An Extraordinary New Toad (<i>Bufo</i>) from Costa Rica

Abstract

A new species of toad, Bufo periglenes, is described from the Lower Montane Rainforest zone of the Cordillera de Tilarán on the divide between Puntarenas and Alajuela provinces, Costa Rica. The new form exhibits a combination of extremely bright coloration and marked sexual dichromism. Males are solid orange, females greenish to black with scarlet spots. The species lacks a tympanum and columella and is voiceless. Tadpoles are described. Relationships and the role of sexual dichromism are discussed.