Anuran Species Of The Salto Morato Nature Reserve In Paraná, Southern Brazil: Review Of The Species List

We provide an updated checklist of the anurans of the Salto Morato Nature Reserve (SMNR), Paraná, southern Brazil, including information on species endemism, conservation status, habitat use, and reproductive modes. We sampled the study area between February 2013 and July 2015, using Visual Encounter Surveys, totaling 700 hours of sampling effort. We supplement our primary data with secondary data (published papers and voucher specimens), and through these, we found a total of 54 anuran species representing 23 genera and 10 families. All the frogs recorded are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Although no species has been listed as Endangered on the Red Lists of Paraná state, Brazil, and the IUCN, five are classified as Data Deficient. Most of the species recorded were arboreal (55.5%), a third were terrestrial (33.3%), and the remainders were rheophilic (11.1%). We identified 18 different reproductive modes, with types 1 (lay eggs in lentic water where the tadpoles develop) and 23 (direct development of terrestrial eggs) being the most common. Our findings indicate that the SMNR currently has the greatest diversity of anuran species and reproductive modes of any area in southern Brazil. © 2016 Check List and Authors.12

Distributional range, ecology, and mating system of the Cape mole-rat (Georychus capensis) family Bathyergidae

Abstract: Interpopulation variation in life-history patterns are influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Life-history patterns have been intensely studied in the eusocial African bathyergid species, largely neglecting the solitary species. Of these solitary genera, the Cape mole-rat (Georychus capensis (Pallas, 1778)) is endemic to South Africa with a disjunct distribution across its range. Knowledge regarding this species is rudimentary; therefore, this study aimed to investigate the current distribution of the species with particular attention to common ecological variables, differences in body size between localities and sexes, as well as its reproduction and mating system. Georychus is a habitat specialist restricted to specific ecological areas. A lack of sexual size dimorphism and correlation between male testis size and number of females in the population, suggests a polygynous mating system, facilitated by the spatial distribution of the sexes. A positive relationship between male testes size and percentage of females in populations sampled suggests that larger sperm reserves (i.e., larger testes) are required in populations with a higher percentage of females. In addition, mating variables (testicular size and litter size) are linked to ecological factors (elevation, aridity, soil type, and vegetation type) that could impact mate searching, mating success, and food resources