I review the taxonomic status of four species of Craugastor of the phenetic-based C. laticeps species group from the Cordillera Nombre de Dios (CND) and nearby mountains in north-central Honduras. These frogs were tentatively assigned to previously described species. Specimens of recently collected frogs, along with some of those previously examined, were compared with similar frogs from northwestern Honduras (in three cases) and with a population from eastern Honduras. These new morphological analyses demonstrate that two of those CND populations are best treated as new species. One population appears most closely related to C. laticeps from northwestern Honduras, but is distinguished from that species by having a smaller adult male size, a larger adult male tympanum, a distinct dark eye mask that extends posteriorly to at least level of midbody, and a dark seat patch mark. The second new species appears most similar to C. rostralis from northwestern Honduras, but reaches a larger size and has a gold upper half of the iris, a dark seat patch mark surrounded by white pigment, a more tuberculate outer tarsal segment, and a more tuberculate outer edge of the forearm. In addition to those morphological differences, both new species occur in habitats of montane mesic broadleaf forest that are separated from their apparent closest relatives by low-elevation valleys containing open, subhumid, and hotter forests types. Based on ∼40 yr of field surveys, it is apparent that C. laticeps group species are unable to tolerate those subhumid habitats. Study of the two remaining CND forms demonstrates that they are best treated as conspecific with two previously described species. A type-locality restriction is made for the closest relative of one new species that previously carried the type locality “Honduras.” A discussion of amphibian endemism in the CND is also included.
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1 June 2018
A Discussion of the Phenetic-based Craugastor laticeps Species Group (Anura: Brachycephaloidea: Craugastoridae) from North-central Honduras, with the Description of Two New Species
James R. McCranie
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Herpetologica
Vol. 74 • No. 2
June 2018
Vol. 74 • No. 2
June 2018