Llankibatrachus truebae, Báez & Pugener, 2003

Báez, Ana M. & Pugener, L. Analía, 2003, Ontogeny of a new Palaeogene pipid frog from southern South America and xenopodinomorph evolution, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 139 (3), pp. 439-476 : 442-443

LLANKIBATRACHUS TRUEBAE SP. NOV.

Holotype: BAR 2469–10.

Type locality: Pampa de Jones , section exposed on provincial Route 231, about 4 km from its intersection with National Route 237 (San Carlos de Bariloche to Neuquén City), Neuquén province, Argentina.

Horizon and age: Huitrera Formation (sensu Cazau et al., 1989).

Diagnosis: It differs from ‘ X.’ romeri in the presence of unfused nasals that have well developed rostral processes, and from this species and S. pascuali and ‘ S.’ laurenti in the distinctly expanded medial epicondyle of humerus. S. truebae can be distinguished from ‘ S.’ laurenti by the lack of a pointed intercotylar process on the atlas and the presence of a reduced scapular shaft.

Etymology: Dedicated to Dr Linda Trueb from the University of Kansas for her significant contribution to the knowledge of the morphology and phylogeny of pipoid frogs.

Referred specimens: Postmetamorphic stages: BAR 303–1, 1609–1, 2361–1, 2364–1, 2467–10, 2471–10, 2475–10, 2478–10, 2479–10, 2480–10, 2611–10 a,b, 2720–10, 3076–10, 3077–10, 3078–10, 3079–10, 3080–10. Tadpoles: 1518–1, 1309–10, 1612–1, 1613–1, 2474–10, 2476–10, 2477–10, 2599–10, 2606–10, 4111–10, 4112–10, 4113–10.

Locality for referred specimens: Collection numbers followed by suffix 10 are from the type locality. Collection numbers followed by suffix 1 are from Confluencia, section exposed on National Route 237, about 5 km downstream from the confluence of Limay and Traful rivers, Neuquén province .