No abstract

We aim to evaluate the genetic structure of an Atlantic Forest amphibian species, Scinax eurydice, testing the congruence among patterns identified and proposed by the literature for Pleistocene refugia, microrefugia, and geographic barriers to gene flow such as major rivers. Furthermore, we aim to evaluate predictions of such barriers and refugia on the genetic structure of the species, such as presence/absence of dispersal, timing since separation, and population expansions/contractions. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers on 94 tissue samples from 41 localities. We inferred a gene tree and estimated genetic distances using mtDNA sequences. We then ran population clustering and assignment methods, AMOVA, and estimated migration rates among populations identified through mtDNA and nDNA analyses. We used a dated species tree, skyline plots, and summary statistics to evaluate concordance between population’s distributions and geographic barriers and Pleistocene refugia. Scinax eurydice showed high mtDNA divergences and four clearly distinct mtDNA lineages. Species tree and population assignment tests supported the existence of two major clades corresponding to northeastern and southeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil, each one composed of two other clades. Lineage splitting events occurred from late Pliocene to Pleistocene. We identified demographic expansions in two clades, and inexistent to low levels of migrations among different populations. Genetic patterns and demographic data support the existence of two northern Refuge and corroborate microrefugia south of the Doce/Jequitinhonha Rivers biogeographic divide. The results agree with a scenario of recent demographic expansion of lowland taxa. Scinax eurydice comprises a species complex, harboring undescribed taxa consistent with Pleistocene refugia. Two rivers lie at the boundaries among populations and endorse their role as secondary barriers to gene flow.

We describe a new species of flea-toad related to Brachycephalus didactylus and B. hermogenesi from the Serra Bonita mountain, an Atlantic rainforest remnant in the Municipality of Camacan, State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, constituting the northernmost record of the genus. Brachycephalus pulex sp. nov. is mainly diagnosed by the toe II externally absent, the toe V vestigial, fingers I and IV externally absent, and an inverted depigmented v-shaped mark on chest bordered above by a dark brown stripe on each side.

Hyla circumdata (Cope, 1870) occurs in subtropical and tropical rain forests, distributed over mountain ranges of the Brazilian Plateau, mainly in the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira ranges. Samples of the northern sector of Serra da Mantiqueira revealed distinctive characters when compared to samples from the southern sectors of Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar, which suggest that the former is a new species. The new species is characterized mainly by large size (snout-vent length 57.5-70.0 mm in males; 55.3-67.2 mm in females), absence of vocal slits in adult males, and a large tympanum.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract