Ricardo Belmonte-Lopes

Seven new microendemic species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from southern Brazil

Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) is a remarkable genus of miniaturized frogs of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Many of its species are highly endemic to cloud forests, being found only on one or a few mountaintops. Such level of microendemism might be caused by their climatic tolerance to a narrow set of environmental conditions found only in montane regions. This restriction severely limits the chance of discovery of new species, given the difficulty of exploring these inaccessible habitats. Following extensive fieldwork in montane areas of the southern portion of the Atlantic Rainforest, in this study we describe seven new species of Brachycephalus from the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. These species can be distinguished from one another based on coloration and the level of rugosity of the skin in different parts of their body. These discoveries increase considerably the number of described species of Brachycephalus in southern Brazil.

Three New Species of Phytotelm-Breeding Melanophryniscus from the Atlantic Rainforest of Southern Brazil (Anura: Bufonidae)

Three new species of Melanophryniscus are described from the Serra do Mar mountain range of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. All species are found at intermediate to high altitudes and share phytotelm-breeding as their reproductive strategy. The new species are distinguished from other phytotelm-breeding Melanophryniscus based on different combinations of the following traits: snout-vent length, presence of white and/or yellow spots on forearms, mouth, belly and cloaca, pattern and arrangement of warts, and presence and number of corneous spines. The discovery of these species in a rather restricted geographical area suggests that the diversity of phytotelm-breeding species of Melanophryniscus might be severely underestimated. The conservation status of these species is of particular concern, given that one of them is at risk of extinction not only due to its restricted habitat, but also because of anthropogenic disturbances.

Geographical and altitudinal distribution of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Mountains of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest can act as islands of cold and wet climate, leading to the isolation and speciation of species with low dispersal capacity, such as the toadlet species of the genus Brachycephalus. This genus is composed primarily by diurnal species, with miniaturized body sizes (<2.5 cm), inhabiting microhabitats in the leaf litter of montane forests. Still, little is known about the geographical distribution, altitudinal range, and ecological limits of most Brachycephalus species. In this study, we review the available data on the geographical and altitudinal distribution of Brachycephalus based on occurrence records compiled from literature and museums, both for the genus as a whole and separately for the three recently proposed groups of species (ephippium, didactylus, and pernix). The final ensemble dataset comprised 333 records, 120 localities, 28 described species, and six undescribed ones. Species were recorded in six relief units, the richest of which being the Serra do Mar, with 30 species. When the Serra do Mar is subdivided into three subunits, Northern, Central and Southern Serra do Mar, the number of species increase from north to the south, with records of six, nine, and 16 species, respectively. We were able to estimate the extent of occurrence of nearly half of the described species, and the resulting estimates indicate that many of them show remarkably small ranges, some of which less than 50 ha. Brachycephalus species are present from sea level to roughly 1,900 m a.s.l., with the highest richness being found between 751 and 1,000 m a.s.l. (21 spp.). The species with the broadest altitudinal range were B. didactylus (1,075 m) and Brachycephalus sp. 1 (1,035 m), both in the didactylus group, and B. ephippium (1,050 m), of the ephippium group. The broadest altitudinal amplitude for species of the pernix group was recorded for B. brunneus (535 m). The lowest altitudinal records for the pernix group were at 845 m a.s.l. in the state of Paraná and at 455 m a.s.l. in the state of Santa Catarina. The altitudinal occurrence in the pernixspecies group seems to decrease southward. Syntopy between species is also reviewed.

Taxonomy of “Mouse-colored Tapaculos” (II): An endangered new species from the montane Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia, Brazil (Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae: Scytalopus)

ABSTRACT An isolated population of tapaculos attributed to Scytalopus speluncae has been known from the mountains of southeastern Bahia state, Brazil, since the early 1990s, and a second isolated population was discovered in 1999. Morphological and bioacoustic analyses of 11 specimens and several tape recordings indicated that these populations represent a new species, in agreement with a previous molecular phylogenetic study. This species is unambiguously distinguished from its closest relatives by 4 suites of characters: (1) morphometrics–body proportions, (2) plumage color, (3) vocalizations, and (4) genetics. Using each of these character sets, separately or in combination, one can distinguish with 100% confidence the new species from its sister lineages. The new species is known from only 5 localities distributed in 2 distinct mountain ranges, 1 on the eastern slopes of the Planalto da Conquista, between the municipalities of Boa Nova and Iguaí, and another in the Serra das Lontras, ∼100 km to the southeast and only 37 km from the coast. The new species primarily inhabits undisturbed montane forest, from 660 to 1,140 m a.s.l. We estimated an area of occupancy of the species of only 5,885 ha and a density of 0.49 individuals ha−1, resulting in a total estimated population of 2,883 individuals. Forest remnants are under severe pressure from clandestine timber extraction and outright deforestation. Under IUCN criteria, this new species should be classified as “Endangered.”

Rectification of the position of the type locality of Brachycephalus tridactylus (Anura: Brachycephalidae), a recently described species from southern Brazil.

The aim of this note is to correct the geographical position of the type locality of Brachycephalus tridactylus , a recently described species from southern Brazil (Garey et al. 2012). The type locality of B. tridactylus was designated as follows: “Serra do Morato (25°04’54”S; 48°19’53”W; 900–930 m above sea level; datum WGS84), Reserva Natural Salto Morato, municipality of Guaraquecaba, state of Parana” (Garey et al. 2012). However, when we plotted this locality data on Google Earth, the type locality was placed 6.80 km to the northwest of the Serra do Morato, falling on a different mountain range (with no common name) and outside Reserva Natural Salto Morato (FGBPN 2011). We therefore performed a fieldtrip to the exact point where the type series was collected (according to a local guide who participated in the collection of specimens with which the species was described). Using a GPS device (Garmin GPSmap 60CSx) we recorded the geographic coordinates and, after plotting this point on Google Earth, we recorded the altitude. We verified that the geographical coordinates of the type locality of B. tridactylus are: 25°08’09”S, 48°17’59”W (datum WGS84).

NEST AND EGGS OF THE MARSH ANTWREN (STYMPHALORNIS ACUTIROSTRIS): THE ONLY MARSH-DWELLING THAMNOPHILID

Abstract We describe the nest and eggs of the Marsh Antwren (Stymphalornis acutirostris), a recently described species which is the only member of the Thamnophilidae restricted to marsh habitats. We conducted 1,560 hrs of nest searching in tidal marshes of southern Brazil and found 178 nests. All nests were of dry fibers, straws, and silk. Nineteen plant species were used for nest attachment. All nests had a clutch of two white eggs with several irregular brown spots scattered over the entire egg, concentrated at the middle or the largest pole. The strategy of nest attachment to vertical structures used by the Marsh Antwren was previously unknown in the Thamnophilidae.

Longevity Records and Signs of Aging in Marsh Antwren Formicivora acutirostris (Thamnophilidae)

ABSTRACT Longevity records inform demographic studies and our understanding of avian senescence evolution, yet studies on free-ranging species are rare, especially in the tropics. Here we provide minimum longevity records for the Marsh Antwren Formicivora acutirostris (Thamnophilidae), a small (9.8 g) territorial bird inhabiting tidal marshes in southern Brazil. We recorded a 16.2-year-old male and a 14.2-year-old female, both breeding before they were last seen, as well as 31 individuals between 6–10.2 years of age. There was no difference in the sex-ratio between these individuals. The oldest male was nearly 2 years older than the oldest thamnophilid recorded to date, and twice as old as the oldest recorded breeding individual. We also observed behaviors which we interpret as signs of aging, such as the isolation of the old female and her apparent indifference to her mate, and frequent territory disputes involving the old male and floater males.

Description of the Nest and Egg of an Atlantic Forest Endemic, the Black-headed Berryeater, Carpornis melanocephala (Cotingidae)

Abstract We describe the nest and egg of the Black-headed Berryeater (Carpornis melanocephala), an Atlantic Forest endemic considered vulnerable to extinction. The nest was in a montane evergreen primary forest area in a tree fork 4.2 m above the ground. It was cup shaped and constructed mainly of leaves and stems, resembling a pile of aerial leaf litter. It held just one egg that was incubated solely by the female. The male was near the nest, and inspected it once while being observed.

Development of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of the golden mussel ( Limnoperna fortunei , Mytilidae) in environmental samples

The golden mussel, Limnoperna fortunei, is among the most devastating invasive species in freshwater habitats worldwide, leading to severe environmental disturbances and economic losses. Therefore, management efforts would be greatly improved by methods that efficiently detect and quantify the abundance of the golden mussel in freshwater habitats, particularly in early stages of colonization. In this study, we describe a highly-sensitive real-time PCR assay targeting a 100-bp region of the COI mitochondrial gene of the golden mussel. The method was able to detect as little as 0.225 pg of target DNA. This assay represents an important contribution to surveillance methods, as well as to optimize field measures to contain and manage populations of the golden mussel in its introduced range.

Genetic diversity of marine oligochaetous clitellates in selected areas of the South Atlantic as revealed by DNA barcoding

Abstract. Marine oligochaetous clitellates are poorly investigated in the South Atlantic Ocean, especially along the east coast of South America. Closely related species are often difficult to distinguish based on morphology. The lack of specialists and modern identification guides have been pointed out as the main reasons for the scarcity of studies in the South Atlantic Ocean as a whole. To increase the knowledge of this group in the South Atlantic, the genetic diversity of a sample of marine oligochaetous clitellates from Brazil, South Africa and Antarctica was assessed by the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) and the generalised mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) approaches. In total, 80 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were obtained, each with ∼658 bp, estimated to represent 32 distinct putative species. ABGD established a barcoding gap between 3% and 14% divergence for uncorrected p-distances and the estimates of GMYC were largely concordant. All the clusters or putative species were genetically associated with previously known species or genera. This study thus confirms the adequacy of the COI barcoding approach combined with a genetic divergence threshold at the order of 10% for marine oligochaetous clitellates.