Update of species limits in the Pristimantis myersi clade (Anura: Craugastoridae), with the description of two new species from the western Andes of Ecuador

The tropical Andes represent not only one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, but also a center of diversification and endemism for the hyperdiverse genus Pristimantis. Our study contributes to resolving and updating the taxonomy of one of the most diverse clades within the genus, the Pristimantis myersi clade. Here, we describe two new species of this clade and provide insights into their morphology, phylogenetic position, and biogeography. During field campaigns in 2022 and 2023, led by the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad in Cotacachi, Imbabura Province, Ecuador, specimens were collected. These specimens were then analyzed using an integrative approach that combined external morphology and DNA sequencing to describe the two new species and update the phylogenetic framework of the P. myersi clade. Pristimantis cayapas sp. nov. is a small species distinguished by narrow spatulate toes, tympanum present, a short snout, and distinctive reddish inguinal coloration. Pristimantis dinardoi sp. nov. is a small species characterized by a visible tympanum, digital pads of fingers and toes wider than the digits, a heel with a conical tubercle surrounded by subconical tubercles, and groins with a range of vivid hues. Both species occur in high montane evergreen forests of the North western Ecuadorian Andes. Genetic distances also support their recognition as new species, with values exceeding 2.5% for P. dinardoi and 4% for P. cayapas when compared with their closest relatives. Our findings expand the known diversity of the P. myersi clade in the northern Andes of Ecuador and highlight the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches in disentangling cryptic lineages.