Tres Ranas de Cristal

NUEVA PUBLICACION / NEW PUBLICATION:

Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae, Centrolene balionotum, Centrolene geckoideum, and Cochranella cariticommata: Distribution extension, new provincial records, Ecuador.

Abstract: New information on the distribution of three poorly-known species of Glassfrogs from Ecuador: Centrolene balionotum, Centrolene geckoideum, and Cochranella cariticommata.

Resumen: Nueva información sobre la distribución de tres especies de Ranas de Cristal pobremente conocidas en Ecuador: Centrolene balionotum, Centrolene geckoideum, and Cochranella cariticommata.

Cita / Citation: Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae, Centrolene balionotum, Centrolene geckoideum, and Cochranella cariticommata: Distribution extension, new provincial records, Ecuador. Check List 3(1): 39-42.

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Cochranella puyoensis: Taxonomy&Conservation

NUEVA PUBLICACION / NEW PUBLICATION:

Review of the taxonomy and conservation status of the Ecuadorian Glassfrog Centrolenella puyoensis Flores & McDiarmid (Amphibia: Anura: Centrolenidae)

The Glassfrog Centrolenella puyoensis Flores & McDiarmid is a taxon known only from the female holotype, and recently placed in the genus Centrolene due to its supposed close relationship with Centrolene mariae (Duellman & Toft). Herein we report new material of puyoensis, including adult male specimens previously unknown. We propose the new combination Cochranella puyoensis (Flores & McDiarmid) n. comb., in recognition of the state of the humeral crista ventralis in males of this species, which lack a humeral spine. The hypothesis of relationships between three species, including puyoensis, proposed as the mariae species-group is questioned as it was based on phenetic rather than derived characters. We present new data that extend the distributional range of Cochranella puyoensis, and define its range along the Foothill Evergreen forests from 400 m to 1000 m above sea level in the provinces of Napo, Orellana, and Pastaza. New data presented herein also permit a re-evaluation of the conservation status of the species, previously classified under the IUCN category of Critically Endangered. We recommend that Cochranella puyoensis be reclassified as “Endangered”: EN B1ab(i,ii,iii)+2ab(i,ii,iii); based on a better understanding of the presence of the species, its occupancy area, number of known localities, and habitat quality status.

Cita / Citation: Cisneros-Heredia, D. F. & R. W. McDiarmid. Review of the taxonomy and conservation status of the Ecuadorian Glassfrog Centrolenella puyoensis Flores & McDiarmid (Amphibia: Anura: Centrolenidae). Zootaxa 1361: 21-31.

Descargar Resumen / Download Abstract:
http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/z01361p031f.pdf

Solicitar articulo en formato pdf / Ask paper in pdf format:
http://www.cisneros-heredia.org/public.html

Salamandras de Ecuador - Bolitoglossa

NUEVA PUBLICACION / NEW PUBLICATION:

Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae: Bolitoglossa equatoriana and Bolitoglossa biseriata: range extensions, new provincial records from Ecuador, and natural history

Abstract: New information on the salamanders from Ecuador, including new provincial records for Bolitoglossa equatoriana, the second reports from Ecuador for Bolitoglossa biseriata, and notes on its natural history.

Resumen: Nueva información sobre las salamandras de Ecuador, incluyendo nuevos registros provinciales para Bolitoglossa equatoriana, el segundo reporte para Ecuador de Bolitoglossa biseriata y notas sobre su historia natural.

Cita / Citation: Amphibia: Caudata: Plethodontidae: Bolitoglossa equatoriana and Bolitoglossa biseriata: range extensions, new provincial records from Ecuador, and natural history . Check List 2(3): 64-67.

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Bothrocophias of Ecuador

NUEVA PUBLICACION / NEW PUBLICATION:

Distribution and natural history of the Ecuadorian Toad-headed Pitvipers of the genus Bothrocophias (Squamata: Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae)

Abstract: Limited information is available for pitvipers of the genus Bothrocophias. This article presents information on the three species of Bothrocophias known to occur in Ecuador: Bothrocophias campbelli (FREIRE LASCANO, 1991), B. hyoprora (AMARAL, 1935), and B. microphthalmus (COPE, 1875), including geographical distribution, altitudinal range, provincial records, sympatric pitviper species, activity patterns, behavior, size, reproductive biology, diet, and longevity. Bothrocophias campbelli inhabits the northern, central and southern regions of the Pacific slopes of the Andes in Ecuador between 800 and 2000 m; Bothrocophias hyoprora occurs in the northern and southern Amazonian lowlands and low eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador between 210 and 1500 m; Bothrocophias microphthalmus occurs in the south-eastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador between 600 and 2350 m. We report the second known locality of B. campbelli in the province of Imbabura and the westernmost locality of B. hyoprora in the Nangaritza river valley. The sympatry between B. hyoprora and B. microphthalmus is confirmed, at the Makuma area, province of Morona-Santiago, increasing the vertical distribution range of B. microphthalmus to at least 600 m. The White-bellied Slender Mouse Opossum Marmosops noctivagus is reported for the first time as a prey of B. microphthalmus. We herein report some novel data on the reproductive biology of Bothrocophias pitvipers, including litter and neonates sizes for B. hyoprora and B. microphthalmus. Bothrocophias pitvipers can produce up to 47 enlarged follicles and known litter sizes range from three to 36 young. Enlarged ovarian follicles have been reported in April for B. campbelli, juveniles in December for B. microphthalmus and from August to September for B. hyoprora. The relative clutch mass values in Bothrocophias ranged from 0.22 (in B. microphthalmus) to 0.30 (in B. hyoprora).

Resumen: Limitada información se ha publicado sobre las serpientes venenosas del género Bothrocophias. Este artículo presenta información para las tres especies de Bothrocophias que habitan en Ecuador: Bothrocophias campbelli (FREIRE LASCANO, 1991), B. hyoprora (AMARAL, 1935), y B. microphthalmus (COPE, 1875); incluyendo datos sobre su distribución geográfica, rango altitudinal, registros provinciales, especies en simpatría, patrones de actividad, comportamiento, tamaño, biología reproductiva, dieta y longevidad. Bothrocophias campbelli habita las regiones norte, central y sur de la vertiente Pacífica de Ecuador entre 800 y 2000 m, B. hyoprora habita las regiones norte y sur de las tierras bajas de la Amazonía y vertientes bajas de la Cordillera Oriental entre 210 y 1500 m; y B. microphthalmus habita en las vertientes sureste de la Cordillera Oriental entre 600 y 2350 m. Se reporta la segunda localidad conocida para B. campbelli en la provincia de Imbabura y la localidad más occidental de B. hyoprora en el valle del Río Nangaritza. Se confirma la simpatría de B. hyoprora y B. microphthalmus en el área de Makuma, provincia de Morona-Santiago, incrementando el rango de distribución vertical de B. microphthalmus hasta al menos 600 m. La Raposa Chica de Vientre Blanco Marmosops noctivagus es reportada por primera vez como presa de B. microphthalmus. Se reporta nueva información sobre la biología reproductiva de Bothrocophias, incluyendo el tamaño de la camada y de los neonatos de B. hyoprora y B. microphthalmus. Las serpientes Bothrocophias pueden producir hasta 47 foliculos agrandados y el rango conocido del tamaño de las camadas incluye entre 3 a 36 individuos. Foliculos agrandados en el ovario han sido reportados en Abril para B. campbelli, y juveniles en Diciembre para B. microphthalmus y entre Agosto y Septiembre para B. hyoprora. Los valores de la masa relativa de la puesta en Bothrocophias varian entre 0.22 (en B. microphthalmus) hasta 0.30 (en B. hyoprora).


Cita / Citation: Cisneros-Heredia, D. F. (2006) Distribution and natural history of the Ecuadorian Toad-headed Pitvipers o the genus Bothrocophias (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae). Herpetozoa 19(1/2): 17-26.

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Phylogeny Dart-Poison Frogs

NUEVA PUBLICACION / NEW PUBLICATION:

PHYLOGENETIC SYSTEMATICS OF DART-POISON FROGS AND THEIR RELATIVES (AMPHIBIA: ATHESPHATANURA: DENDROBATIDAE)

Cita / Citation: Grant, Taran, Frost, D.R., Caldwell, J.P., Gagliardo, R., Haddad, C.F.B, Kok, P.J.R., Means, D.B., Noonan, B.P., Schargel, W.E. & Wheeler, W. 2006. Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia, Athesphatanura, Dendrobatidae). BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 299: 262 pp., 79 figures, 37 tables, 8 appendices.

Descargar / Download: http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/handle/2246/5781

ABSTRACT: "The known diversity of dart-poison frog species has grown from 70 in the 1960s to 247 at present, with no sign that the discovery of new species will wane in the foreseeable future. Although this growth in knowledge of the diversity of this group has been accompanied by detailed investigations of many aspects of the biology of dendrobatids, their phylogenetic relationships remain poorly understood. This study was designed to test hypotheses of dendrobatid diversification by combining new and prior genotypic and phenotypic evidence in a total evidence analysis. DNA sequences were sampled for five mitochondrial and six nuclear loci (approximately 6,100 base pairs [bp]; x¯53,740 bp per terminal; total dataset composed of approximately 1.55 million bp), and 174 phenotypic characters were scored from adult and larval morphology, alkaloid profiles, and behavior. These data were combined with relevant published DNA sequences. Ingroup sampling targeted several previously unsampled species, including Aromobates nocturnus, which was hypothesized previously to be the sister of all other dendrobatids. Undescribed and problematic species were sampled from multiple localities when possible. The final dataset consisted of 414 terminals: 367 ingroup terminals of 156 species and 47 outgroup terminals of 46 species.

Direct optimization parsimony analysis of the equally weighted evidence resulted in 25,872 optimal trees. Forty nodes collapse in the strict consensus, with all conflict restricted to conspecific terminals. Dendrobatids were recovered as monophyletic, and their sister group consisted of Crossodactylus, Hylodes, and Megaelosia, recognized herein as Hylodidae. Among outgroup taxa, Centrolenidae was found to be the sister group of all athesphatanurans except Hylidae, Leptodactyidae was polyphyletic, Thoropa was nested within Cycloramphidae, and Ceratophryinae was paraphyletic with respect to Telmatobiinae. Among dendrobatids, the monophyly and content of Mannophryne and Phyllobates were corroborated. Aromobates nocturnus and Colostethus saltuensis were found to be nested within Nephelobates, and Minyobates was paraphyletic and nested within Dendrobates. Colostethus was shown to be rampantly nonmonophyletic, with most species falling into two unrelated cis- and trans-Andean clades. A morphologically and behaviorally diverse clade of median lingual process-possessing species was discovered.

In light of these findings and the growth in knowledge of the diversity of this large clade over the past 40 years, we propose a new, monophyletic taxonomy for dendrobatids, recognizing the inclusive clade as a superfamily (Dendrobatoidea) composed of two families (one of which is new), six subfamilies (three new), and 16 genera (four new). Although poisonous frogs did not form a monophyletic group, the three poisonous lineages are all confined to the revised family Dendrobatidae, in keeping with the traditional application of this name. We also propose changes to achieve a monophyletic higher-level taxonomy for the athesphatanuran outgroup taxa.

Analysis of character evolution revealed multiple origins of phytotelm-breeding, parental provisioning of nutritive oocytes for larval consumption (larval oophagy), and endotrophy. Available evidence indicates that transport of tadpoles on the dorsum of parent nurse frogs— a dendrobatid synapomorphy—is carried out primitively by male nurse frogs, with three independent origins of female transport and five independent origins of biparental transport. Reproductive amplexus is optimally explained as having been lost in the most recent common ancestor of Dendrobatoidea, with cephalic amplexus arising independently three times."