Zootaxa 1618: 6168 (2007) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)

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Copyright 2007 Magnolia Press
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)

A new species of Phrynopus from Departamento Cusco, southern Peru

(Anura: Brachycephalidae)

JUAN C. CHAPARRO1,4, IGNACIO DE LA RIVA2, JOS M. PADIAL2, JOS A. OCHOA1 &

EDGAR LEHR3
1
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Peru. Plaza de Armas s/n (Paraninfo Uni-
versitario), Cusco, Peru
2
Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC. C/ Jos Gutirrez Abascal 2,
28006 Madrid, Spain
3
Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden, Museum fr Tierkunde, Knigsbrcker Landstrasse 159, D-01109 Dresden, Ger-
many
4
Corresponding author. E-mail: jchaparroauza@yahoo.com

Abstract

We describe a new species of Phrynopus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from two close localities at the upper limits of cloud
forest in the southern Peruvian Departamento Cusco, between 35553950 m a.s.l. The new species is characterized by
having medium size (maximum snout-vent length 23.4 mm), dentigerous processes of vomers absent, tympanic mem-
brane inconspicuous, dorsal skin coarsely shagreen in life, dorsolateral folds, ventral skin areolate, dorsum tan, venter
bold black with conspicuous bluish-gray spots, and a bluish-white iris.

Key words: Andes, Peru, Phrynopus, Anura

Introduction

Frogs of the genus Phrynopus Peters, 1874 occur along the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia,
between 1000 and 4400 m a.s.l. (De la Riva 1992; Lehr et al. 2005a; Lynch 1975; Lehr 2006). The genus com-
prises 29 species, with more than half of them described during the last 15 years (see Frost 2007). Nineteen
species are known from Peru, many of them described recently (e. g., Duellman 2000; Lehr 2001, 2006; Lehr
& Aguilar 2002, 2003; Lehr et al. 2000, 2002a, 2002b, 2005b). Nevertheless, many new species remain to be
described in Peru and Bolivia. Intensive fieldwork during the last two years along the southern Andes of Peru
revealed high species level endemism associated to glacial valleys. Several new species of Phrynopus were
discovered and one of them is herein described.

Material and methods

Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and preserved in 70% ethanol. The format for the description follows
that of Lynch (1975). Specimens examined are listed in the Appendix. Measurements were taken with a digi-
tal caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm. Abbreviations are as follows: SVL (snout-vent length), TL (tibia length), FL
(foot length, distance from posterior margin of inner metatarsal tubercle to tip of fourth toe), HL (head length,
from posterior margin of jaw to tip of snout), HW (head width, maximum width of head), ED (horizontal eye

Accepted by M. Vences: 17 Sept. 2007; published: 19 Oct. 2007 61

diameter), IOD (interorbital distance), EW (eyelid width), IND (internarial distance), END (eye-nostril dis-
tance, straight line distance between anterior corner of orbital opening and posterior margin of external nares).
Description of coloration in life is based on the field notes by J.C.C. Drawings were made by K. Siu-Ting
using a stereomicroscope with a camera lucida. Museum abbreviation refers to Museo de Historia Natural,
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad, Cusco, Peru (MHNC).

Systematics

Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov.

(Figs. 14)

Holotype. MHNC 6018, an adult female (Fig. 1), from Canchayoc (1307'16.2" S, 7219'53.0" W, 3663
m a.s.l.), near Abra de Mlaga, Distrito de Huayopata, Provincia de la Convencin, Departamento Cusco,
Peru, collected on 15 April 2007 by J. C. Chaparro and J. A. Ochoa.
Paratypes. MHNC 6019, adult male (Fig. 2) from near Canchayoc (1306'56.4" S, 7220'29.0" W, 3621
m a.s.l.), collected on 6 August 2006 by J. A. Ochoa; MHNC 6017, subadult male from near Canchayoc
(1307'20.9"S, 7219'28.0" W, 3741 m a.s.l.), collected on 6 August 2006 by J. A. Ochoa; MHNC 6015, a
subadult female from near Canchayoc (1306'49.7" S, 7221'17.8" W, 3555 m a.s.l.), collected on 15 April
2007 by J. A. Ochoa; MHNC 6016, a juvenile, from near Canchayoc (1306'49.7" S, 7221'17.8" W, 3555 m
a.s.l.), collected on 6 August 2006 by J. C. Chaparro and J. A. Ochoa.
Referred specimens. Twenty-three specimens: MHNC 796798, from Cochayoc, Distrito de Huayopata,
Provincia de la Convencin, Departamento Cusco, Peru, collected on 25 August 1995 by W. Arizbal and J.
A.Ochoa; MHNC 800, 811 814, from Carrizales, Distrito de Huayopata, Provincia de la Convencin, Depar-
tamento Cusco, Peru, collected on 26 and 27 August 1995 by W. Arizbal and J. A. Ochoa; MHNC 861, from
Cochayoc, Distrito de Huayopata, Provincia de la Convencin, Departamento Cusco, Peru, collected on 24
November 1995 by A. W. Salas; MHNC 921926, from Cochayoc, Distrito de Huayopata, Provincia de la
Convencin, Departamento Cusco, Peru, collected on 27 April 1996 by J. A. Ochoa; MHNC 931936, 837,
938, from Canchayoc, Distrito de Huayopata, Provincia de la Convencin, Departamento Cusco, Peru, col-
lected on 2830 April 1996 by J. A. Ochoa.
Diagnosis. (1) Medium-sized (maximum SVL 23.4 mm), body robust, legs short (TL+FL between 30
40% SVL); (2) tympanic membrane not apparent; (3) first finger slightly shorter than second; (4) tips of digits
slightly swollen, not expanded laterally; (5) webbing of toes and lateral fringes absent; (6) two metatarsal
tubercles, tarsal fold absent; (7) dorsal skin coarsely shagreen, dorsolateral folds present, ventral skin areolate;
(8) snout rounded in dorsal view and in profile; (9) dorsum tan in life; (10) venter black with large, irregular,
bluish-gray blotches.
Phrynopus bustamantei is distinguished from other species of Phrynopus by the combination of the fol-
lowing characters: vocal slits and vocal sac present, nuptial pads absent, tarsal fold absent, bold black venter
with or without large bluish-gray to metallic white spots, orange plantar surfaces, metallic blue iris, and dorso-
lateral folds. Phrynopus species are highly endemic, most of them are allopatric, and often occupy extremely
reduced ranges. To the north, the closest species to P. bustamantei are P. montium and P. peruanus, from
Departamento Junn in central Peru, and they are separated from P. bustamantei by a gap of more than 400 km
(airline) in which no Phrynopus species is known. Only four species of Phrynopus are known from southern
Peru: P. bagrecito, P. boettgeri, P. cophites, and P. peruvianus (the last two species are sympatric and they are
separated by an airline distance of 100 km from the type locality of P. bustamantei; the two other species
occur further to the south). Phrynopus bustamantei, P. bagrecito and P. peruvianus are of similar size, and
they have males with vocal slits and vocal sac present, but nuptial pads absent. However, P. bustamantei dif-

62 Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press CHAPARRO ET AL.

fers from these species in lacking a tarsal fold. Phrynopus cophites has nuptial pads on first and second finger,
which are absent in P. bustamantei. Phrynopus boettgeri is smaller than P. bustamantei (SVL to 18.4 mm in
females; Lehr 2006) and males lack vocal slits and vocal sac (both present in P. bustamantei). In addition to
morphological and color pattern differences, due to the high degree of endemism (De la Riva, 2007) it is
extremely unlikely that these populations of Phrynopus are conspecific or closely related.

FIGURE 1. Lateral (A), and dorsal (B) views of head, and ventral views of hand (C), and foot (D) of the female holo-
type of Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov. (MHNC 6018). Scale bar = 5 mm. Drawings by K. Siu-Ting.

Description of the holotype. Body robust; dorsal skin coarsely shagreen, with granules grouping; flanks
warty, some warts bearing granules; ventral skin areolate; dorsolateral folds conspicuous, from posterior mar-
gin of eye to the level of sacral region; pectoral fold present; head wider than long, HW 40% of SVL; HL 30%
of SVL; snout rounded in dorsal view and in profile; nostrils not protuberant, closer to snout than to eyes; can-
thus rostralis straight to slightly concave in dorsal view, rounded in frontal profile; END 70% of ED; loreal
region slightly concave; cranial crests absent; tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus not apparent;
supratympanic fold weak; tongue large, oval; choanae round, small, widely spaced; dentigerous processes of
vomers absent; limbs moderately short; tips of digits barely swollen, not expanded laterally; ulnar tubercle
and fold absent; inner palmar tubercle single, oval, flattened, sligthly smaller than oval outer; fingers moder-

NEW PHRYNOPUS FROM PERU Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press 63

ately short, not fringed; subarticular tubercles round, those at the basis of proximal phalanges swollen; first
finger slightly shorter than second, relative length of fingers 1<2<4<3; TL 30% of SVL; tarsus lacking tuber-
cles and folds; two metatarsal tubercles, the oval inner (not visible in holotype due to preservation, Fig. 1)
slightly larger than the round outer (Fig. 4); supernumerary tubercles small, poorly defined; subarticular tuber-
cles of the toes round, medium-size; - toes not webbed, lateral fringes absent; relative length of toes
1<2<5=3<4; FL 40% of SVL.

FIGURE 2. Living male paratype of Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov. (MHNC 6019, SVL 22.9 mm) in dorsolateral (A)
and ventral (B) views. Photos by J. C. C.

FIGURE 3. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views of adults and subadults of Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov. From left to
right: MHNC 6018 (holotype, adult female), MHNC 6019 (adult male), MHNC 6017 (subadult male), MHNC 6015
(subadult female), MHNC 6016 (juvenile). Photos by J. C. C.

In preservative, the holotype has dorsal surfaces, head and extremities, uniformly dark gray and a grayish-
white supratympanic stripe; most parts of the belly are grayish-white and dark brown marmorated; the throat
is grayish-white with dark brown blotches at the border of the chin; palmar surfaces are grayishwhite with
some dark gray tonalities at the distal end; plantar surfaces are dark gray with cream toes; the groin is grayish-
white with dark gray blotches.
In life, the holotype exhibited a tan dorsum with dark brown diffuse marks in the interocular, occipital and
middorsal regions; the dorsolateral folds were dark brown to black, and the upper lip was brownish-orange,

64 Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press CHAPARRO ET AL.

with a diffuse dark brown vertical bar in front of the eyes; there was a supratympanic dark brown stripe; the
flanks were dark brown posteriorly, and yellow anteriorly with dark brown spots associated to prominent
warts; the throat was yellowish-orange; the belly, ventral surfaces of arms and legs were bold black, with
dense bluish metallic-white spots, some of them anastomosed; the fingers and toes and distal regions of plan-
tar surfaces were orange, while the proximal regions were bold black; the iris was metallic bluish-white with
black reticulations.
Measurements (in mm): SVL, 23.4; HL, 6.9; HW, 8.4; IND, 2.1; END, 1.9; ED, 2.8; TL, 8.0; FL, 9.2.
Variation. The single adult male has vocal slits and a moderately developed vocal sac, but lacks nuptial
pads. Males have more prominent dorsolateral folds (Figs. 2, 3A) compared to females. Males and juveniles
differ in coloration by exhibiting lighter gray color on dorsum and darker gray on flanks when compared to
females. Specimens MHNC 6017 and MHNC 6019 present smaller marmorated blotches on the venter than
the female holotype. The venter is light gray without dark spots in MHNC 6015 and MHNC 6016. The throat
is brownishwhite in the subadult female MHNC 6015 and white in the juvenile MHNC 6016. One specimen
(MHNC 6015) shows a distinctive white paravertebral stripe from middorsum to vent, and it extends perpen-
dicularly along posterior surfaces of thighs (Fig. 3). Skin texture changes in preservative. Preserved speci-
mens have smoother dorsal skin, with granules almost imperceptible in some of them. See Table 1 for
measurements of the type series.

TABLE 1. Measurements (in mm) and proportions of the type specimens of Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov. For abbre-
viations see text.

MHNC 6018 MHNC 6019 MHNC 6015 MHNC 6017 MHNC 6016
Adult female Adult male Subadult female Subadult male Juvenile
SVL 23.4 22.9 21.6 19.0 14.3
TL 8.0 8.0 7.9 6.5 5.1
FL 9.2 9.3 9.1 7.5 5.4
HL 6.9 7.0 6.9 6.0 5.0
HW 8.4 8.0 8.3 6.4 5.7
ED 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.1 1.8
IOD 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.0 2.7
EW 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3
IND 2.1 2.1 2.1 1.9 1.8
END 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.2
HL/SVL 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
HW/SVL 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4
END/ED 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6
TL/SVL 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4
FL/SVL 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

Etymology. The name is a patronym for Javier Bustamante in recognition of his support of taxonomic
research and nature conservation in Peru.
Distribution. Phrynopus bustamantei is known only from the Umasbamba Valley, near to Abra de Ml-
aga, and Canchayoc, Distrito de Huayopata, Provincia de La Convencin, Departamento Cusco, between
35553950 m a.s.l. (Fig. 5).
Ecology and natural history. This species inhabits the transitional zone from cloud forest to puna known

NEW PHRYNOPUS FROM PERU Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press 65

as ceja de montaa (Fig. 6). Specimens were collected during the rainy and dry seasons, under stones along
roads and within bushes and grass. Males were calling from bushes during the day in April. The call consisted
of a short whistle. The female holotype, collected in April, contained convoluted oviducts. Other amphibians
found in sympatry were Nannophryne corynetes, Gastrotheca excubitor, Pleurodema marmoratum, and Pris-
timantis rhabdolaemus. Individuals were found in two kinds of habitats: humid, grassy puna (between 3700
3950 m) and the adjacent humid forest (between 35553700 m). More patterned specimens were in puna and
the transitional zone between the two kinds of habitats, while less patterned individuals were found in the for-
est. Most individuals were under stones or moss.

FIGURE 4. Lateral (A), and dorsal (B) views of head, and ventral views of hand (C), and foot (D) of subadult female
Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov. (MHNC 6015, paratype). Scale bar = 5 mm. Drawings by K. Siu-Ting.

Phrynopus bustamantei seems to be rare. Four surveys carried out in April, August and December 2006
and February 2007, totalizing 10 transects of 100 m each, rendered only six specimens in April and four in
August. Data from 19951996 show similar results, which indicate a higher activity by the end of the rainy
season.
Remarks. The type locality of P. bustamantei is being severely affected by the construction of the road
Cusco-Quillabamba and the increasing human activity in the area. Given the restricted distribution of the spe-

66 Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press CHAPARRO ET AL.

cies and its rarity, we propose to include it as Endangered in the Peruvian official list of threatened species
managed by the INRENA. Likewise, we propose the same category within the IUCN Red List. This proposal
is based on the following facts: the range of the species is smaller than 500 km2, its population size is reduced,
and its habitat is threatened.

FIGURE 5. Map of southern Peru with an arrow pointing to a square indicating the type locality of Phrynopus busta-
mantei sp. nov.

FIGURE 6. Habitat at the type locality of Phrynopus bustamantei sp. nov. Photographed by J.C.C in August 2006.

NEW PHRYNOPUS FROM PERU Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press 67

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from Javier Bustamante, M.D. and family as contribution towards
Conservation of Nature and Wildlife. We thank O. Ochoa and O. Aguilar (MHNC), J. H. Crdova and C.
Aguilar (MHNSM) for providing material for this study. Assistance in the field and pleasant company were
provided by J. Vitorino, J. Achicahuala and C. Ochoa. Idea Wild provided field equipment. K. Siu-Ting made
the drawings. This work was partially funded by project CGL2005-03156 of the Spanish Ministry of Educa-
tion and Science (I. De la Riva, Principal Investigator).

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68 Zootaxa 1618 2007 Magnolia Press CHAPARRO ET AL.