A taxonomic review of the southern Andean marsupial frogs (Hylidae: Gastrotheca)

OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUS. COMP. ZOOL. of the LIBRARY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTO The University of Kansas ^ T 1 Lawrence, Kansas UNIVERSITY NUMBER 9, PAGES 1-37 SEPTEMBER 25, 1972 A TAXONOMIC REVIEW OF THE SOUTHERN ANDEAN MARSUPIAL FROGS (HYLIDAE: GASTROTHECA) By William E. Duellman 1 and Thomas H. Fritts" Marsupial frogs of the genus Gastrotheca are unique in their mode of reproduction and therefore are of considerable interest to biologists. Yet the taxonomy of the genus is chaotic; the nomen-clature and distribution of the most common and widespread Andean species are usually erroneously reported in the literature. Consequently, in order to facilitate study of biological problems of these frogs, the basic taxonomy must be treated first. From September 1969 through July 1970 Fritts carried out field work in the Andes of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In January 1971 both of us concentrated field work on Gastrotheca in central and southern Peru, and Duellman collected in Ecuador in the summer and fall of 1971. As the result of this field work we accumulated large series of Gastrotheca and extensive data on the ecology, life history, and distribution of several species. In the present paper we are concerned only with the species occurring in the Andes south of the Huancabamba Depression in northern Peru. We have relied mostly on our own collections and data but have studied Argentinean material provided by Raymond F. Laurent. Also, we have examined all extant type specimens of Andean Gastrotheca and much material in other museums. 1 Curator, Division of Herpetology, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas. 2 Research Fellow, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas. Pres-ent address: Department of Biology, St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas, 78704.