Abstract
The description of the frog “Hyla” antoniiochoai is based on a subadult female and a juvenile collected in 2005 near Esperanza, Kosñipata Valley, Región (formerly Departamento) Cusco, southeastern Peru. The species was assigned to the genus Hyla (Hylidae) but could not be assigned to any species group within this genus. According to the original description, typical characters include the absence of webbing in hands, and vestigial webbing between Toes III and IV. In 2009, we collected additional specimens including adults of both sexes from the type locality. To our surprise these specimens show characters, such as a closed brood pouch, that are typical of Gastrotheca (Hemiphractidae). Furthermore, our analysis of the advertisement call supports its relation with Gastrotheca. Consequently, we assign “Hyla” antoniiochoai to Gastrotheca, compare it with its congeners, and improve the species diagnosis and description. Gastrotheca antoniiochoai lives in epiphytic bromeliads in the cloud forest and montane scrub between 2700 and 3300 m in Manu National Park. The new specimens were found inside bromeliads approximately 6–8 from the ground. It shares with the central Peruvian Gastrotheca zeugocystis, and the Venezuelan G. walkeri and G. williamsonii a lateral, paired brood pouch (instead of the single, dorsomedian pouch found in most Gastrotheca).References
Catenazzi, A. & Rodríguez, L. (2001) Diversidad, distribución y abundancia de anuros en la parte alta de la Reserva de Biosfera del Manu. In: Rodriguez, L. (ed.). El Manu y otras experiencias de investigación y manejo de bosques neotropicales. Pro-Manu, Cusco (Peru).
Catenazzi, A., Rodríguez, L. & Donnelly, M.A. (2009) The advertisement calls of four species of glassfrogs (Centrolenidae) from Southeastern Peru. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 44, 83–91.
De la Riva, I. & Chaparro, J.C. (2005) A new species of tree frog from the Andes of southeastern Peru (Anura: Hylidae: Hyla). Amphibia-Reptilia, 26, 515–521.
De la Riva, I., Chaparro, J.C. & Padial, J.M. (2008) A new, long-standing misidentified species of Pscyhrophrynella Hedges, Duellman & Heinicke from Departamento Cusco, Peru (Anura: Strabomantidae). Zootaxa, 1823, 42–50.
Duellman, W.E. & Fritts, T.H. (1972) A taxonomic review of the southern Andean marsupial frogs (Hylidae: Gastrotheca). Occasional Papers Museum of Natural History University of Kansas, 9, 1–37.
Duellman, W.E. & Köhler, J. (2005) New species of marsupial frog (Hylidae: Hemiphractinae: Gastrotheca) from the Yungas of Bolivia. Journal of Herpetology, 39, 91–100.
Duellman, W.E. & Maness, S.J. (1980) The reproductive behavior of some hylid marsupial frogs. Journal of Herpetology, 14, 213–222.
Frost, D.R. (2009) Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.3 (12 February, 2009). Electronic Database accessible at http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/
Lehr, E. & Catenazzi, A. (2008) A new species of Bryophryne (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from southern Peru. Zootaxa, 1784, 1–10.
Lehr, E. & Catenazzi, A. (2009a) A new species of minute Noblella (Anura: Strabomantidae) from southern Peru: the smallest frog of the Andes. Copeia, 2009, 148–156.
Lehr, E. & Catenazzi, A. (2009b) Three new species of Bryophryne from southern Peru. South American Journal of Herpetology, 4, 125–138.
Myers, C.W. & Duellman, W.E. (1982) A new species of Hyla from Cerro Colorado, and other tree frog records and geographical notes from western Panama. American Museum Novitates, 2752, 1–32.
Savage, J.M. & Heyer, W.R. (1967) Variation and distribution of the treefrog genus Phyllomedusa in Costa Rica, Central America. Beiträge zur Neotropischen Fauna, 5, 111–131.
Sinsch, U. & Joermann, G. (1989) Vocalization and mating behaviour of the marsupial frog, Gastrotheca marsupiata (Duméril and Bibron, 1841) (Amphibia, Hylidae). Copeia, 1989, 755–760.
Wassersug, R.J. & Duellman, W.E. (1984) Oral structures and their development in egg-brooding hylid frog embryos and larvae: evolutionary and ecological implications. Journal of Morphology, 182, 1–37.