28 research outputs found
CONTRIBUTIONS OF MONITORING AND RESCUE DATA TO THE DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES OF BRAZILIAN HERPETOFAUNA
Get PDFOur planet's biodiversity remains largely unexplored, highlighting the need for effective biodiversity management and conservation strategies. This study investigates the role of fauna monitoring and rescue data on the discovery of new herpetofauna species in Brazilian biomes. By analyzing a comprehensive database of published literature on reptiles and amphibians in Brazil, the study evaluated the influence of data from fauna studies within the scope of environmental licensing in the description of species, examining temporal variations and espionage in the discovery of species, inspired by activities associated with the description of new species. Descriptive statistics, mechanical analysis and spatial mapping techniques were employed to analyze the collected data. Our findings clearly demonstrate the importance of this information in expanding knowledge of herpetofauna biodiversity, informing conservation strategies, and supporting ecosystem management and policy decisions. The study revealed a significant increase in the number of published studies on amphibians and reptiles over the years. Positive correlations between the number of species described and the years of publication were observed for both groups. Fauna monitoring and rescue activities also contribute to the description of species, although they represent a small percentage of the total known species in Brazil. The year 2018 stood out as the year with the highest number of species of species, and environmental impact studies played a significant role in the discovery of new species. Amphibians had a greater number of described species than reptiles, with emphasis on the Amphisbaenidae family among reptiles. The Amazon Forest and Cerrado were identified as regions with high species diversity. The Hylidae family was the most representative among amphibians, while Amphisbaenidae dominated among reptiles. Hydroelectric dams and road construction were the main types of projects associated with the description of new species. Wildlife rescue activities have also played a significant role in species discovery. This article emphasizes the importance of knowing the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles in Brazil and highlights the increase in research and publications on these groups. The inclusion of fauna monitoring and rescue data has led to the discovery and description of new species, hopeful for scientific research and conservation planning. Preserving natural areas and implementing habitat-specific conservation measures are crucial to protecting these species. Ongoing monitoring, research and collaboration among stakeholders are essential for species identification, conservation assessment and preservation of Brazil's wildlife diversity
Ancestral reconstruction of reproductive traits shows no tendency toward terrestriality in leptodactyline frogs
Get PDFSistemática e biogeografia do grupo Rhinella marina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anura: Bufonidae)
No full textTese (doutorado)-Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, 2008.O presente trabalho versa sobre a sistemática e biogeografia das espécies do grupo Rhinella marina (Linnaeus, 1758). O projeto de tese foi dividido em três capítulos. O primeiro capítulo apresenta a descrição de duas novas espécies do grupo de estudo com ocorrência na região central do Brasil e aborda discussões acerca de sua taxonomia. O segundo capítulo aborda as relações de parentesco (filogenia) das espécies do grupo R. marina utilizando a evidência total (caracteres de secreção cutânea, moleculares e morfológicos) e métodos cladísticos (parcimônia e análise Bayesiana). Uma análise sobre variação populacional, individual, sazonal e sexual demonstrou não haver alto grau de polimorfismos nos caracteres de secreção cutânea para a filogenia do grupo em estudo. Os caracteres forneceram uma boa quantidade de informação para a resolução das relações de parentesco e o grupo interno foi considerado monofilético. Foram feitas várias discussões acerca da contribuição de cada grupo de caracter (partição) para a filogenia do grupo de sapos de estudo. Parece haver certa incongruência nos sinais filogenéticos fornecidos por cada um dos grupos de caracteres. Análise de datação molecular utilizando-se o relógio molecular relaxado e calibração por fósseis indica que o grupo R. marina é bem recente, sendo que seu ancestral originou-se há cerca de 8,5 milhões de anos, no final do Mioceno irradiando até o Quaternário. Uma combinação de fatores geológicos, climáticos e requerimentos fisiológicos podem explicar a presente distribuição das espécies (cenário biogeográfico) do grupo no tempo e espaço. Análises de áreas ancestrais indicam que o grupo de estudo teria se originado no escudo central brasileiro e, posteriormente irradiado para outras áreas do Neotrópico, principalmente por padrões de dispersão. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis research aims the study of sistematics and biogeography of the species in Rhinella marina group (Linnacus, 1758). The present dissertation was structured in three chapters. The first chapter presents the description of two new species, throughout central Brazil, and also focuses discussions about the taxonomy of the group. The second chapter investigated relationships (phy logeny) of the species in R. marina group using the total evidence (cutaneous secretions, molecular, and morphological characters), and cladistic methods (maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis). An analysis of populational, individual, seasonal, and sexual variation proved that the cutaneous secretions characters seem not to have polymorphisms among the species studied. The characters provided a good number of information to resolve the relationships of the ingroup species, considered monophyletic. Discussions related to the contribution to phylogeny of cach dataset (partition) were carried out. There is some incongruence among the characters sampled (cutaneous secretions, molecular, and morphological characters). Analyses of times of divergence using relaxed molecular clock, and fossils calibration indicate that the R. marina group is recente, and that it's most recent ancestral originated about 8.5 million years, in Miocene irradiating until the Quaternary. A combination of factors involving geological, climatic, and physiological requeriments could explain the present time species distribution (biogeographic scenario) in time and space. Ancestral analyses also indicate that the R. marina group originated in Brazilian central shield and, lately irradiated to other neotropic areas, mainly by dispersion
Ameerega berohoka Vaz-Silva & Maciel, 2011, sp. nov.
No full textAmeerega berohoka sp. nov. (Figs. 1–2) Allobates femoralis (non Boulenger, 1884)— Silva Jr. et al. 2007: 1081 Epipedobates femoralis (non Boulenger, 1884)— Souza et al. 2001: 270 Holotype. Brazil, State of Goiás, Arenópolis Municipality (16 o 26 ' 41 "S, 51 o 23 ' 37 "W, 416 m above sea level), MNRJ 67263, adult male, Sheila P. Andrade and Edmar P. Vitor col., 22 February 2010. Paratypes. MNRJ 67262, MNRJ 67264 and MNRJ 67265, three adult males, collected along with the holotype; State of Goiás, Arenópolis Municipality, CEPB 6954, CEPB 6955, two adult males, 27 September 2005, CEPB 6956 − 59, four adult males, and CEPB 6960, adult female, Ariramba Faunal Rescue Team col., November 2006; State of Goiás, Mineiros Municipality, ZUFG 4043−4044, two adult males, Alessandro R. de Morais, Luciana Signorelli and Rogério P. Bastos col., 0 9 November 2008. Diagnosis. A member of the Ameerega genus based on the combination of characters proposed by Grant et al. (2006) and Lötters et al. (2007) such as dorsal skin slightly granular; finger I> finger II when adpressed; toe and finger web absent and presence of bright flash marks; and absence of ventrolateral line. The new species is defined by the combination of: (1) a medium sized species (adult SVL 15.5–24.3 mm SVL, sexes grouped); (2) snout subelliptical in dorsal view (Fig. 1 A); (3) snout rounded in lateral view (Fig. 1 C); (4) hand small (HAL /SVL= 0.2) (Fig. 1 E); (5) dark dorsum with pale spots in life (Fig. 2 A −B); (6) in life, bright-orange spots in axillae, on groin, and on medial surface of thighs (Fig. 2 B); (7) dorsolateral stripes cream to pale yellow in life (Fig. 2 A −B); (8) venter and flank with white and black reticulation (Fig 1 B); (9) tympanic annulus well visible, supratympanic fold absent (Figs. 1 C − 2 A); (10) finger discs well developed (Fig. 1 E); (11) pulses per note of the advertisement call (Fig. 3 A; Table 2); (12) genetic divergence of the 16 S rRNA fragment gene among other Ameerega species (HQ 891922; Genbank accession number) (Table 3). Comparisons with related species. Ameerega berohoka can be distinguished from A. braccata, A. flavopicta and A. boehmei by dark dorsal coloration with irregular cream spots (versus dark brown dorsum with golden, yellow or white spots in A. braccata and bright yellow spots in the two other species mentioned). It further differs from A. braccata by larger adult size and by bluish marbling on venter (versus pattern absent in A. braccata). Also differs from A. flavopicta by its smaller adult size (SVL= 21.9 mm in A. berohoka and SVL= 26.7 mm in A. flavopicta). The new species is distinguished from A. picta by smaller size of hands (HAL /SVL = 0.2 versus 0.3 in A. picta), snout sub-elliptical in dorsal view (versus truncate in A. picta) and rounded in lateral view (versus protruding in A. picta), dorsal irregular spots (versus spots absent in A. picta). Ameerega berohoka differs from A. yungicola by the absence of maxillary teeth (versus teeth present in A. yungicola, Lötters et al. 2005) and from A. hahneli and A. altamazonica by the presence of bright-orange spots in axillae, in groin and on medial surface of thighs (versus yellow in A. hahlneli and A. altamazonica, Twomey & Brown 2008). The new species is distinguishable from A. boliviana, A. picta, A. petersi and A. pulchripectus by the presence of cream to pale yellow dorsolateral stripes (versus yellowish or green in the respective taxa mentioned). It differs from A. rubriventris by its white and blue ventral coloration (versus reddish-orange in A. rubriventris). Description of holotype. Adult male, snout-vent length 19.7 mm (Fig. 1). Dorsal skin of body and hindlimbs slightly granular and dorsal skin of head, both sides of head, forelimbs, and ventral surfaces smooth (Fig. 1 A). Dorsal surface blackish (Fig. 1 A). In life and preservative, cream dorsolateral stripe present on either side of the body from tip of snout, passing over eyelid continuing towards inguinal region and cream labial stripe from tip of lower jaw to forelimbs (Fig. 1 A). Flanks black from groin to snout, ventrolaterally cream fading to white ventrally. In life and preservative, upper arm dorsally brown and ventrally cream (Fig. 1 A −B); forearm dorsally brown and ventrally white with black reticulation (Fig. 1 A −B). In life and preservative, hind limbs brown, dorsally with irregular black markings and ventrally white with black reticulation. In life, bright-orange spots present in axillae, groin and on medial surface of thighs, in preservative changed to white. In life and preservative, ventral surfaces of limbs, venter and head with coarse reticulation of irregular black lines. Gular region blackish (Fig. 1 B). In life and preservative, hands and feet dorsally brown (Fig. 1 A). In life, iris black. Oval tongue. Premaxillary and maxillary teeth absent. Vocal slits absent. Snout narrow sloping in lateral, sub-elliptical in dorsal view and truncate in ventral view. Nares situated and directed posterolaterally to tip of snout; nares visible from front and in ventral view but not in dorsal view. Canthus rostralis sloped, slightly concave; loreal region nearly vertical, slightly concave. Eye large and prominent with diameter 15 % of SVL; pupil rounded, horizontally elliptical. Tympanum circular, posterodorsally concealed, tympanic annulus well visible (Fig. 1 C); diameter less than 50 % of ED; supratympanic fold absent. Hands relatively small, length 30 % of SVL (Fig. 1 E). Relative length of adpressed fingers: II ≈ IV <I <III (Fig. 1 E). Finger discs moderately expanded, most evident in finger III (Fig. 1 E). A large, circular outer metacarpal tubercle on median base of palm (Fig. 1 E); a smaller inner metacarpal tubercle on base of finger I (Fig. 1 E); one prominent and well developed subarticular tubercle on fingers I and II, two well developed subarticular tubercles on fingers III and IV (Fig. 1 E). Hind limbs relatively short with heel reaching shoulder when adpressed forward along body Fig. 1 A −B). Shank length 47 % of SVL. Relative lengths of adpressed toes: I <II <V <III <IV (Fig. 1 D); outer metatarsal tubercle rounded and well developed (Fig. 1 D); outer metatarsal tubercle smaller than inner (Fig. 1 D); inner metatarsal tubercle with ovoid shape (Fig. 1 D). One subarticular tubercle on each toes I and II, two supranumerary subarticular tubercules on toes III and IV (Fig. 1 D). Hands and feet lacking lateral fringes and webbing (Fig. 1 D −E). No basal webbing on toes fringes. Tarsal tubercles absent (Fig. 1 D). Measurements of holotype (in mm). SVL 19.7; HL 6.8; HW 6.1; IND 2.0; END 2.7; ED 2.9; TD 1.5; HAL 6.0; THL 9.7; TBL 9.3; FL 13.7. Variation. We found interpopulational coloration variation in the reticulated pattern of dorsum and venter and the transversal spots of hindlimbs. Variation of morphological measurements between males and females are shown in Table 1. Male (N = 9) Female (N = 4) Coloration. Dorsum dark with pale reticulate spots, bright-orange spots present under axillae, dorsally over groin, and on medial surface of thighs. Dorsolateral stripes cream to pale yellow. Venter white or blueish and flanks with black reticulation. Dorsal hindlimbs light brown with dark spots (Fig. 2). The coloration of preserved specimens resembles the coloration in life. The reticulate spots of dorsum are more in life. Dorsolateral stripes are cream and the venter white with black reticulation on flanks. Advertisement call. Oscillogram and spectrogram of the advertisement of Ameerega berohoka are shown in Figure 3. Acoustic parameters of the call and comparisons to other species of the A. picta group are summarized in Table 2. The advertisement call of the new species (n = 201 recorded from one specimen) is composed of a single note and pulsed with average duration of 82.5 ms (SD = 14.2) (Fig. 3 A). The mean of the dominant frequency is 4.2 kHz (Fig. 3 B) and frequency ranges from 4.0 to 4.3 kHz (Fig. 3 B −C). The advertisement call of A. berohoka resembles those of other species in the A. picta group, mainly in dominant and frequency range (Table 2). However, some features of advertisement call (note duration and frequency range) of the new species are more similar to closely geographically Ameerega species: A. flavopicta, A. braccata, and A. picta (Table 2). The advertisement call is even more similar to A. flavopicta by a combination of parameters: note duration (82.5 ms in A. berohoka and 110 ms in A. flavopicta), frequency range frequency (4.0− 4.3 kHz in A. berohoka and 3.2−4.2 kHz in A. flavopicta), and pulses per note range (10 in A. berohoka and 6 in A. flavopicta) (Table 2). notes (ms) (kHz) A. braccata 1 65.8 1 3.5−4.2 Forti et al. (2010) A. flavopicta 6 110 6 3.2–4.2 Haddad & Martins (1988) A. picta 4 50 4 3.4–4.3 Haddad & Martins (1988) A. hahneli 6 15 6 2.5 –7.0 Haddad & Martins (1988) A. altamazonica - 70 * - 4.1−4.3 Twomey & Brown (2008) A. boehmei 1 145 Ψ 2−3 2.63. 2 Lötters et al. (2009) A. berohoka 1 82. 5 10 4. 0−4.3 Present work *Obtained from the mean of the ranges data provided by Twomey & Brown (2008). Ψ Mean note duration provided by Lötters et al. (2009). DNA barcoding. We produced an alignment of 358 base pairs. The average uncorrected p-distances of 16 S rRNA sequences of the species described herein towards the other Ameerega species analyzed range from 5.31 % to 8.10 % (Table 3). This is remarkably higher than that within - species variation, for instance, in Ameerega altamazonica (0.83 %) and A. hahneli (1.39 %). The new species is genetically most similar to A. flavopicta (ca. 5.3 %), followed by A. boehmei and A. braccata, both (ca. 6.4 %) (Table 3). Natural history. The calling male was recorded in late afternoon in cerrado sensu stricto (see Ribeiro & Walter 1998) (Fig. 4 A). In the wet season males were found calling in bare soil or partially hidden in vegetation and under rocks. The climate of Cerrado areas has two well-defined seasons characterized by wet/warm (approximately September to March) and dry/mild (approximately April to August) cycles (Ribeiro & Walter 1998). In the dry season, adults and juveniles were found active on the ground during day-time in justafluvial environments of riparian and gallery forests (Fig. 4 B). The new species is common where it occurs. Apparently the new species is adapted to open and forested areas and it also occurs in cultivated anthropic areas (associated with Brachiara). Sympatric anuran species recorded in Piranhas Municipality include Lithobates palmipes, Eupemphix nattereri, Ischnocnema sp., Rhinella schneideri, Rhinella mirandaribeiroi, Rhinella ocellata, Barycholos ternetzi, Phyllomedusa azurea, Dendropsophus minutus, D. rubicundulus, D. cruzi, D. nanus, Hypsiboas lundii, H. raniceps, H. paranaiba, Scinax fuscovarius, Trachycephalus venulosus, Physalaemus cuvieri, P. centralis, Pseudopaludicola saltica, Leptodactylus aff. latrans, L. fuscus, L. labyrinthicus, L. martinezi, L. mystaceus, L. podicipinus, Chiasmocleis albopunctata and Elachistocleis cesarii (Oliveira et al. 2010; W. Vaz-Silva, unpubl. data). Distribution. Ameerega berohoka are known to occur in western and southewestern regions in the state of Goiás (Fig. 5). The species seems to be associated with sub-basins that drain the Araguaia River. Consevation status. The areas in Cerrado are severely threatened by increasing deforestation, charcoal production, and large hydroelectric dams. As a result the Cerrado was recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al. 2000). However, most areas in Cerrado are still poorly sampled and the new species are currently recognized for only three localities. Based on this criterion we suggested considering Ameerega berohoka being ‘Data Deficient’ (DD) in IUCN Red List. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Karajás indigenous term " Berohokã ", meaning “big river”. Ameerega berohoka occurs in sub-basins related to the Araguaia River (Fig. 5). So, the specific name is in recognition of this important Brazilian river. It is used as a noun in apposition. Remarks. Souza et al. (2001) extended the distribution of the Allobates femoralis complex based on tadpoles and juveniles from the municipality of Piranhas, state of Goiás. We will not rule out that the tadpoles and juveniles found were those of A. berohoka, as we never recorded A. femoralis in the region. Silva Jr. et al. (2007) recorded what they called A. femoralis in the Basin of Caiapó River. Our comparison of voucher specimens confirmed that the specimens correspond to A. berohoka. The uncorrected p-distances analysis of the 16 S mitochondrial rRNA fragment gene revealed higher degrees of divergence among the Ameerega species than previous studies (e.g. Lötters et al. 2009). Probably, this incongruence is related to difference in the matrix size of both works. We produced an alignment of 358 base pair (excluding indels from the alignment due to ambiguous alignments) that is smaller than the analysis performed by Lötters et al. (2009) that selected (564 bp). Probably, we selected a part of the 16 S fragment relatively more variable than Lötters et al. (2009), reflecting directly in the results. Ameerega berohoka is poison frog endemic to Brazilian Cerrado biome and distinguishable from other species in the Ameerega picta group by a combination of features such as: sized; snout shape; patterns of coloration in different parts of the body; patterns of tympanic annulus and supratympanic fold; development of foot and finger discs; pulses per note of the advertisement call; and the genetic divergence of the 16 S rRNA fragment gene among other Ameerega species. The new species resembles A. picta, A. flavopicta, A. braccata, and A. boehmei by the features examined such as adult morphology, advertisement call parameters and genetic divergence. However, this arrangement may not reflect phylogenetic relationships. A phylogenetic study including all or at least most species in the A. picta group is necessary to test the monophyly and the relationships among the species in the A. picta group.Published as part of Vaz-Silva, Wilian & Maciel, Natan Medeiros, 2011, A new cryptic species of Ameerega (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from Brazilian Cerrado, pp. 57-68 in Zootaxa 2826 on pages 58-67, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20595
A new cryptic species of Oreobates (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the seasonally dry tropical forest of central Brazil
No full textVaz-Silva, Wilian, Maciel, Natan Medeiros, Andrade, Sheila Pereira De, Amaro, Renata Cecília (2018): A new cryptic species of Oreobates (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the seasonally dry tropical forest of central Brazil. Zootaxa 4441 (1): 89-108, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4441.1.
Pristimantis ventrigranulosus Maciel, Vaz-Silva, Oliveira & Padial, 2012, sp. nov.
No full text<i>Pristimantis ventrigranulosus</i> sp. nov. <p>(Figs. 1–3)</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> MNRJ 75886, an adult male, from Fazenda Macaúba (16°35’23”S; 51°47’43”W, approximately 400 m above sea level), Piranhas Municipality, State of Goiás, Brazil, collected on 18th October 2009 by Natan M. Maciel, Wilian Vaz-Silva, and Renan M. Oliveira.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes.</b> MNRJ 75887−89 and ZUFG 5893−95, six adult males, collected along with the holotype. ZUFG 5909, an adult male from the type locality, collected on 26th July 2009 by Renan M. Oliveira.</p> <p> <b>Generic and species group assignment.</b> To date, there is no identifiable morphological synapomorphy supporting the genus <i>Pristimantis</i> (Hedges <i>et al.</i> 2008). We assign the new taxon to the genus <i>Pristimantis</i> based on geography and overall similarity to the majority of species of <i>Pristimantis</i> described. Also, we assign the new species to the <i>P. conspicillatus</i> species group for having Finger I longer than Finger II, belly granular but nor aerolate, a tarsal fold, tympanic membrane distinct, and by its advertisement call composed of single pulsatile notes modulated in amplitude.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> A member of the <i>Pristimantis conspicillatus</i> group, as defined by Lynch & Duellman (1997), characterized by (see also Table 1): (1) dorsal skin coarsely shagreen with some enlarged non-queratinized granules (Fig. 1 A), larger toward flanks; venter homogeneously granular, granules small (Fig. 1 C); posterior surfaces of limbs smooth; discoidal fold conspicuous; dorsolateral folds absent; postrictal glands present; (2) tympanic membrane and annulus round, large, their length about 60% eye length (Fig. 2 B); supratympanic fold short, very prominent (Fig. 2 B); (3) head slightly longer than wide (Figs. 1 A–2A); snout acuminate in dorsal view, subacuminate in lateral view (Figs. 2 A–B); <i>canthus rostralis</i> straight in dorsal view, sharp in profile; (4) cranial crests absent (Fig. 2 A); upper eyelid covered by small granules (Figs. 1 A–2A); (5) dentigerous process of prevomers large, situated posteromedial to choanae; (6) males with subgular vocal sac, and one nuptial pad on thumb; (7) hands with long and slender fingers (Fig. 2 C), Finger 1> Finger 2 (Fig. 2 C); subarticular tubercles subconical, prominent (Fig. 2 C); supernumerary tubercles round, smaller than subarticular tubercles (Fig. 2 C); terminal discs on Fingers I, II and IV round, enlarged on Finger III, ovate to truncate (Fig. 2 C); circumferential grooves conspicuous, ungueal flap not indented (Fig. 2 C); lateral fringes and keels on fingers weak (Fig. 2 C); (8) ulnar tubercles absent; (9) tubercles on heel and tarsus absent, tarsal fold prominent (Fig. 2 D); (10) inner metatarsal tubercle ovate, prominent, outer subconical, prominent (Fig. 2 D); supernumerary tubercles absent (Fig. 2 D); (11) toes long and slender (foot length 50% SVL) (Fig. 2 D); lateral fringes or keels weak, basal webbing present (Fig. 2 D); Toe III reaching midpoint of penultimate subarticular tubercle of Toe IV (Fig. 2 D); tips of toes rounded to ovate, enlarged, ungual flap not indented (Fig. 2 D); (12) ventral coloration white with fine mottling (Fig. 1 C); posterior surface of thighs brown without light spots.</p> <p> <b>Comparisons with similar species.</b> <i>Pristimantis ventrigranulosus</i> is most similar to the east Andean species <i>P. dundeei, P. fenestratus, P. koehleri, P. samaipatae</i>, <i>P. vilarsi</i>, and <i>P. zeuctotylus</i>, and it can be distinguished from them as follows (character states for <i>P. ventrigranulosus</i> in parenthesis). The most similar species, <i>Pristimantis dundeei</i>, has granular belly, but the granules are only posteriorly present (homogeneously granular), double nuptial pad on thumb (single), shagreen dorsal skin (coarsely shagreen), dorsal flat warts (absent), finger fringes absent (finger fringes weakly developed or absent), and prominent toe fringes (weakly developed). <i>Pristimantis fenestratus</i> has smooth ventral skin (granular), shagreen dorsal skin texture (coarsely shagreen), and double nuptial pad on thumb (single). <i>Pristimantis koehleri</i> has granular ventral skin, only posterolaterally (homogeneously granular), finely shagreen dorsal skin texture (coarsely shagreen), finger fringes absent (weakly developed or absent), toe fringes absent (weakly developed), double nuptial pad on thumb (single). <i>Pristimantis samaipatae</i> has smooth belly (granular), finely shagreen dorsal skin (coarsely shagreen), finger fringes absent (weakly developed or absent), toe fringes prominent (weakly developed), ventral coloration immaculate (weakly spotted), double nuptial pad on thumb (single). <i>Pristimantis vilarsi</i> has smooth belly (granular), enlarged ovate discs on Fingers III and IV (round, moderately enlarged), lacks finger fringes (weakly developed or absent), lacks toe fringes (weakly developed). <i>Pristimantis zeuctotylus</i> has a pair of low dorsolateral folds (absent), smooth ventral skin (granular), very enlarged and ovate finger discs on Fingers III and IV (round, moderately enlarged). Two other species of the <i>P. conspicillatus</i> group inhabiting east of the Andes are <i>P. buccinator</i> (Flores & Rodríguez 1997) and <i>P. skydmainos</i> (Flores & Rodríguez 1997) but they can be readily distinguished from <i>P. ventrigranulosus</i> by having conspicuous and complete dorsolateral folds. Two other Strabomantids from the Cerrado biome, <i>Oreobates heterodactylus</i> (Miranda-Ribeiro 1937), and <i>Pristimantis crepitans</i> (Bokermann 1965), can be readily distinguished from <i>P. v e n - trigranulosus</i> by having smooth ventral skin and large and ovate external finger discs, and by lacking tarsal fold and well-developed vocal sac.</p> <p> <b>Description of holotype.</b> Dorsal skin, including the head (Fig. 1 A) and hind limbs coarsely shagreen with some enlarged non-queratinized granules, larger toward flanks; skin on sides of head and dorsal forelimbs smooth; gular region (Fig. 1 B), hind and forelimbs smooth; belly granular, granules small (Fig. 1 C). Head slightly longer than wide (head length/head width = 1.1) (Fig. 1 A and 2A). Snout truncate in dorsal view and protruding in lateral view (Fig. 2 A–B). Nostrils situated and directed posterolaterally (Fig. 2 B); nostrils visible from front and in lateral views but not in dorsal and ventral views. <i>Canthus rostralis</i> sloped and slightly concave in lateral view; loreal region nearly flat and vertical (Fig. 2 B). Tongue ovate, premaxillary and maxillary teeth indistinct, dentigerous process of prevomers large and situated posteromedial to choanae, vocal slits not visible. Eye length 16.5 % of SVL, pupil elliptical horizontally (Fig. 2 B). Tympanic membrane evident, circular, posterodorsally concealed, <i>tympanic annulus</i> well visible (Fig. 2 B), its diameter 58% smaller than that of EL; supratympanic fold present, prominent and well visible (Fig. 2 B).</p> <p>Hands relatively small, length 29% of SVL (Fig. 2 C). Relative length of adpressed fingers: II <IV <I <III (Fig. 2 C). Finger I (3.4 mm) longer than Finger 2 (3.0 mm). Discs on Finger I, II and IV moderately expanded; disc on Finger III expanded, bearing lateral fringes (Fig. 2 C). A large, heart-shaped, outer metacarpal tubercle on median base of palm (Fig. 2 C); a smaller inner metacarpal tubercle on base of Finger I (Fig. 2 C); two prominent and well-developed subarticular tubercles on each finger (Fig. 1 C). Forearm long (84 % longer than arm) and robust (80 % wider than arm). Shank length 56% of SVL. Relative lengths of adpressed toes: I <II <V <III <IV (Fig. 1 D); inner metatarsal tubercle elliptical and well developed (Fig. 2 D); outer metatarsal tubercle smaller than inner (Fig. 2 D); one subarticular tubercle on each toes I and II, two subarticular tubercules on toes III and IV (Fig. 2 D); three subarticular tubercules on toe IV. Hands lacking lateral fringes and webbing (Fig. 2 C); feet presenting webbing slightly developed between toes II −III and III −IV (Fig. 2 D). Tarsal fold present and well developed (Fig. 2 D).</p> <p> <b>Measurements of holotype (in mm).</b> SVL 24.8; HL 9.8; HW 4.4; EL 4.1; EN 3.6; IND 2.9; EE 5.5; TYH 2.4; TYL 2.8; F3 1.3; F4 1.1; FA 5.0; TL 13.9; TH 13.0; FL 11.3; T4 1.2.</p> <p> <b>Coloration.</b> In life, dorsum grayish brown with dark brown markings consisting of oblique bars beginning in the middorsal region toward to the flanks (Fig. 3). Bars also present on dorsal surfaces of the limbs, arms, fingers and toes (Fig. 3). Internal surfaces of the thighs pale brown, not barred. Inguinal region, dorsal surfaces of the thighs and hands (near to articulation radio-humerus) with orange spots. Interorbital and loreal region with dark brown bars between level of eyes and nostrils (Fig. 3). Tip of the snout white (Fig. 3). Labial and subocular dark brown vertical bars (Fig. 3). Supratympanic fold dark brown. Dorsal portion of iris golden and ventral portion dark gold (Fig. 3). Venter cream white with pale brown reticulate spots on ventral surfaces of thighs, gular region and under axillae. The coloration of preserved specimens resembles life coloration, although brown colors fade to gray and orange spots fade to grayish white.</p> <p> <b>Variation.</b> The finger discs of some individuals of type series are not expanded and lack fringes: MNRJ 75887(finger II and III, left hand); MNRJ 75886 (finger IV, left hand); MNRJ 75889 (finger I, left hand). Subcloacal granules of three individuals (MNRJ 75886, ZUFG 5893 and MNRJ 75889) are absent. The pattern of the dorsal bars is variable in some of the specimens. For variation in morphometrics see Table 2.</p> <p> <i>cillatus</i> group and the new species described. Data include ranges (first row for each species) and mean ± standard deviation in</p> <p>parentheses. * Data not available.</p> <p>Species Notes/call Call length Note length Note rate Pulses Fundamental (ms) (ms) frequency (Hz)</p> <p> <i>P. dundeei</i> 8 530 50 13.7 * 1808 − 2497</p> <p>* * * * * *</p> <p> <b>Advertisement call.</b> Acoustic parameters and comparisons to other species of the <i>P. conspicullatus</i> group are summarized in Table 3. Advertisement calls of <i>Pristimantis ventrigranulosus</i> have no harmonic structure (Fig. 4 B) and the notes are pulsed, having an average of 6.2 pulses per note (Fig. 4 A). Calls are composed by four, five, six or seven notes with dominance of five notes (±50%) (Fig. 4 A). Mean call length is 289 ± 60 ms (range, 202–411 ms) and mean note length is 43.8 ± 8.8 ms (range, 24–74 ms). Mean of the first band energy frequency is 3386.1 ± 313.7 Hz (range, 2127.2–3652.4 Hz) and mean dominant frequency 4021 ± 270.4 Hz (ranging 3451.8–4334.8 Hz). We prefer not to classify the first energy frequency as fundamental frequency because the dominant frequency is not multiple of this first frequency. The maximum intensity is released on the second frequency band, classified as dominant frequency (Fig. 4 C). In general, the calls had an ascending modulation at the beginning and the last note is the longest, with intermediate notes having similar length (Fig. 4 A). Amplitude modulation also increases at the beginning of notes and decreases toward the end. Comparisons with similar species show that advertisement call of new species is more similar to <i>P. k o e h l e r i</i> calls, but call length and dominant frequencies distinguish them (Table 3).</p> <p> <b>Natural history.</b> Adult males were found calling on bushes, litter and about 60 – 100cm above the ground after 18:30h, on the 18th October 2009. Calling were positioned nearly vertical with their heads directed toward the ground. They were found only in “Palmeiral” vegetation (<i>sensu</i> Ribeiro & Walter 1998) near to the Piranhas River. This kind of phytophysiognomy represents a secondary formation resulted of anthropogenic disturbance of an area of primary forest classified as gallery forest (<i>sensu</i> Ribeiro & Walter 1998). The actual pattern can be characterized as “Palmeiral” formed by the palm tree named “babaçú” (<i>Attalea speciosa</i> Mart.), which has a high capacity to adapt to anthropogenic environments (J. D. A. Pereira, pers. com.). Other species found at the type locality and vicinities include: <i>Ameerega berohoka</i> Vaz-Silva & Maciel 2011; <i>Barycholos ternetzi</i> (Miranda-Ribeiro 1937); <i>Chiasmocleis albopunctata</i> (Boettger 1885); <i>Dendropsophus cruzi</i> (Pombal & Bastos 1998); <i>D. minutus</i> (Peters 1872); <i>D. nanus</i> (Boulenger 1889); <i>D. rubicundulus</i> (Reinhardt & Lütken 1862 “1861”); <i>Elachistocleis cesarii</i> (Miranda-Ribeiro 1920); <i>Eupemphix nattereri</i> Steindachner 1863; <i>Hypsiboas albopunctatus</i> (Spix 1824); <i>H. lundii</i> (Burmeister 1856); <i>H. paranaiba</i> Carvalho & Giaretta 2010; <i>H. raniceps</i> Cope 1862a; <i>Leptodactylus fuscus</i> (Schneider 1799); <i>L. labyrinthicus</i> (Spix 1824); <i>Leptodactylus</i> aff. <i>latrans</i> (Steffen 1815); <i>L. martinezi</i> (Bokermann 1956); <i>L. mystaceus</i> (Spix 1824); <i>L. podicipinus</i> (Cope 1862b); <i>Lithobates palmipes</i> (Spix 1824); <i>Osteocephalus</i> aff. <i>taurinus</i> Steindachner 1862; <i>Phyllomeduza azurea</i> Cope 1862; <i>Physalaemus centralis</i> Bokermann 1962; <i>P. cuvieri</i> Fitzinger 1826; <i>Pseudopaludicola saltica</i> (Cope 1887); <i>Rhinella mirandaribeiroi</i> (Gallardo 1965); <i>R. ocellata</i> (Günther 1858); <i>R. schneideri</i> (Werner 1894); <i>Scinax fuscomarginatus</i> (A. Lutz 1925a); <i>S. fuscovarius</i> (A. Lutz 1925b); <i>Scinax</i> aff. <i>ruber</i> (Laurenti 1768); and, <i>Trachycephalus typhonius</i> (Laurenti 1758) (Oliveira <i>et al.</i> 2010; W. Vaz-Silva, unpubl. data;).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>Pristimantis ventrigranulosus</i> in known only from the type-locality: Fazenda Macaúba, Piranhas Municipality in the state of Goiás (Fig. 5). The region of Piranhas Municipality is associated with the Araguaia- Tocantins River basin, sub-basin of Caiapó River, affluent of right margin of the Araguaia River.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The Latin species epithet <i>ventrigranulosus</i> means granular belly, and refers to the feature that most conspicuously distinguishes the new species.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Traditionally, the most important character states used to group species within the <i>Pristimantis conspicillatus</i> group (sensu Lynch & Duellman, 1997), were a smooth belly, together with Finger I longer than Finger II. The first to report a slightly granular belly in members of this group were Heyer & Muñoz (1999) for <i>P. dundeei</i>. Nonetheless, <i>P. dundeei</i>, the only other species of <i>Pristimantis</i> inhabiting the dry forests formations of the Cerrado Biome, was recently removed from the <i>P. conspicillatus</i> group by Hedges <i>et al.</i> (2008), probably due to its granular belly. <i>Pristimantis dundeei</i> is now placed on the <i>P. peruvianus</i> group, a group including Andean and Amazonian species sharing a granular belly and a first finger shorter than the second, except in the case of <i>P. peruvianus</i> and <i>P. dundeei</i>. However, the granular texture of <i>P. dundeei</i> differs from the texture of members of the <i>P. peruvianus</i> group, which have a more vascularized ventral skin and larger flat “granules” that is usually referred as an aerolate belly (J. M. Padial, pers. obs.). In addition, the specimen identified by Hedges <i>et al.</i> (2008) as <i>P. peruvianus</i>, and included in their molecular phylogeny corresponds to <i>P. re i c h l e i</i> (Padial & De la Riva 2009), a species with the first finger shorter than the second and with aerolate belly. Moreover, the advertisement call of <i>P. dundeei</i> is identical in structure to the call of other members of the <i>P. conspicillatus</i> group, and characters of advertisement calls of this group have been shown to content informative phylogenetic information (Goicoechea <i>et al.</i> 2010). Therefore, given the doubtful status of the <i>P. peruvianus</i> group, and the shared call structure and most morphological characters between <i>P. dundeei</i> and other members of the <i>P. conspicillatus</i> group, including <i>P. ventrigranulous</i>, we reassign <i>P. dundeei</i> to the <i>P. conspicillatus</i> group.</p>Published as part of <i>Maciel, Natan Medeiros, Vaz-Silva, Wilian, Oliveira, Renan Manoel De & Padial, José Manuel, 2012, A new species of Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado, pp. 43-56 in Zootaxa 3265</i> on pages 44-52, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/212095">10.5281/zenodo.212095</a>
