Taxonomic reconsideration of Middle American frogs of the Eleutherodactylus rugulosus group (Anura: Leptodactylidae):: A reconnaissance of subtle nuances among frogs

We analyze the various populations of frogs of the Eleutherodactylus rugulosus group. This group ranges from Mexico to Panama and most species occur in riparian habitats, although in diverse kinds of forests at elevations ranging from sea level to above 2000 m. In most regions of Middle America, one to several species of these frogs comprise a conspicuous component of the herpetofauna. We recognize 33 species in the E. rugulosus group; in this paper 10 new species are described and six names are removed from synonymy and considered to represent valid species. For each species, we trace the taxonomic history in synonymy, provide a diagnosis and definition, address variation, and summarize the distribution, habits, and habitat. Particularly problematical, E. rugulosus previously was thought to range from Mexico to Panama. As we conceive it, this species is restricted to the Pacific versant of Mexico. We allocate other more southern populations of frogs previously ascribed to this species to species other than E. rugulosus.