Batrachyla Nibaldoi Formas, 1997: Latitudinal Extension in Patagonia, Istributio

n Amphibia, Anura, Ceratophryidae, Batrachyla nibaldoi Formas, 1997: Latitudinal extension in Patagonia, istributio

D southern Chile, and distributional range actualization raphic g Felipe E. Rabanal eo G n

1 Instituto de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Campus Isla Teja, Los Encinos 220, Block B, Isla Teja. Valdivia, Chile.

otes E-mail: [email protected] N

Abstract: The new record of the anuran species Batrachyla nibaldoi Formas, 1997 provided herein extends the latitudinal limit 240 km to the south east of the type locality and 220 km to the south east of what was previously thought to be the southernmost population in Patagonia, Chile.

The genus Batrachyla Bell 1843 comprises a total of and temporary pools of standing water with plenty of Blechnum Juncus to the temperate Nothofagus forests of southern Chile and Sphagnum sp. five anuran species (Frost 2010), all of which areBatrachyla endemic werevegetation also observed such as ferns in amplexus, ( layingsp.), eggs rushes under ( logs B. antartandica andsp.) fernsand moss close ( to the bodies ) of (Figure water. The 3). Some amplexus mates is Barrio,Argentina 1967; (Formas B. leptopus 1997). Bell, Three 1843; species and of B. taeniata are shared between Chile and Argentina ( B. fitzroya B. nibaldoi Formas, 1997). axillary (Figure 1B). Although the survey only considered (Girard,Batrachyla 1855)); nibaldoi one is endemic to Argentina ( Basso, 1994) and one to Chile ( grayish or yellowish skin (Figure with dark1A) is brown a medium-sized spots that formfrog, with a slim body, limbs, toes and fingers, orange eyes, and Morphologically, it resembles B. taeniata patternsB. nibaldoi of longitudinal has been lines reported (Rabanal in the and following Nuñez 2009). areas: (Formas 1997). 46°25’ S, 72°04’ W; Formas 1997), 2) Laguna San Rafael 1) Puente Traihuanca (the type locality - at approximately

National Park (Díaz-Páez and Williams 2001), 3) Kent and Melchor islands (Díaz-Páez and Carreño 2002), and 4) 0-500Alao Island m a.s.l. (42°35’ S, 073°16’ W; Pincheira-Donoso and Díaz-Páez 2003) (Figure 2). Its altitudinal range is from 2010, on the Austral Road, Aysén Region, Chile, new populationsDuring a of field B. nibaldoi survey were conducted discovered. on February This extends 5-11, the latitudinal limit of the species 220 km to the south

48°27’17.5” S, 072°33’57.5” W, 270 m a.s.l.) of what was previouslyeast (1 km thought northward, to be by the road, southernmost from Villa population O’Higgins:

(Laguna San Rafael National Park), and about 240 km to the south east of the type locality (Figure 2). The specimens collectedThe new were meridional deposited record in the hereinHerpetological exposed Collection is not an isolatedof Universidad population, Austral but de rather Chile (IZUAa continuous 3561-3569). distribution area of the new record herein provided. Massive choruses from the Murta River Valley (46°12’ S, 72°48’ W) to the of males of this species were registered along the margins Figure 1. A) Adult male of Batrachyla nibaldoi, B) Amplexus of B. nibaldoi of the southern Austral Road, calling from lagoons and their egg clutch recently spawned.

Check List | Volume 6 | Issue 2 | 2010 287 Rabanal | Amphibia, Anura, Ceratophryidae, Batrachyla nibaldoi Formas, 1997 the immediate margin of the road and its adjacent forests, the distribution of this species should be larger than currently understood in a longitudinal way. This record adds new information to the poorly known biology of B. nibaldoi, which is currently considered to be inMustela the Data vison Deficient) represents category a possible by IUCN predatory (2010). Rabanal threat. and Nuñez (2009) suggested that the American mink to( the populations of B. nibaldoi reported in the current work,However, which there would appears seem toto be abundant. little sign In of spite disturbance of this, it is important that further investigation is carried out to assess the real conservation status and the distribution area of B. nibaldoi. Additionally, it is suggested that the taxonomic status be re-evaluated, because that population could belong toof Batrachyla the population taeniata from, a Alao species Island very (Figure abundant 2) should in the contiguous islands.

Figure 3. Typical habitats of Batrachyla nibaldoi in southern Chile.

Acknowledgments:

manuscript. I would like to thank to José J. Nuñez and Phil Killingley for their valuable comments and suggestions on this Literature Cited - , Williams. 2001. Short notes distributional of Batrachyla nibaldoi. Herpetological Review Díaz Páez H. and C. Batrachyla nibaldoi Herpetological 32(3): Review 189. Díaz-Páez,Formas, J.R. H. 1997. and E.A newCarreño. species 2002. of BatrachylaGeographic distribution. from southern (Nibaldo’s Chile. Wood Herpetologica Frog). 53: 6-13. 33(3): 218. (Anura:Batrachyla Leptodactylidae) nibaldoi Herpetological Review Pincheira-Donoso,Amphibian D. and H. Species Díaz-Páez. of the World: 2003. an Online Reference. Version(Nibaldo´s 5.3 Wood (12 Frog). February, 2009) 34(3): 256. Frost,at D.R. http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/. 2010. American . Electronic Database accessible 2010. MuseumIUCN of Natural Red List History, of Threatened New York, Species. USA. Version Captured 2010.1. on Electronic18 March

IUCN2010. 2010. Database accessible at www.iucnredlist.org.2009. Anfibios de los Captured Bosques Templadoson 18 March de Chile. Valdivia: Universidad Austral de Chile. 206 p. Rabanal, F.E., and J.J. Nuñez. Figure 2. Batrachyla nibaldoi in southern Chile. : April 2010 : April 2010 Distribution range of Received : April 2010 Yellow circles: the five localities known before this survey, 1) Type Revised : May 2010 locality, Puente Traihuanca; 2) Kent Island; 3) Melchor Island; 4) Laguna Accepted : Raúl Maneyro San Rafael National Park; 5) Alao Island. Red broken line: Southern Published online Austral Road. Red circle: new record at Villa O’Higgins, Aysén Region. Editorial responsibility

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