PRISTIMANTIS TRACHYBLEPHARIS SPECIES GROUP

Definition: The Pristimantis trachyblepharis species group is strongly supported in our phylogeny. Members of this group share the following morphological traits: (1) tympanic membrane present (except for P. minimus) and tympanic annulus distinct; (2) cranial crests absent; (3) dentigerous processes of vomer usually present; (4) males without vocal slits (except for P. minimus) and nuptial pads; (5) dorsal skin smooth to weakly tuberculate; (6) scapular folds distinct (except for P. minimus); (7) discs of fingers and toes narrowly expanded to expanded; (8) Finger I shorter than Finger II; (9) toes with narrow lateral fringes (except for P. minimus); (10) Toe V slightly longer to longer than Toe III; and (11) small size (SVL range in adult females from 14.08 to 23.76 mm, in adult males 11.04 to 16.80 mm).

Content: The Pristimantis trachyblepharis species group comprises eight described species (four of them are described below): P. albujai Brito et al., 2017, P. aquilonaris Lehr et al., 2007, P. minimus Terán-Valdez & Guayasamin, 2010, P. nanus, P. pramukae, P. trachyblepharis (Boulenger, 1918), P. ujucami and P. ventristellatus .

Distribution (Figs 3, 4): Eastern Andean slopes of central and southern Ecuador, and northern Peru, in five provinces: Morona Santiago, Pastaza, Tungurahua and Zamora Chinchipe in Ecuador and Huancabamba (Piura Department) in Peru. Species inhabit Eastern Montane Forest and Eastern Foothill Forest (Ron et al., 2019), between 981 and 2567 m a.s.l. They are found on low vegetation from the ground up to a height of 300 cm in forested areas with low vegetation.

Remarks: According to our phylogeny, the P. trachyblepharis species group is strongly supported as sister to a clade composed of 18 species (Supporting Information, Figs S3, S 4) that have been included in several different groups (e.g. P. chalceus group, P. myersi group and P. unistrigatus group) or have not been assigned to any group (Hedges et al., 2008; Padial et al., 2014).