Re-description of the external morphology of Phyllomedusa iheringii Boulenger, 1885 larvae (Anura: Hylidae), with comments on the external morphology of tadpoles of the P. burmeisteri group

Phyllomedusa iheringii is a leaf frog endemic to the Uruguayan Savanna, which reproduces in water bodies in open areas. Here, based on the lack of some informative characteristics observed on the first description of this species, we re-describe the larval external morphology of P. iheringii from localities in Brazil and Uruguay, and compared them with other species from the P. burmeisteri group. The tadpoles of P. iheringii belong to the suspension-rasper guild. The body length corresponds to approximately one-third of the total length. The body is pyriform in dorsal view and laterally triangular. The snout is rounded in a dorsolateral view. The spiracle is single and almost ventral, not forming a free tube, and sinistral. The opening of vent tube is dextral. The oral disc is anteroventral and anteriorly directed, with single ventral emargination. Marginal papillae uniseriate, interrupted in a wide dorsal gap, and with pointed tips. The labial tooth row formula is 2(2)/3(1). The third lower row is four times shorter than the others. Furthermore, the tadpoles of P. iheringii showed morphological differences in relation to other species of the P. burmeisteri group, this species seems to be smaller in average and have fewer marginal papillae in the oral discs

Widespread occurrence of the American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus\ud (Shaw, 1802) (Anura: Ranidae), in Brazil

We report new records of Lithobates catesbeianus feral populations in Brazil. Data were based on fieldwork, natural \ud history collection records, and literature and electronic database searches. Lithobates catesbeianus occurs in 130 municipalities of \ud Brazil, including 55 presented for the first time in this work. Most records are from south and southeastern Brazil in the Atlantic\ud Forest biome with climatic conditions that are favorable to the establishment of bullfrog populations. The wide and possibly \ud expanding distribution of feral L. catesbeianus populations in Brazil poses a major conservation challenge and demands research \ud on the invasion patterns.We are grateful to all the curators and researchers who provided bullfrog records: A. Camargo, A. A. Gedoz, A. F. Sabbag, A. J. S. Argôlo, B. M. Souza, C. Zank, C. E. Conte, C. F. B. Haddad, D. C. Rossa-Feres, F. Dallacorte, F. Faraco, L. F. Toledo, G. Athayde, G. Pacelli, G. M. F. Pontes, L. C. L. Lot, M. Borges-Martins, M. Napoli, M. A. Carvalho, N. Zanella, P. S. Bernarde, P. Colombo, P. V. Marinho, R. P. Bastos, R. N. Feio, R. R. Santos, S. P. Carvalho-e-Silva, S. Z. Cechin. We also thank M. Crossland for comments on the manuscript, the PARNA Itajaí staff for logistical support, as well all rural owners who authorized the samplings. IBAMA granted a collection permit for this study (Proc. 23009-1). This study was supported by IGRE Associação Sócio Ambientalista and received grants from: Fundação o Boticário de Proteção a Natureza (0835_20092), FAPESP (Proc. 2008/50928-1) and Rufford Small Grants Foundation. CB received a CNPq student fellowship and TG a CNPq grant (Proc. 476789/2009-5) and fellowship (Proc. 305473/2008-5)

Amphibian richness patterns in Atlantic Forest areas\ud invaded by American bullfrogs

The relationship between invasion success and native biodiversity is central to biological invasion research. New theoretical and analytical approaches have revealed that spatial scale, land-use factors and community assemblages are important predictors of the relationship between community diversity and invasibility and the negative effects of invasive species on community diversity. In this study we assess if the abundance of Lithobates catesbeianus, the American bullfrog, negatively affects the richness of native amphibian species in Atlantic Forest waterbodies in Brazil. Although this species has been invading Atlantic Forest areas since the 1930s, studies that estimate the invasion effects upon native species diversity are lacking. We developed a model to understand the impact of environmental, spatial and species composition gradients on the relationships between bullfrogs and native species richness. We found a weak positive relationship between bullfrog abundance and species richness in invaded areas. The path model revealed that this is an indirect relationship mediated by community composition gradients. Our results indicate that bullfrogs are more abundant in certain amphibian communities, which can be species-rich. Local factors describing habitat heterogeneity were the main predictors of amphibian species richness and composition and bullfrog abundance. Our results reinforce the important role of habitats in determining both native species diversity and potential invasibility.This study was supported by IGRE Associação Sócio Ambientalista and received grants from Fundação o Boticário de Proteção a Natureza (0835_20092) and the Rufford Small Grants Foundation. The Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico provided a student fellowship to CB and a grant (Proc. 476789/2009-5) and fellowship (Procs. 305473/2008-5, 307001/2011-3) to TG. The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo provided a grant to TG (Proc. 2012/10000-5). ICMBio granted a collection permit for this study (Proc. 23009-1). This manuscript benefited from comments by Sandra Hartz, Célio Haddad, Márcio Borges-Martins, Adriano Sanches Melo, and three anonymous reviewers. We are thankful to all rural owners who granted access to study sites and the Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí for logistical support. We also thank S. Declerck for sharing the nested MEM function, V.F. Caorsi for her help with laboratory procedures, and D. Borges-Provette for help with the literature for tadpole identification