Description of a new Eupsophus species (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae) from the remnants of Maulino forest, central Chile

Abstract

The description of a new species of Eupsophus, from Los Queules National Reserve (35° 59' S, 72° 41'W) adds a new endemic taxon to the fauna of telmatobines (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae) of Chile, and extends the geographical distribution of the genus approximately 200 km to the north. The morphological description of the new species includes a karyotype description and molecular data of the mtDNA 12S gene. Chromosome and molecular evidence supports the assignment of the new species to Eupsophus, allowing comparisons with congeneric and other lower telmatobine species. The diploid number of the new species is 2n=30 and it presents the chromosomal XY system of chromosomal sex determination. It differs from E. vertebralis and E. emiliopugini (both 2n=28) and groups with E. calcaratus, E. contulmoensis, E. roseus, E. nahuelbutensis, E. insularis and E. migueli (2n=30), the last two species also with morphologically differentiated XY chromosomes. This new endemic species reinforces the impor