Dataset Information

Hidden by the name: A new fluorescent pumpkin toadlet from the Brachycephalus ephippium group (Anura: Brachycephalidae).

ABSTRACT: Species of Brachycephalus has been having taxonomical issues due its morphological similarity and genetic conservatism. Herein, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus from the south Mantiqueira mountain range and semidecidual forests in the municipalities of Mogi das Cruzes, Campinas and Jundiaí, state of São Paulo, Brazil, based on an integrative approach. It can be distinguished from all species of the B. ephippium species group based on morphological characters (especially osteology and head shape), advertisement call and divergence in partial mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (16S). The new species is genetically similar to B. margaritatus and morphologically similar to B. ephippium. It can be differentiated from B. ephippium by the presence of dark faded spots on skull and post-cranial plates, presence of black connective tissue connective tissue scattered over dorsal musculature, parotic plate morphology, smaller snout-vent length (adult SVL: males 13.46-15.92 mm; females 16.04-17.69 mm) and 3% genetic distance. We also present natural history data and discuss the robustness of the integrative approach, geographic distribution, genetic data, behaviour, fluorescence in ontogeny, and conservation status.

SUBMITTER: Nunes I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8081201 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Hidden by the name: A new fluorescent pumpkin toadlet from the Brachycephalus ephippium group (Anura: Brachycephalidae).

Nunes Ivan I Guimarães Carla S CS Moura Pedro Henrique A G PHAG Pedrozo Mariana M Moroti Matheus de Toledo MT Castro Leandro M LM Stuginski Daniel R DR Muscat Edelcio E

PloS one 20210428 4

Species of Brachycephalus has been having taxonomical issues due its morphological similarity and genetic conservatism. Herein, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus from the south Mantiqueira mountain range and semidecidual forests in the municipalities of Mogi das Cruzes, Campinas and Jundiaí, state of São Paulo, Brazil, based on an integrative approach. It can be distinguished from all species of the B. ephippium species group based on morphological characters (especially osteology and ...[more]

PMID: 33909613

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Project description:BackgroundBrachycephalus are among the smallest terrestrial vertebrates in the world. The genus encompasses 34 species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, occurring mostly in montane forests, with many species showing microendemic distributions to single mountaintops. It includes diurnal species living in the leaf litter and calling during the day, mainly during the warmer months of the year. The natural history of the vast majority of the species is unknown, such as their advertisement call, which has been described only for seven species of the genus. In the present study, we describe the advertisement call of Brachycephalus albolineatus, a recently described microendemic species from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil.MethodsWe analyzed 34 advertisement calls from 20 individuals of B. albolineatus, recorded between 5 and 6 February 2016 in the type locality of the species, Morro Boa Vista, on the border between the municipalities of Jaraguá do Sul and Massaranduba, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. We collected five individuals as vouchers (they are from the type series of the species). We used the note-centered approach to describe the advertisement calls of the species.ResultsB. albolineatus have a long advertisement call of 40-191 s (mean of 88 s) composed of 8-29 notes (mean of 17 notes) emitted at a rate of 6-18 notes per minute (mean of 11 notes per minute) and at a note dominant frequency of five to seven kHz (mean of six kHz). Advertisement calls are composed of isolated notes and note groups (two notes involved in each particular note group); the former is composed by one to three pulses (mean of 2.0) and the note groups by two or three pulses in each note (mean of 2.7). Most advertisement calls present both isolated notes and note groups, with a few cases showing only the former. Note groups are emitted invariably in the last third of the advertisement call. Most isolated notes escalate their number of pulses along the advertisement call (1-2, 1-3 or 2-3). Note duration of isolated notes varies from 0.002 to 0.037 s (mean of 0.020 s) and duration of note group vary from 0.360 to 0.578 s (mean of 0.465 s).DiscussionIndividuals increase the complexity of their calls as they proceed, incorporating note groups and pulses per note. Intra-individual variation analysis also demonstrated that less structured advertisement calls (i.e., with notes with fewer pulses) are not stereotyped. It is possible that isolated notes and note groups could have distinct functions, perhaps territorial defense and mating, respectively. We argue that using a note-centered approach facilitates comparisons with calls of congeners, as well as underscores the considerable differences in call structure between species in a single group and among species groups.

Project description:BackgroundThe flea toad Brachycephalus sulfuratus was recently described from southeastern and southern Brazil. In its description, the authors overlooked previous records of flea toads that had been identified as "Brachycephalus sp. nov." and B. hermogenesi occurring in the same regions, which could suggest the possibility of up to three flea toads coexisting in southern Brazil. In addition, B. sulfuratus is characterized by substantial phenotypic variability, to an extent that compromises its current diagnosis with respect to its congener B. hermogenesi. Therefore, the current state-of-affairs regarding the geographical distribution of these two species and the identification of previously known populations is hitherto uncertain. Our goals are to reassess previous records of flea toads attributable to B. hermogenesi, B. sulfuratus and "Brachycephalus sp. nov.", considering the description of B. sulfuratus, and to review the diagnosis of B. sulfuratus.MethodsA critical analysis of the species identity of flea toad specimens attributable to B. hermogenesi, B. sulfuratus, or to a potentially undescribed species from southeastern and southern Brazil was based either on the analysis of morphology or on their advertisement calls. These analyses include our independent examinations of specimens and, when not possible, examinations of published descriptions. To allow for a consistent comparison of advertisement calls between B. hermogenesi and B. sulfuratus, we made recordings of both species, including in the type locality of the former.ResultsWe found that morphological and call characters originally proposed as diagnostic for B. sulfuratus in relation to B. hermogenesi vary intraspecifically. Live individuals with ventral yellow spots correspond to B. sulfuratus; individuals without yellow spots can be either B. sulfuratus or B. hermogenesi. In preservative, they are indistinguishable. Previous records of Brachycephalus sp. nov. correspond to B. sulfuratus. We propose that the reduced number of notes per call and the presence of only isolated notes in the call of B. sulfuratus, as opposed to a high number of notes per call with isolated notes and note groups in the call of B. hermogenesi, as the only diagnostic characters between them. Regarding their distributions and based in our assessment, only B. sulfuratus occurs in southern Brazil, without any overlap with B. hermogenesi. There is a narrow gap between the distributions of these species around the southeast of the city of São Paulo. Our revision also revealed that some records previously attributed to B. hermogenesi in Rio de Janeiro and north São Paulo represent a distinct, unidentified flea toad that is not B. sulfuratus. Both species occur side by side in Corcovado, São Paulo, a locality from where five paratypes of B. hermogenesi were obtained. Biogeographic events that might have led to vicariance between B. hermogenesi and B. sulfuratus are discussed.

Project description:BackgroundWe are experiencing a global crisis in conservation, which has led to the prioritization of targets, such as nations, regions, and animal groups, which are necessary while resources are disputed. Brazil is a priority not only because of its megadiversity, high rates of endemism, and frequent descriptions of new species but also because of its high levels of deforestation. Among the species groups prioritized for conservation is the anurans (Amphibia: Anura), the population of which is severely declining. One group of anurans is the genus Brachycephalus, which includes 37 endemic species in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Some of these species have highly restricted distributions (<100 ha). Thirty new species have been described since 2000, and 55.3% of all species are threatened with extinction. Brachycephalus tridactylus was only recently described and remains restricted to its type locality. Because of its reduced geographical distribution (0.41 km2), it has been proposed to be considered as Vulnerable. The objective of this study is to reevaluate the conservation status of Brachycephalus tridactylus and propose conservation measures.MethodsWe searched for new populations during 2016-2020, evaluated in loco impacts and potential impacts on the species' population, and performed an analysis of the density of this population and estimated its size. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria were used to assess the conservation status of the species.ResultsWe recorded the species in seven new localities (from 715-1,140 m above sea level) in the state of São Paulo up to 33 km from the type locality of the species (in state of Paraná). We estimated the area of occupancy as 148.44 km2, densities as one calling male per 4.05 m2 and 130.00 m2, and a total population size of 4,429,722 adult individuals. Based on our finding, we proposed three lines of management: (1) formation of fire brigades, (2) management of residents' mules in the conservation unit and surrounding areas, and (3) management of degraded areas. We recommend changing the species' conservation status from Vulnerable to Endangered because of its fragmented distribution and decline in the area of occupancy and in the quality of its habitat. Our results have expanded the species previous geographic distribution and delimited areas without previous records. Our estimates of population density and size are in accordance with those verified for congeners. The conservation of this species benefits the environments and other species that inhabit them, being, therefore, strategic for receiving conservation actions that will spread throughout the ecosystem.

Dataset Information

Hidden by the name: A new fluorescent pumpkin toadlet from the Brachycephalus ephippium group (Anura: Brachycephalidae).

Publications

Hidden by the name: A new fluorescent pumpkin toadlet from the Brachycephalus ephippium group (Anura: Brachycephalidae).

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