Wednesday, June 17, 2015

[Herpetology • 2015] Eleutherodactylus ligiae & E. neiba • Two New Species of Frogs of the Genus Eleutherodactylus (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola


Fig . 1. Different species of frogs in the genus Eleutherodactylus from Hispaniola.
Variation Eleutherodactylus ligiae sp. nov. : A, paratype MNHNSD 1358 (PRRD 39); Bparatype MNHNSD 1360 (PRRD 44) ; Cparatype MNHNSD 1363 (PRRD 42) .
D  E. alcoae , adult female (PRRD 366) Cueva de los Patos , Barahona . E, E. leoncei (PRRD 258) , adult female Zapotén , Sierra de Bahoruco, Independencia . F, E. armstrongi, adult male (PRRD 529) of Cachote , Sierra de Bahoruco , Barahona . G, E. pictissimus, adult male (PRRD 45) Crossing Sewage , Sierra de Bahoruco , Pedernales . H, E. probolaeus, adult female (PRRD 293) River mouth Yuma , La Romana. I, E. weinlandi, adult female (PRRD 496) of the banks of the River Crossing , Loma de La Canela , Duarte.
Ventral view of : J , E. ligiae (MNHNSD 1363) ; K , E. alcoae ( PRRD 40 ), adult male from road to Cabo Rojo Aceitillar , Pedernales ; L , E. leoncei (PRRD 258) .
Photos: Luis M. Diaz. || SOLENODON. 12

Abstract
Two new species of frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus are described from two localities in Dominican Republic. Eleutherodactylus ligiae sp. nov. inhabits the pine forests of the western part of Sierra de Bahoruco, and seems to be related to the E. armstrongi species group, particularly to E. alcoae Schwartz and E. leoncei Shreve and Williams. It is a vividly colored frog with black blotches on a yellow background, enlarged digital discs and smooth belly. Eleutherodactylus neiba sp. nov. is a very small, terrestrial species that occurs in the humid rain forests of Sierra de Neiba. It has a squatty habitus, small digital discs, areolate venter, vomerine teeth absent or vestigial and a dark overall coloration. The possible relationships of these species are discussed, but genetic data are necessary for a proper classification.

Key words: Amphibia, Anura, Eleutherodactylus, West Indies, Dominican Republic, Sierra de Bahoruco, Sierra de Neiba, new species, advertisement calls. 



Fig . 4. Two terrestrial frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus from Hispaniola.
 AEleutherodactylus neiba sp. nov. paratype MNHNSD 1368 (PRRD 477), adult female from Sierra de Neiba, dorsal view (upper) and ventral view (lower). ; B: E. jugans, adult female PRRD 241 from Zapotén, Sierra de Bahoruco, dorsal view (top) and ventral view (lower).
Photos: Luis M. Diaz. || SOLENODON. 12

Sixto J. Incháustegui, Luis M. Díaz and Cristian Marte. 2015. Dos especies nuevas de ranas del género Eleutherodactylus (Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) de La Hispaniola [Two New Species of Frogs of the Genus Eleutherodactylus (Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola]. SOLENODON. 12; 136-149.