A secret from a hidden world: A new glassfrog of the genus Nymphargus (Anura: Centrolenidae) from Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador

Abstract

The genus Nymphargus is the most speciose of the family Centrolenidae with 44 species. In this study, we describe a new species of Nymphargus and present an updated phylogeny. The new species is sister to an undescribed species, also from SW Ecuador, and both belong to a clade that includes N. buenaventura, N. cariticommatus, N. griffithsi, N. lasgralarias, N. sucre, and N. wileyi. The new species likely originated during the Pliocene (~4.5 Mya) and is characterized by a uniformly green dorsum lacking spots, shagreened dorsal skin, and white peritonea covering the esophagus and stomach. Our phylogeny provides, for the first time, the phylogenetic position of N. buenaventura. The new species was discovered at Reserva Biológica El Quimi, during expeditions by the QCAZ Museum in 2017 and 2018. Most amphibian species found at that location were undescribed, indicating that some regions of Cordillera del Cóndor host amphibian communities that have remained as “hidden worlds” for biological exploration.