Description of a New Species of Bufo from Northern Peru with Comments on Phenetic Groups of South American Toads (Anura: Bufonidae)

Abstract

A new species of arboreal toad, Bufo arborescandens, is from the forested slopes of the Cordillera Central in northern Peru. It lacks cranial crests, tympana, and tarsal folds; an adult male has a cluster of keratinous spines on the thumb. This small toad is placed in the Bufo veraguensis group, for which a key to the species and summary of distributions are provided. Of the 51 species of Bufo recognized in South America, 45 are allocated to eight phenetically defined groups.