Miguel's Ground Frog

Eupsophus migueli is a generally small frog, with a snout-vent length that ranges from 33.5 to 42.0 mm for both sexes. The head is as long as it wide and is 0.93 times narrower than the body. In the dorsal view, the snout is rounded to truncated and in the lateral view it is lightly acute to obtuse. The widely-set, laterally oriented nostrils are slightly prominent and closer to the eyes than the tip of the snout. The internarial region is slightly convex and less than a third of the head width. It has a sharp, straight canthus rostralis. The loreal region is flat. The large, prominent eyes are oriented laterally. The tympanum is round, visible, and slightly smaller than the eyes. The tympanic membrane is distinct (Formas 1978, Nuñez et al. 2012). The skin is smooth on the surfaces of the head, dorsum, ventrum, and limbs. The frogs have well-developed dorsolateral folds that extend from the posterior corner of the eye to the above the forelimb. The forelimbs are slender. The outer palmar tubercle is almost rectangular and the inner palmar tubercle is oval; the two tubercles are of equal length. There are no palmar supernumerary tubercles. The slightly protruding fingertips are rounded and have relative lengths of III > IV > II > I with fingers I and II bearing nuptial pads. The subarticular tubercles are rounded with one on fingers I, II, and IV, and two subarticular tubercles on finger III. The hindlimbs are long and slender. When adpressed, the tibiotarsal articulation extends to the posterior edge of the eye. The inner metatarsal tubercle is well developed and ovoid. The outer metatarsal tubercle is a fourth of the size of the inner and conical shaped. The toes are thin, long, have rounded tips, and have a relative length of IV > V = III > II > I with delicate webbing between toes III and IV. The subarticular tubercles are rounded with one each on fingers I and II, two on fingers III and V, and three on fingers IV (Formas 1978, Nuñez et al. 2012). Tadpoles have elliptical, slightly depressed bodies with a short sinestrally-oriented spiracle and total lengths between 18.4 - 19.6 mm. In both the lateral and dorsal profiles, the snout is somewhat truncated. The small, oval nostrils do not protrude and are located closer to anterior end of snout rather than eye. The internarial distance is smaller than the interorbital distance. The pupils are circular. The ventral oral disc is also circular and slightly emarginated with one row of marginal papillae. There are no intramarginal papillae. A rostral gap, without a mental gap, is present. Both upper and lower jaws are heavily keratinized. The labial tooth formula is 2(2)/2. The spiracle has an aperture that is half the eye diameter. The intestines are visible with poorly defined convolutions. The medially located vent is large, tubular, with a sharpened, longitudinal opening. The tail length is 0.70 times the length of the tadpole. Both the tail and the caudal fins are low and the tail width is 1.5 times the internarial distance. The tail curves vertically and has well-developed musculature. The tail tip is rounded (Nuñez et al. 2012).From other species of the genus, E. migueli is distinguished by its coloration pattern and by having a notch in the lower part of the sternum, which is not present in other Chilean species of this genus (Formas 1978). Eupsophus migueli can be distinguished other species in the Eupsophus roseus group by its breeding season occurring in the winter, having terrestrial tadpoles, from its advertisement call, and by genetics (Nuñez et al. 2012). More specifically, E. migueli can be distinguished from E. roseus by its iris coloration and wine colored belly. Eupsophus roseus has a transparent belly and the upper half of the iris is orange (Formas 1978).In life, dorsal coloration of adults ranges from reddish to pink. The flank coloration is white with yellow in the axillary and inguinal areas. The ventral coloration is white. Light-gray spots are present on the dorsal surface, light-gray bracelets are present on the extremities, small melanophores are distributed on ventral surface and the iris is yellow with black networking (Nuñez et al. 2012). In preservative, Nuñez et al. (2012) state that the color is similar to color in life. However, in the original description, Formas (1978) states that the dorsum is grayish black to olive green with two dark paravertebral areas that run to the tip of the head. Specimens may also have a dark mid-dorsal, hour-glass spot or a clean mid-dorsal line that extends from the snout to the vent. The ventral side is a dark wine color with irregular white spots. The iris has a bronze yellow top half and brown lower half (Formas 1978). The body and tail of the tadpoles are unpigmented (Nuñez et al. 2012).Individuals vary in coloration and pattern. Specimens may have either a green olive or grey dorsum in preservative. Specimens may also have a lighter vertebral line running from snout to vent or exhibit a dark hour-glass pattern, especially on those with an olive background. Spots on the venter also vary in size (Formas 1978).The species authority is: Formas, R. (1978). ''A new species of leptodactylid frog (Eupsophus) from the coastal range in Southern Chile.'' Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment , 13, 1-9.Based on Bayesian analysis of morphology, mitochondrial sequences extending from 12 S to 16S rDNA, and nuclear DNA sequences from rhodopsin exon 1 and SINA, E. migueli is sister to E. insularis (Correa et al. 2017).The species epithet “migueli” was given in honor of J. R. Formas’ son Miguel. J. R. Formas is the species authority of E. migueli (Formas 1978).In 2012, a species thought to be Euposophus roseus, was determined to be distinct from E. roseus and was thus named E. altor, meaning “one who looks after or brings up its offspring” in Latin because males were observed near clutches of tadpoles (Nuñez et al. 2012). However, further analysis in 2017 revealed that E. altor was not genetically distinct from E. migueli and the two were combined. Because E. migueli was described first, that name had precedent over E. altor, which is now a junior synonym (Correa et al. 2017).The karyotype of E. migueli is 2n=30 (Formas 1978, Nuñez et al. 2012).

The range of E. migueli is restricted to Valdivian rainforest on the western slopes of the coastal range of the Valdivia Province in Southern Chile between 50 m and 80 m in altitude. E. migueli can be found under logs and rotting trees in temperate Nothofagus forest (Formas 1978, Stuart et al. 2008, Veloso et al. 2010, Nuñez et al. 2012).

Eupsophus migueli is nocturnal and can be found year-round walking on the ground through vegetation. At night it can be found underneath rotted trees and logs. Males can also be found guarding nests during the breeding season (Nuñez et al. 2012). Breeding is assumed to occur between May and August, as that is when males call the most and females are gravid (Nuñez et al. 2012). The maximal activity for male calls was between May and August, which is winter in Chile. Male calls consist of one note, with an average duration of 336 ms. The range of the dominant frequency is between 1317 - 2098 Hz. Calls are high in harmonics (Nuñez et al. 2012). Eggs are found between May and June and tadpoles between May and October. Eggs are laid in moist terrestrial nests made up of holes in the ground covered by logs and stones or in holes in trees up to a meter high, away from water. Clutches were composed of 17 – 30 eggs with a diameter of 5.5 – 5.7 mm that were easy to separate. Tadpoles complete their development in the nest and have male parental care (Nuñez et al. 2012). E. migueli is described as a generalist carnivore. It feeds on insects, worms, plants and inorganic materials (Formas 1978).

Eupsophus migueli was once abundant in the 1970s. However, it is now listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red list because it is known from fewer than five locations and has an Extent of Occurrence that is less than 5000 km2. The species’ major threat is declining habitat quality from clear-cutting and cattle ranching. The species is not known from any protected areas (Stuart et al. 2008, Veloso et al. 2010).

mar/mai e ago/dez

Diagnosis A small frog (34-39 mm snout-vent length) distinctive in having notched xiphisternum, belly dark with white irregular spots, and upper part of the iris bronze-yellow.

known from localities in the Coastal Range of Valdivia Province; Mehuin, the type locality (Western slope of the Coastal Range, 55 m elevation) and Los Molinos (Eastern slope of the Coastal Range, 10 m elevation). The latter locality is very near Valdivia city (5 km by airline).

herbacea

bianual

Anisi fructus, óleo essencial (anetol), proteínas

sementes, produziu sem viáveis

Description of the holotype Head as long as broad, slightly more than one-half of body length; snout gently pointed and lightly acute in profile; nostrils lateral, very widely spaced; canthus rostralis sharp. straight; lores sloping, concave; tympanic membranae small and clearly defined; vomerine theeth behind posterior edges of choanae. Posterior limbs thin; tibiotarsal articulation reaches to middle of the distance from the anterior eye opening to posterior edge of the nostrils when hind limb is apressed. Toes in decresing order are IV-III-V-II-I; innsr metatarsal tubercle well developed; outer metarsal tubercle small. Forelimbs thin; fingers free, their length in decreasing order are III-IV-II-I; inner and outer palmar tubercles evident. Xiphisternum notched. Dorsal and ventral skin smooth. Measurements (im mm): snout-vent length 34.8; head width 13.5; internarinal distance 4.5; tympanum diameter 2.8; eye-nostril distance 3.5; eye diameter 4.8; interocular distance 3.1; tibia length 20.7. Coloration: Upper surface of the body grayish with two dark paravertebra1 areas which extend to the tip of the head. A narrow white brillant spots. The upper part of the iris was bronze-yellow and the lower brown. Variation This species present variation in color pattern.

Europa

EN. Endangered.

Eupsophus migueli is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae. It is endemic to Chile. Its natural habitats are temperate forest and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description Eupsophus migueli contains a yellow tint in the iris. Along with a wine pigment skin with white blotches.