Reuber Albuquerque Brandão

The phylogenetic relationships of the charismatic poster frogs, Phyllomedusinae (Anura, Hylidae)

The leaf or monkey frogs of the hylid subfamily Phyllomedusinae are a unique group of charismatic anurans. We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis that includes 45 of the 60 species of phyllomedusines using up to 12 genes and intervening tRNAs. The aims were to gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic position of Phrynomedusa, test the monophyly and explore the relationships among several putative lineages (Hylomantis, the H. buckleyi Group, Phasmahyla, the four species groups of Phyllomedusa, and the species of Phyllomedusa that remain unassigned to any group), and to examine the implications of our phylogeny for the evolution of several characters in phyllomedusines. The analyses resulted in a well‐supported phylogenetic hypothesis that provides a historical framework for a discussion of the evolution of characters associated with reproductive biology, gliding behaviour, the physiology of waterproofing, and bioactive peptides. Implications include an earlier origin for eggless capsules than for leaf‐folding behaviour during amplexus, two independent origins of gliding, and an earlier origin of reduction in evaporative water loss than uricotelism, which is a result that originally was predicted on the basis of physiology alone. Furthermore, our results support the prediction that bioactive peptides from different peptide families are to be expected in all species of Phyllomedusinae. Hylomantis (as recently redefined) is shown to be paraphyletic and the synonymy of Agalychnis is revised to remedy this problem by including both Hylomantis and Pachymedusa.

Anfíbios e répteis do Parque Nacional da Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

Uetanabaro, M, Souza, F.L., Landgref Filho, P., Beda, A.F. & Brandao, R.A. Amphibians and reptiles of the Serra da Bodoquena National Park, Mato Grosso do Sul, central Brazil. Biota Neotrop. Sep/Dez 2007 vol. 7, no. 3 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n3/pt/abstract?inventory+bn01207032007. ISSN 1676-0603. The State of Mato Grosso do Sul, central Brazil, is located in the center of the broad South American open- dry diagonal areas. This region harbors a great diversity of amphibians and reptiles, with some endemic species. Despite such biogeographical scenario, biodiversity of this region is poorly known at local scales. Dry forests are important physiognomies in Mato Grosso do Sul and represent an important landscape element at Serra da Bodoquena, resulting in local characteristics that require biodiversity surveys. There are few and punctual information on the herpetofauna from the Serra da Bodoquena National Park and they suggest a similarity with the Cerrado herpetofauna. The present study represents the first record of the herpetofauna from the Serra da Bodoquena National Park and adjacent areas. Samples were conducted in pristine and disturbed areas in two distinct climatic periods, covering both rainy and dry seasons, by means of active search limited by time as well as opportunistic records. Data on the herpetofauna of the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Chaco biomes were compiled and compared with the species sampled in the present study. We registered 63 species, including 38 amphibians and 25 reptiles. Several species were associated to particular habitats, such as gallery forests or rocky outcrops. The herpetofauna from the Serra da Bodoquena National Park showed a greater similarity with that of the Cerrado, probably because the area is inserted in this biome. Considering the habitat diversity found at Serra da Bodoquena, the number of species must increase with other surveys in the area. Natural history and ecological studies on amphibian and reptiles of the Serra da Bodoquena must be encouraged in order to contribute for the National Park management.

Squamate reptiles from Parque Nacional das Emas and surroundings, Cerrado of Central Brazil

We present a list of squamate reptiles from Parque Nacional da Emas (PNE), ten neighbor private properties and Parque Estadual Nascentes do Rio Taquari, states of Goias, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul. The study area encompasses the headwaters of Araguaia and Taquari river basins and part of Paranaiba River Basin, resulting in significant habitat heterogeneity. Inside PNE, we recorded 74 squamate species: 47 snakes, 21 lizards and six amphisbaenians. If we consider also the neighboring areas, richness value raises to 87 species: 54 snakes, 27 lizards and six amphisbaenians. From these, 52 % of the lizards, 19 % of the snakes and 33 % of the amphisbaenians are Cerrado endemics. Forest-specialist species are more common outside than inside PNE. Additional species are expected to occur in the PNE region, in view of their known geographical ranges.

Lizards on newly created islands independently and rapidly adapt in morphology and diet

Significance We report for island populations of the termite-eating common gecko species Gymnodactylus amarali rapid parallel morphological and ecological change in response to human-caused environmental disturbance. The islands were formerly part of an extensive terrestrial ecosystem; in 1997, the area was flooded to construct a reservoir, fragmenting the higher portions into separate islands. Populations on all five islands studied have proportionally larger heads than populations at five nearby mainland sites. The new island morphology is accompanied by an increase in dietary niche breadth, mainly via expansion toward larger prey. This expansion is likely due to the greater availability of such prey on the newly formed islands after the extinction there of four larger lizard species that typically also included termites in their diets. Rapid adaptive changes can result from the drastic alterations humans impose on ecosystems. For example, flooding large areas for hydroelectric dams converts mountaintops into islands and leaves surviving populations in a new environment. We report differences in morphology and diet of the termite-eating gecko Gymnodactylus amarali between five such newly created islands and five nearby mainland sites located in the Brazilian Cerrado, a biodiversity hotspot. Mean prey size and dietary prey-size breadth were larger on islands than mainlands, expected because four larger lizard species that also consume termites, but presumably prefer larger prey, went extinct on the islands. In addition, island populations had larger heads relative to their body length than mainland populations; larger heads are more suited to the larger prey taken, and disproportionately larger heads allow that functional advantage without an increase in energetic requirements resulting from larger body size. Parallel morphological evolution is strongly suggested, because there are indications that, before flooding, relative head size did not differ between future island and future mainland sites. Females and males showed the same trend of relatively larger heads on islands, so the difference between island and mainland sites is unlikely to be due to greater male–male competition for mates on islands. We thus discovered a very fast (at most 15 y) case of independent parallel adaptive change in response to catastrophic human disturbance.

The advertisement call of the poorly known Leptodactylus tapiti (Anura, Leptodactylidae).

The genus Leptodactylus consists of approximately 80 species distributed in four nominal groups (Frost 2011). The fuscus group harbors approximately 30 small species with terrestrial nests, deposited in male built burrows on soft soils. Leptodactylus tapiti Sazima & Bokermann 1978 was described from Veadeiros, currently Alto Paraiso municipality,Goias State,Brazil. The species is restricted to the region of Chapada dos Veadeiros (Frost 2011), where it occurs in areas of water-saturated soils associated with open fields (Sazima & Bokermann 1978). Since its original description, nothing was published about the species, and its advertisement call remains unknown. Herein, we describe its advertisement call.

Natural History of Phyllomedusa centralis Bokermann 1965 (Anura: Hylidae: Phyllomedusinae): Tadpole and Calls

ABSTRACT. The tadpole and vocalizations of Phyllomedusa centralis are described based on individuals from the type locality, Chapada dos Guimarães, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. An opaque abdomen, upper jaw sheath medially higher, and an abundance of oral disc papillae characterize the tadpole of P. centralis. Phyllomedusa centralis, P. ayeaye, P. oreades, and P. megacephala are similar in inhabiting small streams, larvae with medially high upper jaws sheaths, spiracle opening free from body, and a ventral fin about three times deeper than the dorsal fin. The vocal repertoire of P. centralis consists of three different calls (“single call”, “compound call”, and ”response call”). These calls differ from those of other species of the hypochondrialis group by their low dominant frequency, short note duration, and broad frequency range with minimum (fundamental) and maximum frequencies coincident with the dominant frequency.

Mammal richness and diversity in Serra do Facão region, Southeastern Goiás state, central Brazil

At least 251 mammal species are recorded for the Brazilan cerrado, which, therefore, is the third richest Brazilian biome. Most mammal surveys in Brazilian cerrado result from studies performed opportunistically and in short time periods. The aims of the present study were (1) provide a checklist for the mammalian fauna based on a five-year sampling in Serra do Facao region, Southeastern Goias state; (2) compare small non-flying mammals diversity in open and forest areas and (3) compare species diversity before and after the flood caused by a hydroelectric reservoir filling. The data was gathered in 19 sampling periods, from May 2008 to September 2013. We sampled open and forest habitats and captured non-flying small mammals with Sherman and Tomahawk live traps and pitfalls; bats were sampled with mist-nets; large mammals were recorded with camera traps, and by direct observations and track surveys in field. We found 20 species of small non-flying mammals, 10 species of bats and 33 species of larger mammals. Species diversity was greater for forest than open habitats, and was also greater before than after the complete reservoir filling. About 10% of the recorded species are included in the Brazilian official list of threatened species. The total richness represents 25% of all cerrado mammal fauna, highlighting the importance of this area for regional mammal fauna conservation.

Descrição do girino de Odontophrynus Salvatori (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

The tadpole of Odontophrynus salvatori Caramaschi, 1996 is described from Chapada dos Veadeiros, State of Goias, Brazil. The tadpole resembles those of the genus Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920, mostly by depressive body in lateral view, small body size, and habitat use.

The first species of Aplastodiscus endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract The genus Aplastodiscus includes 14 nominal species in four monophyletic groups with occurrence in the Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) of South America. A recent study reviewed the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the genus and suggested a third species for the Aplastodiscus perviridis Group. Herein, on the basis of morphology and advertisement call, we describe this species and test its monophyly. The new species is the only Aplastodiscus with endemic occurrence in the Cerrado Biome. In addition, its geographical distribution and conservation status are discussed.

Natural History of Bothrops itapetiningae Boulenger, 1907 (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae), an Endemic Species of the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract We present data on habitat use, activity, sexual dimorphism, reproduction, and diet of Bothrops itapetiningae, a species endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado. Habitat use was studied through active search techniques in several areas from July 1997 to July 2000. Diet, reproduction, activity, and sexual dimorphism were studied through the analysis of specimens deposited in Brazilian museums. Annual activity was inferred from collection records grouped by month and season. The specimens were sexed by direct observation of gonads and sexual dimorphism was assessed using morphological data. The reproductive cycle of the species was studied by analyzing the number of vitellogenic and nonvitellogenic follicles, ova, and embryos by month. The diet was determined by analyzing stomach and digestive tract contents. The species is a habitat specialist, associated with open cerrado grasslands, and is active more frequently during the rainy season (October to March). Males have longer tails whereas females have longer heads. The reproductive cycle is seasonal and probably biennial, with births (5.8 ± 2.9 embryos) occurring during the rainy season. Diet is of a generalist, but mammals are important items for both sexes and all age classes. Bothrops itapetiningae is among the smaller Brazilian pit vipers. Its low fecundity, high habitat specialization, and sensitivity to human disturbances, along with the high level of threat to its natural grassland habitat in the Brazilian Cerrado, makes this a potentially threatened snake. Knowledge of its biology is fundamental to conserving and managing this species. Resumo Apresentamos informações sobre uso de habitat, atividade, dimorfismo sexual, reprodução e dieta da cotiarinha (Bothrops itapetiningae), espécie endêmica do Cerrado Brasileiro. O uso de habitat foi estudado com base em diversas técnicas de buscas ativas ao longo de várias áreas de Cerrado, de julho de 1997 a julho de 2000. A atividade, reprodução, dimorfismo sexual e dieta foram estudadas através da análise de espécimes depositados em diversos museus brasileiros. O padrão anual de atividades de foi inferido a partir dos registros de coleta agrupados por mês e por estação. Os espécimes foram sexados pela observação direta das gônadas, dados morfológicos foram registrados para analisar o dimorfismo sexual. O ciclo reprodutivo da espécie foi estudado através da análise do número de folículos vitelogênicos e não vitelogênicos, óvulos e embriões por mês. Informações sobre dieta foi obtida por dissecção do estômago e trato digestivo. A espécie é especialista em habitat, associada a campos abertos de planalto e é ativa mais frequentemente durante a estação chuvosa (outubro a março). Os machos têm caudas mais longas, enquanto que as fêmeas têm cabeças maiores. O ciclo reprodutivo é sazonal com nascimentos (5,8 ± 2,9 embriões) ocorrendo durante a estação chuvosa. A dieta é generalista, mas mamíferos são itens importantes na dieta de ambos os sexos e classes etárias. Bothrops itapetiningae possui baixa fecundidade, alta especialização habitat e alta sensibilidade a distúrbios humanos. Juntamente com o alto nível de ameaça de seus habitats naturais, torna-se uma prioridade conhecer melhor sua biologia para o seu manejo e conservação.