The First Bromeligenous Species of Dendropsophus (Anura: Hylidae) from Brazil\u27s Atlantic Forest

We describe a new treefrog species of Dendropsophus collected on rocky outcrops in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Ecologically, the new species can be distinguished from all known congeners by having a larval phase associated with rainwater accumulated in bromeliad phytotelms instead of temporary or lentic water bodies. Phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data confirms that the new species is a member of Dendropsophus; our analysis does not assign it to any recognized species group in the genus. Morphologically, based on comparison with the 96 known congeners, the new species is diagnosed by its small size, framed dorsal color pattern, and short webbing between toes IV-V. The advertisement call is composed of a moderate-pitched two-note call (~5 kHz). The territorial call contains more notes and pulses than the advertisement call. Field observations suggest that this new bromeligenous species uses a variety of bromeliad species to breed in, and may be both territorial and exhibit male parental care

High Levels of Diversity Uncovered in a Widespread Nominal Taxon: Continental Phylogeography of the Neotropical Tree Frog

Species distributed across vast continental areas and across major biomes provide unique model systems for studies of biotic diversification, yet also constitute daunting financial, logistic and political challenges for data collection across such regions. The tree frog Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) is a nominal species, continentally distributed in South America, that may represent a complex of multiple species, each with a more limited distribution. To understand the spatial pattern of molecular diversity throughout the range of this species complex, we obtained DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the 16S rhibosomal gene (16S) for 407 samples of D. minutus and closely related species distributed across eleven countries, effectively comprising the entire range of the group. We performed phylogenetic and spatially explicit phylogeographic analyses to assess the genetic structure of lineages and infer ancestral areas. We found 43 statistically supported, deep mitochondrial lineages, several of which may represent currently unrecognized distinct species. One major clade, containing 25 divergent lineages, includes samples from the type locality of D. minutus. We defined that clade as the D. minutus complex. The remaining lineages together with the D. minutus complex constitute the D. minutus species group. Historical analyses support an Amazonian origin for the D. minutus species group with a subsequent dispersal to eastern Brazil where the D. minutus complex originated. According to our dataset, a total of eight mtDNA lineages have ranges >100,000 km2. One of them occupies an area of almost one million km2 encompassing multiple biomes. Our results, at a spatial scale and resolution unprecedented for a Neotropical vertebrate, confirm that widespread amphibian species occur in lowland South America, yet at the same time a large proportion of cryptic diversity still remains to be discovered

A REVIEW OF THE GENUS MEGAELOSIA (ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE) WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES

A new species of Megaelosia is described from the Atlantic Forest in the northern part of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Based on examination of topotypic specimens of Megaelosia massarti, this species is removed from the synonymy of M. goeldii. Tadpoles of M. lutzae and M. massarti are described and natural history observations of M. massarti and M. goeldii are reported. Diagnoses, measurements, figures, distributional data, and a key for the species of Megaelosia are provided.27327628

A REVIEW OF THE GENUS MEGAELOSIA (ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE) WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES

A new species of Megaelosia is described from the Atlantic Forest in the northern part of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Based on examination of topotypic specimens of Megaelosia massarti, this species is removed from the synonymy of M. goeldii. Tadpoles of M. lutzae and M. massarti are described and natural history observations of M. massarti and M. goeldii are reported. Diagnoses, measurements, figures, distributional data, and a key for the species of Megaelosia are provided