New Species of Ischnocnema (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the Andes of Bolivia

Abstract

A new species of Ischnocnema is described from cloud forests in the Andes of northwestern Bolivia (La Paz Department). The new species can be distinguished from all other Ischnocnema except Ischnocnema sanctaecrucis by the presence of a pale sacral stripe from the level of the caudal tip of the coccyx to the level of the sacrum, well-developed occipital and sacral folds, rounded narrow terminal discs 1.3 times as wide as the corresponding phalange, and dorsal skin moderately warty. It can be distinguished from I. sanctaecrucis, also of the Bolivian cloud forests, by having head longer than wide, well-marked occipital and sacral folds, longer subacuminate to rounded snout, ventral regions mostly cream with little brown mottling, and dorsal region without reddish to scarlet mottling or spots. The new species shares some characteristics with other species of Ischnocnema and members of the Eleutherodactylus discoidalis group, and it appears closely related to I. sanctaecrucis.