<em>Teratohyla sornozai</em> Cisneros-Heredia, Yánez-Muñoz and Ortega-Andrade is a junior synonym of <em>Rulyrana orejuela</em> Duellman y Burrowes (Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae)

Abstract

Teratohyla sornozai was recently described [1] based on specimens collected at three locations in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Imbabura and Pichincha, northwestern Ecuador. In the original description[1], T sornozai differed from Rulyrana orejuela [2] by the shape of the muzzle (projected profile in T sornozai, truncated profile in R. orejuela), the extension of the membrane in the hands and feet (higher in T. sornozai), the presence of melanophores in the hands and feet (higher in R. orejuela), iris color (dark gray with a yellow circumpupilar ring in R. orejuela vs. gold with dark crosslinks in T. sornozai) and body size (higher in R. orejuela). However, the acquisition of more material about R. orejuela and reassessment of the specimens assigned to T. sornozai allowed us to determine that both names correspond to the same species. The differences observed in the specimens assigned to Teratohyla sornozai are due to intraspecific variation (eg, iris color) or ontogenetic changes (juvenile specimens of R. orejuela have less melanophores in the legs and to a greater extent in the foreleg and hoof membranes ). The variation in the shape of the snout appears to correspond to a common pattern observed in several species of Centrolenidae, where juvenile specimens have the muzzle projected in the side view or profile view. Based on this new evidence, we put Teratohyla sornozai Cisneros-Heredia, Yánez-Muñoz y Ortega-Andrade as a junior synonym of Rulyrana orejuela Duellman y Burrowes (Figures 1-2). With this change, the number of localities known for Rulyrana orejuela in Ecuador is increased to four: Mashpi, Saguangal [3], Río Naranjal y Canadé [1].

Keywords

• Teratohyla sornozai
• Rulyrana orejuela
• Amphibia
• Anura
• Centrolenidae