Renato Sousa Recoder

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.

Composição e diversidade de répteis Squamata na região sul do Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, Brasil Central

Recoder, R. & Nogueira, C. Diversity and composition of squamate reptiles in the southern portion of Grande Sertao Veredas National Park, Central Brazil. Biota Neotrop. Sep/Dez 2007 vol. 7, no. 3 http://www. biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n3/pt/abstract?inventory+bn01107032007. ISSN 1676-0603. We present the results of an inventory of squamate reptiles from Grande Sertao Veredas National Park region, in the Brazilian Cerrado hotspot. We used standardized sampling methods to provide richness, diversity and distribution data and compared our results with those from other Cerrado localities. The regional squamate fauna is composed of at least 50 species, of which 25 lizards, three amphisbaenians and 22 snakes, distributed in 12 families: Polychrotidae (1), Tropiduridae (3), Scincidae (4), Teiidae (3), Gymnophthalmidae (6), Anguidae (1), Amphisbaenidae (3), Anomalepididae (1), Leptotyphlopidae (1), Boidae (2), Colubridae (16) e Viperidae (2). Recorded and estimated richness indicates that the region can be one of the richest in the Brazilian Cerrado. The recorded species present predictable abundance variations among different available habitats, a probable result of the influence of phylogenetic factors in the spatial distribution of the species. The “carrasco” habitat was distinguished for harboring two restricted species to the region: Stenocercus quinarius and Psilophthalmus sp., and should receive further attention in future studies. The open habitats, especially the typical open physiognomies of Cerrado, present the highest richness levels, in agreement with results in other Cerrado localities, a fact with direct implications for the conservation of central Brazilian savannas.

Anfíbios da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, região do Jalapão, Estados do Tocantins e Bahia

The Northern part of Cerrado is one of the biologically poorest known areas in the domain. Recent studies revealed richness values that are as high as those from other sites in the domain. The Estacao Ecologica Serra Geral do Tocantins is located in a region known as Jalapao, in Northeastern Cerrado, and it is included in the largest set of protected areas in the domain. We describe amphibian richness and species composition in EESGT, and discuss it in a biogeographic context. We also describe breeding sites focusing on phytophysiognomy and types of water bodies. We sampled amphibians through active search and pitfall traps, during the peak of breeding season for most of the anuran species in Cerrado. We registered 36 species, which coupled with former studies results in a regional richness of 39 species known for Jalapao. After applying Jackknife estimator, we suggest a potential richness of 42 species for the EESGT. Most registered species are endemic or strongly associated to Cerrado, followed by species widespread in Brazil or South America, and those associated with Caatinga. Most species breed in temporary ponds located in open areas, although there are some forest specialists, and stream-breeding species.

Amphibia, Anura, São Desidério, western Bahia uplands, northeastern Brazil

The contact zone between Cerrado and Caatinga is among the least known areas in the Cerrado biome, and no information is available about the anuran species occurring in this area and their ecology. Along this area, seasonally dry tropical forests are common on the lowlands with some enclaves inside the Cerrado core area. Here, we present for the first time a list of species on this zone recognized as a priority area for conservation inside the Cerrado . We sampled anuran species within 30 km of Sao Desiderio, a city in western Bahia, from habitats including temporary and permanent ponds in Cerrado and seasonally dry tropical forests, as well as veredas and marshes. We recorded 32 anuran species, belonging to 12 genera in five families. Hylidae was the richest family (ten species) followed by Leiuperidae and Leptodactylidae (eight species each), Bufonidae (five species), and Microhylidae (two species). The heterogeneity of this site could be demonstrated by the presence of species with different dispersal/colonization history with eight species (25 %) endemic to Cerrado , three (9 %) shared with Caatinga biome, two (6 %) shared with Atlantic Forest, and eighteen (56 %) widespread through adjacent biomes.

A new species of Bachia Gray, 1845 (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from the Eastern Brazilian Cerrado, and data on its ecology, physiology and behavior

A new species of Bachia of the bresslaui group, Bachia geralista sp. nov., is described from Planalto dos Gerais, an old and partially dissected plateau extending along the Cerrados of Bahia, Minas Gerais and Tocantins states, Brazil. The new species is morphologically similar to B. bresslaui, with which it has been confused; however head scalation resembles other species from sandy spots within the Cerrado (B. psamophila and B. oxyrhina). Like in B. psamophila and B. oxyrhina, the shovel-shaped snout of the new species is highly prominent, a typical trait of psammophilous habits in other gymnophthalmids. The examination of specimens of B. bresslaui from several populations within the Cerrado revealed great variation among localities, leading to the reidentification of a specimen from Utiariti, Mato Grosso, previously referred to in the literature as the second record of B. bresslaui, as the recently described B. didactyla, suggesting that cryptic diversity might remain still undiscovered within this genus in the Cerrado. Despite occurring in a relatively open Cerrado, thermal physiology of Bachia geralista sp. nov. restricts its occurrence to shaded microhabitats within this habitat.

The herpetofauna of the Estação Ecológica de Uruçuí-Una, state of Piauí, Brazil

Este trabalho foi realizado com objetivo de analisar a herpetofauna amostrada numa area de Cerrado no estado do Piaui, Brasil, influenciada pelos biomas vizinhos e uma das regioes menos conhecidas dentro do dominio. A herpetofauna de diferentes fisionomias da Estacao Ecologica de Urucui-Una (EEUU) foi amostrada intensivamente durante tres campanhas (duas na estacao chuvosa e uma na seca). Nos registramos 90 especies da herpetofauna, 64 repteis e 26 anuros, uma alta riqueza quando comparada com outras localidades bem amostradas do Cerrado. As curvas de rarefacao, tanto para lagartos como para anuros, indicam que a riqueza observada se aproxima da real e os estimadores de riqueza apontam que novos registros podem ser adicionados a lista de especies obtida. As analises de co-ocorrencia mostram que as especies nao estao distribuidas aleatoriamente na paisagem, indicando que elas usam preferencialmente os diferentes tipos de habitats. Apesar se localizar em uma area transicional e ser influenciada pelos biomas vizinhos, as analise de agrupamento por similaridade sugerem que a herpetofauna da EEUU e tipica do Cerrado. Desse modo, os resultados desse estudo indicam que a herpetofauna da EEUU desempenha um importante papel na conservacao de uma riqueza faunistica regional.

Vertebrados da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins: faunística, biodiversidade e conservação no Cerrado brasileiro

Basic taxonomic and distributional data on vertebrates are one of the most useful and reliable sources of information for conservation planning. Biological data are even more relevant in rich and highly threatened regions such as the Brazilian Cerrado, one of the least studied global biodiversity hotspots. Herein we provide a summary of the results of a vertebrate survey at Estacao Ecologica Serra Geral do Tocantins (~716.000 ha), the second largest protected area in the Cerrado region. We recorded 450 species in EESGT and surroundings, including 17 threatened species, 50 Cerrado endemics and 11 potential restricted-range species. Our results also added 180 new vertebrate records for the Jalapao region. At least 12 species were considered potential undescribed taxa; four of these were recently described based on specimens obtained in the present study. Our results indicate that EESGT is among the most biologically relevant protected areas in the Cerrado. Proper management will favor the persistence of threatened vertebrates dependent on the last remaining large blocks of pristine Cerrado savannas. Moreover, EESGT and its major biological subunits contribute decisively to the representativeness of the reserve system in the Cerrado, conserving presumed narrow endemics with high intrinsic vulnerability and high potential value as indicators of biogeographic processes of diversification in rich and complex Neotropical biotas.

Rediscovery of the earless microteiid lizard Anotosaura collaris Amaral, 1933 (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae): a redescription complemented by osteological, hemipenial, molecular, karyological, physiological and ecological data.

More than a century after its discovery by Ernest Garbe, and almost 80 years after its original description, we obtained a series of specimens of the earless gymnophthalmid Anotosaura collaris, the type species of the genus, up to now known only by a single specimen. On the basis of the material obtained at and close to the type locality we redescribe the species, adding information about the external and hemipenial morphology, osteology and karytoype. Molecular data confirm its sister relationship with Anotosaura vanzolinia as well as the close relationship of Anotosaura with the Ecpleopodini Colobosauroides and Dryadosaura. We supplement this information with thermophysiological, ecogeographical, karyotypic and ecological data.

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.

Natural history of Micrablepharus maximiliani (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a Cerrado region of northeastern Brazil

Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt & Luetken, 1861) is a microteiid lizard widely distributed in the open areas of South America. Little is known about its ecology and reproductive biology. Here, we analyzed aspects of the natural history of a population of M. maximiliani from a Cerrado area in the state of Piaui, northeastern Brazil. Our results suggest that the reproductive activity of M. maximiliani might be seasonal in the Cerrado, since reproductive females were observed only in the dry season, whereas reproductive males were present in both seasons. Vitellogenic follicles and oviductal eggs were found simultaneously in one female, suggesting that females may produce more than one clutch per season. Sexual dimorphism was observed in body shape, and individuals were mainly restricted to a typical savanna physiognomy. The diet consisted of small arthropods, including spiders, crickets and cockroaches as the most important items.