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.

Both ostracods and amphibians are able to colonize a wide variety of freshwater environments (Balian et al. 2008, Martens et al. 2008, Ottonelo and Romano 2011). However, unlike amphibians, ostracods also are widely distributed in marine environments (Coimbra and Bergue 2011). The first fossil records of ostracods are dated from the Ordovician Period and, in the Carboniferous Period, these crustaceans began to colonize freshwater environments (Coimbra and Bergue 2011). Ostracods are found in all types of aquatic environments, such as lakes, rivers, and humid soils of tropical forests and phytotelmata (Pinto and Purper 1970). Like ostracods, some species of anurans are associated with phytotelmata. For example, some anurans use bromeliads throughout their

In this study, we describe the diet of Leptodactylus podicipinus in South Pantanal. We analysed the stomach content of 30 individuals collected in September 2017 in the Miranda sub-region, Mato Grosso do Sul. We identified 19 prey categories to Order level, out of which Coleoptera was the most representative group and the most important prey category, followed by Orthoptera and Hemiptera. We recorded a post-metamorphic individual of Rhinella schneideri in the diet of L. podicipinus, the first record of batracophagy for this species. Our results provide evidence for the opportunistic and generalist feeding behaviour of L. podicipinus.

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