Microkayla boettgeri, (LEHR, 2006), 2018

MICROKAYLA BOETTGERI ( LEHR, 2006) View in CoL

Remarks: On 16 February 2006 we sampled the wet puna around the village of Phara (district of Limbani, province Sandia, department Puno), and found a population of Microkayla that corresponds to what was originally named as Phrynopus boettgeri by Lehr (2006) based on specimens collected in 2004 by J. Boettger at the very same locality. Specimens were found under rocks during the day and calling at night from within moss on the ground or on stones. Among the specimens we collected (MUBI 5363-5, MNCN 43776-78; 14), some characters are observed that complement those described by Lehr (2006), and we provide a brief description of those as well as of the undescribed advertisement call of this species.

Lehr (2006) mentioned the lack of vocal sac and vocal slits, but male specimens collected by us do have a vocal sac and vocal slits. Also, several specimens possess a protruding, translucent callosity on the tip of the snout, that covers the anterior area of the snout and part of the upper lip. So far, in Holoadeninae , this structure has been only described in males of the Bolivian species M. teqta ( De la Riva & Burrowes, 2014) . Those males were guarding egg clutches in subterranean chambers under stones; thus, the mentioned peculiar rostral morphology is probably a structure for digging ( De la Riva & Burrowes, 2014). Also, we found colour variants lacking in those described by Lehr (2006). One specimen (MNCN 43778; Fig. 14A– B) has a bright orange to bright red belly reticulated with black and metallic blue. The underside of thighs and shanks also posses metallic blue blotches. Orange and red flash marks also extend to the groin, axillae, and hands and feet. Another specimen (MNCN 43776; Fig. 14C, D), is mostly white ventrally, with bold black reticulations and spots, shades of bright orange to red in the posterior part of the belly, and a few blue blotches on the ventral sides of shanks and thighs.

We recorded the call of M. boettgeri at its type locality on 16 February 2006, at 19:40 h, at an air temperature of 8 °C. The call consists of a single non-pulsed note with duration of 102–145 ms, emitted at a rate of 8.3–21.6 notes/minute ( Table 4; Fig. 15) (call record numbers 8227–28, www.fonozoo.com). It is modulated in amplitude, with most intensity distributed between 2500 and 3000 Hz. There was a weak modulation in intensity (increasing to the end) in one of the specimens recorded. The difference in intensity reached 231 Hz from the beginning to the end of the call. The call of M. boettgeri differs from that of M. chapi by having a longer note with higher repetition rate and lower dominant frequency.

GENUS PSYCHROPHRYNELLA HEDGES, DUELLMAN, & HEINICKE, 2008 , EMENDED

Included species: Psychrophrynella bagrecito ( Lynch, 1986) (type species), P. chirihampatu Catenazzi & Ttito, 2016 , and P. usurpator De la Riva, Chaparro & Padial, 2008 .

Diagnosis: (1) head narrow, not as wide as body, extremities relatively long; (2) tympanic membrane and annulus differentiated (annulus and membrane visible beneath skin); (3) cranial crests absent; (4) prevomerine teeth, dentigerous process of vomers, and dentigerous ramus absent; pterygoid not in contact with parasphenoid; anterior parasphenoid ramus short, not reaching palatines; ear fully developed; (5) pectoral girdle anatomically arciferal but functionally firmisternal (halves of the epicoracoid cartilages fused); (6) nasal bones widely separated medially; (7) tongue long and narrow, much longer than wide; (8) tips of digits narrow and rounded, not expanded, lacking circumferential groves and pads; (9) terminal phalanges T-shaped to knobbed; phalangeal formulae of hands and feet 2-2-3-3 and 2-2-3-4-3, respectively; (10) Finger I equal to or slightly shorter than Finger II; (11) two subarticular tubercles on Finger IV; (12) Toe V slightly longer than Toe III; (13) lateral fringes and webbing absent on digits; (14) two metatarsal tubercles both prominent and subconical; inner edge of tarsus bearing a prominent, elongate, sigmoid-shaped or fold-like tubercle not contiguous with inner metatarsal tubercle ( Fig. 8); (15) dorsum finely shagreen; belly smooth; (16) trigeminal nerve passing external to m. adductor mandibulae externus (‘S’ condition; Lynch, 1986); (17) eggs large, not pigmented; (18) males with median subgular vocal sac and lacking nuptial asperities; (19) mating call composed of a series of notes.