:The popular knowledge about snakes, including the practices adopted in cases of snakebite, was analysed in this ethnozoological study performed in Araponga region and vicinities of Serra do Brigadeiro (Brigadeiro Mountain Range), Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. Between August and November 2008, interviews were conducted with 50 residents of rural areas of Araponga, and 20 employees of the Serra do Brigadeiro State Park (PESB). In relation to social and cultural profile, these two groups differed only on the level of education (higher among the park staff), with the same distributions for age and religion. There was also a lower level of education among older individuals, a possible reflection of improvements in the social conditions in that region, which would have provided greater access to schools in recent decades. In general, both groups demonstrated adequate knowledge about prevention and procedures in cases of snakebite (78.2% reported seeking medical attention in case of snakebite). The use of folk medicine for treatment of snakebite proved to be a practice falling into disuse, reported by approximately 21% of respondents. Most respondents (57.14%) said they did not know the difference between a poisonous and a non-poisonous snake, and 66.67% showed adequate knowledge of the season when snake encounters are more likely to happen. The "Araponga" group was more hostile concerning to possible encounters with snakes, with 43% of people saying they would kill the animal, against 5% in the "PESB" group. The educational level of the respondents was decisive in determining the kind of attitude taken against snakes, and those with higher levels of education showed to be the less hostile ones. People with lower educational levels were more likely to consider all snakes as dangerous, and they also proved to be more hostile to these animals. More contact with scientific and environmental education activities seems to have been decisive for the higher tolerance to snakes by the "PESB" group. The implementation of activities of environmental education for the population of Araponga can increase the awareness of the importance of snakes, instructing those who still consider them intrinsically harmful. Resumo: O conhecimento popular sobre as serpentes, incluindo as práticas adotadas em casos de acidentes ofídicos, foi abordado neste estudo etnozoológico realizado na região de Araponga e entorno da Serra do Brigadeiro, Mata Atlântica do Estado de Minas Gerais, região Sudeste do Brasil. Entre agosto e novembro de 2008 foram realizadas entrevistas com 50 moradores da zona rural de Araponga e 20 funcionários do Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro (PESB). Em relação ao perfil cultural e social, os grupos avaliados diferiram entre si somente quanto ao nível de escolaridade (maior entre os funcionários do parque), apresentando as mesmas distribuições em relação a idade e religião. Também se verificou menor nível de escolaridade entre os indivíduos mais velhos. Em geral, ambos os grupos d...

Paradoxical frogs (Pseudae) have been difficult to characterize morphologically, and their phylogenetic affinities have long remained elusive despite several taxonomic revisions of the group. Based on the analysis of 1388 specimens we evaluate morphological characters used to identify and group species throughout their distributions. We also suggest other, previously unreported phylogenetically informative morphological characters and evaluate morphometric differences among species. The geographic distribution of Pseudae in Brazil confirms, to a certain degree, their association with hydrographic basins. Geographic variation in morphology is extensive in some species. Some characters traditionally used to identify species (e.g. stripes on the ventral surface of the thigh) vary extensively among populations, and in most cases do not distinguish among species. Body shape differences, skin texture, size and number of carpal and metatarsal tubercles, supernumerary tubercles, vocal sac structure, dorsal coloration, ventral stripes on the thigh, and geographic distribution need to be considered together to correctly identify species. Size of reproductive Pseudis varies considerably, most likely as a response to local conditions altering larval size at metamorphosis, given that postmetamorphic growth is reduced or absent in Pseudis. The previously suggested suite of ecological characters that allow disproportionate larval growth are therefore substantiated, while the paradox of a conserved body plan coupled with extensive character variation is implicated as the cause for confusion in the taxonomy of paradoxical frogs.

Larval and bioacoustical characters are crucial for anuran systematics. Nevertheless, advertisement calls and larval morphology of most Neotropical anuran species are unknown. Lysapsus is a peculiar group of aquatic frogs that have been subject to recurrent taxonomic changes. Recent molecular phylogenetic and external morphology work gave support for some of the recognized species (L. laevis and L. caraya), but considerable doubt remains over the distinction among L. limellum and L. bolivianus. We describe the tadpoles of L. caraya and L. bolivianus, the advertisement call of L. laevis, and redescribe the advertisement calls of L. caraya, L. limellum, and L. bolivianus. Our results support the genus based on larval and bioacoustical characters. Lysapsus caraya and L. laevis have distinct advertisement calls, but no visual or statistically significant differences were observed between advertisement calls of L. limellum and L. bolivianus. Tadpoles of L. caraya, L. limellum, and L. bolivianus are similar based on external morphology and contrast against the distinct tadpole of L. laevis. Considerable doubt is raised on the validity of L. bolivianus, which either is a junior synonym of L. limellum or constitutes a cryptic species based on currently available data. Data on osteology, musculature, and chondrocranium, allied to robust phylogeographic analyses will help clarify the taxonomic status of these two putative species and the biogeographic relationships between the Amazon and the Paraná River basins.

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Although widely distributed in the Brazilian Amazonia, there are few published records of Bothriopsis bilineata in this region, with large gaps between them. This scarcity of reports of B. bilineata in nature may be caused by its arboreal habits, cryptic color, and a possible low density in many areas. Here we provide new registers of the subspecies B. b. bilineata, improving the knowledge of its distribution.