Am: Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute, Villa de Leyva, Colombia; MPUJ: Lorenzo Uribe Museum of Natural History, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Data type: Additional Specimens of genus Pristimantis of Cordillera Orienta of Colombial
Figure S1
Data type: image
Explanation note: Maximum likelihood inference tree showing the evolutionary relationships of Pristimantis chamezensis sp. nov. (bold) and its 58 most closely related Pristimantis species based on 528 bp of the 16S rRNA gene. Numbers before nodes: thorough maximum likelihood (ML) bootstrap percentages left and Bayesian analysis (BA) posterior probability values right. Bootstrap values below 50% and posterior probabilities below 0.5 not shown. Outgroup taxon removed.
Figure S2
Data type: image
Explanation note: Bayesian (BA) and maximum likelihood (ML) topologies (right and left respectively) obtained based on 1185 bp of the 16S rRNA + COI genes. Numbers before nodes: BA posterior probability values and ML bootstrap percentages. Bootstrap values below 50% and posterior probabilities below 0.5 not shown.