Luiz Norberto Weber

Evaluation of the taxonomic status of populations assigned to Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis (Anura, Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae) based on molecular, chromosomal, and morphological approach

BackgroundThe taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Phyllomedusa have been amply discussed. The marked morphological similarities among some species hamper the reliable identification of specimens and may often lead to their incorrect taxonomic classification on the sole basis of morphological traits. Phenotypic variation was observed among populations assigned to either P. azurea or P. hypochondrialis. In order to evaluate whether the variation observed in populations assigned to P. hypochondrialis is related to that in genotypes, a cytogenetic analysis was combined with phylogenetic inferences based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequences.ResultsThe inter- and intra-population variation in the external morphology observed among the specimens analyzed in the present study do not reflect the phylogenetic relationships among populations. A monophyletic clade was recovered, grouping all the specimens identified as P. hypochondrialis and specimens assigned P. azurea from Minas Gerais state. This clade is characterized by conserved chromosomal morphology and a common C-banding pattern. Extensive variation in the nucleolar organizing region (NOR) was observed among populations, with four distinct NOR positions being recognized in the karyotypes. Intra-population polymorphism of the additional rDNA clusters observed in specimens from Barreiras, Bahia state, also highlights the marked genomic instability of the rDNA in the genome of this group. Based on the topology obtained in the phylogenetic analyses, the re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of the specimens from the southernmost population known in Brazil is recommended.ConclusionsThe results of this study support the need for a thorough revision of the phenotypic features used to discriminate P. azurea and P. hypochondrialis. The phylogenetic data presented here also contribute to an extension of the geographic range of P. hypochondrialis, which is known to occur in the Amazon basin and neighboring areas of the Cerrado savanna, where it may be sympatric with P. azurea, within contact zones. The misidentification of specimens may have led to inconsistencies in the original definition of the geographic range of P. azurea. The variability observed in the NOR of P. hypochondrialis reinforces the conclusion that these sites represent hotspots of rearrangement. Intraspecific variation in the location of these sites is the result of constant rearrangements that are not detected by classical cytogenetic methods or are traits of an ancestral, polymorphic karyotype, which would not be phylogenetically informative for this group.

THE TADPOLE OF THE CASQUE-HEADED FROG, APARASPHENODON BRUNOI MIRANDA-RIBEIRO (ANURA: HYLIDAE)

Abstract The tadpole of Aparasphenodon brunoi is described and illustrated for the first time (external morphology and internal oral features) from Maricá, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Characters of this tadpole include: body representing 30% of total length; eyes lateral; spiracle single, sinistral, with opening directed upward and backward; anal tube median; dorsal fin originating at the mid-third of body; caudal tip extended into a flagellum; oral disc anteroventral; and labial tooth row formula 2(2)/6(1). In general, body and tail brown. Tail with transverse dark brown stripes. Morphological comparisons were made with tadpoles of eight other pond and stream-dwelling casque-headed treefrog species of the genera Argenteohyla, Osteocephalus, and Trachycephalus. The tadpoles of the subspecies of Argenteohyla possess characteristics that may indicate full specific rank of these taxa, so that the taxonomic status of these subspecies should be revaluated. Considering that high number of tooth rows is usually associated with stream dwellers, the presence of this characteristic in A. brunoi tadpoles (a pond-dweller) may represent retention of an ancestral lotic pattern. Furthermore, the number of tooth rows in the posterior labium of A. brunoi corroborates the putative morphological synapomorphy of the tribe Lophiohylini (presence of at least four posterior labial tooth rows in the larval oral disc).

The Tadpole of Physalaemus albifrons (Spix, 1824) (Anura, Leiuperidae)

ABSTRACT. n The tadpoles of Physalaemus albifrons used in this description were obtained from a pair collected in a permanent pond in Brotas de Macaúbas, state of Bahia, Brazil. The external morphological features are similar to those of other members of the P. albifrons species group, differing by the presence of interruptions in the row of the marginal papillae of the lower lip. Labial tooth row formula is 2(2)/3(1, 2). The internal oral morphology of P. albifrons differed from those of P. marmoratus, P. santafecinus and P. biligonigerus by the presence of three lingual papillae.

Sympatric occurrence of two species of Pseudopaludicola (Anura: Leptodactylidae) and first record of Pseudopaludicola jaredi Andrade, Magalhães, Nunes-de-Almeida, Veiga-Menoncello, Santana, Garda, Loebmann, Recco-Pimentel, Giaretta & Toledo, 2016 in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil

Here, we document the sympatric occurrence of Pseudopaludicola canga and P. jaredi . We also provide the first record of P. jaredi in the state of Maranhao, northeastern Brazil, expanding this species’ distribution by about 610 km southwestward from Serra das Flores, municipality of Vicosa do Ceara, state of Ceara. Furthermore, we fill the gap in the geographic distribution range of P. canga in the state of Maranhao, extending the distribution of this species by about 530 km southwestward from the municipality of Barreirinhas.

First record of Leptodactylus sertanejo (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leptodactylinae) in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil

Leptodactylus sertanejo is a mid-sized frog that inhabits areas of the Cerrado Biome, in natural and artificial grassland areas, in the states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Bahia, Goias and Tocantins, Brazil. Herein, we provide the first species record for the state of Maranhao, northeastern Brazil, expanding the known distribution of L. sertanejo ca. 420 km northeast from the Parque Estadual do Jalapao, Tocantins state.

Description of the Tadpole of Pseudopaludicola canga Giaretta and Kokubum, 2003 (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Abstract. We describe the external morphology, internal oral anatomy, and chondrocranium of Pseudopaludicola canga. The tadpole is diagnosed by the following combined characters: elliptic body, reniform nostril, dorsal fin starting at the body-tail junction and labial tooth row formula 2(2)/2(1) presenting two lateral gaps in the marginal papillae of the lower lip. Regarding the oral cavity, there is a pattern similarity in some characters among the three species of the genus for which the structure has been described; however, P. canga can be characterized by having a pair of infralabial papillae, irregular median ridge, three lingual papillae, fewer papillae in the buccal roof arena, and greater number of papillae in the buccal floor. The chondrocranium of P. canga differs from that of P. boliviana by presenting a distal connection between the pars alaris and pars corporis of the cartilago suprarostralis; and differs from P. falcipes by lacking a processus pseudopterygoideus. Further, our data emphasize the utility of larval characters as additional tools in the diagnosis of species within this genus.

Internal oral morphology in larvae of the genus Rhinella Fitzinger, 1826 (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae) .

From the 86 species allocated in the genus Rhinella, 25 have their tadpoles described and only R. arenarum, R. chrysophora, R. icterica, R. ornata, R. schneideri and R. spinulosa have aspects of the internal oral morphology evidenced. Herein, the internal oral morphology from 12 species of Rhinella distributed between the morphological groups of R. crucifer, R. granulosa, R. marina and R margaritifera is described and compared. The internal oral morphology of Rhinella is little variable in many aspects. Despite the many similarities found between the tadpoles of Rhinella, the study showed that there are characteristics that exhibit interspecific variation that can be used in the taxonomy of the genus. Important features to distinguish species were: number of infrarrostral projections; number and shape of the infralabial papillae; size, arrangement, shape and apex of the lingual papillae; shape of the buccal floor arena papillae; number of projections of the ventral velum; shape of the prenarial ridge; choanae arrangement; number and apex of the postnarial papillae; number and shape of the secondary branches on the lateral ridge papilla; buccal roof arena papillae arrangement.xa0

THE TADPOLE OF PHYSALAEMUS ANGRENSIS WEBER, GONZAGA AND CARVALHO-E-SILVA, 2005 (AMPHIBIA; ANURA; LEPTODACTYLIDAE)

ABSTRACT. n The tadpole of Physalaemus angrensis Weber, Gonzaga and Carvalho-e-Silva, 2005 is described based on tadpoles reared in captivity from a pair collected in a temporary pond in Angra dos Reis Municipality, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The species belongs to the Physalaemus signifier group and shares many external characteristics with other members of this group, like the labial tooth row formula 2(2)/3(1) and the ovoid body. The internal oral morphology is also described and compared with other tadpoles of the genus.