Getting back to name-bearing types: archival DNA and morphology clarify the identity of Hyla splendens Schmidt, 1857 and challenge the taxonomy of Bolivian populations of Gastrotheca (Anura: Hemiphractidae)

Currently, the name Gastrotheca splendens is applied to Bolivian montane forest populations of marsupial frogs that have been associated with G. marsupiata and its allies in the past. Because its comparatively large size evoked taxonomic doubts, we re-examined the holotype of Hyla splendens Schmidt, 1857 and extracted and sequenced archival DNA to clarify its identity. Morphological and molecular data revealed H. splendens as being conspecific with Gastrotheca monti-cola from northwestern Peru. We place Gastrotheca monticola Barbour & Noble, 1920 as a junior synonym of Hyla splen-dens Schmidt, 1857, regarding the latter a valid species, Gastrotheca splendens (Schmidt, 1857). We furthermore correct its type locality to ‘northwestern Peru’. As a result of these findings and the morphological differences observed among the name-bearing types, the Bolivian taxa Gastrotheca lauzuricae De la Riva, 1992 and G. piperata Duellman & Köhler, 2005 are removed from the synonymy of Hyla splendens. Examination of the external morphology and osteology (inferred from micro-CT images) of the holotypes of G. lauzuricae and G. piperata revealed several differences. However, with the data currently available, we are unable to judge whether these differences represent species-specific diagnostic characters or intraspecific variation. We consider G. lauzuricae a valid species and, applying a principle of parsimony of taxonomic changes, provisionally regard G. piperata as its junior synonym pending future investigations. Furthermore, pending fur-ther studies, we tentatively continue to consider Gastrotheca coeruleomaculata (Werner, 1899) a valid species occurring in montane forests of the Departamento La Paz, Bolivia. Finally, Leptodactylus andicola Boettger, 1891 is removed from the synonymy of Gastrotheca marsupiata (Duméril & Bibron, 1841) and regarded a nomen dubium based on the morphological characters mentioned in its original description, which are in disagreement with Gastrotheca and argue for affini-ties with the genus Yunganastes (Strabomantidae). The results of this study highlight the importance of referring to name-bearing type specimens when taxonomically revising complex and species-rich groups of organisms.