Identification key for anuran amphibians in a protected area in the northeastern Atlantic Forest

The identification of anuran amphibians is still a challenge in megadiverse assemblages. In the Neotropics, the Atlantic Forest harbors more than 600 anuran species, and many studies in this ecoregion report anuran assemblages surpassing 30 species. Taxonomic keys facilitate the identification of biological diversity, however only a few are available for anuran assemblages in the Atlantic Forest. Herein we present an identification key for 40 anuran species distributed across 20 genera and nine families, occurring in the Environmental Protection Area of Catolé and Fernão Velho, northeastern Atlantic Forest. Thirty-five morphological characteristics were used in the key, all of which can be easily observed in living and museum specimens. This pioneer study provides the first identification key for an amphibian assemblage in the northeastern Atlantic Forest and this baseline information acts as the starting point for the development of evolutionary and ecological research in this conservation unit

Reproductive notes and larval development of Macrogenioglottus alipioi (Anura: Odontophrynidae) from the northern Atlantic forest

Macrogenioglottus alipioi é uma espécie rara, alocada em um gênero monotípico, habitante da serapilheira de florestas da região Neotropical, com ampla distribuição no leste do Brasil. Apresentamos alguns dados reprodutivos dessa espécie, a partir de uma população encontrada ao norte do rio São Francisco, no nordeste brasileiro. Incluímos informações a respeito do amplexo, desova, cantos de anúncio e de soltura, em conjunto com a descrição do seu desenvolvimento larval. Indivíduos adultos foram observados apenas após chuvas fortes e contínuas, em poça temporária no interior da mata. Machos cantam em coro na margem da poça. O canto de anúncio consiste em uma única nota pulsátil sem diferenças significativas das demais populações da espécie, mas que prontamente difere Macrogenioglottus dos demais Odontophrynidae. O amplexo é do tipo axilar. Uma fêmea depositou 298 ovos pigmentados em um saco plástico. O girino adquire o seu maior tamanho do estágio 39, sendo o maior girino dentre aqueles das demais espécies na família. No final da metamorfose o comprimento rostro–cloacal juvenil é equivalente ao comprimento total do girino em estágio 26–27, indicando um crescimento posmetamórfico substancial até atingir a idade adulta. Também fornecemos dados dos tamanhos dos machos e fêmeas. A peculiaridade de alguns caracteres larvais e, principalmente, de alguns atributos do canto, corrobora a distinção sistemática de Macrogenioglottus.The neotropical monotypic genus Macrogenioglottus, described to enclose M. alipioi, is a forest leaf litter frog with a wide geographic distribution in eastern Brazil, despite being considered a rare species. Herein, we present some reproductive data of this species from a population of the north of the São Francisco River, Northeastern Brazil. We present information on the amplexus, egg clutch, advertisement, and release calls, along with a description of its larval development. Adults were observed only after heavy and continuous rains, in a temporary pond located inside the forest. Males call in chorus at the edge of the pond. The advertisement call consists of a pulsatile single note, with no substantial variation in relation to the other population of the species, but which promptly differs this genus from the remaining Odontophrynidae. The amplexus is axillary. One female deposited 298 pigmented eggs in a plastic bag. The tadpole reaches its larger size at Stage 39, being the largest tadpole within the family. At the end of metamorphosis, the froglet snout–vent length is equivalent to tadpole total length at stage 26–27, indicating substantial postmetamorphic growth until adulthood. Data on body size of males and females are also provided. The uniqueness of some larval traits and mainly on some call attributes supports the systematic distinction of Macrogenioglottus

Description of the Tadpole of Proceratophrys renalis (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) (Anura: Cycloramphidae)

The tadpole of Proceratophrys renalis is described based on specimens from Maceió, State of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. At stage 35 the body is slightly dorso-ventrally depressed, ovoid in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views. Oral disc is ventral with lateral emarginations, surrounded by a single row of marginal papillae with a large gap on the upper labium. Labial tooth row formula is 2(2)/3(1). The analysis of internal oral anatomy revealed two possible characters that readily distinguish P. renalis from P. boiei, supporting the recent ressurection of P. renalis. Comparisons with available descriptions of the larvae for other species in the genus are provided

Description of the Tadpole of \u3cem\u3eProceratophrys renalis\u3c/em\u3e (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) (Anura: Cycloramphidae)

The tadpole of Proceratophrys renalis is described based on specimens from Maceió, State of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. At stage 35 the body is slightly dorso-ventrally depressed, ovoid in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views. Oral disc is ventral with lateral emarginations, surrounded by a single row of marginal papillae with a large gap on the upper labium. Labial tooth row formula is 2(2)/3(1 ). The analysis of internal oral anatomy revealed two possible characters that readily distinguish P. renalis from P. boiei, supporting the recent resurrection of P. renal is. Comparisons with available descriptions of the larvae for other species in the genus are provided

The Genus \u3cem\u3eOdontophrynus\u3c/em\u3e (Anura: Odontophrynidae): A Larval Perspective

The genus Odontophrynus consists of 11 species of medium-sized frogs distributed across south and east South America. This study examines and describes the chondrocrania and oral cavities of 0. americanus, 0. maisuma, 0. carvalhoi, and 0. cu/tripes, and reviews current knowledge about the larval external morphology of the genus. Twenty-one tadpoles were cleared and double-stained for chondrocranium description and five tadpoles were dissected for analysis in a scanning electron microscope. The presence of a tectum parientale may be considered here as a putative synapomorphy of the genus. The 0. americanus and 0. cu/tripes species groups were partially differentiated by the length of the processus pseudopterigoideus, shape of divergence of the hypobranchial plates, number of postnarial papillae, and number of projections of the lateral ridge papillae. The larvae of 0. occidentalis species group, in tum, differed from others by presenting a greater total length

Revisão da distribuição geográfica de Sphaenorhynchus prasinus Bokermann, 1973 (Anura: Hylidae) no Estado de Alagoas, nordeste do Brasil

Sphaenorhynchus prasinus is a neotropical small greenish treefrog characterized by a canthal black line, dermal folds on forearms and tarsi, dermal fold on elbow and round calcar appendage, and a white dermal flap with round lateral margins on the subcloacal region. Its geographic distribution comprises southeastern and northeastern of Brazil. In this note, we rectify the previous records of S. prasinus and restablish the occurrence of the species for the state of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil based on new findings.Sphaenorhynchus prasinus é um anuro neotropical arborícola caracterizado por apresentar uma linha negra na região cantal, pregas dérmicas nos antebraços, cotovelos e tarsos, apêndices calcâneos arredondados e região subcloacal com uma aba dérmica branca e margens laterais circulares. Sua distribuição geográfica abrange o sudeste e nordeste do Brasil. No presente trabalho, nós corrigimos informações prévias sobre o registro de S. prasinus e estabelecemos a ocorrência da espécie para o Estado de Alagoas, nordeste do Brasil, a partir de novos achados.Fil: de Araujo Vieira, Katyuscia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Nascimento, Filipe Augusto. Universidade Federal de Alagoas; BrasilFil: Roberto, Igor Joventino. Universidade Federal do Amazonas; BrasilFil: Soares Tiburcio, Ingrid Carolline. Universidade Federal de Alagoas; BrasilFil: Silva Lisboa, Barnagleison. Universidade Federal de Alagoas; BrasilFil: Ávila, Robson Waldemar. Universidade Regional do Cariri; Brasi

Fixation in patients with juvenile macular disease

Purpose. The instability of fixation with central scotoma has been mainly studied in patients with age-related macular diseases (MDs). However, early macular lesions can lead to different characteristics of fixation. The aim of this work was to study fixation in patients with juvenile MD. Methods. Eye movements of 10 patients and 10 controls were monitored during fixation. Visual fields were assessed by static perimetry to determine the extent of the field defects. Eye movements were separated into saccades and drifts, with fixation stability assessed by bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA). To quantify the number and location of preferred retinal loci (PRL), the kernel density estimator and expectation maximization for mixtures of gaussians were used. Results. Patients have worse fixation stability than controls and large BCEAs resulted in more than one PRL. It was found that central field defects (10°) have negative correlation with the size of BCEA. In addition, the meridian of saccades during fixation was correlated with the meridian inter-PRL. Conclusions. Patients with juvenile MDs have large BCEAs, frequently associated with two PRL. Similar results had been found for patients with age-related MDs. Also, the meridian of involuntary saccades during fixation was found to be correlated with the location of PRLs, suggesting a useful role of these movements in alternating between them