A new lab collaboration led by German Chavez and colleagues at the Instituto Peruano de Herpetologia described three new species of terrestrial-breeding frogs of the genus Pristimantis from the highlands of the Cordillera de Huancabamba, northwestern Peru. The three new species, Pristimantis chinguelas, P. nunezcortezi, and P. yonke (in the photo by G. Chavez) were distinguished based on a combination of morphological characteristics and genetic differences. These newly described species inhabit the remote páramos and adjacent elfin forests of the Peruvian Andes, a region known for its rugged topography and challenging weather. Each species has unique physical traits that differentiate it from similar frogs, such as variations in snout shape, skin texture, and color patterns.
The discovery highlights the Cordillera de Huancabamba as a key biodiversity hotspot, with nearly 50% of the amphibian species previously recorded there being endemic. The paper emphasizes the importance of using an integrative approach, combining genetic and morphological studies, to accurately classify these complex and diverse frogs. Despite the evident habitat loss in the area, especially of cloud forests as the type locality of P. yonke (inset photo, G. Chavez), the researchers suggest that all three species should be placed in the Data Deficient category of the IUCN Red List due to a lack of sufficient data to assess their conservation status. This discovery reinforces the idea that much of this mountainous region remains unexplored, holding the potential for many more unique amphibian species to be found.
Citation: Chávez, G., W. Aznaran, I. Wong, K. Victoriano-Cigüeñas, L. A. García-Ayachi, J. D. Valencia-Málaga, J. Ormeño, M. Gulman, R. Sumiano-Mejía, M. E. Thompson, and A. Catenazzi. 2025. Over the top: Three new species of terrestrial breeding frogs (Anura, Terrarana, Pristimantis) from the highlands of the Cordillera de Huancabamba, northwestern Peru. 2025. Evolutionary Systematics 91: 145-166.
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