We describe a new species of Psychrophrynella from the humid montane forest of theDepartment Cusco in Peru. Specimens were collected at 2,670_3,165 m elevation inthe Área de Conservación Privada Ukumari Llakta, Japumayo valley, near Comunidad Campesina de Japu, in the province of Paucartambo. The new species is readily distinguished from all other species of Psychrophrynella but P. bagrecito and P. usurpator by possessing a tubercle on the inner edge of the tarsus, and from these two species by its yellow ventral coloration on abdomen and limbs. Furthermore, the new species is like P. bagrecito and P. usurpator in having an advertisement call composed of multiple notes, whereas other species of Psychrophrynella whose calls are known have a pulsed call (P. teqta) or a short, tonal call composed of a single note. The new species has a snoutvent length of 16.1_24.1mmin males and 23.3_27.7...

We describe a new species of Pristimantis from the humid sub-montane forest of the Región Cusco in Peru. Pristimantis pluvialis sp. n. was collected in the Kosñipata and Entoro valleys at elevations from 740 to 1110 m a.s.l., near the borders of Manu National Park and within the Huachiperi Haramba Queros Conservation Concession. The new species can be distinguished from other members of the genus Pristimantis by its rostral tubercle, smooth dorsal skin, and by its advertisement call. Pristimantis lacrimosus and P. waoranii superficially most resemble the new species, but P. pluvialis sp. n. differs from both species by having a rostral tubercle (absent in P. waoranii and variable in P. lacrimosus) and larger size, from P. lacrimosus by its call emitted at a lower frequency, and from P. waoranii for its dorsal coloration with dark markings. Two other species have partially overlapping d...

This commentary focuses on the importance that DNA sequence analysis has in biodiversity studies and the need for improving administrative procedures regarding biodiversity research in Peru. Given the rapid loss of biodiversity and natural resources in many areas of Peru, research aimed at identifying, characterizing, and describing biodiversity is a priority for developing appropriate conservation and mitigation strategies. For cur-rent and future research on Peruvian biodiversity and conservation, we emphasize the importance of using an integrative taxonomy approach, including the study of evolutionary processes associated with areas of high biodiversity and endemism. Additionally, it is essential that governmental institutions responsible for review-ing permit applications and research plans, focusing on biodiversity research in Peru, recognize and support studies that incorporate an ...

Este comentario resalta la importancia que el análisis de secuencias de ADN tiene en los estudios de biodi-versidad y la necesidad de mejorar los procedimientos administrativos concernientes a las investigaciones de biodiversidad en el Perú. La rápida pérdida de la biodiversidad y recursos naturales del Perú justifican la urgencia de apoyar aquellas investigaciones que ayuden a identificar, describir y caracterizar a la biodiversidad en la brevedad posible, para que se puedan tomar las debidas medidas de conservación y mitigación. Enfatizamos la importancia del uso de técnicas modernas dentro del modelo de estudio de la taxonomía integradora, incluyendo el estudio de los procesos evolutivos asociados a áreas con mayor diversidad y endemismo y los efectos del cambio climático sobre la biodiversidad peruana. Asimismo, es esencial que las entidades gubernamentales encargadas de e...

A new species of Bryophryne (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Cordillera de Vilcabamba, southeastern Peruvian Andes. We describe a new species of Bryophryne from the Cordillera de Vilcabamba in Department Cusco, in the southeastern Peruvian Andes. The new species differs from all other congeneric taxa, except B. flammiventris and B. gymnotis, by possessing a weakly defined tympanic membrane and tympanic annulus, by the presence of vocal sac and vocal slits in males, and by producing advertisement calls. The new species is distinguished from B. flammiventris and B. gynznotis by skin texture, presence of small, oblique dentigerous processes on the vomer, ventral coloration ranging from bluish-gray to whitish-gray with irregular or reticulate dark brown spots, and call composed of two or three notes. The new species is further characterized by having dorsal skin shagreen with tubercles, disc...