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Terrestrial breeding is a derived condition in frogs, with multiple transitions from an aquatic ancestor. Shifts in reproductive mode often involve changes in habitat use, and these are typically associated with diversification in body plans, with repeated transitions imposing similar selective pressures. We examine the diversification of reproductive modes, male and female body sizes, and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in the Neotropical frog genera Cycloramphus and Zachaenus, both endemic to the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. Species in this clade either breed in rocky streams (saxicolous) or in terrestrial environments, allowing us to investigate reproductive habitat shifts. We constructed a multilocus molecular phylogeny and inferred evolutionary histories of reproductive habitats, body sizes, and SSD. The common ancestor was small, saxicolous, and had low SSD. Terrestrial breeding evolved independently three times and we found a significant association between reproductive habitat and SSD, with shifts to terrestrial breeding evolving in correlation with decreases in male body size, but not female body size. Terrestrial breeding increases the availability of breeding sites and results in concealment of amplexus, egg‐laying, and parental care, therefore reducing male‐male competition at all stages of reproduction. We conclude that correlated evolution of terrestrial reproduction and small males is due to release from intense male‐male competition that is typical of exposed saxicolous breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycloramphus jordanensis was described based on a single preserved specimen from Campos do Jordão (22° 44′ S, 45° 35′ W), State of São Paulo, Brazil. While examining the holotype; we noticed the presence of toe and tarsal fringes. Because these characters are absent in Cycloramphus, we suspected that the species was mistakenly placed in the genus. X-ray images of the holotype revealed T-shaped terminal phalanges and fang-like teeth. Together with the presence of toe and tarsal fringes, these characters squarely place the specimen in the genus Megaelosia. Considering the striking niche differences between Cycloramphus and Megaelosia, we expect the new combination will facilitate location of new individuals of this rare frog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachycephalus herinogenesi is an endemic leaf litter inhabitant of the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil, whose original distribution included a restricted area near the boundaries of the States of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. We were surprised to find out, while conducting herpetofaunal surveys at Estação Biológica de Boracéia (EBB), that the background forest insect-like sound we have been searching for corresponded to calling individuals of the species. Males call during the day at high densities, hidden under the leaf litter. Individuals do not answer playback, seem to move very infrequently, and seem to ignore nearby calling activity. We gathered data on annual and daily vocal activity of the species at EBB, observing a total of 1,549 calls given by 31 focal individuals in November 2003 and 2005. The call varies from short single note calls to calls composed of groups of two to seven similar notes emitted at regular intervals. We also extend the known distribution of the species southward to the State of São Paulo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a taxonomic review of the four species of Allobates endemic to the Atlantic Forest Domain in Brazil. A total of 880 preserved specimens from 29 localities covering their range in Atlantic Forest were studied based on external attributes. Characters formerly described as diagnostic in original descriptions and others cited for dendrobatids in the literature were studied along the total geographic range of the populations of these species, including the type localities. We found no discrete characters, qualitative or quantitative, capable of differentiating the species. Most local and geographic variation was limited to snout-vent length and color pattern. Considering the lack of evidence otherwise, we use the results of our morphological analysis to allocate all Atlantic Forest species of Allobates to synonymy with Allobates olfersioides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new fossil species of Ceratophrys from cave sediments in Brazil tentatively assessed as late Pleistocene–early Holocene in age. The specimen consists of a nearly complete skull that is missing only the right premaxilla and the right columella. A detailed description and comparative analysis, which considers both living and fossil species, supports the conclusion that the specimen represents a previously unknown, extinct species of Ceratophrys. Poorly represented and assessed characters, paleodistribution of Ceratophryidae, and the taxonomic rectification of the Ceratophrys fossil specimens described by Günther (1859) are also discussed. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:17DCC830-93AB-4FB6-9377-0467E8F3BDF9 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trypanosomes of anurans and fish are grouped into the Aquatic Clade which includes species isolated from fish, amphibians, turtles and platypus, usually transmitted by leeches and phlebotomine sand flies. Trypanosomes from Brazilian frogs are grouped within the Aquatic Clade with other anuran trypanosome species, where there seems to be coevolutionary patterns with vertebrate hosts and association to Brazilian biomes (Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Amazonia Rainforest). We characterised the anuran trypanosomes from two different areas of the Cerrado biome and examined their phylogenetic relationships based on the SSU rRNA gene. A total of 112 anurans of six species was analysed and trypanosome prevalence evaluated through haemoculture was found to be 7% (8 positive frogs). However, only three isolates (2.7%) from two anuran species were recovered and cryopreserved. Analysis including SSU rDNA sequences from previous studies segregated the anuran trypanosomes into six groups, the previously reported An01 to An04, and An05 and An06 reported herein. Clade An05 comprises the isolates from Leptodactylus latrans (Steffen) and Pristimantis sp. captured in the Cerrado biome and Trypanosoma chattoni Mathis & Leger, 1911. The inclusion of new isolates in the phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for a new group (An06) of parasites from phlebotomine hosts. Our results indicate that the diversity of trypanosome species is underestimated since studies conducted in Brazil and other regions of the world are still few.

The taxonomic and biogeographic affinities of Strabomantis aramunha from the Campos Rupestres of Brazil are intriguing. A unique skull morphology of females suggest affinities with the broad-headed eleutherodactylines of Northwestern South America in the genus Strabomantis. Male and juvenile morphology nonetheless suggest S. aramunha could be related to members of the recently described genus Haddadus from eastern Brazil. We assess the affinities of S. aramunha using molecular phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial (12S, tRNAval, 16S, cyt b) and nuclear sequences (RAG-1and rhodopsin). Bayesian inference, likelihood, and parsimony analysis recover a highly supported clade with S. aramunha and H. binotatus as sister taxa. Accordingly, we transfer S. aramunha to Haddadus, and provide a new generic definition of the later. The distribution of species in Haddadus (highlands of the Espinhaço mountain Range and coastal eastern Brazil) is now concordant with the general pattern observed for other species in the area.