Eleutherodactylus pereger (Lynch) Lynch, 2006

Lehr, Edgar & Aguilar, César, 2006, The taxonomic status of Phrynopus pereger Lynch 1975 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae), Zootaxa 1284, pp. 53-60 : 55-56

Eleutherodactylus pereger (Lynch) , new combination

Phrynopus pereger Lynch, 1975: 32

Examination of living (MHNSM 19982, MTD 46807) and freshly preserved specimens (MHNSM 19982–19984, MTD 46807–09, all females) collected at Yanamonte (Departamento de Ayacucho, Peru) revealed the existence of weak circumferential grooves on the digital discs of fingers and toes; the groove separates the disc from a distinct pad. The digital groove is interrupted by a small papilla­like projection on the tip of the digit in between the pad and the disc cover ( Fig. 1 A). This structure is best seen on Fingers III and IV and Toes III–V ( Fig. 2 ). In life, the papillae are dark gray; in preservative, the papillae shrink and become less distinct. In specimens which have been preserved for a longer period (FMNH, KU) both papillae and circumferential grooves could not be detected. Radiographs show T­shaped terminal phalanges ( Fig. 1 B). Based on the presence of circumferential grooves and T­shaped terminal phalanges, Phrynopus pereger is removed from Phrynopus and transferred to Eleutherodactylus . Among the examined specimens from Yanamonte are two adult males (FMNH 39747, 39764); both have vocal slits but lack nuptial pads. In contrast to the original species description by Lynch (1975), Finger I is slightly shorter than Finger II in all specimens examined ( Fig. 2 ), except one (FMNH 39763) in which Finger I is longer than Finger II on the left hand; in contrast, on the right hand, Finger I is shorter than Finger II. Snout–vent lengths of male and female specimens are within the ranges presented by Lynch (1975).

Coloration in life was recorded for a female (MHNSM 19982, Fig. 3 ). Dorsum brownish olive with dark brown blotches and tan spots; Fingers I and II yellow dorsally with a few brown flecks, Fingers III and IV tan with many brown flecks; Toes I–III yellow, Toes IV and V tan with many brown flecks; arm with a dark brown band; shanks with weakly defined dark brown bands; flanks like dorsum but paler; dark brown labial bars and canthal and supratympanic stripes, tip of snout dark brown; throat yellowish orange with brown flecks; chest and belly yellow with dark brown flecks; hands and feet grayish brown ventrally; upper and lower arm yellowish orange, tibia and shank yellowish orange with few brown flecks; anterior part of groin yellowish orange with brown flecks, posterior part dark brown with small yellowish­orange spots; iris gold with fine, black reticulations.

Six frogs (MHNSM, MTD) were found under rocks and rotten wood next to the river bank of Río Yanamonte in a cloud forest at 1100–1300 hr on 3 January 2006. At the same locality, F. Woytkowski collected 31 specimens (FMNH) in "rain forest under stones in boggy forest brook" in 1941. Little is known about the natural history of Eleutherodactylus pereger . Lynch (1975) reported females of E. pereger having from 18 to 20 eggs. The species is known from elevations of 1650–2900 m on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera Vilcabamba in central Peru ( Lynch 1975, this paper). At Yanamonte E. platydactylus (Boulenger) occurs sympatrically with E. pereger .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Digital disc (A) and terminal phalangeal bone (B) of Toe IV of left foot (drawn from a radiograph) of Eleutherodactylus pereger (MTD 46807, female). Dashed line indicates pad. Bone pale gray, cartilage dark gray.

FIGURE 2. Ventral views of right hand (A), and left foot (B) of Eleutherodactylus pereger (MTD 46807).

FIGURE 3. Living Eleutherodactylus pereger (MHNSM 19982, SVL 31.2 mm, female) in dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views. Photos by E. Lehr.