A new Andean treefrog (Amphibia: Hyloscirtus bogotensis group) from Ecuador: an example of community involvement for conservation

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11914
• Publication Date: 2021-08-06T07:26:36Z
• Authors: Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz; Juan Pablo Reyes-...; Diego Batallas-Re...; Callie Broaddus; Miguel Urgilés-Me...; Diego F. Cisneros...; Juan M. Guayasamin
• Keywords: Cloud forest; Endemism

We provide several lines of evidence to delimit a new species Hyloscirtus and define its phylogenetic position inside the bogotensis group. The is sister taxon mashpi related clade formed by H. alytolylax putative from province El Oro in, southwestern Ecuador. conscientia sp. nov. described montane forests Mira River basin in extreme northwestern characterized as follows: tympanic annulus conspicuous, tip snout dorsal view subacuminate, middorsal stripe melanophores larger less dense, skin with individual iridophores forming dots, scarcely distributed across dorsum. Our study also highlights importance Valley biogeographic barrier; suggesting research efforts north south valley are likely reveal additional endemic cryptic diversity. Finally, our partnership Reserva: Youth Land Trust, Rainforest Trust EcoMinga Foundation has produced novel meaningful way connect young people biodiversity discovery habitat conservation.