José Cassimiro

Molecular phylogeny and morphometric analyses reveal deep divergence between Amazonia and Atlantic Forest species of Dendrophryniscus.

Dendrophryniscus is an early diverging clade of bufonids represented by few small-bodied species distributed in Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest. We used mitochondrial (414 bp of 12S, 575 bp of 16S genes) and nuclear DNA (785 bp of RAG-1) to investigate phylogenetic relationships and the timing of diversification within the genus. These molecular data were gathered from 23 specimens from 19 populations, including eight out of the 10 nominal species of the genus as well as Rhinella boulengeri. Analyses also included sequences of representatives of 18 other bufonid genera that were publically available. We also examined morphological characters to analyze differences within Dendrophryniscus. We found deep genetic divergence between an Amazonian and an Atlantic Forest clade, dating back to Eocene. Morphological data corroborate this distinction. We thus propose to assign the Amazonian species to a new genus, Amazonella. The species currently named R. boulengeri, which has been previously assigned to the genus Rhamphophryne, is shown to be closely related to Dendrophryniscus species. Our findings illustrate cryptic trends in bufonid morphological evolution, and point to a deep history of persistence and diversification within the Amazonian and Atlantic rainforests. We discuss our results in light of available paleoecological data and the biogeographic patterns observed in other similarly distributed groups.

Out of the deep: Cryptic speciation in a Neotropical gecko (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) revealed by species delimitation methods

Levels of biodiversity in the Neotropics are largely underestimated despite centuries of research interest in this region. This is particularly true for the Cerrado, the largest Neotropical savanna and a formally recognized biodiversity hotspot. Molecular species delimitation methods have become essential tools to uncover cryptic species and can be notably robust when coupled with morphological information. We present the first evaluation of the monophyly and cryptic speciation of a widespread Cerrado endemic lizard, Gymnodactylus amarali, using phylogenetic and species-trees methods, as well as a coalescent-based Bayesian species delimitation method. We tested whether lineages resulting from the analyses of molecular data are morphologically diagnosed by traditional meristic scale characters. We recovered eight deeply divergent molecular clades within G. amarali, and two additional ones from seasonally dry tropical forest enclaves between the Cerrado and the Caatinga biomes. Analysis of morphological data statistically corroborated the molecular delimitation for all groups, in a pioneering example of the use of support vector machines to investigate morphological differences in animals. The eight G. amarali clades appear monophyletic and endemic to the Cerrado. They display several different properties used by biologists to delineate species and are therefore considered here as candidates for formal taxonomic description. We also present a preliminary account of the biogeographic history of these lineages in the Cerrado, evidence for speciation of sister lineages in the Cerrado-Caatinga contact, and highlight the need for further morphological and genetic studies to assess cryptic diversity in this biodiversity hotspot.

Food habits of snakes from the RPPN Feliciano Miguel Abdala, an Atlantic Forest fragment of southeastern Brazil

We present data on the diet of 15 species of snakes belonging to a community from Reserva Particular do Patrimonio Natural Feliciano Miguel Abdala, an Atlantic Forest fragment of Southeastern Brazil, based on their stomach contents. For 12 items we were able to determine the direction of the ingestion. Most snakes ingested the prey head-first. A cluster analysis was conducted with items grouped as chilopods, mollusks, adult anurans, anuran tadpoles, lizards, amphisbaenians, snakes, and rodents. The phylogenetic influence on diet preferences is discussed.

Advertisement Call, Vocal Activity, and Geographic Distribution of Brachycephalus hermogenesi (Giaretta and Sawaya, 1998) (Anura, Brachycephalidae)

Abstract Brachycephalus hermogenesi is an endemic leaf litter inhabitant of the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil, whose original distribution included a restricted area near the boundaries of the States of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. We were surprised to find out, while conducting herpetofaunal surveys at Estação Biológica de Boracéia (EBB), that the background forest insect–like sound we have been searching for corresponded to calling individuals of the species. Males call during the day at high densities, hidden under the leaf litter. Individuals do not answer playback, seem to move very infrequently, and seem to ignore nearby calling activity. We gathered data on annual and daily vocal activity of the species at EBB, observing a total of 1,549 calls given by 31 focal individuals in November 2003 and 2005. The call varies from short single note calls to calls composed of groups of two to seven similar notes emitted at regular intervals. We also extend the known distribution of the species southward to the State of São Paulo.

A New Microteiid Lizard Of The Genus Acratosaura (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) From Serra Do Sincorá, State Of Bahia, Brazil

A new species of the genus Acratosaura is described on the basis of two specimens obtained at the “campos rupestres” (rocky meadows) near Mucuge municipality, state of Bahia, Brazil. Acratosaura spinosa sp. nov., has ear openings and eyelids, pentadactyl limbs lacking a claw on first toe, a single frontonasal, prefrontals, frontoparietals, parietals, interparietals, occipitals, no collar fold, three pairs of genials, three supraoculars and three superciliaries and is further characterized by presenting 28–31 rows of strongly keeled, lanceolate and imbricate dorsal scales, sides of the neck with keeled scales, striate temporal scales, four longitudinal and 17–18 transverse rows of smooth ventral scales, 28–30 scales around the body, 14 and 19–20 infradigital lamellae under finger IV and toe IV, respectively, 13 total preanal and femoral pores in male, absent in female. The new species differs strikingly in color pattern from its only congener A. mentalis. The two species occur sympatricaly in the high altitude open habitats near the type locality.

A new species of Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Serra do Cipó, Espinhaço Range, Southeastern Brazil, with proposition of a new species group to the genus

Descrevemos uma nova especie de Atractus da Serra do Cipo, na vertente sudeste da Serra do Espinhaco, uma cadeia montanhosa continental aproximadamente paralela a costa Atlântica brasileira. A nova especie e morfologicamente similar a A. paraguayensis e A. potschi com as quais compartilha: 15 series de escamas dorsais; regiao occipital branca em especimes jovens; coloracao dorsal de fundo variando de rosa avermelhado a vermelho (em vida) com pontuacoes, manchas e/ou bandas transversais pretas; sete supralabiais e infralabiais; ventrais e subcaudais creme esbranquicado; hemipenis levemente bilobado, semicapitulado e semicaliculado. A nova especie difere de ambos os taxons principalmente a partir de caracteres exclusivos de coloracao (numero e forma das bandas transversais), da morfologia hemipeniana (face mediana dos lobos sem ornamentacao) alem de diferencas meristicas (numero de escamas ventrais e dentes maxilares) e morfometricas (comprimento rostro-cloacal dos adultos). Apresenta-se uma discussao sobre as possiveis afinidades da nova especie e redefinem-se alguns grupos de especies de Atractus no sentido de acomodar melhor as especies que compartilham combinacoes unicas de caracteres morfologicos.

Amphibia, Anura, Cycloramphidae, Zachaenus carvalhoi Izecksohn, 1983 and Z. parvulus (Girard, 1853): Filling gap and geographic distribution map for the genus

(Girard, 1853) (Figure 2). The latter is widely distributed throughout the state of Rio de Janeiro, reaching the North portion of the state of Sao Paulo (Cochran 1955; van Sluys et al. 2001). Its biology is reasonably known: the reproductive season is prolonged, the eggs are laid among leaves on the humid forest floor, from which terrestrial endotrophic tadpoles hatch (Lutz 1944; van Sluys et al. 2001).

Reconquering the water: Evolution and systematics of South and Central American aquatic lizards (Gymnophthalmidae)

The Cercosaurini tribe stands out from other Gymnophthalmidae lizards for including several species with morphological adaptations to aquatic lifestyle (“Crocodile‐Like Morphology” – CLM). Recent molecular phylogenies of Cercosaurini demonstrated the paraphyly of CLM species, implicitly suggesting that adaptations to the aquatic life evolved more than once. However, CLM species have remained poorly sampled, and a number of uncertainties persist, such as the monophyly of Neusticurus and the placement of Potamites apodemus within the tribe. Based on a more extensive molecular and morphological data set, we propose a phylogenetic hypothesis for Neusticurus and investigate, for the first time, the phylogenetic position of P. apodemus. We recovered a monophyletic Neusticurus clade; however, Neusticurus rudis as currently understood was recovered as paraphyletic, with two lineages that also show consistent morphological diagnosis; as a result, we resurrect and provide a taxonomic redescription of Neusticurus surinamensis Müller, . Moreover, because P. apodemus was recovered as sister to all other Echinosaura, we propose a new combination for this species (Echinosaura apodema). We also review the distribution of Neusticurus species, offering a comprehensive view of their biogeography. Lastly, our ancestral character reconstruction and dating analyses indicate that the CLM phenotype evolved four times independently during Cercosaurini′s evolutionary history. We hypothesize that the CLM phenotype and subsequent adaptation to aquatic life may be linked to the development of the Pebas Lake in western Amazonia during the Miocene.

Description of the tadpole of Hyla hylax Heyer, 1985 (Anura, Hylidae) with notes on its ecology

Jaime Bertoluci1,2, Vinicius Xavier2,3, Jose Cassimiro1 1 Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, 31270-901 e-mail: bertoluc@icb.ufmg.br, j_cassimiro@hotmail.com 2 Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociencias, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil 3 Present Address: Centro Universitario Federal – Escola de Farmacia e Odontologia de Alfenas. Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 714, Centro, Alfenas, MG, Brazil, 37130-000 e-mail: vinic@int.efoa.br.