Amphibians and reptiles from northern Departamento Loreto, Peru: Taxonomy and biogeography

Abstract

Collections of amphibians and reptiles from the vicinities of San Jacinto and Teniente Lopez in the northern part of Departamento Loreto in Amazonian Peru include 68 species of amphibians and 46 of reptiles. Among five new species are two Eleutherodactylus, one Adelophryne, one Phyllomedusa. and one microhylid not assigned to a recognized genus. Hyla cabrerai Cochrzn and Coin, 1970, and Osteoa'plialus planiceps Cope, 1874, aie resurrected from the synonymies of Osteocephalus buckl/yi and Osleocephalus taurinus, respectively. Hyla albapunctulata and Phyllomedusa coekstisare redescribed. Hyla albopunctulata, Osteocephalus cabrerai, Eleutherodactylus quaquaversus, Adelophryne adiastola, and Lepidoblephanis hoogtnoedi are reported for the first time from Peru, and a notable northern range extension is reported for Hyla koechlini. Comparisons of three sites show considerable difference in species composition and reflect patchiness of the rainforest. Comparisons of composition, abundance, diel activity, microhabitat, and masses of anurans and lizards from two study zones also reveals considerable differences. The taxonomic composition of the anurans and lizards at the sites in northern Loreto is more like that at Santa Cecilia, Ecuador, than those at Cocha Cashu and Cuzco Amazonico, Peru.