Tiago Leite Pezzuti

A New Species of Bokermannohyla from the Espinhaço Range, State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract A new species of the Bokermannohyla pseudopseudis group similar to B. alvarengai and B. itapoty is described from Serra do Cabral, Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It is diagnosed by having a medium size (male 47.3–54.8 mm; female 44.5–48.6 mm); short snout, truncate in lateral and dorsal views; head 1.01–1.07 times wider than long; tympanum 0.08–0.09 times snout–vent length (SVL); hypertrophied forearm; well-developed prepollex; nuptial pad small, with two separate areas covered with small keratinized spiculae, on medial and lateral edge of the base of the prepollex; dorsal color pattern composed of dark gray blotches of irregular shape on a light gray background, without a central light spot, resembling lichens incrusted on rocks; dark gray perpendicular bars covering the whole dorsal surface of thighs, rarely branched, without light spots, highly contrasted with the background color; and the lack of a white stripe over the vent.

Comparative feeding kinematics of tropical hylid tadpoles

SUMMARY Anuran larvae, which are otherwise simple in shape, typically have complex keratinized mouthparts (i.e. labial teeth and jaw sheaths) that allow them to graze upon surfaces. The diversity in these structures among species presumably reflects specializations that allow for maximal feeding efficiency on different types of food. However, we lack a general understanding of how these oral structures function during feeding. We used high-speed digital imaging (500 Hz) to observe tadpoles of six species from the anuran family Hylidae grazing on a standardized food-covered substrate. Tadpoles of these species vary in the number of labial tooth rows, belong to two different feeding guilds (benthic and nektonic), and inhabit ponds and streams. We confirmed that the labial teeth in these species serve two functions: anchoring the mouth to the substrate and raking material off of the substrate. In general, tadpoles with a larger maximum gape or those with fewer labial tooth rows opened and closed their mouths slower than tadpoles with smaller gape or more tooth rows. Nektonic feeding tadpoles released each of their tooth rows proportionally earlier in the gape cycle compared with benthic feeding tadpoles. Lastly, we found some support for the idea that deformation of the jaw sheaths during a feeding cycle is predictable based on tadpole feeding guild. Collectively, our data show that anatomical (e.g. number of labial teeth) and ecological features (e.g. feeding guild) of tadpoles significantly influence how tadpoles open and close their mouths during feeding.

A New Species of the Bokermannohyla pseudopseudis Group from the Espinhaço Range, Central Bahia, Brazil (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract We describe a new species of the Bokermannohyla pseudopseudis group from Chapada Diamantina, Espinhaço Range, central Bahia, northeastern Brazil. It is characterized by the following combination of traits: male snout–vent length (SVL) 60.0 ± 3.3 (51.9–65.3 mm, n = 14); female SVL (60.2–61.6 mm, n = 2); short snout, rounded in dorsal view, rounded to truncate in lateral view; head 1.07 ± 0.04 (1.01–1.14 mm, n = 14) times wider than long; tympanum diameter 0.07 ± 0.01 (0.06–0.08 mm, n = 14) times SVL; macroscopically evident glandular tissue irregularly distributed on the mental area; hypertrophied forearm; well-developed prepollex; nuptial pad between the distal free section of the prepollex and the base of finger I; dorsum light gray to light brown (background) with irregular-shaped brown marbled blotches (without a central light spot) formed by small dark brown dots; in life, small yellow dots on upper and lower lips, eyelids, loreal and gular regions, supratympanic fold, fingers, arms, forearms, flanks, feet, tibiae, thighs, and cloacal region.

The Tadpole and Vocalizations of Hypsiboas polytaenius (Cope, 1870) (Anura, Hylidae, Hylinae)

ABSTRACT. Herein we describe the tadpole and vocalizations of H. polytaenius (Cope, 1870) from populations of the Quadrilatáro Ferrífero highlands, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, and compare them with other species of the H. polytaenius clade and closely related species in the H. pulchellus group. The tadpoles differ from those of other species of the H. polytaenius clade by the shape of the body and snout in dorsal view, the degree of attachment of the spiracle inner wall to the body, and the tooth row formula 2(1,2)/3(1). The major differences from the closely related species in the H. pulchellus group refer to oral disc characteristics. Two types of calls were identified for H. polytaenius: one composed by one pulsed note and the other composed by isolated notes. Nevertheless, a call composed by two pulsed notes, possibly a territorial call, was recorded once. Comparisons of our results with those previously published for H. polytaenius from Estação Biológica da Boracéia, state of São Paulo, show differences with important taxonomic implications. The main differences in vocalizations between species of the H. polytaenius clade rely on spectral parameters. The closely related species in the H. pulchellus group present calls with increase in the intensity and longer duration than H. polytaenius. Additionally, for the purpose of comparison of the vocalizations between species from the H. polytaenius clade, we analyzed a record available of the call of H. phaeopleura.

The Tadpole of the Microendemic, Bromeligenous Crossodactylodes itambe (Anura, Leptodactylidae) from the Endangered ‘Campo Rupestre’ of Southeastern Brazil, with Additional Comments on Natural History

Abstract. We describe the external larval morphology of the microendemic leptodactylid frog Crossodactylodes itambe from the ‘campo rupestre’ of the Espinhaço Mountain Range in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The species identity of the only previously described Crossodactylodes tadpole cannot be confirmed, making this the first description of a tadpole of known taxonomic identity for the genus. The tadpole of C. itambe differs from the previously described Crossodactylodes tadpole in total length, origin of dorsal fin, development of tail musculature, spiracle position, absence of inner wall of spiracle and shape, and direction of vent tube. Characters such as narrow lateral gaps of marginal papillae and the distinct medial serration on the oral face of the upper jaw are proposed as putative synapomorphies for the genus. Tadpoles of C. itambe occur exclusively in the axils of the rupicolous bromeliad Vriesea medusa. Observation on the natural history, eggs, and larvae are also reported.

A new species of Hatchet-faced Treefrog Sphaenorhynchus Tschudi (Anura: Hylidae) from Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil.

A new species of Sphaenorhynchus is described from the Municipality of Mariana, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is characterized by the vocal sac moderately developed, single, subgular, with longitudinal folds; white canthal and dorsolateral lines delimited below by a dorsolateral black line from the tip of snout extending beyond the eye to gradually disappearing up to the flanks; and premaxilla and maxilla almost completely edentulous, each bearing 1-5 extremely small teeth. It is most similar with Sphaenorhynchus orophilus, from which it can be distinguished by having a less robust forearm in males; glandular subcloacal dermal fold; premaxilla and maxilla almost completely edentulous; and larvae with large marginal papillae in the oral disc. The new species occurs in natural ponds over ironstone outcrops (known as canga) on flat terrain, where males call from the floating vegetation.

A New Species of the Hypsiboas pulchellus Group from the Serra da Mantiqueira, Southeastern Brazil (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract:  A new species of the Hypsiboas pulchellus group is described from the Mantiqueira range, in the Município de Rio Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We describe adults, tadpoles, and the advertisement call. The new species is morphologically similar to H. freicanecae, a species known from a few localities in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, ∼1640 km north. Adults differ from H. freicanecae in having a slender body, smaller male size, larger calcar, and hidden surfaces of thighs and feet orange in life. Tadpoles have a ventral oral disc, with labial tooth row formula 2(2)/3–4(1), with one to three narrow posterior gaps on the marginal papillae located on the oral disc emarginations. The advertisement call is composed of two nonpulsed notes with dominant frequency at the second harmonic. The species is known only from its type locality, in an unprotected area.

The tadpoles of two species of the Bokermannohyla circumdata group (Hylidae, Cophomantini)

We describe the external morphology and oral cavity of the tadpoles of Bokermannohyla caramaschii and B. diamantina respectively from the states of Espírito Santo and Bahia, Brazil. Larvae of both species are distinguished from each other by external characters such as body shape, labial tooth-row formula, number of marginal papillae, coloration and internal oral anatomy features. Some of the character states of the tadpoles of B. caramaschii and B. diamantina that are shared with all other described tadpoles of the Bokermannohyla circumdata group, such as the absence/reduction of small flaps with accessory labial teeth laterally in the oral disc, and the absence/reduction of submarginal papillae, may represent morphological synapomorphies of this species group, or at least of some internal clade. The general pattern of brownish coloration with longitudinal stripes on the caudal muscle is also common to most species of the group. We did not find character states of the oral cavity that are exclusively shared by species of the B. circumdata group, or by other groups of Bokermannohyla.

The Tadpole of Phyllomedusa itacolomi (Anura, Hylidae), with a Description of the Internal Oral Morphology

ABSTRACT. We describe the external morphology and the internal oral features of the tadpole of Phyllomedusa itacolomi (Anura, Hylidae) from Serra de Ouro Branco, Municipality of Ouro Branco, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Tadpoles were found at mid water in a temporary pool, in an open montane meadow. Phyllomedusa itacolomi (Gosners stage 37) is characterized by a tooth row formula 2(2)/3(1), labial tooth row P3 smaller than P1 and P2, marginal papillae of oral disc with wide dorsal and narrow ventral gaps. External morphological features were compared with other tadpoles of the Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis species group. Additionally, we provide information on egg clutches of P. itacolomi and P. megacephala.

A new diploid species belonging to the Odontophrynus americanus species group (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the Espinhaço range, Brazil

The Odontophrynus americanus species group is a complex of diploid and tetraploid species hardly distinguished by morphological characters. It currently consists of three allopatric diploid species (i.e. O. cordobae, O. lavillai, and O. maisuma) and one widely distributed tetraploid species (i.e. O. americanus). We herein describe a new diploid allopatric species from campo rupestre, a typical phytophysiognomy of the Espinhaço Range, Brazil. The new species is distinguishable by the diploid complement of 2n = 2x = 22 chromosomes, small to medium-sized dorsal dark brown blotches with low contrast on a light brown background, light mid-dorsal stripe absent or greatly interrupted in most specimens with yellowish coloration as the background of both head and flanks of the body, advertisement call with dominant frequency of 840-1080 Hz, pulse rate of 90.5-106.7 pulses/s, and small tadpoles (TL = 24.30-35.69 mm).