A new species of Pseudopaludicola (Anura, Leiuperidae) from western Piauí State, Northeast Brazil

A new species of Pseudopaludicola from western Piauí State, Brazil, in the Cerrado domain is described. Pseudopaludicola parnaiba sp. nov. is a member of the genus Pseudopaludicola, on the basis of the presence of one hypertrophied antebrachial tubercle, posterolateral process of the hyoid outlined and epicoracoid cartilages slightly overlapped. The new species is characterized by an advertisement call composed of 6–46 non-pulsed notes per call and dominant frequency of 4794 ± 296 Hz, which supports an independent lineage. Additionally, the small size, body slender, toe tips knobbed with central groove, abdominal fold complete, tibio-tarsal articulation reaching the posterior border of the eye, and prepollex and prehallux composed of base and one element are character states that distinguish P. parnaiba from all the members of Pseudopaludicola. We provide its formal description with regard to external morphology, osteological characters and advertisement call.Fil: Roberto, Igor Joventino. Universidade Regional do Cariri; BrasilFil: Cardozo, Dario Elbio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Robson W.. Universidade Regional do Cariri; Brasi

The herpetofauna of the Serra do Urubu mountain range: a key biodiversity area for conservation in the brazilian atlantic forest

The Serra do Urubu mountain range is considered a key biodiversity area. It is situated in the Pernambuco Endemism Center, one of the most threatened regions of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. However, despite the high importance of this area little research on its herpetofauna has been performed. The present study presents an inventory of the herpetofauna of the region, through bibliographic review, searches in museum collections and field expeditions to the RPPNs Frei Caneca and Pedra D’Antas, in the municipalities of Jaqueira and Lagoa dos Gatos. The conservation status of the amphibians of the region is discussed. Five expeditions, between 2012 and 2013 were made. The methods employed were visual transect surveys, acoustic census and pitfall traps. We recorded a total of 46 amphibian species, belonging to nine families: Craugastoridae (3 spp.), Bufonidae (3 spp.), Ranidae (1 sp.), Hylidae (25 spp.), Leptodactylidae (8 spp.), Odontophrynidae (1 sp.), Hemiphractidae (2 spp.), Phyllomedusidae (2 spp.) and Microhylidae (1 sp.). We recorded 42 species of squamates: 16 species of lizards families Phyllodactylidae (1 sp.), Gekkonidae (1 sp.), Gymnophthalmidae (1 sp.), Polychrotidae (1 sp.), Leiosauridae (1 sp.), Tropiduridae (3 spp.), Dactyloidae (2 spp.), Diploglossidae (2 spp.), Teiidae (2 spp.), Scincidae (1 sp.), and Iguanidae (1 sp.); and 24 species of snakes: Boidae (3 spp.), Colubridae (2 spp.), Dipsadidae (13 spp.), Elapidae (2 spp.), Typhlopidae (1 sp.), and Viperidae (3 spp.). The occurrence of rare and/or threatened species such as the snakes Dipsas sazimai, Lachesis muta and Sibynomorphus sp. and the amphibians Hylomantis granulosa, Chiasmocleis alagoana, Boana freicanecae and Phyllodytes gyrinaethes reinforces the need for conservation measures at this highly threatened region of the Atlantic Forest

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

Geographic distribution and parturition of mabuya arajara Rebouças-Spieker, 1981 (Squamata, sauria, scincidae) from Ceará, northeastern Brazil

Mabuya arajara Rebouças-Spieker, 1981 has been considered an endemic species from the southern of state of Ceará, restricted to the Deciduous Dry Forests in the slopes of Plateau of Araripe (Chapada do Araripe). Here, we present an updated distributional map for the species and demonstrate that its range is not restricted as formerly believed. In addition, we had an opportunity to observe a gravid female and we describe aspects regarding parturition and number of offspring for the species

The distress call of Caiman crocodilus crocodilus (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) in western Amazonia, Brazil

Roberto, Igor Joventino, Botero-Arias, Robinson (2013): The distress call of Caiman crocodilus crocodilus (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) in western Amazonia, Brazil. Zootaxa 3647 (4): 593-596, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3647.4.

FIGURE 1 in The advertisement call of Boana freicanecae (Carnaval & Peixoto, 2004) (Anura Hylidae), an endemic and poorly known treefrog from northeastern Brazil

FIGURE 1. Color in life and advertisement call of Boana freicanecae. (A and B) Calling males (MUFAL 10855 above and MUFAL11077 below) recorded at the ESEC Murici, Municipality of Murici, State of Alagoas, Brazil. (C) Oscillogram, (D) spectrogram, black arrows indicate the energy in between the sparse harmonic bands and (E) power spectrum of a call composed of two notes (Boana_freicanecaeMurici_AL1aBSL, date 01 May 2013, local horary 22:32h, air temperature 23.4ºC, air relative humidity 92%).Published as part of Marinho, Pedro, Roberto, Igor Joventino & Lisboa, Barnagleison S., 2020, The advertisement call of Boana freicanecae (Carnaval & Peixoto, 2004) (Anura Hylidae), an endemic and poorly known treefrog from northeastern Brazil, pp. 442-446 in Zootaxa 4853 (3) on page 443, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4853.3.7, http://zenodo.org/record/441093

The advertisement call of Boana freicanecae (Carnaval & Peixoto, 2004) (Anura Hylidae), an endemic and poorly known treefrog from northeastern Brazil

Marinho, Pedro, Roberto, Igor Joventino, Lisboa, Barnagleison S. (2020): The advertisement call of Boana freicanecae (Carnaval & Peixoto, 2004) (Anura Hylidae), an endemic and poorly known treefrog from northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 4853 (3): 442-446, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4853.3.

Amphisbaena littoralis Roberto, Brito & Ávila, 2014, sp. nov.

Amphisbaena littoralis, sp. nov. Holotype (Figure 1–3 A). URCA-H 3540, an adult female collected at 8.5 km in straight line to the downtown of Guamaré municipality, state of Rio Grande do Norte (05°07’ 31.5 ’’S, 36 ° 23 ’00.8’’W), Guamaré municipality, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, by Igor J. Roberto on May 27 of 2011. Paratypes. Four adult males (URCA-H 3541 -3542, 3544, 3552), two adult females (URCA-H 3543, 3551) and six undetermined sex (URCA-H 3545-3550), all collected from June 9 th to June 25 th, by Lucas B. M. Brito between 0 5 ° 08' 30.9 '' S / 36 ° 25 ' 05.0''W, municipality of Guamaré and 0 5 ° 10 ' 31.3 '' S, 36 ° 28 ' 57.8 ''W, municipality of Macau, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Etymology. The specific epithet littoralis, a noun in apposition, means in Latin inhabitant of coastal area, referring to the presence of the species in coastal sand dunes. Diagnosis. The new species is diagnosable by snout-vent length 248.8 ± 10.9 mm SVL in males and 257.3 ± 24 mm SVL in females, six precloacal pores, 252–264 body annuli, 20–22 dorsal and 21–24 ventral segments to the midbody annulus (Table 1). Nasals in broad contact at midline, without fusion of head scales. Three supralabials, third one larger; three infralabials, second the largest. Suture between frontals two times larger than the parietal and nasal sutures. Lateral sulci present, starting on 42 th segment, no dorsal or ventral sulci. Tail long with length maximum 70mm and cylindrical, 30–34 tail annuli with autotomy on the 6 th tail annuli, rounded tip of the tail. Description of the Holotype. Adult female, body robust, snout-vent length 263 mm, tail length 41.2 mm. Head not distinct from neck, head length 6.7 mm and width 4.9 mm, being narrower than body. Snout rounded and prognathous; rostral scarcely visible in dorsal view, slightly wider than long and in contact with the nasals and first supralabials. Three pair of scales in the top of head (nasal, frontal and parietal), with sutures between parietals longer than frontal and nasals sutures. Frontal and parietal longer than wider and nasal broader than longer. Nostril on the antero-inferior portion of the nasals. Parietal pentagonal; ocular diamond-shapped, with eyes visible and located at antero-dorsal portion of ocular. Three supralabials, third one larger. One postsupralabial smallest than the third supralabial. First supralabial in contact with rostral and nasal and meeting above the frontal, the second supralabial in contact with the frontal and ocular scales, the third in contact with the ocular and second temporal. Three infralabials, second the largest; the first infralabial meeting the shymphysial and post-symphysial, the second in contact with post-symphysial and lateral genial. Symphysial anvil-shapped, post symphysial longer than wider, pentagonal shapped; lateral genials wider than longer; median genial in two rows, with two and six scales. A row of eight postmalars present, eight postgenials; 257 body annuli. Dorsal and ventral sulci absent. Lateral sulci well marked, beginning at 42 nd body annulus. There are 20 dorsal and 21 ventral segments. Tail long and cylindrical, 30–34 tail annuli with an evident autotomy on the 6 th tail annuli, tip of the tail rounded. Six rounded precloacal pores; Cloacal shield semicircular with 8 precloacal scales and 12 postcloacal scales (Figure 2). Colouration. Dorsal ground color creamy with center of segments dark brown, ventral colouration creamy, immaculate. Head creamy white with dark brown at center of scales. Tail coloration follows the same pattern as the dorsum, and the last four ventral segments on tail with center dark brown (Figure 3 A). Variation within type series. Variations in body and tail counts and morphometric variables are presented in Table 2. SVL TL Pores Annuli Segments Body Tail Dorsal Ventral A. alba 245–810 16–58 4–10 198–248 13–21 30–42 35–46 A. fuliginosa 130–450 20–75 6–10 183–220 19–30 10–13 9–13 A. ignatiana 125–188 22–25 6 255–263 32–36 16 20–22 A. littoralis sp. nov. 231–278 34–70 6 252–264 30–34 20–22 21–24 A. lumbricalis 129–156 16 2–6 225–247 20–26 12–16 16–20 A. pretrei 124–462 16–53 5–9 231–255 20–27 20–27 20–28 Distribution. Amphisbaena littoralis sp. nov. was found in two municipalities at Rio Grande do Norte state: Guamaré and Macau (Figure 4). Amphisbaena littoralis sp.nov. is found in soft sand at Restinga environments (Fig. 3 B), which corresponds with areas of direct marine influence, especially in sand dune formations at the municipality of Guamaré. The species was also found occurring in ecotonal areas of Restinga and Dense Estepic Savana (Caatinga) (sensu Veloso et al. 1991), at the municipality of Macau. This region is part of the Coastal tablelands known as “Tabuleiros” composed of the Barreiras Formation and Quaternary sediments (Suguio et al. 2011). The new species was found in sympatry with A. heathi Schmidt and Leposternon polystegum Duméril. Comparisons with other species. By possessing six precloacal pores, the new species is promptly distinguished from all congeners except 11 species: Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus, A. angustifrons Cope, A. bolivica Mertens, A. camura Cope, A. fuliginosa Linnaeus, A. heterozonata Burmeister, A. ignatiana Vanzolini, A. lumbricalis Vanzolini, A. mertensi Strauch, A. pretrei Duméril & Bribon, and A. stejnegeri Ruthven. However, nine of these species have a variable number of precloacal pores: Amphisbaena alba (4–10), A. angustifrons (3–6), A. bolivica (3–6), A. camura (3–6), A. fuliginosa (6–10), A. heterozonata (2–6), A. lumbricalis (2–6), A. mertensi (6–8), and A. pretrei (5–9) (Vanzolini 2002 a). By the distribution associated with Restinga habitat in Northeastern Brazil, Amphisbaena littoralis sp. nov. can be distinguished from A. angustifrons, A. heterozonata, A. bolivica, A. camura, A. stejnegeri, and A. mertensi, which are distributed in Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana, Paraguay and central and southeastern Brazil (Vanzolini 2002 a). Besides geographic distribution, the new species can be differentiated by having body annuli higher than 250 and tail annuli higher than 30 from A. angustifrons (tail annuli 18–26; Vanzolini 2002 a), A. bolivica (body annuli 200–231; tail annuli 18–26; Vanzolini 2002 a), A. camura (body annuli 188–206; tail annuli 14–19; Vanzolini 2002 a), A. heterozonata (body annuli 190–207; tail annuli 13–17; Vanzolini 2002 a), A. mertensi (body annuli 210–250; tail annuli 25–31; Gans 1966), A. stejnegeri (body annuli 243–247; Vanzolini 2002 a). The remaining five species (A. alba, A. fuliginosa, A. ignatiana, A. lumbricalis and A. pretrei) are distributed in Northeastern Brazil, and the key characteristics distinguishing the new species from these can be found bellow and in Table 2. The new species differs from Amphisbaena alba by possessing an autotomic site (absent in A. alba; Gans 1962), smaller snout-vent length (snout-vent length 245–810 mm in A. alba; Colli & Zamboni 1999), and by having higher body annuli and tail annuli counts (body annuli 198–248 and tail annuli 13–21 in A. alba; Gans 1962; Vanzolini 2002 a). Amphisbaena littoralis sp. nov. can be distinguished from A. pretrei by the higher number of body annuli ranging from 252–264 (body annuli 231–255 in A. pretrei; Vanzolini 2002 a), and by tail annuli higher than 30 (tail annuli 22–26 in A. pretrei; Vanzolini 2002 a). The new species also have a smaller snout-vent and attain a higher tail length (snout-vent length 124–462 mm and tail length 16–53 in A. pretrei; Gans 1965). The parietals are also longer than larger and the rostral is not visible from above in A. littoralis sp. nov., while in A. pretrei the parietals are larger than longer and the rostral are visible in dorsal view. Amphisbaena littoralis sp. nov. has a dorsal color creamy, 252–264 body annuli and 30–34 tail annuli, whereas A. fuliginosa have a checkered black and white coloration, 190–220 body annuli and 23–30 tail annuli (Vanzolini 2002 a). According to Vanzolini (1951) five subspecies of A. fuliginosa are recognized (besides some authors have been considered then as full species (see Gans 2005, Ribeiro et al. 2008): A. f. amazonica, A. f. bassleri, A. f. fuliginosa, A. f. wiedi and A. f. varia. Three of these (A. f. bassleri, A. f. fuliginosa and A. f. varia) have precloacal pores 6–10, but are distributed in the upper Amazon. The remaining two subspecies (A. f. amazonica and A. f. wiedi) have been reported in Northeastern Brazil, but have 8–10 precloacal pores (Vanzolini 1951; 2002 b). From A. lumbricalis the new species is differentiated by the body annuli higher than 250 and tail annuli higher than 30 (225–247 body annuli and 20–26 tail annuli in A. lumbricalis; Vanzolini 2002 a). The new species also have 20–22 dorsal and 21–24 ventral segments to the midbody annulus, presence of a postmalar row and have a robust body, attaining higher size 231–278 mm SVL, tail length 35–41 mm, whereas A. lumbricalis have 12–16 dorsal and 16–20 ventral segments to the midbody annulus, absence of a postmalar row, slender body, with 116– 174 mm SVL (Vanzolini 2002 a). Finally, from Amphisbaena ignatiana, the new species is separated by possessing 3 supralabials, 20–22 dorsal and 21–24 ventral segments to the midbody annulus, a row of 8 postmalar and 12 postcloacal scales (4 supralabials, 16 dorsal and 20–22 ventral segments to the midbody annulus, a row of 9 postmalar and 16 postcloacal scales in A. ignatiana; Vanzolini 1991). Also, the new species has a robust body (Figure 5), and attains higher size, the snout-vent length 231–278 mm SVL, tail length 35–41 mm and head width 4.2–5.8 mm, whereas A. ignatiana have a slender body, snout-vent length 143–188 mm, tail length 22–25 mm and head width 2.1–3.1 mm (Vanzolini 1991).Published as part of Roberto, Igor Joventino, Brito, Lucas B. M. & Ávila, Robson W., 2014, A new six-pored Amphisbaena (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from the coastal zone of northeast Brazil, pp. 167-176 in Zootaxa 3753 (2) on pages 168-173, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3753.2.6, http://zenodo.org/record/22562