Sergio Potsch de Carvalho-e-Silva

New Species of the Hyla albofrenata Group, from the States of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract Herein is described a new species of hylid frog from low elevations in the Atlantic Rain Forest, along the southern coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro and northern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The larvae and the site of reproduction are also described. It is a medium-sized species of the genus Hyla and is included in the Hyla albofrenata group by virtue of having lime green color of the body, orange-red iris without bicolored ring, voices sounding like drops of water falling into an empty bottle, and inhabiting mountain stream forests. The new species is very similar to Hyla albofrenata, from which it can be separated by its smaller size, larger calcar, length of the femur and tibia larger than the snout–vent length (SVL), by the clear coloration of the iris, morphology and coloration of the tadpole, and geographic distribution. The new species is also similar to Hyla ehrhardti from which it can be separated by having longer legs, presence of the calcar developed, presence of a supra-anal crest, color of the iris and northern distribution. It can be easily distinguished from Hyla arildae, Hyla musica, and Hyla weygoldti by possessing a curved and short supratympanic fold, by having a well-developed calcar and by its smaller SVL.

Microscopical methods promote the understanding of the integument biology of Rhinella ornata

In Rhinella ornata, the integument of different body regions was investigated using low-vacuum scanning electron and light microscopy through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, and revealed the basic structure found in other anurans. Keratinocytes formed the keratinized squamous stratified epithelium, and flask cells occurred among the epidermal superficial layer. Just below the epidermis, the dermis was subdivided into a spongious dermis and a compact dermis. Mixed and granular glands were located in the spongious dermis, and myoepithelial cells surrounded their secretory portions. The Eberth-Katschenko (EK) layer occurred as basophilic areas between the spongious and compact dermis and throughout the spongious dermis. A series of alternating layers of bundles of collagenous fibers characterized the compact dermis, being firmly attached to a thin hypodermis. Regarding the morphological features, each integument region revealed distinct structural aspects. The dorsal integument was rougher than ventral, having conical tubercles and spines upon the verrucae. In the ventral and subgular regions, the slightly elevations are visualized, tubercles were absent but some spines occurred. The pelvic integument had a non-keratinized epidermis with an irregular profile and small poorly developed elevations. In addition, the EK layer was absent, and the presence of numerous blood vessels suggests its participation in water absorption and distribution. In the parotoid gland, the epidermis was similar to the dorsal integument; except that the reticular dermis was present, and contained three exocrine glandular types. Expression of cytokeratin was evident in the basal and intermediary layer, but absent in the cornified layer. Flask cells showed strong cytokeratin labeling. Consequently, the integument had the basic morphology, but exhibits regional characteristics, which may be related to the physiology of each surface.

O osteocrânio de Proceratophrys boiei (Wied-Neuwied), P. appendiculata (Günther), P. melanopogon (Miranda-Ribeiro) e P. laticeps Izecksohn & Peixoto (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Skull bones of four Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 species sharing long dermal appendages on eyelids - P. boiei (Wied-Neuwied, 1825), P. appendiculata (Gunther, 1873), P. melanopogon (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926), and P. laticeps Izecksohn & Peixoto, 1981 - are herein studied. Proceratophrys boiei, P. appendiculata and P. melanopogon share higher lateral crests on the frontoparietals, quadratojugal corners similarly positioned in relation to the vertical level of the occipital condiles, cranial bones with granules and tubercles, and maxillaries with ventro-posterior pits, hence being considered members of a single group; P. laticeps, given the presence of temporal arcades (similar to Ceratophrys Wied-Neuwied, 1824), quadratojugal corners posterior to the vertical level of occipital condiles, wrinkled skull bones, and maxilaries without ventro-posterior pits, is nonetheless considered as a member of a distinct group.

Nova espécie de Hyla Laurenti do grupo de H. microcephala Cope (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae) do nordeste do Brasil

A new species, attributed to the group of Hyla microcephala Cope, 1886, is described. The new species is close to H. bipunctata Spix, 1824, and it is found in Quebrangulo, State of Alagoas, in Northeastern Brazil. The eggs and larvae are also described and some ecological information is added. The new species is compared with other species of the same group, and with species of closely related groups that occur in syntopy. With H. bipunctata, it shares the general form of the body, the yellow ventral coloration and the orange color of the thighs, but it is distinguished by the dorsal Paris-green coloration (beige in H. bipunctata), absence of a dorsal pattern, light red thighs, and ornamentation of the upper lip with two or three yellow stains instead of the characteristic aureolate of H. bipunctata. With H. elegans Wied-Neuwied, 1824, it also shares the general form of the body and the ventral and the thighs coloration, but it is distinguished by the smaller size, absence of a dorsal pattern and light red thighs. From H. oliveirai Bokermann, 1963, the new species is distinguished by the dorsal coloration, the ornamentation of the upper lip and larger size. From H. branneri Cochran, 1948, it differs by the presence of the stains in the upper lip (just one in H. branneri), absence of the dorsal pattern and green dorsal coloration, which is more intense. The tadpole of the new species is provided.

Seasonal Variation in Population Abundance and Chytrid Infection in Stream-Dwelling Frogs of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Enigmatic amphibian declines were first reported in southern and southeastern Brazil in the late 1980s and included several species of stream-dwelling anurans (families Hylodidae and Cycloramphidae). At that time, we were unaware of the amphibian-killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd); therefore, pollution, habitat loss, fragmentation and unusual climatic events were hypothesized as primary causes of these declines. We now know that multiple lineages of Bd have infected amphibians of the Brazilian Atlantic forest for over a century, yet declines have not been associated specifically with Bd outbreaks. Because stream-dwelling anurans occupy an environmental hotspot ideal for disease transmission, we investigated temporal variation in population and infection dynamics of three stream-adapted species (Hylodes asper, H. phyllodes, and Cycloramphus boraceiensis) on the northern coast of São Paulo state, Brazil. We surveyed standardized transects along streams for four years, and show that fluctuations in the number of frogs correlate with specific climatic variables that also increase the likelihood of Bd infections. In addition, we found that Bd infection probability in C. boraceiensis, a nocturnal species, was significantly higher than in Hylodes spp., which are diurnal, suggesting that the nocturnal activity may either facilitate Bd zoospore transmission or increase susceptibility of hosts. Our findings indicate that, despite long-term persistence of Bd in Brazil, some hosts persist with seasonally variable infections, and thus future persistence in the face of climate change will depend on the relative effect of those changes on frog recruitment and pathogen proliferation.

As espécies de Gastrotheca Fitzinger na Serra dos Órgãos, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (Amphibia: Anura: Amphignathodontidae)

A study of the anurofauna of the Brazilian rainforest in the mountain chain of Serra dos Orgaos (state of Rio de Janeiro) revealed the occurrence of three species of Gastrotheca Fitzinger, 1843: G. albolineata (Lutz & Lutz, 1939), G. ernestoi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 and G. fulvorufa (Andersson, 1911). These taxa are compared with respect to their external and cranial morphology, as well as call structure, and diagnosed as three unique species. The name Gastrotheca microdiscus (Andersson, 1910), which G. fulvorufa and G. ernestoi have been recently considered as synonyms, is not applied to either of the three species from Serra dos Orgaos, given the smaller size of the disks of fingers and toes and by the derm of the head completely involved in a faintly rugose cranial ossification in G. microdiscus, as originally described. Gastrotheca viridis Lutz & Lutz, 1939 is herein considered a synonym of Gastrotheca ernestoi.

Redescrição de Ischnocnema holti (Amphibia: Anura: Brachycephalidae)

Ischnocnema holti (Cochran, 1948) was described based on a single specimen collected in the beginning of 20th century at the Itatiaia mountain range. In this study, we present a redescription of the species based on 25 specimens (18 males and seven females) collected at the type locality. Measurements of the specimens, description of its color pattern in life, as well as aspects of its biology and reproduction are presented. Ischnocnema holti is a medium-sized species (snout-vent length from 13.5 to 31.7mm), snout shape rounded in dorsal and lateral views and digital discs well developed. Ischnocnema holti presents considerable plasticity in its morphology and coloration. This study includes I. holti in the I. lactea (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923) group and compares it with some of its components.

Taxonomic status and redescription of Flectonotus ulei (Anura: Hemiphractidae), with a key for the species of Fritziana

Based on preserved specimens from the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Flectonotus ulei Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 is resurrected from its synonymy with Flectonotus fissilis (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) and is redescribed. Analysis of osteological characters and brood pouch structure confirms that F. ulei belongs to Fritziana. The species is small for the genus (snout-vent length in males, 19.2-26.9 mm, n = 2; in females, 20.3-21 mm, n = 4) and was found in bromeliads. Flectonotus ulei is characterized by dorsal pattern consisting of interorbital pentagon or hexagon-shaped mark delimited by heavy dark line, diameter of tympanum smaller than that of disc of third digit, and a brood pouch covering the eggs dorsally except for a narrow longitudinal slit; eggs arranged in rosette.

Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Scinax trapicheiroi: distribution extension

Scinax trapicheiroi, assigned by Faivovich et al. (2005) to the group of Scinax catharinae, is a small tree frog from the coastal mountains in the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro and Marica, and also from Ilha Grande, at the municipality of Angra dos Reis, all localities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Carvalho-e-Silva and Carvalho-eSilva 1994, Rico et al. 2004, Van Sluys et al. 2006) (Figure 1). The species is identified due to its size (25-30 mm), vomerine teeth in two short, rounded, almost contiguous groups between the choanae, disks very wide and short, eyes prominent, nostrils raised, snout projecting, dorsal pattern of the adults and color of concealed surfaces deeper than related species (Lutz 1954) (Figure 2).

A New Bromeligenous Species of Fritziana Mello-Leitão, 1937 (Amphibia: Anura: Hemiphractidae) from High Elevations in the Serra Dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract Fritziana is a genus of phytotelm-dwelling frogs that inhabits bamboo and bromeliads in the southern and southeastern portions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Currently, five species are known, but the existence of undescribed species has been acknowledged. Here, we conducted a species-delimitation analysis of Fritziana using deoxyribonucleic acid sequences comprising two fragments of a mitochondrial gene (16S). The species delimitation analysis (with 16S) with Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony supported the recognition of a new species as an exclusive lineage, sister to all other Fritziana species. Bioacoustic and morphological evidence also support this finding. The new species occurs from 1166 to 2146 m above sea level and inhabits bromeliads from the National Park of Serra dos Órgãos, in the municipality of Teresópolis, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Compared with its congeners, the new species has nostrils narrowly separated, diameter of tympanum equal to or larger than diameter of disc on finger III, subarticular tubercles divided, and venter uniformly beige; advertisement call with notes composed of more than two pulses, and without the longer first pulse group.