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We describe a new species of microhylid frog of the genus Synapturanus from the lower Putumayo basin in Loreto, Perú. Specimens inhabited the soils of stunted pole forests growing on peat. The new species is distinguished from other species of Synapturanus through morphology, genetics, and acoustic characteristics. This species differs from most nominal congeners by having a head flat in lateral view (vs convex in the rest of species), a characteristic only shared by S. rabus and S. salseri. The new species can be distinguished from S. rabus and S. salseri by a combination of morphological characters and by having an advertisement call with a note length of 0.05-0.06 seconds (vs 0.03 seconds in S. rabus) and a dominant frequency ranging from 1.73 to 1.81 kHz (vs 1.10-1.47 kHz in S. salseri). Principal component analyses of 12 morphological characters and three acoustic variables further support differences between the new species and its described and undescribed congeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic barriers and elevational gradients have long been recognized as important in species diversification. Here, we illustrate an example where both mechanisms have shaped the genetic structure of the Neotropical rainfrog, Pristimantis ornatissimus, which has also resulted in speciation. This species was thought to be a single evolutionary lineage distributed throughout the Ecuadorian Chocó and the adjacent foothills of the Andes. Based on recent sampling of P. ornatissimus sensu lato, we provide molecular and morphological evidence that support the validity of a new species, which we name Pristimantis ecuadorensis sp. nov. The sister species are elevational replacements of each other; the distribution of Pristimantis ornatissimus sensu stricto is limited to the Ecuadorian Chocó ecoregion (< 1100 m), whereas the new species has only been found at Andean localities between 1450–1480 m. Given the results of the Multiple Matrix Regression with Randomization analysis, the genetic difference between P. ecuadorensis and P. ornatissimus is not explained by geographic distance nor environment, although environmental variables at a finer scale need to be tested. Therefore this speciation event might be the byproduct of stochastic historic extinction of connected populations or biogeographic events caused by barriers to dispersal such as rivers. Within P. ornatissimus sensu stricto, morphological patterns and genetic structure seem to be related to geographic isolation (e.g., rivers). Finally, we provide an updated phylogeny for the genus, including the new species, as well as other Ecuadorian Pristimantis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy and systematics of Andean frogs of the genus Telmatobius have been considered complex, due mainly to the high levels of inter and intraspecific variation in morphological characters. Recently, Cuevas (2013) revalidated the species T. laevis Philippi 1902, which was originally described from two syntypes (one currently lost) collected in the late nineteenth century, based on photographs of the only preserved specimen. He also used bibliographic material showing that the original type material constituted two different taxa and that its type locality, previously not located, is Potrero Grande in the Andes Range of central Chile (33°28'S). Biogeographically, this implies a geographic distribution extension for the genus of more than 450 km on the other side of Andes, and that T. laevis inhabits within the distribution range of the phenotypically similar Alsodes montanus. Here I critically review the arguments of Cuevas (2013) and show that his main evidence for revalidating T. laevis, the location of its type locality, is based on an erroneous interpretation of the literature. Moreover, I point out several deficiencies and inconsistencies of the description and redescriptions of this taxon that were not addressed by Cuevas (2013). Reanalysing the literature and photographs of the only known specimen, and incorporating new geographic data, I suggest instead that the only known specimen of T. laevis belongs to T. marmoratus, its original designation, and came from an undetermined place within the traditional known range of the genus in Chile. However, this proposal is problematic due to the high degree of morphological variation exhibited by T. marmoratus, the uncertain taxonomic status of its Chilean populations and the unclear origin of the specimen. Therefore, I consider T. laevis as a species inquirenda until these issues are clarified or new biological material is obtained. Furthermore, I provide photographic and geographic data of frogs from Potrero Grande belonging to the genus Alsodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Craugastoridae frog encountered from 1000-1700 m in elevation in the premontane forests of the Peruvian central Andes is described. The new species is similar in appearance to many other species of Pristimantis, but is easily distinguishable from these species by having bright red coloration on the groin, posterior surface of thighs, and shanks. The new species is only known for two localities 27 km apart in the Huánuco Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of rhacophorid bush frogs of the genus Raorchestes are described from the tropical montane wet forests in the Silent Valley National Park in the Nilgiri Hills, a high horst in the Western Ghats, India. Both species can be differentiated from their congeners by morphological and bioacoustic characters as well as differences in the mit°Chondrial 16S gene. Advertisement calls of the two new species are provided and tentative insights into the phylogenetic position discussed. Despite recent revisions of this genus from the Western Ghats, and the fact that the Silent Valley National Park is one of the most important and well-surveyed protected areas, the results of this study highlight the overlooked diversity in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic relationships of the African mongrel frog genus Nothophryne are poorly understood. We provide the first molecular assessment of the phylogenetic position of, and diversity within, this monotypic genus from across its range—the Afromontane regions of Malawi and Mozambique. Our analysis using a two-tiered phylogenetic approach allowed us to place the genus in Pyxicephalidae. Within the family, Nothophryne grouped with Tomopterna , a hypothesis judged significantly better than alternative hypotheses proposed based on morphology. Our analyses of populations across the range of Nothophryne suggest the presence of several cryptic species, at least one species per mountain. Formal recognition of these species is pending but there is a major conservation concern for these narrowly distributed populations in an area impacted by major habitat change. The phylogenetic tree of pyxicephalids is used to examine evolution of life history, ancestral habitat, and biogeography of this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of larval and bioacoustical characters has been essential to solve taxonomic problems of many anuran species. Herein, we describe the advertisement call and tadpoles of Pseudis fusca and P. tocantins and compare them with descriptions of all other Pseudae. The advertisement calls of Pseudis species are formed by pulsed notes. In P. cardosoi and P. minuta all pulses within a single note are concatenated, while in P. bolbodactyla, P. fusca, P. paradoxa and P. tocantins the notes are formed by sets of concatenated pulses. Moreover, the calls of P. bolbodactyla, P. fusca and P. paradoxa are indistinguishable. Tadpoles of P. fusca and P. tocantins resemble other Pseudis tadpoles described so far: their body is oval-shaped in dorsal view and triangular in lateral view and higher than wide; they possess an anteroventral oral disc with five tooth rows (two anterior and three posterior) and well developed tail musculature. The large larval size is in agreement with other species in the genus. We evaluate which characters best distinguish species within Pseudis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a near comprehensive, densely sampled, multilocus phylogenetic estimate of species relationships within the anuran family Ceratobatrachidae, a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of frogs from the island archipelagos of Southeast Asia and the South- West Pacific. Ceratobatrachid frogs consist of three clades: a small clade of enigmatic, primarily high-elevation, semi-aquatic Sundaland species currently assigned to Ingerana (for which we erect a new genus), which is the sister taxon of two large, monophyletic radiations, each situated on islands on either side of Wallace's Line. One radiation is composed of Philippine species of Platymantis and the other contains all taxa from the eastern Indonesian, New Guinean, Solomon, Bismarck, and Fijian archipelagos. Several additional genera ( Batrachylodes, Discodeles, Ceratobatrachus, and Palmatorappia) are nested within Platymantis, and of these Batrachylodes and Discodeles are nonmonophyletic. To address the widespread paraphyly of the genus Platymantis and several additional nomenclatural issues, we undertook a wholesale nomenclatural reorganization of the family. Given our partially unresolved phylogeny, and in order to impart a conservative, stable taxonomy, involving a minimal number of genus-species couplet changes, we propose a conservative classification representing a few compromises. These changes are designed to preserve maximally the presumed original intent of taxonomy (widely used group names associated with morphological and ecological diversity of particular species or groups of species) while implementing a hierarchical system that is consistent with the estimate of phylogeny based on new molecular data. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses new geographic records of three species of the frog genus Hydrolaetare and identification of the species for Hydrolaetare dantasi in Amazonas, Brazil and Hydrolaetare schmidti in Roraima states. Topics discussed include morphometric measurements, their morphological characters and color patterns, and current status of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The aromobatid frog Allobates amissibilis sp. nov. is described from a very limited area in the Iwokrama Mountains at elevations between 160 and 950 m, in central Guyana, South America. The new taxon is diagnosed from other Allobates species by morphology, bioacoustics, and genetics, and can be distinguished readily from known congeners by cryptic colouration, small size (16.3–17.8 mm snout-vent length), absence of distinct dorsal pattern in living adult individuals, presence of a distinctly enlarged tubercle on each eyelid, diffuse broad oblique lateral stripe extending from groin to about midbody length, sexually dimorphic throat colouration (pinkish grey, suffused with dark pigment in male, immaculate cream to yellow in female), belly cream to yellow in both sexes, and distinct vocalisation formed by calls of usually 9–12 notes emitted between silent intervals of usually ca . 2–6 s, with a dominant frequency ranging from 5,064 to 5,845 Hz. The new species is the third microendemic reported from the Iwokrama Mountains together with the caecilian Caecilita iwokramae and the lizard Gonatodes timidus. We recommend considering the conservation status of the new species as Data Deficient, and highlight that environmental impact assessments are needed to refine its IUCN threat status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that a new species of the proceratophrys cristiceps group has been described from the Sao Francisco River, Minas Gerais , Brazil, which is based on adult morphology and advertisement call. It informs that proceratophrys carranca speies is characterized by medium size, tubercular sagittal crests from eyelids to sacral region, subarticular tubercle of finger with inner meta-carpal tubercle oval and a multi-noted advertisement call. It also informs that proceratophrys differed from all other species of the genus.