Gayana 74(2):74(2), 2010102 - 112, 2010 ISSN 077-652X A new species of Telmatobufo (Schmidt 1852) (Anura, Calyptocephalellidae) from a remnant of the Maulino Forest, central Chile Una nueva especie de Telmatobufo (Schmidt 1852) (Anura, Calyptocephalellidae) en un remanente de bosque Maulino, Chile Central CÉSAR C. CUEVAS1* 1Instituto de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile. *E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT A new species, Telmatobufo ignotus, from the Reserva Nacional Los Queules, Cauquenes Province, central Chile is described herein. The new taxon is hypothesized based on a new combination of adult, larval, and chromosomal characters. The new species present the more septentrional distribution on the coastal range and a very restrictive distribution area compared to its congeners; because of this, taxonomic and conservation comments are discussed and advanced. KEYWORDS: New species, anura, Telmatobufo, morphology, chromosomes, central Chile. RESUMEN Se describe una nueva especie, Telmatobufo ignotus, de la reserva Nacional Los Queules en Chile Central. El nuevo taxón se hipotetiza en base a una nueva combinación de caracteres del adulto, larvas y cromosomas. La nueva especie al contrario de sus congéneres, presenta la distribución más septentrional en la Cordillera de la Costa y un área de distribución muy restringida: por esto, se discuten algunos aspectos sobre su taxonomía y conservación. PALABRAS CLAVE: Nueva especie, anura, Telmatobufo, morfología, cromosomas, Chile Central. Since the description of this genus (Schmidt 1952), only 20 adults’ specimens of the three species have been recovered INTRODUCTION from Cabrerias, Llancahue, Cerro Pûschel (T. australis); Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, Rucapehuen (T. bullocki); The genus Telmatobufo Schmidt 1952 is a rare ancient Altos de Vilches (T. venustus) (see Formas et al. 2001; Ortiz group of South American frogs containing up to day three & Diaz-Páez 2006) and therefore they are considered as valid allopatric species, occurring all of them in a wide “rare” species (Formas 2005; Ortiz & Ibarra-Vidal 2005). geographical range, but each one in a different forest However, despite of the paucity of both, biological material ecosystem throughout the Chilean territory (Formas et al. and listing localities; precious knowledge concerning adult 2001). Thus, T. venustus (Philippi 1899), is endemic of the and larval morphology, cytogenetics, taxonomy, systematic Andean hygrophyte forest of central Chile (ca. 35° 28' - 37° and some ecological notes about these frogs (see Péfaur 47`S); T. bullocki Schmidt 1952, microendemic in the forest 1971; Formas 1972; Diaz et al. 1983; Formas 1988; Formas of the Nahuelbuta coastal range (ca. 37º - 38º S); and T. & Cuevas 2000; Núñez & Formas 2000; Formas et al. australis Formas 1972 has been documented distributed in 2001), has been published. Nevertheless, many aspects of the temperate forest of Nothofagus in Southern Chile. This is its reproductive biology, ethology and biogeography are still the only species occurring in both, Andes and coastal range unknown, and because of increasing threat of extinction that (ca. 41º - 39º S). amphibians suffer worldwide today (mainly due to the loss of habitat) (Beebee & Griffiths 2005; IUCN 2008), perhaps 02 Telmatobufo: new species from Maulino forest, central Chile: Cesar CUEVAS we will never achieve that knowledge. obtained by squashing fragments of tail epithelium and then dipping them in liquid nitrogen (Cuevas & Formas 1996). In this context, there is a need for freshly taxonomic Chromosomes were stained with acetic Orcein 50% to knowledge related to Chilean frogs to get an accurate determine the diploid number and the position of secondary species inventories and basic biological and ecological constrictions (Schmid 1978). The best five metaphasic information, given the scarce number of species and the high plates were selected to determine the relative length of degree of endemism and vulnerability that characterizes the chromosomes (Bogart 1970). Centromeric ratio and type anurans of the forest ecosystem of South America (Formas of chromosome were determined according to Green & 1979, Bustamante & Simonetti 2005, Cuevas & Cifuentes Sessions (1991). Photograph of metaphasic chromosome 2009). During successive fieldwork campaigns conducted plates and specimens (adult and tadpoles) were deposited between summer 2007 and autumn 2009, in the National in the Amphibian Collection of the Instituto de Zoología, Reserve Los Queules (coastal range in central Chile), 28 Universidad Austral de Chile (IZUA). frog’s tadpoles, a juvenile and an adult male of the genus Telmatobufo were collected. This finding was very striking given the zoogeographic connotation of this genus (San RESULTS Mauro et al. 2005; Frost 2009). Thus, bearing in mind that a morphological species is a hypothesis based on a new Telmatobufo ignotus sp. nov. combination of characters (Dayrat 2005); we hypothesized that the new sample and locality belong to a new species of HOLOTYPE: IZUA 3542, one adult male of Telmatobufo with Telmatobufo, based on adult and larval characteristics. This well developed sexual secondary attributes collected by new species is named encompassed with ecological notes, José Nùñez, César Cuevas and Felipe Rabanal, on May of life history traits and chromosome attributes herein. Finally, 2009 (Fig. 1). the new record of Telmatobufo is discussed and assessed in view of bio-geographical hypothesis related with gondwanic TYPE LOCALITY: Los Queules National Reserve (35°59’19’’S, frogs, and the possible negative consequences of the habitat 72°41’25’’ W; at 187 m.a.s.l.), a remnant of the Maulino degradation on his viability given the larval strategies of the forest in central Chile; 22 km NW, 15 minutes by road from Telmatobufo species. Curanipe city), Cauquenes Province, Western slopes of the coastal range (Fig. 2). MATERIAL AND METHODS PARATYPES: A group of twenty eight tadpoles (lot IZUA 3543). Same data as holotype. Both, adult specimen and tadpole samples were stored in Alcohol 70% and formaldehyde 10%, respectively. DIAGNOSIS: Telmatobufo ignotus sp. nov. can be distinguished Abbreviations used in the measurements of the adult from its congeners by the following combination of specimens are SVL (snout-vent length), HL (head length), characters: 1) maximum snout-vent length in male (SVL) 70 HW (head width), IDi (internareal distance), ED (eye mm, 2) snout slightly truncated in dorsal and lateral profile, distance), ThL (thigh length), TL (tibia length), FL (foot 3) Soft yellow spots with orange tints colour over both eyes, length) following Wiens (1993). Formulae for toes webbing joined by a more orange inter-ocular spot, 4) Dorsal part of are those of Savage and Heyer (1967), as modified by the arms (near to the body) yellowish in colour and orange Myers & Duellman (1982). Measurements were made with in the forearms, 5) two median ovoid’s parotids glandules, a digital calliper to the nearest 0.01 mm. The tadpoles were longitudinally located and, smaller than ocular globes, 6) staged according to Gosner (1960), and their morphology iris rounded, brilliant bronze-yellowish with reticulations, was characterized following Altig (2007) and Altig & 7) minutes dark spines (20) present under the parotids, 8) Johnson (1989). Measurements included total length (TL), flanks and dorsum with moderate amount of warts, which are body length (BL), body width (BW), maximum tail width bigger in the vertebral line region, 9) Inner palmar tubercle (MTW), snout eye distance (SED), eye distance (Edi), and oval and enlarged, bigger than the outer, 10) four to five oral disc width (ODW). To reduce bias, all the measurements small vomerine teeth on each side, in a prominent elevated were done by the first author. patches behind the level of the choanae, 11) dorsum of legs smooth and unbarred, 12) tips of fingers and toes whitish To characterize metaphasic chromosomes, a section of with rounded points, 13) toes very thin, long with well the tail of each tadpole was excised and submerged in developed webbing present, 14) mountain stream tadpole Colchicine 0.05% for 2 h. The fragments were treated with with two teeth rows on the upper labium, 15) 2n = 26 (all distilled water during 30 m, fixed in acetic alcohol (1:3), biarmed) chromosomes), FN = 52, 16) SC on pair 5. and then placed in 45% acetic acid. Metaphasic plates were 03 Gayana 74(2), 2010 COMPARISON: Telmatobufo ignotus differs clearly from T. ocular globes in T. bullocki), in the form and colour of a australis and T. venustus in dorsum colour patterns (grey distinctive mark over the head (slightly orange-yellowish with yellowish longitudinal lines in T. australis, dark spots in form over both ocular globes in T. ignotus (Fig.1); with orange spots in T. venustus, and slightly brown with clearly yellowish highlighted, transversally located over cooperish hints in T. ignotus n. sp.). It also differs with T. and between the ocular globes in T. bullocki). Telmatobufo bullocki in the size of the parotids (median sized, smaller ignotus present a higher amount, but smaller sized warts in than ocular globe in T. ignotus; larger sized, bigger than the flanks and dorsum thanT. bullocki, and also differs from this species in vomerine teeth number; 4-5 in T. ignotus, 6-7 FIGURE 1. Adult male of Telmatobufo ignotus from Los Queules. (a) Lateral view; Bar = 2 cm, (b) Dorsal view; Bar = 1.7 cm. FIGURA 1. Macho adulto de Telmatobufo ignotus de Los Queules. (a) Vista lateral; Barra = 2 cm, (b) Vista dorsal; Barra = 1.7 cm. FIGURE 2. Maps of Chile: (a) showing study area in crossed off., (b) distributional geographic dots of Telmatobufo species in Central South of Chile and Los Queules locality with grey circle. Forest classification is explained in the inferior left frame. FIGURA 2. Mapas de Chile: (a) mostrando el área de estudio en achurado, (b) puntos de distribución geográfica de las especies deTelmatobufo en la zona centro y sur de Chile y Los Queules en circulo gris. En recuadro inferior izquierda se explica la clasificación de los bosques.