Diversity, structure and natural history of amphibians in the upper Claro River basin, a buffer zone of the National Natural Park Los Nevados, Central Cordillera of Colombia

Abstract

We present an assessment on composition, diversity and structure of amphibians in three zones along an elevation gradient (2,400–3,000 m) in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. For this purpose, we carried out two field trips in November 2014 and February 2015, covering rainy and dry seasons, respectively. Diurnal (08:00–12:00 h) and nocturnal (18:00–22:00 h) visual encounter surveys were made without spatial restrictions. The diversity for each zone (alpha) and for the entire landscape (gamma) was evaluated by the effective number of species, and the structure of the communities was analyzed by range-abundance curves. The inequality factor for each of the sampling zones was also calculated. A total of 15 species belonging to seven genera and three families were recorded, all of the order Anura. Craugastoridae with 11 species (73.3% of richness) and Pristimantis (eight species) were the most diverse family and genus, respectively. The average alpha diversity per zone was 6.6 effective species, with zone A being the most diverse with eight species. In terms of beta diversity we found 2.5 effective communities at the landscape level, and differences between zones are given by the rare species, while the most abundant ones (e.g., Pristimantis uranobates) are shared between them. It is presumed that the greater diversity of zone A is due to the lower elevation and better state of conservation if compared to the other two zones. Of the total species recorded, three are threatened with extinction: Endangered (Hypodactylus latens, Osornophryne percrassa), and Critically Endangered (Niceforonia adenobrachia). The finding of three yet undescribed species is highlighted.

A new species of terrestrial toad of the Rhinella festae group (Anura, Bufonidae) from the highlands of the Central Cordillera of the Andes of Colombia

“…Among the festae group, one of the two undescribed species occurs in the Central Cordillera of Colombia, along the road between the cities of Manizales in the Department of Caldas ( Rojas-Morales et al 2014 ), and Murillo, Department of Tolima ( Machado et al 2016 ; Pereyra et al 2021 ). In the last two decades, individuals tentatively assigned to this undescribed species have been recorded in the highlands of the municipality of Villamaría, Caldas, in close proximity to the previously reported localities (see Rojas-Morales et al 2014 ; Rojas-Morales and Marín-Martínez 2019 ). After conducting a meticulous revision of the specimens from the Central Cordillera of the Department of Caldas using morphological and genetic analyses, we found that they possess distinct morphological and genetic characteristics that warrant their classification as a new species.…”

“… Rhinella sp. : Rojas-Morales and Marín-Martínez 2019 : 13266, 13269, 13270, 13271, 13274, image 4B, fig. 4, appendix 1 …”

“…nov. presents terrestrial and crepuscular habits. This species has been observed to be associated with leaflitter or under rotten log during early morning hours and twilight ( Rojas-Morales and Marín-Martínez 2019 as Rhinella sp.). It has been recorded in secondary forests within the Andean ecosystems of the Central Cordillera in the departments of Caldas and Tolima (Fig.…”

“…We present compelling evidence encompassing morphological, genetic, and osteological traits supporting the recognition of a new species of Rhinella in the Central Andes of Colombia. Over the past decade, a series of studies conducted in montane and subparamo forests of the municipalities of Manizales and Villamaría, Department of Caldas, as well as in the municipality of Murillo, Department of Tolima, have consistently alluded to the presence of an undescribed species ( Rojas-Morales et al 2014 ; Machado et al 2016 ; Gómez-Salazar et al 2017 ; Rojas-Morales and Marín-Martínez 2019 ; Pereyra et al 2021 ). Our results confirm these previous observations and, in addition, the affiliation of R. kumanday sp.…”

Herpetofauna of the Reserva de la Biósfera Estación Biológica del Beni and the Chimane Reserve Indigenous Territory, Bolivia

“…Most Neotropical studies focused on herpetofauna have been conducted at sites in Brazil [4,5], Colombia [6,7], Ecuador [8,9], Mexico [10,11], and Peru [12,13]. However, very few studies have investigated these topics in Bolivia, especially in the Amazonian lowland regions.…”