Epipedobates currulao Betancourth-Cundar, Ríos-Orjuela, Crawford, Cannatella & Tarvin, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Betancourth-Cundar, Mileidy
name: Ríos-Orjuela, Juan Camilo
name: Crawford, Andrew J.
name: Cannatella, David C.
name: Tarvin, Rebecca D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Amphibia
Anura
Dendrobatidae
Epipedobates
Epipedobates currulao

description: Epipedobates currulao sp. nov.
Figs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Proposed English common name: Currulao Nurse Frog Proposed Spanish common name: Rana nodriza de currulao
Epipedobates boulengeri: Silverstone (1976), Lötters et al. (2003), Vargas-S and Bolaños-L (1999), Castro-Herrera and Vargas-Salinas (2008), Lynch and Suárez-Mayorga (2004), Lötters et al. (2007).
Epipedobates sp. 1: López-Hervas et al. (2024).
Material examined.
Holotype. Colombia • ♀; Ladrilleros, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.945221, - 77.364993; 28 m. a. s. l.; 6 Aug. 2022; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Juan Camilo Ríos-Orjuela leg.; ANDES: A: 5255. Paratypes. Colombia • 4 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 1 ND; same data as for holotype; ANDES: A: 5254, 5256–5265 • 3 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; GenBank: OR 789880 –84 and OR 789875 –79; MVZ: Herp: 295432–295436. 1 ND; Ladrilleros, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.950882, - 77.358293; 53 m a. s. l.; 26 Nov. 2014; Rebecca D. Tarvin and Fray Arriaga leg.; GenBank: OR 489012, OR 179791, OR 734704, OR 179836, and OR 179880; ANDES: A: 2464.
Other material examined.
Epipedobates currulao: Colombia • 2 ♀♀, 5 ND; Type locality, Ladrilleros, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.950882, - 77.358293; 53 m a. s. l.; 26 Nov. 2014; Rebecca D. Tarvin and Fray Arriaga leg.; GenBank: OR 489011, OR 179790, OR 734703, OR 179835, OR 179875; ANDES: A: 2458–2463, 2465. The skin was removed prior to preservation for evaluation of alkaloid content from these individuals. • 1 ♀; La Barra, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.985064, – 77.376723; 15 m a. s. l.; 26 Nov. 2014; Rebecca D. Tarvin and Fray Arriaga leg.; GenBank: OR 489010, OR 179789, OR 734702, OR 179834, OR 179851; ANDES: A: 2455. • 5 ♂♂; Pianguita, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.841954, – 77.198718; 17 m a. s. l.; 12 Sep. 2016; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Sandra V. Flechas leg.; ANDES: A: 3690–94. The skin was removed prior to preservation for evaluation of alkaloid content from these individuals, with the exception of ANDES: A: 3691. • 5 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, Danubio, Dagua, Valle del Cauca; 3.611528, – 76.885194; 705 m a. s. l.; 5 Nov. 2016; Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Adolfo Amézquita, and Ivan Beltrán leg.; GenBank: OR 489013, OR 179792, OR 734705, OR 179837; ANDES: A: 3713–20. The skin was removed prior to preservation for evaluation of alkaloid content from these individuals.
Epipedobates boulengeri: Colombia • 3 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂, 1 ND; Isla Gorgona, Guapi, Cauca; 2.96465, - 78.173685; 20 m a. s. l.; 12 Sep. 2016; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar and Sandra V. Flechas leg.; GenBank: OR OR 488992, OR 179771, OR 734681, OR 179812; ANDES: A: 3695-3702. • 1 ND; Isla Gorgona, Guapi, Cauca; 08 Sep. 2005; ANDES: A: 0560; Collector unknown. • 3 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂, 1 ND; Isla Gorgona, Guapi, Cauca; 2.96465, – 78.173685; 20 m a. s. l.; 12 Sep. 2016; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Sandra V. Flechas leg.; GenBank: OR OR 488992, OR 179771, OR 734681, OR 179812; ANDES: A: 3695-3702. • 8 ♀♀; Maragrícola, Tumaco, Nariño; 1.68084, – 78.74924; 7 m a. s. l.; 09 Dec. 2014; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Cristian Flórez leg.; GenBank: OR 488990, OR 179769, OR 734679, OR 179810, OR 179862, OR 488991, OR 179770, OR 734680, OR 179811, OR 179863; ANDES: A: 2468–75.
Epipedobates narinensis: Colombia • 3 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, 1 ND; Reserva Natural Biotopo, Berlín, Barbacoas, Nariño; 1.408999, - 78.281246; 518 m a. s. l.; 25 Sep. 2016; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar and Cristian Flórez leg.; GenBank: OR 489008, OR 179787, OR 734700, OR 179832, OR 489009, OR 179788, OR 734701, OR 179833; ANDES: A: 3703–3711. • 10 ♂♂; Reserva Natural Biotopo, Berlín, Barbacoas, Nariño; 1.411263, – 78.285099; 600 m a. s. l.; 22 Jul. 2006; Viviana Moreno-Quintero, Jonh Jairo Mueses-Cisneros, Luisa Mercedes Bravo, Carol Narváez, and Bienvenido Cortés leg.; ICN-A: 53344 (holotype), ICN-A: 53336–53340, 53342–53346 (paratypes).
Andinobates minutus: Colombia • 4 ND; La Barra, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.985064, – 77.376723; 15 m a. s. l.; 25 Nov. 2014; Rebecca D. Tarvin and Fray Arriaga leg.; ANDES: A 2451–54. • 1 ND; Ladrilleros, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca; 3.945221, - 77.364993; 28 m a. s. l; 6 Aug. 2022; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Juan Camilo Ríos-Orjuela leg.; ANDES: A: 5266.
Epipedobates aff. espinosai: Ecuador • 1 ND; Lita, Carchi; 12 Aug. 1992; M. Bueno leg.; ICN-A: 32504. Colombia • 1 ND; La Nutria, El Diviso, Barbacoas, Nariño; 1.36083, – 78.18076; 762 m a. s. l.; 10 Dec. 2014; Rebecca D. Tarvin, Mileydi Betancourth-Cundar, Cristian Flórez leg.; GenBank: OR 488977, OR 179756, OR 734663, OR 179794, OR 179840; ANDES: A: 2476.
Diagnosis.
Epipedobates currulao is a small dendrobatid frog (SVL mean = 17.99 mm and SD = 0.95 mm, n = 16 frogs; Tables 1, 2) with uniformly brown dorsal coloration, black sides, a white to yellow oblique lateral stripe, a bright yellow blotch on the anteriodorsal side of thigh and on the upper arm, and a pale-blue or turquoise venter with black mottling (Fig. 2, Suppl. material 3). Calls of E. currulao sp. nov. are long with a call duration of 0.67– 3.88 s (mean = 2.21, SD = 0.54 s, n = 15) and 22–122 pulses per call (mean = 73.98, SD = 18.77, n = 15). They occur in call series of only one call (Tables 3, 4).
Species comparison.
At the type locality the new species occurs in sympatry with Andinobates minutus (Dendrobatidae, Dendrobatinae) but differs in body size and coloration (Fig. 3). Andinobates minutus has orange rather than yellow blotches on the anteriodorsal side of the thigh and dorsal side of the arms and its supralabial band is dark orange rather than white as in E. currulao. Ventrally in A. minutus the proportion of black and turquoise blue is similar. In contrast, in E. currulao the coloration is mainly turquoise blue with some black spots (Fig. 2 C). In addition, adults of A. minutus are much smaller (mean = 12.00 mm, SD = 0.91 mm, n = 5) than adults of E. currulao (17.99 mm, SD = 0.95, n = 16), but A. minutus can be confused with E. currulao juveniles. The coloration of juvenile E. currulao is very similar to E. currulao adults, so color can still be used to differentiate the two species.
Previously, E. currulao has been confused with E. boulengeri. The two species can be differentiated by the color (in life) of the blotch on the anteriodorsal side of the thigh and the color of the blotch on the dorsal side of the arm close to the axilla, which are both yellow to orange in E. currulao and white to whitish yellow in E. boulengeri. Some individuals of E. currulao have diffuse yellow coloration along the lateral edge of the venter; this coloration has not been identified in any E. boulengeri population to date. Compared to the Isla Gorgona E. boulengeri population, E. currulao has a much thinner oblique lateral stripe; however, this stripe is similar in morphology to the mainland population of E. boulengeri. The mainland population of E. boulengeri (based on images from Maragrícola) can be differentiated from E. currulao by the size, shape, and color of the blotch on the anteriodorsal side of the thigh, which is large, yellow or orange, and clearly defined in E. currulao but absent or diffuse and transparent or whitish copper in E. boulengeri (Maragrícola). In addition, E. currulao has advertisement calls with one call per series while E. boulengeri has two or three calls (Isla Gorgona) or 3–6 calls per series (Maragrícola) (Table 3).
Individuals of E. narinensis and E. currulao can be differentiated by the dorsal color, which is olive-green in E. narinensis and dark brown in E. currulao, the length of the oblique lateral line, which extends to the eye in E. currulao but only extends to the mid-body in E. narinensis, the shape of the blotch on the anteriodorsal side of the thigh, which is clearly defined in E. currulao but diffuse in E. narinensis, and the background color of the venter, which is yellowish to greenish in E. narinensis and pale blue to turquoise or white in E. currulao. The structure of the advertisement call of the species also differs, where calls in E. currulao occur one per series but 5–14 per series for E. narinensis (Table 3).
Individuals of E. aff. espinosai and E. currulao can be differentiated by the length of fingers III and V, which are reduced in E. currulao but not in E. aff. espinosai (see Morphology in the Systematics section below). The oblique lateral line most often extends to the eye in E. currulao but tends to end at the scapula in E. aff. espinosai. The shape of the blotch on the anteriodorsal side of the thigh is clearly defined and yellow or orange in E. currulao but absent or small and whitish blue in E. aff. espinosai. The blotch on the dorsal side of the arm near the axilla is bright yellow or whitish yellow while the blotch is mostly absent or with diffuse copper or cream coloration in E. aff. espinosai.
A summary of the morphological characters of E. currulao sp. nov. compared to other Epipedobates species in Colombia is shown in Table 3. Please see Suppl. material 4 for morphological measurements of individuals and Suppl. material 5 for more extensive notes on color variation within and among species.
Description.
Coloration of holotype in life (Fig. 2 A – D). Dorsal surfaces dark brown with an oblique lateral stripe extending from the posterior region of the eye to the groin, with metallic orange-yellow coloration in anterior region becoming yellow towards the groin. Groin dark brownish black with a distinct yellow blotch continuing to the anteriodorsal surface of the thigh. Flanks black. Forelimb and hindlimb background dark brown with irregular dark brown spots. Anterior region of the upper arm with yellow blotch similar in color to thigh blotch. Supralabial stripe creamy white, extending from nares to axilla. Ventral surfaces turquoise blue with irregular black spots. Iris copper. Two elongated black spots in the gular region (Fig. 2 C).
Coloration of holotype in preservative (Fig. 2 E – K; after two years of preservation in 70 % ethanol). Dorsally black to dark brown, hind limbs dark brown. Lighter brown forelimbs with some dark brown spots. Dorsal blotches yellow in life on forelimbs and thighs become white in preservation. Ventrally pale white with irregular black to dark brown spots. Groin black. Dark gray oblique lateral line extending from the posterior region of the eye to the groin. Pale gray supralabial stripe running from the tip of the face to the axilla.
Coloration variation of type series and other populations in life. All individuals in the type series exhibit a uniform dark brown color on the dorsum (Suppl. material 3). The dorsum, head, thigh, and shanks feature a skin texture covered with small and scattered tubercles. Flanks and concealed surfaces of forelimbs and hindlimbs smooth and solid black. All individuals show an oblique lateral stripe that stretches from the posterior region of the eye to the groin and differs slightly among populations. In the Ladrilleros population (type locality), the oblique lateral stripe displays an orange-yellow color with indistinct edges and stretches from the front part of the groin to the eye and the canthus rostralis, gradually changing from yellow to a more brownish orange hue. In the Anchicayá population, the oblique lateral stripe takes on a yellowish hue and, in most (6 / 8) specimens, it tapers or fragments into patches, gradually disappearing before reaching the eye. In some individuals from Pianguita (3 / 5), the oblique lateral stripe exhibits regular interruptions along its entire length.
The groin region is characterized by a dark brown-black color, with a noticeable yellow blotch that extends to the front inner thigh (Suppl. material 3). Most individuals have a paracloacal spot similar in coloration, but smaller and more elongated, on the posterior dorsal surface of the thigh. In the Anchicayá population, these spots are present in only some individuals. Most individuals have a yellow blotch on the dorsal region of the arm that matches the color of the blotch on the anteriodorsal side of the thigh. All individuals exhibit a creamy white to pale turquoise blue upper labial stripe that is notably lighter than the oblique lateral stripe. In some cases, this stripe has a slight iridescent quality and extends from below the nostril to the axilla. Also, in certain individuals, it continues posteriorly as a vaguely defined ventrolateral stripe. The ventral surfaces of the throat, belly, and thighs exhibit a pale turquoise blue to white color with irregular black spots and patterns resembling worm-like lines (vermiculations). In males, the background coloration may be darkened by a diffuse gray pigment located just anterior to the pectoral region and the vocal sac. A few individuals display a diffuse yellowish coloration towards the outer edges of the belly. Full-page plates of images of four E. currulao populations can be seen in the supplementary figures 4–6 of López-Hervas et al. (2024) and plates showing images of the type series described herein can be found in Suppl. material 3.
Vocalizations.
Calls of E. currulao sp. nov. consisted of 22–122 pulses per call (mean = 73.98, SD = 18.77, n = 15), with a call duration of 0.67– 3.88 s (mean = 2.21, SD = 0.54 s, n = 15). Pulse rate consisted of 26–39 pulses by second (mean = 34.89, SD = 2.07, n = 15), pulse duration of 0.009 –0.028 (mean = 0.017, SD = 0.004 s, n = 15) and interpulse interval of 0.001 – 0.068 s (mean = 0.013, SD = 0.009 s, n = 15). Intercall interval ranges from 15.12–315.01 s (mean = 62.67, SD = 60.76 s, n = 15) (Table 4). The peak frequency ranged between 4.98 and 5.46 kHz (mean = 5.23, SD = 0.11 kHz), and the frequency interquartile bandwidth between 0.21 and 0.67 kHz (mean = 0.35, SD = 0.87 kHz) (Table 4). Calls are not frequency modulated. The amplitude of the first and last pulses is reduced by 7–10 % compared to the rest of the pulses.
Etymology.
The specific epithet " currulao " is a noun in apposition of masculine gender. It refers to the musical genre that originated on the southern Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador, where E. currulao occurs and also contributes to the local soundscape. Currulao, also known as bambuco viejo, is an Afro-Colombian sounded practice that inspires dancing and transmits the happiness and cultural tradition of this region. It is a symbol of resilience in the face of racial and regional oppression (Abadía 1973; Aristizabal 2002; Birenbaum Quintero 2006, 2019). We named this species in honor of, and as an homage to, this musical genre that represents the culture of the southern Colombian Pacific because: “ la música, como la vida, no se pueden dejar perder ”, which translates to “ music, like life, cannot be allowed to be lost ” (Cruz Hoyos 2016).
Distribution.
Epipedobates currulao sp. nov. occurs in the Department of Valle del Cauca in the Pacific lowlands of southwestern Colombia. These frogs inhabit lowland forests from 0– 260 m. The type locality is Ladrilleros, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. We also observed the species in areas close to the type locality including Corregimiento Pianguita and Corregimiento Juan Chaco (La Barra beach) in the municipality of Buenaventura. The distribution towards the western flank of the western mountain range is in the Vereda El Danubio, the upper basin of the Anchicayá River, Dagua, Valle del Cauca. If we assume that the coloration traits of the new species are consistent for all populations of this species, records from iNaturalist would extend the distribution of E. currulao 194 km (132 km) straight line south to the municipality of Timbiquí, Cauca (see iNaturalist observations No. 135253843 and 85214439 and Fig. 1). Because individuals of this species were previously assigned to E. boulengeri, we recommend further exploration and inspection of museum specimens to better understand the geographic distribution of this species.
Ecology.
Epipedobates currulao sp. nov. is a terrestrial species found on the ground during the day in agroforestry areas, on the edges of secondary forests, or in small patches of disturbed secondary forest always near or within marshes and / or slow-flowing streams (Fig. 4). The species is also likely present in primary forest in the region. We observed individuals actively moving among the grass and leaf litter, or actively calling at the edges of water bodies. The type locality (Ladrilleros, Valle de Cauca, Colombia) includes tiny forest fragments among human dwellings. Usually, these areas are contaminated with garbage or agricultural residues (Fig. 4 A – F). In Anchicayá, populations of E. currulao are usually found along roadsides and forest edges, whenever small streams and leaf litter are present (Fig. 4 G – J). We observed greater vocal activity during the morning and in the late afternoon than during warmer or sunnier parts of the day.
Conservation status.
The populations observed in the four localities (Ladrilleros, Pianguita, La Barra, and Anchicayá) are probably affected by housing construction, garbage, and agricultural waste as well as forest fragmentation and loss of habitat. We do not know if these populations have adapted to human disturbance or if they are remnants of the original distribution of the species, but congeners in Ecuador are abundant in highly modified habitats such as cacao and banana populations (although they are notably absent from African palm plantations; RDT pers. obs.). Although we consider that E. currulao sp. nov. is moderately abundant at the type locality, as three of us (RDT, MBC, JCR) captured 17 individuals in an approximate area of 30 m 2 in four hours, we do not know their abundance in less disturbed habitats. Improving our understanding of its conservation status will require monitoring and explorations in potential localities in Cauca and Valle del Cauca, especially in protected areas close to the localities reported in this study.
Despite the lack of certainty regarding the distribution of E. currulao sp. nov., its extent of occurrence is likely less than 20,000 km 2. We know the species occurs in at least four localities (Ladrilleros, Anchicayá, Pianguita, and La Barra), with one more pending genetic validation (Timbiquí). The forests in the range of this species have been, and probably will continue to be, subject to strong deforestation pressures that reduce the quantity and quality of available habitat and increase its fragmentation. More data will be necessary to determine the E. currulao sp. nov. categorization, but here we provide some recommendations. Under the precautionary attitude, we would recommend that it be categorized as Vulnerable (VU: B 1 a, biii; IUCN, 2024) based on B 1, an Extent of occurrence (EOO) <20.000 km 2 (~ 3600 km 2 from Timbiquí to Ladrilleros) and (a) Severely fragmented OR Number of locations ≤ 10 and (b) Continuing decline observed, estimated, inferred or projected in any of: (iii) area, extent and / or quality of habitat. Under the evidentiary attitude, we would recommend that E. currulao sp. nov. be categorized as Near Threatened, recognizing that more studies may reveal additional populations and expand its known range and population size. In addition, we observed this species within the Farallones de Cali National Natural Park, so there is at least one known population (Anchicayá) within a protected area. The distribution of E. currulao sp. nov. is also very close to the Parque Nacional Natural Uramba Bahía Málaga. We are not aware of the presence of E. currulao sp. nov. within the park, but this conservation area protects more than 47,000 ha of marine and coastal areas, so it is very likely that E. currulao sp. nov. is found within the park. More research about this species’ distribution, ecological requirements, and population dynamics will help confidently assign it to a threat category.
description: Published as part of Betancourth-Cundar, Mileidy, Ríos-Orjuela, Juan Camilo, Crawford, Andrew J., Cannatella, David C. & Tarvin, Rebecca D., 2025, Honoring the Afro-Colombian musical culture with the naming of Epipedobates currulao sp. nov. (Anura, Dendrobatidae), a frog from the Pacific rainforests, pp. 139-170 in ZooKeys 1226 on pages 139-170, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1226.123803