Description
Phrynopus bagrecitoi is a diminutive frog from Peru and Ecuador with many morphological features in common with Adelophryne adiastola (Lynch, 1986). This species is a member of the Phrynopus peruvianus group, differing in having shagreened skin on dorsum, that of venter areolate, in having subconical tubercles, in having the thumb shorter than the second finger; dorsum striped shades of brown, venter white to cream with some brown mottling. Males reach 13.8-16.3 mm, females 14.4-18.6 mm. In preservative, the dorsum is creamy-brown with darker brown lateral bands and a mid-dorsal band. Flank bands continue across anterior surfaces of thighs. Pale areas between brown bands partially divided posteriorly by narrow band extending from level of sacrum to above groin. Top of thigh brown but posterior surface slightly paler except in vicinity of vent that is dark brown. A thin cream vertebral stripe is present in many individuals, divided at the vent and extended ventrolaterally across thighs to lower edge of thigh behind knee.

Head is narrower than body, slightly wider than long; tip of snout extends farther anteriorly than anterior edge of upper jaw. Loreal region slopes abruptly to lips; supratympanic fold thick, glandular, and not prominent. The tympanum is concealed partially or entirely beneath the skin, separated from eye by distance equal to 66% tympanum length. No vomerine odontophores or teeth. Forearm lacks ulnar tubercles; one palmar tubercle present and is larger than over thenar tubercle. Supernumerary palmar tubercleas present at the bases of fingers II-IV. No discs or fringes on fingers. Two metatarsal tubercles, both prominent and subconical, inner slightly larger and slightly longer than wide; toes lack lateral fringes and webbing. Snout subovoid when viewed dorsally and round in lateral view. Canthus rostralis evident but not sharp nor pronounced. Loreal region flat with a minute tubercle on each upper eylied (whose width is 68.4-93.8% IOD). Anteroventral one-half of tympanum visible through skin, vocal sac distended on posterior one-half of throat and on chest. Skin on throat smooth, that on venter areolate although individual granulations not distinct; skin on shanks shagreened with larger round warts superimposed; no trace of dorsolateral folds; palmar tubercle subtriangular in out line and subarticular tubercles subconical, round, distal one on IV scarcely evident. Digital tips not expanded. First finger shorter than second.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Ecuador, Peru

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Known from a series taken at the Rio Marcapata below Marcapata, Departamento Cuzco, Peru.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Presumed leaf litter dwellers. Breeding season thought to run from August to October.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss

References

Lynch, J. D. (1986). ''New species of minute leptodactylid frogs from the Andes of Ecuador and Peru.'' Journal of Herpetology , 20(3), 423-431.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2007 Psychrophrynella bagrecito <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6295> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Apr 18, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 18 Apr 2024.

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