Brachycephalus is a frog genus endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and characterized by the bright yellow-orange aposematic colors and the high degree of miniaturization. Herein, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus from Serra do Brigadeiro, Municipality of Ervália, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Specimens were collected at high altitudes (i.e., 1266-1498 m above sea level) amidst the leaf litter. The new species is characterized by the presence of black connective tissue covering all dorsal muscles, body completely yellow-orange in life, presence of skull and post-cranial plates, large size (SVL of adults: 14.8-18.5 mm), bufoniform body, absence of metacarpal and metatarsal tubercles, and presence of harmonics in its advertisement call.
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.
Fritziana is currently composed by four species known from mountain regions in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. Based on field records, literature, and data gathered from collections, we present new records and a distribution map for the species of the genus. Fritziana is now recorded for seven Brazilian states, including five localities in Minas Gerais. We also confirm Fritziana goeldii (Boulenger 1895) in the same state. The genus distribution now ranges in the southern Espinhaço mountain range, extending in 215 km from the previously known locality.
Based on field records, literature, and data gathered from collections, we present new records and a distribution map for the species of the genus. Fritziana is now recorded for seven Brazilian states, including five localities in Minas Gerais. We also confirm Fritziana goeldii (Boulenger 1895) in the same state. The genus distribution now ranges in the southern Espinhaço mountain range, extending in 215 km from the previously known locality.
We describe a new species of Thoropa, previously identified as T. lutzi, from the northern region of the Serra da Mantiqueira in the Atlantic Forest domain in Southeast Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: small size; slender body; head longer than wide; dark colored nuptial pads on the inner side of the Finger I and on the internal carpal tubercle; nuptial pads with epidermic cone-shaped papillae measuring of 53.1–91.6 μm in diameter, and at a density of 14–32 papillary epidermic projections/mm2; presence of vocal sac and vocal slits; and advertisement call with 5–10 harmonics, duration of 0.23–0.42 s, and peak of frequency of 2060–4470 Hz. With the description of the new species, T. lutzi is now only known for the state of Rio de Janeiro.
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