A redescription of Leptodactylus jolyi Sazima and Bokermann (Anura, Leptodactylidae) and the recognition of a new closely related species

Abstract

Based on freshly collected and recorded topotypes, we re-describe Leptodactylus jolyi and describe a closely related new species from the municipality of Uberlândia (MG, Brazil). As some other species of the L. fuscus group, the new species present longitudinal skin folds on dorsal surface of shank. Leptodactylus marambaiae is a shorte-legged species, in L. jolyi the shank reaches 61–65% of the SVL, and 62–68 % in the new species. Males L. jolyi are larger (45 mm SVL) than those of L. gracilis (38.5 mm), than those of L. plaumanni (31–35 mm), and are smaller and more slender than those of the new species (48.3–53.9). In L. jolyi and in the new species the vomerine teeth are in two straight transverse series, in L. gracilis each is a distinct arch. Leptodactylus plaumanni has a fast call rate (13–23/s), in L. gracilis it is 2.5–4/s, in L. jolyi it is just about 0.1–0.3/s and in the new species calls are emitted irregularly (0.02–0.3/s). Leptodactylus jolyi call is composed by 1–3 pulses, while the new species has a single or double-pulsed call; the call also is 25-100% longer in L. jolyi (mode 0.04 s, our sample) than in the new species (mode 0.02 s). We predict that populations in the Cerrado now identified as L. jolyi will turn out to be conspecific with the new species described herein. In the original description the call of L. jolyi is two times longer than that we described here based on topotypes. A possible mistake in time scale in the original description may account for this difference.