André Pansonato

A New Species of Proceratophrys (Anura: Cycloramphidae) from Midwestern Brazil

Abstract We describe adult morphology, advertisement call, and natural history aspects of a new frog species from riparian habitats alongside intermittent headwater streams in southwestern Cerrado, the second largest biome in Brazil. Presently known from three localities in Mato Grosso State, the new species belongs to the Proceratophrys cristiceps group. It is characterized mainly by small size (adult snout–vent length approximately 46 mm), snout rounded in dorsal view and obtuse in lateral view, absence of flared lips, dorsal skin granular, and absence of both postocular swellings and prominent palpebral appendages. The advertisement call of the new species consists of a single note with 19–25 pulses. Calls are repeated at mean intervals of 0.7 sec. Mean dominant frequency is 1,250.2 Hz, with ascendant modulation. Resumo Descrevemos a morfologia, canto de anúncio e aspectos da história natural de uma nova espécie de anuro habitante de matas ripárias ao longo de córregos intermitentes da porção sudoeste do Cerrado, o segundo maior bioma do Brasil. Conhecido atualmente de três localidades no estado do Mato Grosso, a nova espécie é pertencente ao grupo de Proceratophrys cristiceps. A nova espécie é caracterizada principalmente por seu pequeno tamanho (comprimento rostro-anal em adultos cerca de 46 mm), focinho arredondado em vista dorsal e obtuso em vista lateral, lábios sem borda projetada, pele granular e ausência de entumescimento pós-ocular e de apêndices palpebrais. O canto de anúncio da nova espécie consiste em uma nota simples com 19 a 25 pulsos. O canto é repetido em intervalos médios de 0,7 sec. A freqüência dominante apresenta média de 1,250,2 Hz com frequência modulada ascendente.

The karyotype of three Brazilian Terrarana frogs (Amphibia, Anura) with evidence of a new Barycholos species

A recent substantial rearrangement of the 882 described eleutherodactyline frog species has considerably improved the understanding of their systematics. Nevertheless, many taxonomic aspects of the South American eleutherodactyline species remain unknown and require further investigation using morphological, cytogenetic and molecular approaches. In this work, the karyotypes of the Brazilian species Ischnocnema juipoca (Atibaia and Campos do Jordão, SP), Barycholos cf. ternetzi (Uberlândia, MG, and Porto Nacional, TO), and Pristimantis crepitans (Chapada dos Guimarães and São Vicente, MT) were analyzed using Giemsa staining, Ag-NOR labeling, and C-banding techniques. All individuals had a diploid number of 22 chromosomes, but the Fundamental Numbers were different among species. The herein described low chromosome number of Pristimantis crepitans is unique within this genus, suggesting that cytogenetically this species is not closely related either to its congeneric species or to Ischnocnema. In addition, karyotype differences, mainly in the NOR position, clearly distinguished the two Barycholos populations, besides indicating the existence of a so far undescribed species in this genus. A taxonomic review could clarify the systematic position of P. crepitans and verify the hypothetic new Barycholos species.

Two New Species of Pseudopaludicola Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae) from Eastern Bolivia and Western Brazil

Abstract:  Two new species of Pseudopaludicola from midwestern Brazil are described. One of them, distributed in Bolivian and Brazilian areas within the Upper Paraguay and Upper Guaporé river basins, is characterized by the presence of a conspicuous conical tubercle on each heel, by T-shaped terminal phalanges, and so belongs to the formally recognized Pseudopaludicola pusilla group. The advertisement call is composed of a series of 14–720 notes with concatenated pulses—each lasting for 5–25 ms—and mean dominant frequency of 5071 ± 242 Hz. The second species, restricted to the southeastern-most region of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, is characterized mainly by a 2n = 18 karyotype, an advertisement call composed of series of 12–287 notes with concatenated pulses and mean dominant frequency of 4167.7 ± 287.5 Hz. A detailed description of the karyotype of this latter species is also provided.

Geographical Variation in Morphological and Bioacoustic Traits of Pseudopaludicola mystacalis (Cope, 1887) and a Reassessment of the Taxonomic Status of Pseudopaludicola serrana Toledo, 2010 (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae)

Comparisons of advertisement calls of anurans can be used to determine intra- and interspecific differences or affinities. Described from midwestern Brazil, Pseudopaludicola mystacalis is widely distributed and abundant in major open Brazilian ecosystems. However, researchers frequently fail to determine the true taxonomic status of some of these populations and attribute them to unidentified or misidentified species. Herein, we employ morphological and bioacoustic data to reassess the distribution range and to evaluate intraspecific variation in P. mystacalis based on specimens from fifteen localities and seven Brazilian states. We also reassess the distribution and taxonomic status of Pseudopaludicola serrana, herein considered as a junior synonym of P. murundu based on morphology, bioacoustics, and molecular data.

On Rhinella gildae Vaz-Silva, Maciel, Bastos & Pombal 2015 (Anura: Bufonidae): Phylogenetic relationship, morphological variation, advertisement and release calls and geographic distribution

Anurans in the Rhinella margaritifera group have a long history of taxonomic confusion, mainly by morphological similarity between species and lack of acoustic and genetic data for many of the 19 described species. Herein, we presented data for Rhinella gildae based on recently collected specimens from its type locality. We provide patterns of morphological variation, measurements, advertisement and release calls and infer the phylogenetic position of R. gildae. The species geographical distribution was updated, occurring in two Amazonian localities in Maranhão state, and Cerrado areas in Maranhão and Tocantins states and also in a rainforest enclave inside Caatinga domain in Ceará state.

Advertisement call and new distribution records from Brazil of Teratohyla midas (Lynch & Duellman, 1973) (Anura, Centrolenidae)

Data on the distribution and calls of glassfrogs are important for taxonomic and conservation purposes. Herein, we describe the acoustic parameters of Teratohyla midas (Anura, Centrolenidae), with notes on distribution in the Brazilian states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, and Pará. The typical advertisement call of T. midas consists of a single pulsed note, with 3 pulses emitted in a very short emission. The advertisement calls of T. midas from Ecuador and French Guiana are distinct from those reported here.

Vocalização de anúncio e ampliação da distribuição de Pristimantis crepitans (Bokermann) (Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae)

New material of Pristimantis crepitans (Bokermann, 1965) was obtained from rocky outcrops located in southwestern borders of the Cerrado biome from central Brazil, and in the western border of the Pantanal wetlands, in the boundaries between Brazil and Bolivia. Individuals were collected and recorded in the type-locality and in four additional municipalities, in two mid-western Brazilian states: Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Besides range extension and morphometric data additional to those in the original description, we here provide a description of the topotypical vocalization of P. crepitans, as well as photographs of live specimens and of some of their habitats, for the first time in the literature.