Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Discoverers Expedition Vilcabamba 2016: Herps

A new species of Pristimantis from the cloud forests of Vilcabamba. (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
A new species of Pristimantis from the cloud forests of Vilcabamba. (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
A new species of Oreobates that inhabits the forest of Vilcabamba at above ca. 2,500 m (ca. 8,200 ft.). (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
A new species of Oreobates that inhabits the forest of Vilcabamba at above ca. 2,500 m (ca. 8,200 ft.). (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
A male of Potamites montanus, a beautiful aquatic lizard that was recently discovered from an area near Vilcabamba at low elevations. (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
A male of Potamites montanus, a beautiful aquatic lizard that was recently discovered from an area near Vilcabamba at low elevations. (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
Oreobates lehri, a species discovered and named by Padial, Chaparro and others and so far only known for Vilcabamba. (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).
Oreobates lehri, a species discovered and named by Padial, Chaparro and others and so far only known for Vilcabamba. (Photo Giussepe Gagliardi).

We may have found at least 10 new species of amphibians and reptiles; however, pertinent comparisons with museums specimens and detailed analyses of the anatomy, mating call, and or DNA, will be required to analyze species diversity using collected samples. In no other expedition have we found so many new species.

José Padial and his team of researchers are traveling in the remote Vilcabamba mountains of Peru in the pursuit of biodiversity research. He blogs and sends photos as often as possible capturing his expedition along the way