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Issue: Vol. 4407 No. 4: 12 Apr. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-04-12
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4407.4.2
Page range: 483–505
Abstract views: 176
PDF downloaded: 1

A new species of Brachycephalus (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from the coast of Santa Catarina State, southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Departamento de Zoologia and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24-A 1515, caixa postal 199, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
Departamento de Zoologia and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24-A 1515, caixa postal 199, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazi
Laboratório de Herpetologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis e Anfíbios, Rua 229 95, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, 74605-090, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
Departamento de Zoologia and Centro de Aquicultura, Instituto de Biociências, Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24-A 1515, caixa postal 199, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
Amphibia Brachycephaloidea elevational range morphology taxonomy

Abstract

We describe a new species of Brachycephalus from municipality of São Francisco do Sul and municipality of Itapoá, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, southern Atlantic Forest. The new species is known from six localities from near sea level up to 250 meters and represents the first record of a “pumpkin-toadlet” occurring in the lowlands. Morphological traits and phylogenetic analysis of a fragment the 16S mtDNA gene place the new species in the Brachycephalus pernix group. The new species is supported by external morphology, osteology, advertisement call, and mtDNA divergence. It is characterized, among other traits by a dorsal body color dark green with a dark brown vertebral stripe, and an orange background; snout-vent length of 9.2–10.8 mm in males and 11.1–12.4 mm in females; and advertisement call short (0.02–0.03 seconds), composed of one high-frequency note (dominant frequency 6.6–7.3 kHz). We observed synchronized alternation in the emission of vocalizations among neighbor males, indicating that males of the new species are able to hear and use vocalizations to interact with each other. We provide descriptions of clutch, eggs, and juvenile and observations on parental care. The new species has not been recorded within any protected area and can be threatened by human-induced habitat loss and modification.

 

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