A new “Bat-Voiced” species of Dendropsophus Fitzinger, 1843 (Anura, Hylidae) from the Amazon Basin, Brazil

We describe Dendropsophus ozzyi sp. nov., a new species of treefrog, tentatively included in the Dendropsophus microcephalus Group and most notably diagnosed by the presence of pointed fingers and an advertisement call with a very high dominant frequency. The new species is known from three localities in the Brazilian Amazon forest, two on western State of Pará and one (the type locality) in eastern State of Amazonas (03°56’50”S and 58°26’36”W, 45 m a.s.l.).Fil: Orrico, Victor G. D.. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz; BrasilFil: Peloso, Pedro L. V.. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados Unidos. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; BrasilFil: Sturaro, Marcelo J.. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; Brasil. Universidade Federal Do Pará; BrasilFil: Silva Filho, Heriberto F. Da. Universidade Federal Do Pará; BrasilFil: Neckel Oliveira, Selvino. Universidade Federal Da Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Gordo, Marcelo. Universidade Federal do Amazonas; BrasilFil: Faivovich, Julián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Haddad, Celio F. B.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasi

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

A New Species of Clown Tree Frog, Dendropsophus leucophyllatus Species Group, from Amazonia (Anura, Hylidae)

We describe a new species of Dendropsophus (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae: Dendropsophini) from the Amazon river (= Rio Amazonas) basin, state of Amazonas, northern Brazil. The new taxon is included in the D. leucophyllatus group based on its phylogenetic position and on the presence of a pair of pectoral glands (a likely synapomorphy of the group). The species is distinguished from other species in the group by its color pattern and the morphology of hand and feet tubercles. In order to assess the phylogenetic relationships of the new taxon, we compiled a dataset including mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data for all but one species in the D. leucophyllatus group, plus a series of hylid outgroups. A tree-alignment (direct optimization) parsimony analysis firmly support the new species as the sister taxon of D. sarayacuensis. The monophyly of the D. leucophyllatus species group is not recovered in our analysis and the issue is discussed further.MZUSPConservation International BrazilInstituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao da Biodiversidade (ICMBio)Fundacao Djalma BatistaConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Coordenacao Zool, Ave Perimetral 1-901, BR-66077530 Belem, Para, BrazilAmer Museum Nat Hist, Div Vertebrate Zool Herpetol, Cent Pk West,79th St, New York, NY 10024 USAUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, Dept Ciencias Biol, Rodovia Ilheus Itabuna,Km 16, BR-45662900 Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 313680/2014-0CNPq: 400252/2014-7CNPq: 400770/2014-8FAPESP: 2012/12500-5FAPESP: 2013/50741-

Deep genetic divergence and paraphyly in cryptic species of <i>Mugil</i> fishes (Actinopterygii: Mugilidae)

Morphological conservatism among closely related species often results in incongruent taxonomic classification between studies, leading to disagreements about the inferred evolutionary history of the species. This is the case in Mugil fishes, where extreme morphologic conservatism contrasts with wide distributions and high genetic divergence. To understand how these morphologically similar species evolved, it is necessary to 1) test whether taxonomically recognized species are independently evolving lineages, and 2) evaluate the timing and geographic context of the diversification of these lineages. Based on three mitochondrial genes and fossil data, we estimated a comprehensive time-calibrated phylogeny for 13 out of the 16 valid species of Mugil and tested the monophyly of each species. Our results indicate that the diversification of Mugil began nearly 30 MYA, during a period of large temperature fluctuations. Mugil cephalus, M. curema and M. rubrioculus all form relatively old groups (between 5 and 10 MYA) and form paraphyletic entities. Our study reinforces the general finding that morphologically and ecologically similar species may have long and independent evolutionary histories, which must be considered when assessing the evolution and conservation of such ecologically and economically important species.</p

Phyzelaphryne miriamae Heyer 1977

Phyzelaphryne miriamae Heyer, 1977 Figures 3, 4 Holotype. Adult female (MZUSP 49894) in good state of preservation after 43 years preserved in ethanol 70 %. Examination of the specimen revealed no incongruences or noteworthy variations when compared with the description of Heyer (1977) or with illustrations provided in Hoogmoed & Lescure (1984). Amended definition. Heyer (1977) provided a common definition for Phyzelaphryne and Phyzelaphryne miriamae, assuming the genus was monospecific. Here, we amend the original definition of P. miriamae, highlighting traits that are useful for the species diagnosis relative to a new Phyzelaphryne species, described below. Phyzelaphryne miriamae is characterized by: (1) small body size, males 14.6–16.2 mm, females 19.4–20.0 mm SVL; (2) skin on dorsum shagreened; ventral surfaces smooth, finely tuberculate only on ventral surface of thighs; (3) snout subacuminate in dorsal view, protruding in lateral view; (4) tympanum round, horizontal tympanum diameter approximately 40 % the diameter of eye; tympanic annulus complete; (5) subtympanic glandular ridge present from below tympanum to approximately the insertion of upper arm; (6) three round supernumerary tubercles on palmar surface, all similar in shape and only slightly variable in maximum diameter; (7) thenar tubercle and subarticular tubercle on finger I not fused, separated by a conspicuous gap; (8) inner metatarsal tubercle and subarticular tubercle of toe I not fused, separated by a short but conspicuous gap; (9) body coloration cryptic, dorsum uniformly brown, sometimes with scattered small cream blotches or dots, more dense on dorsal surfaces of limbs and snout; venter light brown with tiny cream spots, uniformly scattered on throat, chest and abdomen; (10) iris golden copper with black reticulations and bright red pupil ring. Color in life. Based of digital photographs of specimens from PNJ and Rondônia (Fig. 4). Dorsum uniformly brown, with sparsely scattered small white dots, more densely scattered on snout. White spots sometimes present on upper and lower lips. Subtympanic glandular ridge white. Flanks brown, similar to dorsum, becoming paler towards venter. Lateral surface of snout brown, darker than dorsal snout. Ventral surfaces of throat, chest, abdomen and limbs uniformly light gray, with uniformly scattered tiny white spots. Dorsal surface of upper arm orange to yellow, peppered with brown melanophores. Dorsal surface of forearm brown with irregular yellow blotches. Dorsal surface of hand and fingers brown with irregular gray blotches. Dorsal surface of thigh and shank brown, same color as dorsum. Tarsal region brown with irregular yellow blotches. Dorsal surface of foot and toes brown with irregular gray blotches. Advertisement call. The advertisement call of Phyzelaphryne miriamae consists of two or three pulsed notes, each note formed by 2–4 pulses. Call duration 0.041 to 0.059 s. Peak frequency of first note 3.53 to 4.07 kHz and its duration 0.014 to 0.023 s. Peak frequency of second note 3.53 to 4.09 kHz and its duration 0.012 to 0.022 s. Notes within a call are separated by a short silent interval, between 0.014– 0.022 s long. It is important to note that the advertisement call described and illustrated in Heyer (1977) actually belonged to Adelophryne adiastola, later described by Hoogmoed & Lescure (1994) from the reexamination of specimens considered in Heyer (1977). Geographic distribution. Based on the new occurrences reported here for our study areas, Phyzelaphryne miriamae is distributed in the Madeira, Purus, Jaú and Solimões river basins west of Maués, Amazonas, Brazil. Its easternmost record is 3.94711° S, 58.45627° W. Its western and southernmost record is in Cachoeira do Teotônio, Porto Velho, Rondônia, 8.82861° S, 64.074722° W, but the species is known to occur along most of the upper Madeira River (Santo Antônio Energia / Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Estudos Ambientais no Rio Madeira, no trecho Cachoeira de Santo Antônio, unpublished report available at http://licenciamento.ibama.gov.br/ Hidreletricas/Santo%20Antonio%20(Rio%20Madeira)/ Relatorios/). Specimens collected in PNJ represent the northernmost record of the species, and the only record north of the Solimões/Amazon River (Fig. 1). Natural history notes. At PNJ, male Phyzelaphryne miriamae were found calling, hidden in the leaf litter. Calling activity began at dusk and continued for several hours. Males were calling but most ceased calling once approached, which made them difficult to locate. Once located, males could be easily exposed by removal of a few leaves.Published as part of Simões, Pedro Ivo, Costa, João Carlos Lopes, Rojas-Runjaic, Fernando J. M., Gagliardi-Urrutia, Giussepe, Sturaro, Marcelo José, Peloso, Pedro L. V. & Castroviejo-Fisher, Santiago, 2018, A new species of Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1977 (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from the Japurá River basin, with a discussion of the diversity and distribution of the genus, pp. 203-230 in Zootaxa 4532 (2) on pages 213-216, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4532.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/261521

A new species of Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1977 (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from the Japurá River basin, with a discussion of the diversity and distribution of the genus

Simões, Pedro Ivo, Costa, João Carlos Lopes, Rojas-Runjaic, Fernando J. M., Gagliardi-Urrutia, Giussepe, Sturaro, Marcelo José, Peloso, Pedro L. V., Castroviejo-Fisher, Santiago (2018): A new species of Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1977 (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from the Japurá River basin, with a discussion of the diversity and distribution of the genus. Zootaxa 4532 (2): 203-230, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4532.2.

Phyzelaphryne nimio Simões & Costa & Rojas-Runjaic & Gagliardi-Urrutia & Sturaro & Peloso & Castroviejo-Fisher 2018, sp. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; sp. nov. &lt;p&gt;Figures 5&ndash;10, 12&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Holotype.&lt;/b&gt; MCP 13719 (field code SCF 1846). An adult female, collected by G. Gagliardi-Urrutia, F.J.M. Rojas- Runjaic, P.I. Sim&otilde;es and S. Castroviejo-Fisher on 5 February 2017, in an area of &lt;i&gt;terra-firme&lt;/i&gt; forest on the west bank of the Juami River (Canal da Inveja), within Esta&ccedil;&atilde;o Ecol&oacute;gica Juami-Japur&aacute;, state of Amazonas, Brazil (1.75834&deg; S, 67.61532&deg; W; ~ 67 m a.s.l.).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Paratypes.&lt;/b&gt; Thirty-three adult specimens, 16 females and 18 males. Females: MCP 13683&ndash;13697, 13720 (field codes SCF 1877, 2003, 1968, 1969, 1967, 1973, 1907, 1775, 1972, 1970, 1908, 1875, 1820, 1743, 1847, 1971, respectively). Males: MCP 13698&ndash;13715 (field codes SCF 1910, 1959, 1909, 1964, 1974, 1965, 1912, 1744, 1745, 1961, 1962, 1960, 1849, 1966, 1876, 1848, 1742, 1911, respectively). All collected by G. Gagliardi-Urrutia, F.J.M. Rojas-Runjaic, P.I. Sim&otilde;es and S. Castroviejo-Fisher between 2&ndash;9 February 2017 at the same site as the holotype and at a second sampling site within EEJJ (Igarap&eacute; da Fartura), on the east bank of the middle course of the Juami River (1.96063&deg; S, 67.93694&deg; W, ~ 71 m a.s.l.).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Referred specimens.&lt;/b&gt; MCP 13716, 13717 and 13718 (field codes SCF 1913, 1963 and 1978 respectively), all juvenile specimens, collected at Igarap&eacute; da Fartura sampling site, between 6&ndash;8 February 2017, same collectors as the paratypes. MCP 13725 (field code SCF 1975), three eggs laid by female paratype MCP 13688 on 0 8 February 2017.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Etymology.&lt;/b&gt; The specific epithet &lt;i&gt;nimio&lt;/i&gt; is a Spanish masculine adjective derived from the Latin word &lt;i&gt;nimius&lt;/i&gt; (&ldquo;abundant&rdquo; or &ldquo;plentiful&rdquo;). The Spanish term keeps this meaning but has also received the additional meaning of &ldquo;insignificant&rdquo; and &ldquo;very small&rdquo; (Real Academia Espa&ntilde;ola 2014). The dual meaning of &lt;i&gt;nimio&lt;/i&gt; alludes simultaneously to the abundance of the new species in the two localities where it was collected and to its very small body size, and is used in apposition to the genus.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Generic placement.&lt;/b&gt; We assign this new species to &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne&lt;/i&gt; based on its phylogenetic position using molecular data, and on the presence of the following diagnostic phenotypic characters, proposed by Hoogmoed &amp; Lescure (1984): (1) Digits round in cross section; (2) discs on fingers and toes small, not expanded to moderately expanded, pointed at their tips; (3) discs of fingers III and IV and discs of toes I&ndash;V with distinct lateral grooves, interrupted only at the tip; (4) number of phalanges in fingers I&ndash;IV: 2-2-3-3; (5) number of phalanges in toes I&ndash;V: 2-2-3-4-3; (6) terminal phalanges in most fingers and toes with T-shaped tips; (7) tongue with a narrow anterior stem, widening into a large subcircular shape posteriorly; (8) a well-defined oblique subtympanic glandular ridge, not in contact with the tympanic annulus; (9) inguinal black spot absent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Definition.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; is characterized by: (1) small body size, males 11.2 to 15.2 mm and females 13.2 to 15.9 mm in SVL; (2) skin on dorsum shagreened; ventral surfaces smooth, finely tuberculate only on thighs; (3) snout sub-acuminate in dorsal view, protruding in lateral view; (4) tympanum round and small, horizontal diameter approximately 30 % of eye diameter; tympanic annulus concealed dorsally by a skin fold; (5) subtympanic glandular ridge present from the mouth rictus to approximately the insertion of upper arm; (6) two or three pentagonal, trapezoid or ellipsoid supernumerary tubercles of which the one at the base of finger III is much larger than the others; (7) when conspicuous, supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV is ellipsoid, fused laterally with tubercle at the base of finger III; (8) thenar tubercle fused with subarticular tubercle on finger I; (9) inner metatarsal tubercle fused with subarticular tubercle of toe I; (10) cryptic body coloration, background color of dorsum tan or dark brown with darker brown mottling and small light brown or white spots, flanks tan or dark brown with white or light cream spots, ventral surfaces of body and limbs grayish brown, darkest on chest, with white blotches or spots; (11) iris golden copper with black reticulations and a bright red pupil ring.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description of holotype.&lt;/b&gt; Adult female (SVL = 15.3 mm) in good state of preservation, with a piece of muscle ventrally cut from the right thigh and preserved as tissue sample (Fig. 5). Measurements of the holotype are in Table 1. Body robust, head wider than long (HL/HW = 0.9), head length 0.3 times the SVL. Eye length greater than distance from anterior corner of eye to nostril (EN/EL = 0.7). Nares located posterolaterally to tip of snout, directed laterally. Nares opening laterally, visible in lateral view, but not distinct in ventral or dorsal views. Internasal distance 0.3 times HW. Snout sub-acuminate in dorsal view, protruding in lateral view. Canthus rostralis distinct, sharply angular from anterior corner of the eye to nostril, rounded from nostril to tip of snout. Loreal region slightly concave. Interorbital distance only slightly greater than internasal distance (IO/IN = 1.1). Distance between orbits 1.1 times the maximum width of eyelids, when measured dorsally (Fig. 5). Tympanum round, 0.3 times maximum length of eye. Tympanum distinct to the naked eye, tympanic annulus present, well-defined, one fourth of right tympanum concealed posterodorsally (Fig. 6), one third of left tympanum concealed dorsally.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Tympanum separated from posterior corner of the eye by a distance of 0.5 times the maximum horizontal diameter of tympanum. Subtympanic glandular ridge present from the mouth rictus to approximately the insertion of the upper arm. Subtympanic glandular ridge not contacting the tympanic annulus. Anterior 25 % of tongue attached to the mouth floor, forming a narrow stem. Tongue widening into a subcircular shape posteriorly. Choanae round, positioned anteriorly to prevomerine processes and eye bulge. Dentigerous processes straight, not in contact, sharply separated, forming a transverse row, located between the choanae and the eye bulge. Vomerine teeth present, not visible under maximum (60 X) magnification but detectable by moving a wire probe along the vomerine surface.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Lengths of upper arm and forearm 0.2 and 0.3 times the SVL. Palmar tubercle round to slightly elliptical. Thenar tubercle present, oval, slightly pointed distally, fused with subarticular tubercle of finger I. Maximum diameter of thenar tubercle 62 % of maximum diameter of palmar tubercle (Fig. 7). Three supernumerary tubercles present at the bases of fingers II, III and IV. Supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger III pentagonal, about the same diameter as palmar tubercle, 1.3 times size of pentagonal supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger II. Supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV small, ellipsoid, flat and fused laterally with supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger III. Subarticular tubercles on fingers I to IV one, one, two and one respectively. Subarticular tubercles generally round, protuberant, slightly exceeding the width of phalanges. Subarticular tubercle on finger I elliptical, distally acuminate. Fingers unwebbed. Tip of Finger IV reaching the center of distal subarticular tubercle of Finger III when fingers are juxtaposed. Relative lengths of fingers: IV &lt;II = I &lt;III. Fingers with mucronate, abruptly pointed tips. Discs of fingers I and II not expanded, never exceeding the width of phalanges. Discs of fingers III and IV weakly expanded, width of discs corresponding to 1.0 and 1.1 times the width of their respective adjacent phalanges (Fig. 7).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Tibia length half SVL (TL/SVL = 0.5). Keels or tubercles absent on tarsal region. Inner metatarsal tubercle elliptical, fused with subarticular tubercle of toe I. Outer metatarsal tubercle small and round, its maximum diameter equal to 0.4 of maximum diameter of inner metatarsal tubercle (Fig. 8). Metatarsal region smooth, with no folds, ridges or additional tubercles. Toes unwebbed. Relative lengths of toes I &lt;II &lt;V &lt;III &lt;IV. Toes with mucronate, abruptly pointed tips. Discs of toes I and V not expanded, not exceeding the width of adjacent phalanges. Discs of toes II, III and IV moderately expanded, width of discs 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6 times the width of adjacent phalanges. One, one, two, three and two subarticular tubercles are present on toes I to V, respectively. Dorsal skin shagreened. Ventral skin smooth, finely tuberculate only medially on thigh.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Color of holotype in preservative.&lt;/b&gt; Dorsum tan brown with scattered irregular dark brown spots and mottling. Dorsum grayish dark brown on supraorbital region and laterally, from snout to shortly posterior to the level of upper arm insertion (Fig. 5). Flanks the same color pattern as dorsum, with large dark brown areas from tip of snout to anterior corner of the eye, from posterior corner of the eye to shortly posterior to upper arm insertion (above tympanum and upper arm insertion) and on inguinal region (Fig. 6). A transverse pale stripe is present ~ 1.5 mm posterior to upper arm in right lateral view. The same region is uniformly dark brown in left lateral view. Upper and lower lips with irregular white blotches, larger at the level of the eye than anteriorly. White blotches appear ventrolaterally, merging with color pattern of abdomen. Ventral surfaces with cream round marks on brown background. Density of melanophores variable longitudinally, rendering the brown background to be lighter on throat and abdomen and darker on chest (Fig. 5). Tongue is pale cream.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Arm pale cream with irregular dark brown blotches along their outer edge and on wrist in dorsal view. Hand pale cream, with brown areas on proximal dorsal surface of metacarpal region and on fingers. Tips of fingers brown, Finger III pale brown at tip. Ventral upper arm pale cream to translucent with a few melanophores scattered laterally. Forearm brown with pale cream blotches ventrally. Carpal and metarcarpal regions gray to translucent, with scattered brown pigments visible through skin in ventral view (Fig. 7).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Area immediately around vent uniform dark brown. A pale transverse bar flanks the dark brown area surrounding vent on the proximal region of thigh, in posterior view. Dorsal surface of thigh tan brown with dark brown marks forming incomplete transverse bars. Thigh ventrally light brown with cream round marks. Inner and outer lateral surfaces of thigh dark brown with pale cream dots. Dorsal surface of shank same color as thigh, with larger irregular dark brown blotches present medially. Ventral surface of shank uniformly tan. Dorsal surface of tarsal region and foot same color as dorsal surface of shank. Tarsal and palmar regions dark brown with a few pale cream blotches. In dorsal view, toes with an alternating dark brown/pale cream pattern. Toes uniformly dark brown in ventral view (Fig. 8).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Osteology of fingers and toes.&lt;/b&gt; From examination of cleared and stained female paratype (MCP 13720), the number of phalanges in fingers I&ndash;IV of &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; are 2-2-3-3, respectively (Fig. 9). Tips of terminal phalanges of fingers II, III and IV are T-shaped. Tip of terminal phalanx of finger I is blunt. The number of phalanges in toes I&ndash;V are 2-2-3-4-3 (Fig. 9). Tip of terminal phalanges of all toes are T-shaped.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Variation in type series.&lt;/b&gt; Variation in morphometric measurements of female and male types are presented in Table 1. SVL of females generally larger than males (female SVL: mean = 13.2 mm, range 13.2&ndash;15.9; male SVL: mean = 12, range = 11.2&ndash;15.2). SVL of three juvenile specimens for which sex could not be determined were 10.7, 10.7 and 10.5 mm. Body proportions of adults (HL/SVL, HW/SVL, HL/HW, SL/SVL, TYM/SVL, FAL/SVL, TL/ SVL) overlapping between sexes.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Canthus rostralis in cross section varying from angular to nearly rounded between anterior corner of the eye to nostril in cross section, concave in dorsal view. Vocal sac of males subgular, single and small, not extending onto chest or arm insertion (Fig. 5), sometimes forming wrinkles on the surface of throat. Vocal slits flanking tongue at its posterior third, with darkly pigmented borders. Dentigerous process slightly convex in specimens MCP 13690 and MCP 13715. One third of tympanum dorsally concealed in 65 % and one fourth of tympanum dorsally concealed in 35 % of specimens.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV conspicuous in all female specimens and in 50 % of male specimens, inconspicuous in the remaining males. When conspicuous, supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV is fused with the one at the base of finger III. Supernumerary tubercles pentagonal or trapezoid (Fig. 7).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Color in life.&lt;/b&gt; Description is based on field observations and photographs of specimens forming the type series. Coloration is variable among type specimens, but not sexually dimorphic (Fig. 10). Juvenile specimens have the same color pattern as adults.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Dorsum tan, brownish orange or brownish yellow, with variable dark brown mottling. Scattered small white dots present on dorsum in some individuals. Flanks same color as dorsum, with dark brown areas extending from behind the eye to above upper arm insertion. Large dark brown patches generally present ventrolaterally. Bright white spots present ventrolaterally on flanks and on upper and lower lips, generally more evident below the eye. Lateral bright spots whitish yellow in some individuals. Venter grayish brown, darker anteriorly. Irregular bright white spots present on all ventral surfaces, dense on throat and chest, sparse on posterior abdomen. Spots frequently with a darker grayish brown margin.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Dorsal surface of upper and forearm dark yellow with dark brown mottling, denser on forearm. Isolated bright white spots sometimes present on dorsal surface of forearm. Ventral surface of upper arm yellow to translucent. Forearm, carpal and metacarpal regions and fingers gray ventrally, gray with bright white spots dorsally.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Area immediately adjacent to vent uniform dark brown. Inner lateral surface of thigh dark brown with scattered irregular white spots, varying in shape, size and density among individuals. Dorsal surfaces of thigh and shank same color as dorsum, generally with dark brown mottling, sometimes forming irregular transverse dark brown bars. Venter of thigh grayish brown with bright white spots, same color as anterior ventral surfaces of body. Ventral surface of shank solid grayish brown. Dorsal surface of tarsal region same color as thigh and shank, with alternating transverse pale (tan brown, light brown or white) and dark brown blotches. Ventral surfaces of tarsal and plantar regions solid dark gray in ventral view. Toes with alternating transverse white and dark brown blotches ventrally. Iris is golden copper with black reticulations and a bright red pupil ring.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Natural history.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; is a very small nocturnal and hemiedaphic frog that inhabits the leaf litter of &lt;i&gt;terra-firme&lt;/i&gt; rainforests (Fig. 11) at EEJJ. None were detected in flooded forest areas or at channel or river edges. The species is very abundant at the two localities where it was collected (Canal da Inveja and Igarap&eacute; da Fartura), but can go unnoticed due to its secretive habits, small size and cryptic coloration. When leaf litter is removed and they jump to escape, they can be easily mistaken for crickets. Despite their small size their jumps can reach approximately one meter, more than 60 times their mean SVL. &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; was hardest to detect during nocturnal searches after a rain; the largest numbers of individuals were detected on dry nights. We detected a high number of specimens during our nocturnal surveys by careful removal of leaf litter using feet or sticks. &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; was more abundant in areas where the forest floor was covered by a deep layer of leaf litter, ca. 25&ndash;40 cm. At least 15 specimens were detected by leaf litter removal with a stick in about 20 minutes in an area of &lt;i&gt;ca&lt;/i&gt;. 10 m 2, near the basecamp of Igarap&eacute; da Fartura at 22:00 h on 0 8 February 2017. In spite of the abundance of this species and the great sampling effort at the two localities, no calling males were detected. At least eight of the adult females collected were ovate (MCP 13684, 13686, 13687, 13688, 13690, 13691, 13692, 13720); two or three very large eggs were evident through the translucent skin on their flanks. An amplectant couple (male MCP 13702; female MCP 13688; Fig. 12) was found in cephalic amplexus on the leaf litter at 22:10 h on 0 8 February 2017 in the vicinity of the basecamp of Igarap&eacute; da Fartura. During transport to the camp, the female laid three large eggs on the leaf litter in the transporting bag. Eggs were 3.9, 4.0 and 4.3 mm in maximum diameter and their yolk was uniformly white (Fig. 12). Juveniles were very uncommon in our sample, with only three juvenile specimens collected (MCP 13716, 13717 and 13718).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis.&lt;/b&gt; Because &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Adelophryne&lt;/i&gt; share a very similar external morphology, we compare the new species with all currently recognized Amazonian Phyzelaphryninae. Character states in species other than &lt;i&gt;P. nimio&lt;/i&gt; are described in parentheses.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; is most easily distinguished from &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne miriamae&lt;/i&gt; Heyer, 1977 by the morphology of the carpal and metacarpal ventral surfaces. &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; differs from &lt;i&gt;P. miriamae&lt;/i&gt; by the presence of three pentagonal, trapezoid or ellipsoid supernumerary tubercles (three round to elliptical supernumerary tubercles in &lt;i&gt;P. miriamae&lt;/i&gt;). Supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger III 1.3&ndash;1.4 times larger in maximum diameter than the supernumerary tubercles at the base of fingers II or IV, respectively (supernumerary tubercles only slightly variable in maximum diameter). Supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV not protuberant, sometimes inconspicuous (supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV protuberant, always conspicuous). When conspicuous, supernumerary tubercle at the base of finger IV is fused with tubercle at the base of finger III (supernumerary tubercles separated by a conspicuous gap). Thenar tubercle fused with subarticular tubercle on finger I (thenar tubercle and subarticular tubercle on finger I separated by a conspicuous gap). Inner metatarsal tubercle and subarticular tubercle of toe I fused (inner metatarsal tubercle and subarticular tubercle of toe I not fused, separated by a short, but conspicuous gap). Male &lt;i&gt;P. nimio&lt;/i&gt; generally smaller than male &lt;i&gt;P. miriamae,&lt;/i&gt; although the ranges of their SVL overlap (male &lt;i&gt;P. nimio&lt;/i&gt; = 11.2&ndash;15.2 mm; male &lt;i&gt;P. miriamae&lt;/i&gt; 14.6&ndash;16.2 mm). Female &lt;i&gt;P. nimio&lt;/i&gt; much smaller than female &lt;i&gt;P. miriamae&lt;/i&gt; (SVL range in female &lt;i&gt;P. nimio&lt;/i&gt; 13.2&ndash;15.9 mm; SVL range in female &lt;i&gt;P. miriamae&lt;/i&gt; 19.4&ndash;20.0 mm).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; differs from all Amazonian species of &lt;i&gt;Adelophryne&lt;/i&gt; in having cylindrical digits in cross section (digits flattened), by the presence of distinct, round subarticular tubercles on fingers (indistinct subarticular tubercles), by having a large subcircular tongue (tongue narrow, not expanding into a subcircular shape posteriorly) and by the presence of a small subgular vocal sac, indistinct in preserved male specimens (subgular vocal sacs large, conspicuous as skin folds, commonly extending to the level of chest or that of the upper arm insertion). It also differs in having tympanum separated from eye by a distance much less than the maximum horizontal diameter of tympanum (tympanum separated from eye by a distance equal to or slightly less than horizontal diameter of tympanum).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; differs from &lt;i&gt;Adelophryne adiastola&lt;/i&gt; Hoogmoed &amp; Lescure, 1984 in having three phalanges on finger IV (two phalanges on finger IV), in having white or cream spots on flanks (white or cream spots absent on flanks) and in having a brown dorsum with dark brown mottling and with small cream or white spots (dorsum uniformly brown).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Phyzelaphryne nimio&lt;/i&gt; differs from &lt;i&gt;Adelophryne gutturosa&lt;/i&gt; Hoogmoed &amp; Lescure, 1984 in having tips of fingers III and IV weakly expanded into discs (no discs on tips of fingers) and by venter grayish brown, darkest on