Tandayapa Andes Toad

description

Description. Based on two adult females, one adult male (QCAZ 56576; Fig. 4), one subadult male (QCAZ 55561), and photographs of ~ 20 adult individuals of unknown sex. Male measurements refer to the single adult. A medium sized bufonid, SVL in males 43.9 mm, females 57.0 to 60.0 mm (n = 2); head width 105.3 % of head length, 33.8 % of SVL, head length is 32.2 – 32.8 % of SVL; head acuminate in dorsal view, projected in profile; vertical fleshy fold at rostrum tip; distance between nostril and tip of the snout 64.1 – 70.3 % of the distance from the nostril to the eye; nostril posterior to the anterior edge of the upper lip, below canthus rostralis on moderately protruding area; nostrils oval to rounded; area between the nostrils concave; area from tip of the snout to anterior border of eyelid flat to slightly convex; interorbital and occipital region flat; interorbital area much wider than the upper eyelid; internal border of eyelid not delineated with low isolated tubercles, external border fleshy and protruding; cephalic crests absent; canthus rostralis fleshy, gently concave to gently convex, not projected into the loreal region; loreal region strongly concave; lips not prominent

Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae): phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A medium sized bufonid (SVL 43.8 mm in males, 57.0 to 60.0 mm in females) characterized by the absence of enlarged cephalic crests, yellowish-orange skin secretions (Fig. 5), elongated testes, elongated parotoids, and flanks with conspicuous, fleshy and prominent tubercles (Fig. 4). Comparisons with other species. The most similar species is R. colomai. Both species differ in the pattern of tuberculation in the flanks. In R. olallai the skin on the flanks is weakly areolate but with large, fleshy and prominent tubercles; in R. colomai the skin is areolate (females) to strongly areolate (males) with medium-sized tubercles, most of them arranged along an oblique lateral row that connects the parotoid gland with the groin.

Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae): phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo

distribution

Distribution and ecology. Rhaebo olallai is known from two localities in the western slopes of the Andes in Northern Ecuador (elevation 1300 – 1500 m above sea level; Fig. 7). Vegetation types, according with the Ministerio de Ambiente del Ecuador 2013 classification system, are Evergreen Foothill Forest of the Andean Western Cordillera (Manduriacu) and Evergreen Low Montane Forest of the Andean Western Cordillera (Tandayapa). Annual precipitation at Tandayapa is 2731 mm and at Manduriacu 2935 mm; mean annual temperature is 17.1 and 19.6 ° C, respectively. At Manduriacu all field observations took place at night in Terra Firme forest. Most adults and juveniles were observed along streams perching on vegetation up to 2 m above ground. Some individuals were observed moving actively suggesting that activity is nocturnal. Adult individuals were also observed within the forest and away from streams (distance> 50 m). Conservation status. Assuming that populations survive at the two known localities, extent of occurrence is 1079 km 2. However, Tandayapa, the type locality, is a reserve frequently visited by naturalists and the lack of records since 1970 suggests that the population is ext

Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae): phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo