Myers, Charles W.;Rodriguez, Lily O.;Icochea, Javier
Epipedobates simulans, a new cryptic species of poison frog from southeastern Peru, with notes on E. macero and E. petersi (Dendrobatidae)
American Museum Novitates
1998
Journal Article
3238
1-20
Parque Nacional del Manu taxonomy systematics new species Amphibia Vertebrata Chordata Dendrobatidae Epipedobates simulans Salientia amphibians animals chordates distributions frogs morphology vocal communication communication Madre de Dios Bibliography
Epipedobates simulans is a new species of dendrobatid poison frog from humid forest at the base of the eastern Andes (400-600 m elev.) in the upper Madre de Dios drainage of southeastern Peru. It is very similar to Epipedobates petersi (Silverstone), a composite species that included specimens of E. simulans in the type series. Although similar in color and morphology, these species have allopatric distributions and very different vocalizations. The advertisement call of Epipedobates petersi is shown to be extraordinarily variable. The call may be produced in trains of single, double, or triple notes, with occasional groups of four notes, all at a frequency below 4000 Hz. The call of Epipedobates simulans is a continuous train of single, well-spaced notes given above or mostly above 4000 Hz. Epipedobates simulans is geographically closer to E. macero Rodriguez and Myers, which also has been confused with E. petersi. The range of E. macero is extended northward from the Rio Madre de Dios basin to the upper Rio Purus near the Brazilian border.