Description
Eleutherodactylus potosiensis is a relatively small frog with a snout-vent length averaging around 22 mm. The head is as long as it is wide, ranging between 7.95 mm and 9.34 mm. The snout is rounded from the dorsal perspective and subacuminate (pointed) from the lateral view. The interorbital distance ranges between 4.5 mm and 5.28 mm. The tympanum has a distinct annulus. The dorsal skin is slightly granular and the ventral region is smooth. The species lacks a lumbo-inguinal gland. Three metacarpal palmar tubercles are present, with the largest being the oval, middle palmar tubercle, followed by the inner palmar tubercle, which protrudes slightly in elevation, and the smallest being the round, outer palmar tubercle. The relative finger lengths are I < II < III > IV. Both males and females possess small finger tips, with the tips of fingers III and IV being expanded to less than two times the width of the most narrow part of their respective digits. The thighs and flanks are areolate. The length of the outer metatarsal tubercle is slightly smaller than that of the inner. The relative toe lengths are I < II < III < IV > V and the relative widths of the toe pads are I > II < III < IV > V (Hernández-Austria et al. 2022).

DIAGNOSIS:

Many characteristics differentiate E. potosiensis from its close relatives. Both males and females possess much smaller digital tips, being less than two times the width of the most narrow part of the digits in comparison to other species within the genus such as E. longipes, E. modestus, and E. nitidus, which possess digit tips more than two times the width of the narrowest part of the digit. Additionally, the dorsal skin is only slightly granular with an hourglass shape composed of dark markings and the presence of an interorbital bar. The hind limbs of the species possess dark transverse bands and the ventral region of the frog has smooth skin and with a white visceral peritoneum. The thigh and flanks are areolate, and the tympanum has a distinct annulus (Hernández-Austria et al. 2022).

COLORATION IN PRESERVATIVE:

In preservative, there is a dark brown band behind the tympanum that stretches from the eye to the nostril. The dorsal surface is a cream white color with a brown hourglass marking. The chest and belly region lack pigment. The dorsal surface of the hind limbs have a tan tone and feature diffuse bands of very dark brown. Dark brown spotting is also present along the chin and ventral surface of the legs and thighs (Hernández-Austria et al. 2022).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Mexico

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Eleutherodactylus potosiensis is strictly found in eastern Mexico, specifically, in the municipality of Tanlajás, San Luis Potosí. The species is most prevalent at low elevations in tropical and secondary forests, but its range may extend into the lowlands of eastern Mexico (Hernández-Austria et al. 2022).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Eleutherodactylus potosieneis have been heard calling at night within cave entrances, rock crevices, and bushes. Their advertisement call was analyzed through 12 separate calls emitted by a single individual and found to be a chirp made up of 1 to 5 short notes with each lasting 37.53 18.33 ms. The mean duration of the call was found to be 297.10 323.13 ms with a mean dominant frequency of 3,292.72 396.42 Hz (Hernández-Austria et al. 2022).

Comments

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS:

ETYMOLOGY:

The species epithet, “potosiensis,” is derived from the state of San Luis Potosi, where it is found in eastern Mexico (Hernández-Austria et al. 2022).

References

Hernández-Austria, R., García-Vázquez, U. O., Grünwald, C. I., Parra-Olea, G. (2022). “Molecular phylogeny of the subgenus Syrrhophus (Amphibia: Anura: Eleutherodactylidae), with the description of a new species from Eastern Mexico.” Systematics and Biodiversity 20(1), 1-20. [link]

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2022 Eleutherodactylus potosiensis <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/9510> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Apr 19, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 19 Apr 2024.

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