New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador
The amphibian genus Osornophryne is endemic to the northern Andes of South America and has long been considered rare. Recent explorations in the humid montane forests of the upper Pastaza Valley have uncovered previously unknown species. Here, we describe a new Andean toad species from the central E...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/19760.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850071121024516096 |
|---|---|
| author | Juan P. Reyes-Puig Miguel A. Urgiles-Merchán H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo Mario H. Yáñez-Muñoz |
| author_facet | Juan P. Reyes-Puig Miguel A. Urgiles-Merchán H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo Mario H. Yáñez-Muñoz |
| author_sort | Juan P. Reyes-Puig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The amphibian genus Osornophryne is endemic to the northern Andes of South America and has long been considered rare. Recent explorations in the humid montane forests of the upper Pastaza Valley have uncovered previously unknown species. Here, we describe a new Andean toad species from the central Ecuadorian Andes, identified through genetic analyses and distinctive morphological and cranial traits. Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov., from Cerro Candelaria in the upper Pastaza River basin, is closely related to O. sumacoensis from Sumaco Volcano. This new species is characterized by a uniquely short fifth toe relative to toes I–III, triangular papillae on the snout tip, an occipital fold, large subconical and conical warts on the body, dorsal surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow and Light Neutral Gray flecks, ventral surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow bright blotches. Our phylogenetic analyses revise the genus taxonomy by delimiting two well-supported clades: the Osornophryne bufoniformis species group and the Osornophryne guacamayo species group. Furthermore, we show that the Pastaza River does not constitute a geographical barrier for Osornophryne distribution. These findings emphasize the value of continued exploration to expand our understanding of this genus in the humid montane forests of the Ecuadorian Andes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe05fe74aaf14327be599ddcf1b5fa1d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe05fe74aaf14327be599ddcf1b5fa1d2025-08-20T02:47:22ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-07-0113e1976010.7717/peerj.19760New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, EcuadorJuan P. Reyes-Puig0Miguel A. Urgiles-Merchán1H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade2Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia3Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo4Mario H. Yáñez-Muñoz5Fundación EcoMinga Red de Protección de Bosques Amenazados, Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorUnidad de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorUnidad de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorUnidad de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorUnidad de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorFundación EcoMinga Red de Protección de Bosques Amenazados, Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorThe amphibian genus Osornophryne is endemic to the northern Andes of South America and has long been considered rare. Recent explorations in the humid montane forests of the upper Pastaza Valley have uncovered previously unknown species. Here, we describe a new Andean toad species from the central Ecuadorian Andes, identified through genetic analyses and distinctive morphological and cranial traits. Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov., from Cerro Candelaria in the upper Pastaza River basin, is closely related to O. sumacoensis from Sumaco Volcano. This new species is characterized by a uniquely short fifth toe relative to toes I–III, triangular papillae on the snout tip, an occipital fold, large subconical and conical warts on the body, dorsal surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow and Light Neutral Gray flecks, ventral surfaces Brownish Olive with Spectrum Yellow bright blotches. Our phylogenetic analyses revise the genus taxonomy by delimiting two well-supported clades: the Osornophryne bufoniformis species group and the Osornophryne guacamayo species group. Furthermore, we show that the Pastaza River does not constitute a geographical barrier for Osornophryne distribution. These findings emphasize the value of continued exploration to expand our understanding of this genus in the humid montane forests of the Ecuadorian Andes.https://peerj.com/articles/19760.pdfAmphibiaUpper Pastaza watershedPhylogeneticsOsornophryne backshalli sp. nov.Osornophryne sumacoensisOsornophryne simpsoni |
| spellingShingle | Juan P. Reyes-Puig Miguel A. Urgiles-Merchán H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia Julio C. Carrión-Olmedo Mario H. Yáñez-Muñoz New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador PeerJ Amphibia Upper Pastaza watershed Phylogenetics Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov. Osornophryne sumacoensis Osornophryne simpsoni |
| title | New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador |
| title_full | New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador |
| title_short | New Andean plump toad of the genus Osornophryne (Anura: Bufonidae) from Cerro Candelaria, Ecuador |
| title_sort | new andean plump toad of the genus osornophryne anura bufonidae from cerro candelaria ecuador |
| topic | Amphibia Upper Pastaza watershed Phylogenetics Osornophryne backshalli sp. nov. Osornophryne sumacoensis Osornophryne simpsoni |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/19760.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juanpreyespuig newandeanplumptoadofthegenusosornophryneanurabufonidaefromcerrocandelariaecuador AT miguelaurgilesmerchan newandeanplumptoadofthegenusosornophryneanurabufonidaefromcerrocandelariaecuador AT hmauricioortegaandrade newandeanplumptoadofthegenusosornophryneanurabufonidaefromcerrocandelariaecuador AT diegofcisnerosheredia newandeanplumptoadofthegenusosornophryneanurabufonidaefromcerrocandelariaecuador AT julioccarrionolmedo newandeanplumptoadofthegenusosornophryneanurabufonidaefromcerrocandelariaecuador AT mariohyanezmunoz newandeanplumptoadofthegenusosornophryneanurabufonidaefromcerrocandelariaecuador |