Skip to main content

Arutam leaf frog (Noblella arutam) named for its divine power by Shuar tribe of western Amazonia

Arutam leaf frog (Noblella arutam) named for its divine power by Shuar tribe of western Amazonia

NEWS - The researchers established a new species within Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) based on genetic, morphological and osteological evidence. Arutam leaf frog (Noblella arutam) can be distinguished by two tubercles on the upper eyelid, a heel with small subconical tubercles, a toe disc with papillae, a strong T-shaped distal phalange and a fourth digit containing 3 phalanges.

Phylogenetic analysis showed the new species to belong to the northern clade. The specimen was obtained only from the type locality in the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador, and is named after Arútam, a spiritual entity symbolizing divine power by the Shuar people, the indigenous people of western Amazonia spanning Ecuador and Peru.

N. arutam differs from all other species by the upper eyelid with one or two inconspicuous tubercles, strongly T-shaped distal phalanges, phalangeal formula on the hands 2-2-3-3, phalangeal formula on the feet 2-2-3-4-3, heels with small subconical tubercles, discs on all toes with papillae, more pronounced on toes II-IV and the back is light brown, light brown with gray or dark brown with dark markings inverted V-shaped or irregularly scattered.

N. arutam differs from N. naturetrekii by the presence of three phalanges on Toe IV (vs. two phalanges), smooth (granular) skin on the venter, genital pads absent (present), toe tips with papillae (papillae absent), males 13.8-15.1 mm and females 17.3-20.3 mm (males 11.2-12.1 mm and females 13.1-14.4 mm).

N. arutam differs from N. personina by having black suprainguinal markings (vs. no suprainguinal markings), dark green dorsal skin with low tubercles more prominently distributed on the sides of the body (smooth with a few low pustules, densest on the posterior side of the body), subacuminate snout in dorsal view (rounded).

N. arutam can be distinguished from N. coloma, N. heyeri, N. mindo and N. worleyae by subacuminate snout in dorsal view (vs. rounded in N. coloma, N. mindo and N. worleyae), toe tips with papillae (vs. no papillae in N. mindo, N. heyeri and N. worleyae).

N. arutam differs from N. coloma in having an ulnar tubercle (vs. no ulnar tubercle), dorsum with inverted V-shaped or irregularly distributed dark markings (uniform brown dorsum with distinctive suprainguinal markings), yellow venter dotted with white and brown (bright orange).

N. arutam differs from N. mindo in having pointed toe tips (vs. rounded), presence or absence of an inconspicuous cream line down the middle of the back (dorsal with cream line down the middle of the back, longitudinal line distinct and present in all individuals), thoracic folds somewhat distinct (absent), throat slightly pigmented with small brown dots (dark brown).

N. arutam differs from N. heyeri in having smooth ventral skin (vs. pitted), disc-like folds present (absent), toe tips not expanded (slightly expanded). N. arutam differs from N. worleyae in having a dorsum with irregular dark markings inverted or scattered in a V-shape (vs. a dorsum with a middorsal line continuing the posterior length of the cream to light brown hind legs).

N. arutam differs from N. lochites sensu stricto and N. myrmecoides sensu stricto in having a snout that is subaccuminate in dorsal view (vs. short and truncated in dorsal view) and in having an ulnar tubercle (absent). N. arutam differs from N. lochites sensu stricto in having a discoid fold (vs. absent). N. arutam differs from N. myrmecoides sensu stricto in having three phalanges on digit IV (vs. two phalanges).

Original research

Brito-Zapata D, Chávez-Reyes JD, Pallo-Robles MD, Carrión-Olmedo JC, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Reyes-Puig C. 2024. A new species of frog of the genus Noblella Barbour, 1930 (Amphibia: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador. PeerJ 12:e17939, DOI:10.7717/peerj.17939

Dlium theDlium
Labels:

Popular Posts

Quail grass (Celosia argentea)

Boroco or quail grass ( Celosia argentea ) is a species of plant in the Amaranthaceae, a shrub with erect stems, maroon or green in color, requiring full sun, widely used as ornamental plants and flowers by the distinctive form of erect spikes. C. argentea has a strong stem with many branches from the lowest base to the apex to form a dense plant, but it opens and tapers upwards to a height of up to 1.5 meters, is maroon or green in color and the surface has vertical grooves. Single leaf 5-15 cm long, base and tip pointed, oval or lance-shaped and strongly veined, a main vein linear and straight with several minor veins towards the sides and curved, slightly wavy margins, upper surface maroon or green. Abundant flowers growing at the tips of branches above the leaves, sturdy, erect cylindrical, 2-15 cm long and depending on the cultivar, pointed tip, white on the underside and maroon on the top or one of these and often develop a silver sheen. Flowers are visited by bees, wasps, but...
Read more

Brown-woolly fig (Ficus drupacea)

Brown-woolly fig ( Ficus drupacea ) is a species of plant in the Moraceae, a tropical tree, cylindrical and 10-30 meters tall. The leaves are oval, up to 16 cm long, up to 6 cm wide, with petioles up to 2 cm long. The fruit is round-oval, up to 3 cm long, up to 2 cm wide, young yellow and old red. The fruit is eaten by pigeons, and pollinated by Eupristina belgaumensis . Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Tribe: Ficeae Genus: Ficus Species: Ficus drupacea
Read more

Wild durian (Cullenia exarillata)

Wild durian ( Cullenia exarillata ) is a species of plant in the Malvaceae, a tall tree with smooth, greyish-white bark, peeling on older trees, a straight trunk, horizontal branches and often with a series of knob-like tubercles for flower and fruit attachment. C. exarillata has young branches and the underside of the leaves is covered with golden brown peltate or shield-like scales. The leaves are single, alternate, glabrous, glossy green on the upper side and covered with silvery or orange peltate scales on the underside. Hermaphroditic flowers are tubular and also covered with golden brown scales, 4-5 cm long and cream or reddish brown in color. Flowers have no petals, formed of tubular bracteoles and tubular calyxes, 5-lobed. Fruit is round, 10-13 cm in diameter, covered with thorns and clustered along the branches. Many seeds, reddish brown, 4-5 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The seeds are enclosed by a fleshy, whitish aril. The fruit splits open when ripe and dries to release the s...
Read more