Vocalização e comentários sobre as relacões de parentesco de Hypsiboas ericae (Amphibia; Hylidae)

The vocalizations of Hypsiboas ericae (Caramaschi & Cruz, 2000) are described and new information on the external morphology and osteology of the species are presented. H. ericae presents a bony spine in the prepolex and the individuals can present green or brown dorsal color, as other species of the Hypsiboas pulchellus (Duméril & Bibron, 1841) species group. The vocalizations of H. ericae are similar to the vocalizations of Hypsiboas bischoffi (Boulenger, 1887), Hypsiboas guentheri (Boulenger, 1886), and other species in the H. polytaenius (Cope, 1870 "1869") clade of the H. pulchellus species group, but some osteological aspects are different to those found in the majority of the species of this group.As vocalizações de Hypsiboas ericae (Caramaschi & Cruz, 2000) são descritas e novas informações sobre a morfologia externa e a osteologia da espécie são apresentadas. H. ericae apresenta prepólex terminando em um espinho ósseo e os indivíduos podem ter o colorido dorsal marrom ou verde, como outras espécies do grupo de Hypsiboas pulchellus (Duméril & Bibron, 1841). As vocalizações de H. ericae são similares às de Hypsiboas bischoffi (Boulenger, 1887), Hypsiboas guentheri (Boulenger, 1886) e às de outras espécies do clado de H. polytaenius (Cope, 1870 "1869") do grupo de H. pulchellus, mas alguns aspectos de sua osteologia são muito diferentes dos encontrados na maioria das espécies do grupo de H. pulchellus.FAPES

Revisão das espécies do grupo de Bufo crucifer, com descrições de duas espécies relacionadas (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae)

The Bufo crucifer species group is revised on the basis of external morphological and morphometrical characteristics, evidencing variation in size, shape of the parotoid gland, width of the head, cranial crests, and presence or absence of yellow spots near the cloaca and hind limbs. Five species are recognized: B. crucifer Wied-Neuwied, 1821, B. ornatus Spix, 1824 (revalidated), B. henseli A.Lutz, 1934 (revalidated), B. abei sp.nov., and B. pombali sp.nov. The geographic distribution of the species is associated with the Atlantic Rain Forest and adjacent areas: B. crucifer occurs from the State of Ceará to southern State of Espírito Santo and northeastern State of Minas Gerais; B. ornatus is distributed from southern State of Espírito Santo, through the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to northern State of Paraná, and possibly in northeastern Argentina, in the provinces Misiones and Corrientes; B. henseli is found from southern State of Santa Catarina to the coast of the State of Rio Grande do Sul; B. abei sp.nov., described from Córrego Grande, Municipality of Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina, is distributed from the State of Paraná to southern State of Santa Catarina and areas of the northern State of Rio Grande do Sul; and B. pombali sp.nov., described from the Reserva Biológica de Peti, Municipality of São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, State of Minas Gerais, occurs in transitional areas between the Atlantic Rain Forest and the “cerrados” in the State of Minas Gerais. Additionally, Bufo crucifer var. pfrimeri Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926, currently in the synonymy of B. crucifer, is transfered to the synonymy of Bufo guttatus Schneider, 1799. Bufo levicristatus Boettger, 1885 is considered a species inquirenda and removed from the synonymy of any species included in the B. crucifer group. Bufo spixii Fitzinger, 1826 is transfered from the synonymy of Bufo margaritifer (Laurenti, 1768) to the synonymy of Bufo ornatus Spix, 1824.O grupo de Bufo crucifer é revisado com base em caracteres morfológicos externos e morfométricos, evidenciando variação em tamanho, forma das glândulas parotóides, largura da cabeça, cristas cefálicas e presença ou ausência de manchas amarelas próximo à cloaca e nas pernas. Cinco espécies são reconhecidas: Bufo crucifer Wied-Neuwied, 1821, B. ornatus Spix, 1824 (revalidada), B. henseli A.Lutz, 1924 (revalidada), B. abei sp.nov. e B. pombali sp.nov. A distribuição geográfica das espécies é associada à Floresta Atlântica e regiões adjacentes: B. crucifer ocorre do Estado do Ceará ao sul do Estado do Espírito Santo e nordeste do Estado de Minas Gerais; B. ornatus ocorre do sul do Estado do Espírito Santo, através dos Estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo até o norte do Estado do Paraná e possivelmente no nordeste da Argentina, nas Províncias Misiones e Corrientes; B. henseli é encontrada do sul do Estado de Santa Catarina até a região costeira do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul; B. abei sp.nov., descrita de Córrego Grande, Município de Florianópolis, Estado de Santa Catarina, está distribuída do Estado do Paraná até o sul do Estado de Santa Catarina e áreas do norte do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul; B. pombali sp.nov., descrita da Reserva Biológica de Peti, Município de São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, Estado de Minas Gerais, ocorre nas áreas de transição entre a Floresta Atlântica e os cerrados no Estado de Minas Gerais. Adicionalmente, Bufo crucifer var. pfrimeri Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926, atualmente incluída na sinonimia de B. crucifer, é transferida para a sinonimia de Bufo guttatus Schneider, 1799. Bufo levicristatus Boettger, 1885 é considerada species inquirenda e retirada da sinonimia de qualquer das espécies incluídas no grupo de B. crucifer. Bufo spixii Fitzinger, 1826 é transferida da sinonimia de Bufo margaritifer (Laurenti, 1768) para a sinonimia de Bufo ornatus Spix, 1824

Multimodal signaling in Boana albopunctata (Anura: Hylidae): reading visual and acoustic cues

Multimodal signaling in Boana albopunctata (Anura: Hylidae): reading visual and acoustic cues. The acoustic mode of communication is important for anurans, but visual communication is beginning to be considered essential for some species, genera, and families. This study focuses on visual and acoustic signals in Boana albopunctata (Hylidae: Cophomantinae) in an attempt to increase our understanding of signaling in this nocturnal Neotropical treefrog. Visual signals were assessed to determine whether they are directed toward conspecific opponents, as has already been observed for some diurnal anurans, or associated with potential morphological asymmetries. Associations between visual and acoustic signals were explored. The results suggest that males may combine visual and acoustic signals (multimodal signaling) synergistically, thereby strengthening the efficiency of information transmission. Thus, in nocturnal anuran species, visual signals may function primarily as an alerting component and multimodal signaling may be a relevant way of communication.Sinalização multimodal em Boana albopunctata (Anura: Hylidae): compreendendo os sinais visuais e acústicos. O modo de comunicação acústico é importante para os anuros, mas a comunicação visual está começando a ser considerada essencial para algumas espécies, gêneros e famílias. Ao investigar sinais visuais e acústicos, o objetivo deste estudo é a melhor compreensão da sinalização em Boana albopunctata (Hylidae: Cophomantinae), uma perereca noturna neotropical. Foi verificado se os sinais visuais são direcionados aos oponentes coespecíficos, como já observado para alguns anuros diurnos, ou se são relacionados a potenciais assimetrias morfológicas. Estudou-se também associações entre sinais visuais e acústicos. Esse estudo leva à compreensão de que os machos podem combinar sinergicamente sinais acústicos e visuais (sinalização multimodal), potencializando assim a eficiência da transmissão de informação. Conclui-se que para espécies noturnas de anuros os sinais visuais podem atuar como componentes de alerta e que a sinalização multimodal pode ser um meio relevante de comunicação

Historical dynamics of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Amazonia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The Amazon forest is known for its astonishing amphibian diversity, yet the potential distribution and underlying impacts of the most important amphibian pathogen is unknown for most of Amazonia. In this retrospective survey of preserved Leptodactylus frogs, collected over a 119 yr period, we used quantitative PCR to detect the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and performed spatial scan analyses to identify spatiotemporal clusters of Bd. We also quantified the potential effect of environmental factors on the likelihood of Bd occurrence and generated an updated suitability map for Bd in the Amazon that included our retrospective sampling. We detected Bd in lowland Amazon as early as 1935, in the state of Para, Brazil, and we found low prevalence (approximate to 3.8%) over time. We identified two statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters of Bd: a recent and narrow cluster in the Amazon River delta and a spatiotemporally broad cluster in the southern edge of Amazon and Brazilian savanna. Furthermore, we found an increase in Bd-positive samples in the southwestern Amazon after the 1990s, coinciding with reported amphibian declines in neighboring high elevation sites on Andean slopes of Peru. Spatial regressions indicated that higher human interference, higher precipitation, and lower temperatures were significant predictors of Bd occurrence. Environmental niche modeling predicted some narrow areas of suitable climates along the Amazon's periphery and generally low climatic suitability for Bd in the central Amazon; although, we found clusters of Bd-positive samples with unexpectedly high infection loads in areas of predicted low suitability. Our study indicates that accelerated human development may put Amazonian amphibians at risk from Bd introductions, and it highlights the potential need to monitor Bd dynamics near Amazonian port cities.The Amazon forest is known for its astonishing amphibian diversity, yet the potential distribution and underlying impacts of the most important amphibian pathogen is unknown for most of Amazonia. In this retrospective survey of preserved Leptodactylus fro3910954960CNQP - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)312895/2014-3405285/2013-2302589/2013-92013/50741-7302518/2013-4We thank T. S. Jenkinson, and M. F. K. Becker for feedback on the manuscriptN. Pupin, A. Mesquita, E. Garcia, D. B. Delgado T. Carvalho, P. Mourao, A. F. R. Missassi, and L. F. Moreno for help with swabbing the specimens. Christopher J. Raxworthy, Da

Redescrição de Hylodes Perplicatus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926) (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Hylodes perplicatus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926) is redescribed on basis of specimens obtained near the type- locality. The species is a member of the H. lateristrigatus species group and very similar to H. heyeri, being distinguished mainly by advertisement call and details of morphology. Descriptions of the tadpole, vocalization, and information on natural history are provided.Hylodes perplicatus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926) é redescrita com base em espécimes provenientes das imediações da localidade-tipo. Esta espécie pertence ao grupo de H. lateristrigatus e é morfologicamente muito similar a H. heyeri, sendo distingüida principalmente pela vocalização de anúncio, além de detalhes da morfologia. Descrição do girino, da vocalização de anúncio e informações sobre história natural são fornecidas

Molecular phylogenetic relationships and phenotypic diversity in miniaturized toadlets, genus Brachycephalus (Amphibia: Anura: Brachycephalidae)

Toadlets of the genus Brachycephalus are endemic to the Atlantic rainforests of southeastern and southern Brazil. The 14 species currently described have snout-vent lengths less than 18. mm and are thought to have evolved through miniaturization: an evolutionary process leading to an extremely small adult body size. Here, we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for Brachycephalus, using a multilocus approach based on two nuclear (Rag-1 and Tyr) and three mitochondrial (Cyt b, 12S, and 16S rRNA) gene regions. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using a partitioned Bayesian analysis of concatenated sequences and the hierarchical Bayesian method (BEST) that estimates species trees based on the multispecies coalescent model. Individual gene trees showed conflict and also varied in resolution. With the exception of the mitochondrial gene tree, no gene tree was completely resolved. The concatenated gene tree was completely resolved and is identical in topology and degree of statistical support to the individual mtDNA gene tree. On the other hand, the BEST species tree showed reduced significant node support relative to the concatenate tree and recovered a basal trichotomy, although some bipartitions were significantly supported at the tips of the species tree. Comparison of the log likelihoods for the concatenated and BEST trees suggests that the method implemented in BEST explains the multilocus data for Brachycephalus better than the Bayesian analysis of concatenated data. Landmark-based geometric morphometrics revealed marked variation in cranial shape between the species of Brachycephalus. In addition, a statistically significant association was demonstrated between variation in cranial shape and genetic distances estimated from the mtDNA and nuclear loci. Notably, B. ephippium and B. garbeana that are predicted to be sister-species in the individual and concatenated gene trees and the BEST species tree share an evolutionary novelty, the hyperossified dorsal plate.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse