Clarissa Canedo

TWO NEW SPECIES OF TORRENT FROG OF THE GENUS HYLODES (ANURA, HYLODIDAE) WITH NUPTIAL THUMB TUBERCLES

We analyzed variation among Hylodes with nuptial tubercles using morphometrics, vocalization, and external morphology. We identified three species: Hylodes phyllodes from the Serra do Mar, State of São Paulo, and southern portion of the State of Rio de Janeiro; a new species from Ilha Grande, municipality of Angra dos Reis; and a new species from the Serra dos Órgãos, municipality of Guapimirim. The new species are both from the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil.

From widespread to microendemic: molecular and acoustic analyses show that Ischnocnema guentheri (Amphibia: Brachycephalidae) is endemic to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Many species of tropical amphibians are restricted to very small ranges, and this microendemism coupled with ongoing habitat loss and susceptibility to emerging pathogens imperils the long-term persistence of these species. Incomplete taxonomic and distributional knowledge may obscure conservation assessment, particularly in putatively widespread species that are typically considered to be of Least Concern in Red List assessments, but that in fact may constitute complexes of partly microendemic species. Such is the case in the Steindachner’s Robber Frog, Ischnocnema guentheri which, together with the recently recognized Ischnocnema henselii, is thought to occupy most of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. To test whether these taxa may constitute a species complex of range-restricted and thus potentially threatened species, we analyzed 160 samples of I. guentheri and/or I. henselii for two molecular markers, 16S rRNA (16S) and recombination activation gene 1 (RAG1). To verify the monophyly of the complex, closely related species were also included in the 16S analysis. Congruent evidence from the molecular data and from analyses of advertisement calls support the existence of six distinct species within the complex: I. guentheri and I. henselii as well as four candidate new species. The lineages are distributed as a mosaic in the Atlantic Forest and are sympatric at some localities without indication of admixture. Their phylogeographical pattern partially agrees with paleo-models for the Atlantic Forest, but also suggests the existence of micro-refugia in less stable areas. I. guentheri, previously considered to be widespread, was found only in its type locality, a reserve within the urban area of Rio de Janeiro city. Although none of the species studied appears highly threatened with extinction, we recommend their IUCN threat status to be re-evaluated carefully for the next comprehensive update of the Red List of Brazil’s amphibians.

A New Species of Hylodes (Anura: Hylodidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract We describe a new species of Torrent Frog, genus Hylodes, from southern and southeastern Brazil. The new species is assigned to the Hylodes nasus species group and is characterized by large size, robust body, distinctly granular dorsolateral surfaces, absence of light dorsolateral stripes, moderate-sized fringe on the outer margin of toe V, and distinct advertisement call with long note duration. The new species is morphologically similar to Hylodes asper but is readily separated from that species by its distinct vocalization and by the shorter fringe on the outer side of toe V. Description of advertisement call and behavioral notes are provided.

A NEW SPECIES OF CHIASMOCLEIS MÉHELŸ, 1904 (ANURA, MICROHYLIDAE) FROM THE ATLANTIC RAINFOREST OF BAHIA, BRAZIL

We describe a new species of Chiasmocleis from the municipality of Una, in the Atlantic Rainforest of southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil. The new species is the smallest member of the genus and is characterized by having an ovoid body; a truncate snout in dorsal view, rounded snout in profile; no webbing on hands and feet; fingers lacking disks, toe tips slightly expanded; fingers and toes weakly fringed (less fringed in females), with few lateral dermal spines in males and none in females; the dorsal surface of body and limbs with dermal spines in males, absent in females; in preservative, color on dorsum uniformly grayish brown, paler brown on dorsal surface of limbs; posterior surface of thighs with a white, longitudinal line; and belly boldly marbled in brown and pale cream.

New species of Ischnocnema (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from the atlantic rainforest of the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT. We describe a new species of Ischnocnema from Santa Teresa, in the Atlantic Rainforest of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Ischnocnema abdita sp. nov. is a member of the Ischnocnema lactea species series; it differs from other Ischnocnema mainly by presenting small size (adult male SVL 15.7 ±0.49 mm; range 15.0–16.8 mm); small discs on fingers I and II, and elliptical, wider than long, moderate sized discs on fingers III and IV; and finger I slightly smaller than finger II. The new species closely resembles Ischnocnema bolbodactyla, differing from it by presenting upper and lower margins of iris red in life; inguinal region with many yellow blotches in life; posterior region of belly and ventral surfaces of thighs, shanks, and feet roughly marbled with large pale yellow blotches; and hidden dorsal area of thighs dark brown with few large pale yellow blotches.

New Species of Ischnocnema (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil, with Comments on the I. verrucosa Species Series

Abstract Field activities in several localities within the basin of the Doce River, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, resulted in the collection of a new Ischnocnema that we assign to the I. verrucosa species series. The new species resembles I. verrucosa and I. octavioi by its possession of small digital discs, short legs, conspicuously tuberculate dorsal surfaces, a W-shaped mark between the shoulders with two large tubercles at the bases, and a red iris with a vertical black bar in life. It differs from I. verrucosa and I. octavioi by its possession of externally indistinct tympanum and tympanic annulus and visible white glandular-appearing nuptial pads in males. We also assign I. octavioi and I. penaxavantinho to the I. verrucosa species series.

Multilocus Phylogeography of the Treefrog Scinax eurydice (Anura, Hylidae) Reveals a Plio-Pleistocene Diversification in the Atlantic Forest

We aim to evaluate the genetic structure of an Atlantic Forest amphibian species, Scinax eurydice, testing the congruence among patterns identified and proposed by the literature for Pleistocene refugia, microrefugia, and geographic barriers to gene flow such as major rivers. Furthermore, we aim to evaluate predictions of such barriers and refugia on the genetic structure of the species, such as presence/absence of dispersal, timing since separation, and population expansions/contractions. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers on 94 tissue samples from 41 localities. We inferred a gene tree and estimated genetic distances using mtDNA sequences. We then ran population clustering and assignment methods, AMOVA, and estimated migration rates among populations identified through mtDNA and nDNA analyses. We used a dated species tree, skyline plots, and summary statistics to evaluate concordance between population’s distributions and geographic barriers and Pleistocene refugia. Scinax eurydice showed high mtDNA divergences and four clearly distinct mtDNA lineages. Species tree and population assignment tests supported the existence of two major clades corresponding to northeastern and southeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil, each one composed of two other clades. Lineage splitting events occurred from late Pliocene to Pleistocene. We identified demographic expansions in two clades, and inexistent to low levels of migrations among different populations. Genetic patterns and demographic data support the existence of two northern Refuge and corroborate microrefugia south of the Doce/Jequitinhonha Rivers biogeographic divide. The results agree with a scenario of recent demographic expansion of lowland taxa. Scinax eurydice comprises a species complex, harboring undescribed taxa consistent with Pleistocene refugia. Two rivers lie at the boundaries among populations and endorse their role as secondary barriers to gene flow.

A New Species of Giant Torrent Frog, Genus Megaelosia, from the Atlantic Rain Forest of Espirito Santo, Brazil (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)

Abstract Herein is described a new species of leptodactylid frog from Pedra Azul, Municipality of Domingos Martins, State of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. The new species is a member of the genus Megaelosia, and is characterized by large size; fold of fifth toe not reaching outer metatarsal tubercle; snout rounded in dorsal view and slightly protruding in lateral view; tympanum moderately small; finger tips with scutes fused to the subunguis and toe tips with a pair of scutes free of the subunguis; dorsal skin texture smooth; skin of the flanks without large granules; belly and throat predominantly gray with many, small yellow blotches; and distinct bilateral vocal sacs in males. The tadpole is described. The new species is the northern limit for the genus Megaelosia, and reinforces the high endemism and richness of the anuran fauna from Santa Teresa region, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

A new species of ischnocnema parva species series (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from northern state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract: Here we describe a new species of the Ischnocnema parva species series from the Parque Estadual do Desengano, in the northern part of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We use morphology and mtDNA sequences to allocate the new species into the I. parva species series. The new species is closely related to I. parva genetically and morphologically, from which it is diagnosable by (1) the presence of a well-developed calcar tubercle, (2) a reduced Toe I, (3) a deep V-shaped median slit on the dorsal surface of toe discs, and (4) externally indistinct tympanum and tympanic annulus.

A New Species of Ischnocnema (Anura) from the São Francisco Basin Karst Region, Brazil

Abstract We describe a new species of Ischnocnema from the municipality of Arcos, in the karst region of the upper Rio São Francisco basin, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by the possession of a W-shaped mark on the back, at the level of the shoulder, with one tubercle at each posterior point, red iris in life, and moderate-sized discs on fingers III and IV. These characteristics resemble those of Ischnocnema manezinho and I. sambaqui (from the I. lactea series) but also that from the species in the I. verrucosa series. Resumo Uma nova espécie de Ischnocnema é descrita, procedente do Município de Arcos, região cárstica do alto curso da bacia do rio São Francisco, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. A nova espécie é diagnosticada por apresentar uma marca em forma de W entre os ombros, com um tubérculo em cada uma das bases; íris vermelha em vida; discos com tamanhos moderados nos dedos III e IV. Tais características assemelham-se às apresentadas por I. manezinho e I. sambaqui (da série de I. lactea), mas também àquelas apresentadas pelas espécies da série de I. verrucosa.