A new species of Noblella (Amphibia,Anura, Craugastoridae) from the humid montane forests of Cusco,Peru

A new species of Noblella is described from the humid montane forest of the Región Cusco in Peru. Specimens were collected at 2330–2370 m elevation in Madre Selva, near Santa Ana, in the province of La Convención. The new species is readily distinguished from all other species of Noblella by having a broad, irregularly shaped, white mark on black background on chest and belly. The new species further differs from known Peruvian species of Noblella by the combination of the following characters: tympanic membrane absent, small tubercles on the upper eyelid and on dorsum, tarsal tubercles or folds absent, tips of digits not expanded, no circumferential grooves on digits, dark brown facial mask and lateral band extending from the tip of the snout to the inguinal region. The new species has a snout-to-vent length of 15.6 mm in one adult male and 17.6 mm in one adult female. Like other recently described species in the genus, this new Noblella inhabits high-elevation forests in the Andes and likely has a restricted geographic distribution.     

A new species of Amolops from Thailand (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae)

We describe a new species of torrent-dwelling ranid frog of the genus Amolops from western to peninsular Thailand. Amolops panhai, new species, differs from its congeners by the combination of: small body, males 31-34 mm, females 48-58 mm in snout-vent length; head narrower than long; tympanum distinct; vomerine teeth in short, oblique patches; first finger subequal to second; disc of first finger smaller than that of second, with circummarginal groove; no wide fringe of skin on third finger; toes fully webbed; outer metatarsal tubercle present; supratympanic fold present; dorsolateral fold indistinct; axillary gland present; horny spines on back, side of head and body, and chest absent; large tubercles on side of anus absent; glandular fold on ventral surface of tarsus absent; nuptial pad and paired gular pouches present in male; white band along the upper jaw extending to shoulder absent; larval dental formula 7(4-7)/3(1). This new species is the second anuran discovered which has a disjunct distribution around the Isthmus of Kra.     

Three new species of Leptolalax from Thailand (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae)

Three new megophryid species, Leptolalax melanoleucus, L. fuliginosus, and L. solus, are described from southwestern and southern Thailand on the bases of acoustic and morphological characteristics. Leptolalax melanoleucus and L. fuliginosus are similar to L. pelodytoides from northern Thailand, but differ from it completely in advertisement call characteristics and ventral color. Leptolalax solus is similar to L. heteropus from peninsular Malaysia, but differs from it by advertisement call, as well as by some body proportions. The distributional pattern of Leptolalax within Thailand is discussed.     

A new species of Passiflora subgenus Tacsonia (Passifloraceae) from the Andes of Peru

A new species is described from the Andes of Peru. Passiflora weigendii sp. nov. is a close relative of P. mixta, P. tripartita var. mollissima and P. cumbalensis var. mesadenia but differs in having pendent flowers and a different form of the stipules which have an arista about 1cm long. The new species is somewhat intermediate between the sections Elkea and Tacsonia and thus questions the current classification.     

A new species of Gracixalus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from northern Vietnam

We describe a new species of small tree frog from northern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Gracixalus waza sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species on the basis of a combination of the following characters: (1) size small (snout-vent length of males 27.1–32.9 mm, of females 37.6 mm); (2) head as wide as or wider than long; (3) vomerine teeth absent; (4) snout rounded and long (16–18 % of the snout-vent length); (5) spines on upper eyelid absent; (6) tibiotarsal projection absent; (7) dorsal skin smooth; (8) dermal fringes on forearm and tarsus absent; (9) dorsal surface of head and body greyish-green to moss-green with dark brown pattern forming an inverse Y marking; and (10) throat and chest with dark marbling. Our molecular data showed that the new species is nested in the same group with Gracixalus jinxiuensis sensu lato.     

A new species of Drymonia (Gesneriaceae) from the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes

A new species, Drymonia ignea (Gesneriaceae, tribe Episcieae), is described from the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes from the provinces of Tungurahua, Napo, and Morona-Santiago. It differs from other species of Drymonia by the presence of an urceolate corolla, quadrangular stem, and cucullate calyx lobes.     

A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia:Anura:Megophryidae) from the northwestern Hunan Province,China

<正> A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae), Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp.nov. (Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL: 38.2 mm), from Sangzhi County, Hunan Province, is described. Megophrystuberogranulatus is closely related to both Megophrys kuatunensis and Megophrys minor. Characters of the new species that differentiatethis species from close relatives are skin granulated with big tubercles on the dorsal sides of both thigh and tibia, thebigger inner metacarpal tubercle, upper eyelid wider than the interorbital space, hind limbs longer, overlapping of the left andright calcaneal parts. The type specimens are deposited in the Animal Museum of Life Sciences College of Hunan Normal University.     

Chytridiomycosis in two species of Telmatobius (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Argentina

Dead specimens of Telmatobius atacamensis and T. pisanoi were found in 2 localities in northwestern Argentina. The diagnosis was positive for chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Zoosporangia were identified in different stages: immature, mature with zoospores, empty and collapsed. This is the second report of chytridiomycosis in Argentina but the first one involving highly endangered species.     

A new species of the Rhinella margaritifera species group (Anura,Bufonidae) from the montane forest of the Selva Central,Peru

We describe a new species of the bufonid toad genus Rhinella from transition montane forest of the buffer zones of the Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park and the Pui Pui Protected Forest (eastern slopes of Andes, Selva Central, Peru). The new species belongs to the Rhinella margaritifera species group (confirmed by mtDNA data) and differs from all its members by the absence of tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus. It is characterized by medium size (SVL 57.5–65.5 mm, n = 5), moderately developed cranial crests, absence of neural crest of vertebrae, absence of bone protrusion at angle of jaw, presence of lateral rows of enlarged tubercles, and absence of subgular vocal sac and vocal slits in males. In addition, based on the molecular phylogenetic analyses of selected Rhinella species we propose the monophylum containing R. chavin, R. festae, R. macrorhina, R. manu, R. nesiotes, R. rostrata, and R. yanachaga as a new species group under the name Rhinella festae species group.     

A new Ansonia from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)

A new species of torrent-dwelling bufonid frog of the genus Ansonia is described from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand. Ansonia kraensis is morphologically similar to Malaysian A. malayana, but differs from it in ventral coloration and larval morphology. Occurrence of A. kraensis in this region suggests a heterogeneous nature of the anuran fauna between northern and southern regions of the Malay Peninsula.     

A new species of Drepanocnemis (Diptera,Muscidae) from Andes in Peru,with an updated phylogenetic analysis of species

Drepanocnemis Stein (Diptera, Muscidae) is a small genus of flies that occur in high altitudes in the Colombian Andes, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Herein we describe Drepanocnemis aurifronssp. nov. from Cuzco, Peru, which is found from high (2904 m) to lower altitudes (707 m). An updated phylogeny, key to species and map of species’ distributions are provided, together with images and illustrations of the male and the female terminalia.     

A new species of dactyloid anole (Iguanidae, Polychrotinae, Anolis) from the southeastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador

We describe a new species of Anolis from the southeastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador, province of Zamora-Chinchipe, Parque Nacional Podocarpus. It belongs to (1) the aequatorialis species-group by being of moderate to large size with narrow toe lamellae, and (2) the eulaemus sub-group by having a typical Anolis digit, in which the distal lamellae of phalanx II distinctly overlap the proximal scales of phalanx I. The new species is most similar morphologically to Anolis fitchi but differs from it mainly by having a dewlap with longitudinal rows of 2-5 granular, minute scales separated by naked skin (longitudinal rows of one or two keeled, large scales separated by naked skin in Anolis fitchi) and a vertically shorter dewlap (longer dewlap in Anolis fitchi).     

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the live frog trade of Telmatobius (Anura: Ceratophryidae) in the tropical Andes

Species of frogs in the genus Telmatobius are traded and sold for human consumption in the Andes and in coastal cities of Peru and Bolivia. These frogs are harvested from wild populations. We report high prevalence of infection by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in live frogs purchased at the main market in Cusco, Peru, from January 2008 to January 2010. We suggest that the transport of native anurans through the live frog trade could facilitate the spread of this fungus among Andean frogs. The tropical Andes are the most important biodiversity hotspot for amphibians. Because many neotropical taxa are known to be susceptible to chytridiomycosis, the presence of a large reservoir of infection in the frog trade poses a significant threat to amphibian conservation.     

A new species of the genus Theloderma Tschudi, 1838(Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Tay Nguyen Plateau,central Vietnam

A new species of small tree frog from a primary montane tropical forest of central Vietnam, Tay Nguyen Plateau, is described based on morphological,molecular, and acoustic evidence. The Golden Bug-Eyed Frog, Theloderma auratum sp. nov., is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species based on a combination of the following morphological attributes:(1) bony ridges on head absent;(2) smooth skin completely lacking calcified warts or asperities;(3) pointed elongated tapering snout;(4) vocal opening in males absent;(5) vomerine teeth absent;(6) males of small body size(SVL 21.8–26.4 mm);(7) head longer than wide;ED/SVL ratio 13%–15%; ESL/SVL ratio 16%–20%;(8)small tympanum(TD/EL ratio 50%–60%) with few tiny tubercles;(9) supratympanic fold absent;(10) ventral surfaces completely smooth;(11) webbing between fingers absent;(12) outer and inner metacarpal tubercles present, supernumerary metacarpal tubercle single, medial, oval in shape;(13) toes half-webbed:Ⅰ 2–2? Ⅱ 1?–2? Ⅲ 2–3? Ⅳ 3–1? Ⅴ;(14) inner metatarsal tubercle present, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle absent;(15) iris bicolored;(16) dorsal surfaces golden-yellow with sparse golden-orange speckling or reticulations and few small dark-brown spots;(17) lateral sides of head and body with wide dark reddish-brown to black lateral stripes, clearlyseparated from lighter dorsal coloration by straight contrasting edge;(18) ventral surfaces of body, throat,and chest greyish-blue with indistinct brown confluent blotches;(19) upper eyelids with few(3–5) very small flat reddish superciliary tubercles;(20) limbs dorsally reddish-brown, ventrally brown with small bluish-white speckles. The new species is also distinct from all congeners in 12 S rRNA to 16 S rRNA mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences(uncorrected genetic distance P8.9%). Advertisement call and tadpole morphology of the new species are described.Our molecular data showed Theloderma auratum sp. nov. to be a sister species of Th. palliatum from Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam.     

A striking,new species of Roupala (Proteaceae) from the Venezuelan Andes

Roupala barnettiae from the Montañas de Misisí in Edo. Trujillo, Venezuela is described and illustrated. Its taxonomic affinities are also discussed.     

A new species of Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) from Peru

A new species,Ranunculus lambayequensis, from the department of Lambayeque in Peru with pocket-like nectary scales and smooth and turgid achenes appears to be related toR. donianus andR. bangii of sectionEpirotes.     

A new species of Euterpe (Palmae) from Peru

Euterpe luminosa, a new species from Peru, is described and illustrated. The differences between it and its congeners are discussed.     

A new genus and three new species of miniaturized microhylid frogs from Indochina(Amphibia: Anura:Microhylidae: Asterophryinae)

We report on the discovery of a new genus of microhylid subfamily Asterophryinae from northern and eastern Indochina, containing three new species.Vietnamophryne Gen. nov. are secretive miniaturized frogs(SVL21 mm) with a mostly semi-fossorial lifestyle. To assess phylogenetic relationships, we studied 12 S rRNA – 16 S rRNA mt DNA fragments with a final alignment of 2 591 bp for 53 microhylid species. Morphological and osteological characters were analyzed using micro-CT scanning and used to describe the new genus. Results of phylogenetic analyses assigned the new genus into the mainly Australasian subfamily Asterophryinae as a sister taxon to the genus Siamophryne from southern Indochina. The three specimens collected from Gia Lai Province in central Vietnam, Cao Bang Province in northern Vietnam, and Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand proved to be separate species, different both in morphology and genetics(genetic divergence 3.1%≤P≤5.1%). Our work provides further evidence for the "out of Indo-Eurasia"scenario for Asterophryinae, indicating that the initial cladogenesis and differentiation of this group of frogs occurred in the Indochina Peninsula. To date, each of the three new species of Vietnamophryne Gen. nov. is known only from a single specimen; thus,their distribution, life history, and conservation status require further study.     

A new species of Solorinella (Asterothyriaceae) from Peru

Solorinella nigrescens Thor sp. nov., is described from Peru. Only one species of Solorinella, S. asteriscus Anzi from Europe and Pakistan, has been known previously. The morphology of the two populations of 5. asteriscus in central Europe and southern Norway is discussed. They differ chiefly in spore width. Toninia tristis is reported for the first time from Peru and South America.