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

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