Thiago Arnt Dorigo

Density and richness of leaf litter frogs (Amphibia: Anura) of an Atlantic Rainforest area in the Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Data on species composition, richness, and density are presented for the leaf litter frog assemblage of an area of Atlantic Rainforest at the Serra dos Orgaos mountain range, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Three sampling methods were used: plot sampling, visual encounter surveys, and pitfall traps. The local assemblage of leaf litter frogs was composed of 16 species, with the direct-developing species, Euparkerella brasiliensis (Parker, 1926), being the most abundant. The estimated density of the local leaf litter frog assemblage based on plot sampling was 17.1 ind/100 m2 and the estimated overall leaf litter frog mass was 684.2 g/ha. The estimated density of leaf litter frogs at the present study is the highest currently reported for Atlantic Rainforest areas, which reinforces the idea of higher densities of leaf litter frogs in the Neotropical Region compared to the Old World tropics.

Anurans from two high-elevation areas of Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The anurofauna inhabiting higher montane Atlantic forest areas in southeastern Brazil, which often attain heights of more than 2000 m, is still insufficiently known. In this study, we present data on anuran species composition and abundances in two high-altitude (i.e. > 1000 m) sites within the Parque Estadual dos Tres Picos (PETP), in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Field surveys were done at altitudes between 1100 and 1900 m above sea level. We recorded 35 species during our study, adding 22 records to the set of anuran species previously known to occur within the PETP. The stability of the species accumulation curve, as well as the richness estimations, showed that the sampling methodology employed and the total sampling effort were appropriate to inventory the anuran assemblages of both sites. Direct-developing frogs such as Ischnocnema parva (Girard, 1853) (at the 1100-1400 m altitude site), and Brachycephalus garbeanus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (at the 1600-1900 m altitude site) were the most locally abundant species. None of the species recorded during the study is listed as threatened, though nine of them are currently considered endemic to the state of Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, eight of the species recorded are likely restricted to high-altitude habitats. The relatively high diversity of anurans (some of them endemic to the state), the presence of species restricted to high-altitude habitats, and the occurrence of rare and presently undescribed species attest to the biological relevance of the studied areas within the PETP.

Ecological aspects of the pumpkin toadlet, Brachycephalus garbeanus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Neobatrachia: Brachycephalidae), in a highland forest of southeastern Brazil

Brachycephalus garbeanus is an aposematic toadlet, endemic to the Atlantic Forest in the mountains of the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Information regarding the ecology of species in this genus is scarce, with no information on most species, including B. garbeanus. We provide ecological information about B. garbeanus, in particular regarding microhabitat use, sexual dimorphism in body size, and feeding habits. Our study was conducted in a montane area of the Parque Estadual dos Três Picos, the largest State park in Rio de Janeiro. Most of the B. garbeanus in the study area were found on the forest floor leaf litter. Females were larger on average than males. Brachycephalus garbeanus consumed a wide array of prey, comprising exclusively invertebrates and predominantly arthropods. There were seasonal differences in the diet composition, but mites and ants were important in both wet and dry seasons.

Diet and helminths of Enyalius brasiliensis (Lacertilia, Iguania, Leiosauridae) in an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in southeastern Brazil

Our study aimed to add information about the diet and endoparasites of Enyalius brasiliensis from an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Regarding diet, E. brasiliensis consumed arthropods, with caterpillars and beetles being the most important preys. Regarding helminth parasites, overall prevalence was low (9.5%), with 238 nematodes of the genus Physaloptera found in the stomach of one specimen and one nematode of the genus Rhabdias inside the lung of another. Our results corroborate the observations of previous studies that indicate that lizards of the genus Enyalius tend to feed mainly on relatively large-bodied arthropods and to harbour depauperate endoparasite fauna.

Anurans from the “Restinga” of Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

We present a list of the anuran amphibians from “restinga” of Grumari, part of the Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari (PNMG), Rio de Janeiro municipality, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. This study was carried out from May 2009 to December 2010 using two active sampling methods: quadrant plots and acoustic/visual transects. We recorded 22 anuran species distributed in six families: Bufonidae (1 species), Craugastoridae (1), Hylidae (14), Leptodactylidae (3), Microhylidae (2) and Strabomantidae (1). The presence of endangered and endemic species evidence Grumari’s importance as an area for conservation of the “restinga” habitat remnants in Rio de Janeiro. Grumari is also one of the richest known areas in terms of amphibian species among the “restinga” areas studied to date in Brazil, second only to Mata de Sao Joao, Bahia.

Feeding habits, microhabitat use, and daily activity of Cycloramphus brasiliensis (Anura: Cycloramphidae) from the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

We analyzed the feeding habits, microhabitat use, and daily activity period of the anuran species Cycloramphus brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1864), endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest biome. The only previous studies on this species focused on the systematics and new altitudinal records. This study was conducted in a large forest remnant located in the municipalities of Guapimirim and Cachoeiras de Macacu. We captured frogs through visual encounter surveys and recorded the frequency of microhabitat types used by them, and the time of capture. Diet was analyzed in terms of number, volume and frequency of occurrence of items. Individuals of C. brasiliensis occurred in association with fast-moving rocky portions of clear freshwater rivers, indicating a rheophilic habit, and were active mainly at night. Such as most anuran species, the diet of Cycloramphus brasiliensis was mainly based on arthropods, and included Blattodea, Formicidae, and Coleoptera as most important prey items.

Diet, Diel Activity Pattern, Habitat Use, and Reproductive Effort of Hylodes nasus (Anura: Hylodidae) in One of the World's Largest Urban Parks (Tijuca National Park), Southeastern Brazil

Abstract. Hylodes nasus is a hylodid frog species that inhabits streams in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil. It is endemic to the Tijuca Massif, which includes one of the largest urban forests in the world, the Tijuca National Park, in Rio de Janeiro. We studied the diet, activity period, habitat use, and reproductive effort of H. nasus during its reproductive period. Our results showed that the species has a wide spectrum of prey items (21 categories) but feeds mainly on five prey categories (Diptera, Formicidae, Coleoptera, larvae, and other Hymenoptera). The species is diurnal and tends to present a slight decrease in activity near midday. We noted a change in microhabitat use between active (diurnal) and inactive (nocturnal) periods: active individuals mainly occupied stones, whereas inactive individuals mainly occupied low vegetation. The ovarian complement comprises a median of 88 oocytes with a mean diameter of 2.2 mm. The gathered information consists in a first approximation of the biological and ecological characteristics of the species.

New altitudinal records of the endemic species Cycloramphus brasiliensis (Anura, Cycloramphidae) from the Atlantic Rainforest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil.

were sampled in September and October, 2004 and between July 2007 and March 2010 using Visual Encounter Surveys (Crump and Scott, 1994) performed by transects, in two localities of Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil: the Estacao Ecologica Estadual Paraiso (22° 29’ S and 42° 55’ W; elevation 150-290 m) and the Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu (22° 24’ S and 42° 44’ W; elevation 40-400 m). These forested areas are approximately 9 km apart, and are made up of continuous forests, having different levels of regeneration and are composed predominantly of low montane and sub-montane tropical forest vegetation. The climate in the region is wet and warm, and annual rainfall varies from 2000 to 2500 mm. Mean annual temperature is about 24 oC (Rocha et al., 2007).We found individuals of

Behavioral responses of Trachemys dorbigni (Dumeril & Bibron, 1835) (Testudines: Emydidae) facing a potential risk of predation

Behavioral responses in front of potential predation risks are critical for survival and diverse among reptiles. Trachemys dorbigni (Duméril & Bibron, 1835) (Testudines: Emydidae) is a terrapin species of the Family Emydidae with geographical distribution along Southern South America. Here, we report behavioral responses displayed by a T. dorbigni individual facing potential risk of predation. After captured, the individual withdrawn head and limbs into the carapace and, shortly after released, it ran toward a deeper region of a pond and dig the muddy substrate through movements of its carapace and paws burying itself into the mud submerged in water. Withdrawal into the carapace, flight into water or a burrow, and similar burial behaviors occur in Testudines, but until now they were not reported in T. dorbigni. These animals might use the behavioral responses reported here when facing risks of predation, which may difficult capturing and therefore increase chances of survival.