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Brachycephalus is a small, endemic genus of anurans that occur throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Recent analyses corroborated the monophyly of two species groups within this genus (B. ephippium and B. pernix), whereas the B. didactylus group appears to be polyphyletic. Herein, we compare and describe the skeletal system of all species from the Brachycephalus ephippium species group. We investigated diagnostic characters that are potentially useful to delimit similar species, confirmed the previously proposed genus definition and added six extra characters. We propose an osteological diagnosis for each species of the B. ephippium group, evaluating and describing intraspecific variations. Our results suggest that adults of B. ephippium group have ornamented parotic plates, ornamented post‐orbital crests, absence of quadratojugal and neopalatines, distal end of the otic ramus of squamosal expanded towards the parotic plate, reduced zygomatic ramus of the squamosals, posterolateral projection of the crista parotica, presence of ornamented spinal plates (except B. alipioi) and ornamented paravertebral plates. We highlighted the importance of including more than one specimen per species when dealing with miniaturized taxa. A comparison with other Brachycephalus species groups and with Ischnocnema was also provided. Lastly, we suggest some characters to be included in future phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anuran larynx is an organ of great evolutionary interest because it impacts male reproductive success in courtships. However, little is known about the diversity of the larynx's anatomy, evolutionary history and systematics importance. Here, we describe and compare the anatomy of the larynx of 10 Physalaemus species of the P. cuvieri clade, focusing on the P. olfersii species group. We also reconstructed the ancestral states and tested the phylogenetic signal for the anatomical features. In all the species, the larynx has a general globular shape with the arytenoid cartilages covering almost its entire dorsal surface, while the anterior process of the cricoid cartilages covers most of the ventral surface. The size of the secondary fibrous mass, the thickness of the vocal membrane, and the attachment position of the vocal membrane's free edge considerably differ among the species. Moreover, only four species of a single clade in the P. olfersii species group have the primary fibrous mass well‐developed with a suspended region in the dorsolateral passage. We found a significant phylogenetic signal for all these characters. Ancestral reconstructions pointed to reduction tendencies in the thickness of the vocal membrane and the size of the secondary fibrous mass, and a shift of the ventral attachment of the vocal membrane, increasing the angle of its free edge along the phylogeny. This latter trait can diagnose the entire Physalaemus olfersii group, which has the ventral ends of the arytenoids positioned posteriorly, giving this group the steepest angles for the vocal membrane's free edge in relation to the frontal plane. Based on our results, the larynges can contribute to the Physalaemus olfersii species group's systematics and could be elucidative to understand the evolution of the genus. High levels of anatomical and bioacoustical complexity and diversity observed in the group support the expected correlation between vocal anatomy and bioacoustical signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two species of the Bokermannohyla claresignata species group (Anura: Hylidae) have not been collected for the last four decades. It is the only species group of the hyline tribe Cophomantini that has not yet been analysed genetically. Its phylogenetic position is thus uncertain, and it has a combination of adult and larval character states that make this group a crucial missing piece that hinders our understanding of Cophomantini phylogenetics and character evolution. We obtained DNA sequences from a museum larval specimen of Bok. claresignata , using specialized extraction methods and high-throughput DNA sequencing, and combined the molecular phylogenetic results with available phenotypic information to provide new insights into the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of its species group. Our phylogenetic results place Bok. claresignata as sister to the Boana pulchella group, supporting its inclusion in Boana , together with Bokermannohyla clepsydra. In light of this new finding, we recognize a newly defined Boana claresignata group to accommodate these species, thus resolving both the polyphyly of Bokermannohyla and the paraphyly of Boana. Considering the phylogenetic relationships of the Boana claresignata group, we also discuss the evolution of suctorial tadpoles and mature oocyte/egg pigmentation in Cophomantini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of species richness of amphibians found in Brazil is the greatest in the world. Despite increasing anthropic pressures on the Brazilian Cerrado and Amazon biomes, several new anuran species are described each year. In this study, two new species of Rhinella found in Brazil are described and assigned to the Rhinella margaritifera species group, based on morphological features. Rhinella sebbeni sp. nov. occurs in forested environments in the Cerrado biome and is characterized by the combination of the following features: snout-vent length (SVL; range = 48.5-59.7 mm in males, and 54.7-66.7 mm in females); presence of bony protrusion at the angle of jaws and rostral keel at the tip of snout; skin on the dorsum with a few granules, but more concentrated on the flanks; parotoid gland is well delineated and small and elliptical in shape showing a lateral line of tubercles. Rhinella gildae sp. nov. is found in southern Amazonia and is characterized by the combination of following features: SVL (range = 69.6-76.4 mm in males); cephalic crests poorly developed; parotoid gland without lateral line of tubercles; in dorsal view, supratympanic crest not exceeding the angle of the jaws; and presence of a vertebral line. We discuss data on morphological variation, natural history attributes, and distribution of the two new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of glass frog ( Vitreorana) from Fazenda Novo Pau Brasil, in the Atlantic Forest habitat of northeastern Brazil. Previous to this work, Vitreorana baliomma sp. nov. was misidentified as V. eurygnatha, from which it can be distinguished by the iris pattern flecked with star-shape melanophores; rudimentary nuptial excrescences formed by glands on the dorsomedial surface of Finger I, with some accessorial glands along its periphery; parietal, urinary bladder, kidneys, and testes peritonea translucent; visceral peritoneum with iridophores covering the pericardium, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. We also provide a brief discussion on its morphological similarities with other Vitreorana species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyophryne histrio was described in 1954 as a new species and placed in its own genus based on a single juvenile specimen from Ilhéus, State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. This species was known only from the holotype until 1999 when a series of specimens was collected 50 km from the type-locality. Herein, we provide a redescription of the species based on this new material and present new information on morphological variation in order to help with the recognition of this poorly known species. The diagnostic characters are: occipital skin fold present, interdigital membranes between the toes well developed, dark venter with white blotches, an arrow-shaped dorsal color pattern that begins just after the occipital fold, and a distinct pale line between the venter and dorsum. Dermal spines, which were found in all males and vary in the number of spines and location, are reported for the first time in this species; gravid females have dermal spines only in the pericloacal region. We also compare Hyophryne histrio to all other Neotropical microhylid genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]