Search

Abstract Biodiversity loss is extreme in amphibians. Despite ongoing conservation action, it is difficult to determine where we stand in overcoming their extinction crisis. Among the most threatened amphibians are the 131 Neotropical harlequin toads. Many of them declined since the 1980s with several considered possibly extinct. Recently, more than 30 species have been rediscovered, raising hope for a reversing trend in the amphibian extinction crisis. We use past and present data available for harlequin toads (Atelopus), to examine whether the amphibian extinction crisis is still in an emergency state. Since 2004 no species has improved its population status, suggesting that recovery efforts have not been successful. Threats include habitat change, pathogen spread and climate change. More mitigation strategies need implementation, especially habitat protection and disease management, combined with captive conservation breeding. With harlequin toads serving as a model, it is clear that the amphibian extinction crisis is still underway.

Threadsnakes are known for their conserved external morphology and historically controversial systematics, challenging taxonomic, biogeographic and evolutionary researches in these fields. Recent morphological studies—mostly based on µCT data of the skull and lower jaw—have resolved systematic issues within the group, for instance leading to the description of new taxa or re-positioning little-known scolecophidian taxa in the tree of life. Herein we describe a new polymorphic species of the genus Siagonodon from Amazonia based on morphological (external, osteology and hemipenis) and molecular data, and provide the first hemipenial description for the genus. We also reassign Siagonodon acutirostris to the genus Trilepida based on osteological data in combination with molecular evidence. The new species described represents an evolutionary paradox for scolecophidians because the species displays a remarkable variation in the shape of the snout region that is otherwise always highly conserved in this clade. Finally, this study reinforces the importance of protected areas as essential in maintaining vertebrate populations, including those that are not yet formally described.

The mitogenome of the South American parthenogenetic lizard Loxopholis percarinatum Müller, 1923 (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae), a uni-bisexual species complex, was recovered for three individuals from Rio Negro region, Amazonas, Brazil. The content and order of genes are typical for vertebrate mitochondrial genomes, and we recovered 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA, and two rRNA (12S and 16S), in addition to partial fragments of the Control Region. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis with mitogenomes of selected lizard families recovered L. percarinatum with Iphisa elegans Gray, 1851, the only other Gymnophthalmidae species available in GenBank.

The complete mitogenome of the lizard Iphisa elegans Gray, 1851 was sequenced using a shotgun approach on an Illumina HiSeq 3000 platform, providing the first mitogenome for Gymnophthalmidae. The genome was 18,622 bp long, with 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA (12S and 16S), and 22 tRNA, as well as the control region. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis including I. elegans and all other available mitogenomes of Squamata provided a tree in accordance with previous phylogenetic relationships inferred for Squamata.

Abstract Background Lizards are excellent models to study the adaptations of the visual system to different scenarios, and surface-dwelling representatives have been relatively well studied. In contrast, very little is known about the functional anatomy of the eyes of fossorial lineages, and properties such as the light transmission by the ocular media have never been characterised in any fossorial species. Some lizards in the family Gymnophthalmidae endemic to the sand dunes of North Eastern Brazil have evolved sand-burrowing habits and nocturnal activity. Lizards in the sister group to Gymnophthalmidae, the family Teiidae, have decidedly diurnal and epigeal lifestyles, yet they are equally poorly known in terms of visual systems. We focussed on the eye anatomy, photoreceptor morphology and light transmittance properties of the ocular media and oil droplets in the gymnophthalmid Calyptommatus nicterus and the teiid Ameivula ocellifera. Results The general organisation of the eyes of the fossorial nocturnal C. nicterus and the epigeal diurnal A. ocellifera is remarkably similar. The lenses are highly transmissive to light well into the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. The photoreceptors have the typical cone morphology, with narrow short outer segments and oil droplets. The main difference between the two species is that C. nicterus has only colourless oil droplets, whereas A. ocellifera has colourless as well as green-yellow and pale-orange droplets. Conclusions Our results challenge the assumption that fossorial lizards undergo loss of visual function, a claim that is usually guided by the reduced size and external morphology of their eyes. In the case of C. nicterus, the visual system is well suited for vision in bright light and shows specialisations that improve sensitivity in dim light, suggesting that they might perform some visually-guided behaviour above the surface at the beginning or the end of their daily activity period, when light levels are relatively high in their open dunes habitat. This work highlights how studies on the functional anatomy of sensory systems can provide insights into the habits of secretive species.

We quantified functional traits (escape strategy, sprint speed and predatory performance) and population density across 10 lizard species representing morphotype stages in the acquisition of burrowing snake-like morphotypes (BSLM), from Brazil. We used phylogenetic mixed models to test if: (a) morphotype and substrate affects flight strategy and speed, (b) BSLM species more effectively access different potential prey types than lacertoid species, when in syntopy, and (c) morphotype is correlated with population abundance and habitat use in a way expected from the output of the previous experiments. BSLM rigidly relied on burrowing as flight strategy, while syntopic lacertoid species changed their strategy according to the substrate. In addition, sand had opposing effects on sprint speed depending on morphotype, making lacertoids run more slowly and BSLM faster. Even though BSLM were overall slower than lacertoids, they were equally effective hunters of challengingly fast prey, and better hunters of underground prey. In their shared habitats, prey is most abundant in the superficial layer of leaf litter, although a large fraction is found beneath this layer, under bushes. Experimental results support the observed higher importance of sand for BSLM’s density and the higher importance of vegetation for lacertoids’ density. Finally, although BSLM species reached the highest population densities among the studied species, a systematic effect of morphological evolution on the abundance of limbless lizards remains elusive.

Abstract South American racers of the tribe Philodryadini are a widespread and diverse group of Neotropical snakes with a complex taxonomic and systematic history. Recent studies failed to present a robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the tribe, mainly due to incomplete taxon sampling. Here we provide the most extensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Philodryadini available so far, including 20 species (83% of the known diversity) from which six were not sampled previously. Our results reveal that Philodryadini is not monophyletic, but instead includes a central Andean clade formed by Philodryas simonsii, P. tachymenoides, and P. amaru, and a southern and cis-Andean clade including all remaining philodryadines. This discovery requires resurrection of two genera as well as erection of a new tribe of Xenodontinae for the central Andean clade. Within the southern and cis-Andean radiation, our analyses resolve a basal dichotomy separating two main lineages: Clade A, containing the Common Green Racers P. laticeps and P. viridissima and the South American Vine snakes P. georgeboulengeri and P. argentea; and Clade B, including the remaining species of Philodryas sensu stricto. We resurrect the genera Chlorosoma and Xenoxybelis to better represent the monophyly of lineages within the southern and cis-Andean clade.

The known diversity of treefrogs of the genus Phyllodytes has rapidly increased in recent years, currently comprising 14 species. Recent field work in the Atlantic Rainforest of the state of Bahia lead to the discovery of a new large species of Phyllodytes which is herein described based on multiple evidence including morphological, acoustical and genetic data. Phyllodytes sp. nov. is one of the largest species within the genus and presents immaculate yellowish dorsum and limbs. The advertisement call of the species is composed of 7–31 notes (half pulsed/pulsatile-half harmonic) with frequency-modulated harmonics. Phyllodytes sp. nov. has a karyotype of 2n = 22 chromosomes, as also found in other species of the genus. Genetic distance values of the 16S mitochondrial rRNA among Phyllodytes sp. nov. and its congeners range between 6.4 to 10.2%. The description of another new species for this state reinforces the need for further taxonomic work with Phyllodytes in this region that has been revealed as a priority area for research and conservation of this genus.

Cis-regulatory elements are important factors for morphological changes. Here, the authors show widespread divergence of limb and eye regulatory elements in limb loss in snakes and eye degeneration in subterranean mammals respectively.

Geographic variation in the morphology of the sand-dwelling lizard Nothobachia ablephara (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae). Nothobachia ablephara is a small microteiid lizard with an elongated body and reduced limbs; it occurs in isolated dune felds in the state of Bahia (Xique-Xique and Alagoado) and small sandy patches in northeastern Brazil. A previous molecular study found a marked mtDNA divergence between populations of N. ablephara from Alagoado and Xique-Xique dunes, suggesting that the two populations diverged from one another between 3 and 4 million years ago. Given this isolation, it is interesting to explore whether morphological traits of the lizards refect the reported genetic divergence of the populations. Scale counts of the sexes and the populations differ signifcantly, but there is considerable overlap of values. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed signifcant morphometric variation between sexes and populations; however, this is mostly explained by size differences. Females are larger than males in all characters that are sexually dimorphic, and individuals from Xique-Xique are larger than those from Alagoado in all characters that vary geographically. The sample from Alagoado has more sexually dimorphic characters than the one from Xique-Xique. Although N. ablephara displays some geographical variation, the two populations could not be unequivocally distinguished by scale counts and morphometric data.

Rediscovering Cycloramphus bandeirensis (Anura: Cycloramphidae): natural history and breeding biology of a vulnerable species with a variant reproductive mode. We present here data on the breeding biology of Cycloramphus bandeirensis, including descriptions of the advertisement call and tadpole. Males call from beneath rocks in open grasslands above approximately 2,450 m a.s.l. at the Parque Nacional do Caparaó, southeastern Brazil. Breeding occurs from late October–December, when mist and clouds frequently cover the area. The advertisement call consists of a frst note, followed by two or three shorter ones. The spawn is hidden under rocks from which the males call, and the tadpoles are exotrophic and semiterrestrial. This report of a semiterrestrial tadpole that develops in seclusion in a terrestrial habitat is a variant of Reproductive Mode 19. We compared the ontogeny of the semiterrestrial tadpole of C. bandeirensis to that of generalized tadpoles, and a new function is ascribed to the skin fap that is present in larvae of Cycloramphus. It is suggested that C. bandeirensis be transferred to Vulnerable category (VU, d2) of IUCN; the species has a small geographic range (< 20 km2 ), specialized environmental requirements, is vulnerable, has phylogenetic affnities to species that consistently have undergone local population crashes in southeastern Brazil, and is subject to plausible potential threats in its range (e.g., fres and climate change).

Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt & Luetken, 1861) is a microteiid lizard widely distributed in the open areas of South America. Little is known about its ecology and reproductive biology. Here, we analyzed aspects of the natural history of a population of M. maximiliani from a Cerrado area in the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. Our results suggest that the reproductive activity of M. maximiliani might be seasonal in the Cerrado, since reproductive females were observed only in the dry season, whereas reproductive males were present in both seasons. Vitellogenic follicles and oviductal eggs were found simultaneously in one female, suggesting that females may produce more than one clutch per season. Sexual dimorphism was observed in body shape, and individuals were mainly restricted to a typical savanna physiognomy. The diet consisted of small arthropods, including spiders, crickets and cockroaches as the most important items.

We describe a new species of Atractus from Serra do Cipó, at the southeastern versant of Serra do Espinhaço, an inland mountain range nearly parallel to the Brazilian Atlantic coast. The new species is morphologically similar to A. paraguayensis and A. potschi with which it shares: 15 dorsal scale rows; white occipital region in juvenile specimens; dorsal ground color reddish pink to red (in life) with alternate black transversal spots, blotches or transversal bands; seven upper and lower labial scales; ventrals and subcaudals creamish white; hemipenis slightly bilobed, semicapitate and semicalyculate. The new species differs from both taxa mainly on the basis of exclusive coloration characters (number and shape of transversal bands) and hemipenial morphology (median face of the lobes without ornamentation), besides punctual meristic (number of ventral scales and maxillary teeth) and morphometric (adult snout-vent length) differences. Finally, we provide a discussion regarding the potential affinities of the new species and we redefine some Atractus species groups in order to better accommodate species sharing unique combinations of morphological characters.Descrevemos uma nova espécie de Atractus da Serra do Cipó, na vertente sudeste da Serra do Espinhaço, uma cadeia montanhosa continental aproximadamente paralela à costa Atlântica brasileira. A nova espécie é morfologicamente similar a A. paraguayensis e A. potschi com as quais compartilha: 15 séries de escamas dorsais; região occipital branca em espécimes jovens; coloração dorsal de fundo variando de rosa avermelhado a vermelho (em vida) com pontuações, manchas e/ou bandas transversais pretas; sete supralabiais e infralabiais; ventrais e subcaudais creme esbranquiçado; hemipênis levemente bilobado, semicapitulado e semicaliculado. A nova espécie difere de ambos os táxons principalmente a partir de caracteres exclusivos de coloração (número e forma das bandas transversais), da morfologia hemipeniana (face mediana dos lobos sem ornamentação) além de diferenças merísticas (número de escamas ventrais e dentes maxilares) e morfométricas (comprimento rostro-cloacal dos adultos). Apresenta-se uma discussão sobre as possíveis afinidades da nova espécie e redefinem-se alguns grupos de espécies de Atractus no sentido de acomodar melhor as espécies que compartilham combinações únicas de caracteres morfológicos.

This work was carried out with the main objective of sampling the herpetofauna of a Cerrado site in the state of Piauí, Brazil, that is influenced by neighboring biomes and one of the least known regions of the domain. The herpetofauna of the different habitats present at Estação Ecológica de Uruçuí-Una (EEUU) was sampled intensively during three campaigns (two during the wet season and one during the dry season). We recorded 90 species, 64 reptiles and 26 anurans, a high local richness when compared to other well-sampled localities of the Cerrado. The rarefaction curve for both anurans and lizards shows that the observed richness is close to real and the richness estimators indicate that undetected species should be added with higher sampling effort. Analysis of co-occurrence shows that the species are not randomly distributed in the landscape, indicating that they use preferentially particular types of habitat. Despite being located in a transitional area and influenced by neighboring biomes, the cluster analysis of similarity suggests that the herpetofauna of the EEUU is typical of the Cerrado. Thereby, the results of this study indicate that the EEUU presents a rich herpetofauna that plays an important role in the conservation of a regional faunistic pool.

Information is presented on the reproductive biology, habitat, behavior, morphology, and variation in advertisement call in Zachaenus carvalhoi, a rare frog for which basic natural history data are lacking. The species inhabits forest leaf litter in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil. Reproductive individuals were found from October to December; females are slightly larger than males. The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists Zachaenus carvalhoi as Data Deficient. We suggest transferring the species to the Near Threatened category based on the IUCN criteria A2 because of the decline of the size and quality of its severely fragmented habitat

The karyotype of Amphisbaena ridleyi, an endemic species of the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, in State of Pernambuco, Brazil, is described after conventional staining, Ag-NOR impregnation and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a telomeric probe. The diploid number is 46, with nine pairs of macrochromosomes (three metacentrics, four subtelocentrics and two acrocentrics) and 14 pairs of microchromosomes. The Ag-NOR is located in the telomeric region of the long arm of metacentric chromosome 2 and FISH revealed signals only in the telomeric region of all chromosomes. Further cytogenetic data on other amphisbaenians as well as a robust phylogenetic hypothesis of this clade is needed in order to understand the evolutionary changes on amphisbaenian karyotypes.

Eight species of the Neotropical genus Leptodactylus were karyologically studied: seven of them (L. gracilis, L. mystacinus,L. petersii, L. pustulatus, L. macrosternum, L. ocellatus, L. labyrinthicus) presented 2n=22 and L. silvanimbus showed a distinctive karyotype with 2n=24. Nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) were detected in two different pairs of chromosomes: pair 4 at the proximal region of the long arm of one individual of L. mystacinus from São Paulo state and of L. petersii; and pair 8 of all other species (located terminally at the short arm of L. silvanimbus, L. ocellatus, L. macrosternum, L. pustulatus, and L. labyrinthicus; interstitially at the short arm in L. gracilis; and at the long arm in L. mystacinus from Mato Grosso state). The diploid number reported here for L. silvanimbus shared with Scythrophrys and Paratelmatobius could represent the ancestral chromosome number for Leptodactylus (sensu Frost et al. 2006); in this case the 2n=22 karyotypes would then represent the derivative condition for the genus. Nevertheless, the distinctive karyotype of L. silvanimbus lead us to preclude a final decision on its relationships. Additional studies including morphological and molecular approaches are needed in order to clarify the phylogenetic position of L. silvanimbus.

A new species of lizard genus Enyalius is described from Fazenda Caraibas, municipality of Mucugê, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, in the northern portion of the Serra do Espinhaço. It is characterized by an almost straight canthal ridge, a distinctive enlarged subocular, ventral scales and infradigital lamellae smooth, tail length varying between 2.02-2.18 times snout-vent length, 54-63 vertebral scales between occiput and base of tail, 144-167 paravertebral scales between occiput and base of tail, 44-47 transverse rows of ventrals between posterior level of forelimbsand anterior level of hindlimbs, 52-66 scales at mid-body between middle of venter and crest, 17-18 and 25-28 infradigital lamellae, respectively under Finger IV and Toe IV, 23-27 scales along dorsal surface of tibia, and 33-40 gular scales between mental and collar. The new species is sexually dichromatic with males being brightly colored with a series of six very conspicuous transverse wide black dorsal bands on body separated by deep orange light areas and females dull colored with a pattern of irregular dark or light brown longitudinal stripes. The new species was obtained at Serra do Sincorá, state of Bahia, Brazil, in low, thin, and dense semidecidual forests situated around 1000m altitude, near the headwaters of the Rio Paraguaçu. Character distribution in Enyalius is discussed, the presently recognized subspecies of Enyalius catenatus are elevated to full species status and a key to the current species of Enyalius is presented.

We studied the signaling, reproductive and courtship behaviors of the diurnal stream-dwelling frog Hylodes dactylocinus. The repertoire of visual signals of H. dactylocinus includes foot-flagging, leg-stretching, body movements, and toe-wiggling. The visual signals are performed only by males and are used to defend territories against intruders and to attract females. Home rangesize varied from 0.12 to 13.12 m2 for males (N = 44), and from 0.45 to 7.98 m2 for females (N = 24); residency time varied from one to 12 months for males, and from two to 10 months for females. During the courtship of H. dactylocinus the male gives an encounter call towards an approaching female, touches her snout, and guides her to a previously dug nest. After oviposition, the female leaves the nest and returns to her own home range; the male remains calling after concealing the nest entrance.

Cytogenetic studies were performed on five closely related microteiid lizards (Gymnophthalmini), three Calyptommatus species and Psilophthalmus paeminosus from the sand dunes of the middle São Francisco river in the semiarid caatinga of the Brazilian state of Bahia and Tretioscincus oriximinensis from the Brazilian Amazon region. The diploid chromosome number in Calyptommatus species was 2n = 58 in females and 2n = 57 in males due to a multiple X1X1X2X2:X1X2Y sex chromosomes system, while P. paeminosus was 2n = 44 (20M+24m): where M = macrochromosomes and m = microchromosomes) and T. oriximinensis 2n = 42 (18M+24m). A single pair of silver staining nucleolar organizing regions (Ag-NORs) characterizes all five species. Incorporation of 5-BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine) followed by replication R-banding (RBG) karyotyping allowed the identification of the larger pairs of chromosomes through longitudinal bands and the late replicating regions. Our data reinforce the remarkable chromosomal variability that has been found in the Gymnophthalmidae and the importance of using differential staining for comparative cytogenetics within this group of lizards. Chromosomal evolution in Gymnophthalmini seems to have included chromosomal fission and fusion, pericentric inversions and variation in the amount and localization of constitutive heterochromatin and the Ag-NOR pattern. Different mechanisms of sex determination also evolved independently in this radiation.

Amphisbaena ibijara sp. nov. is described from Urbano Santos (Fazenda Santo Amaro), state of Maranhão, Brazil. The new species is a small amphisbaenian with four precloacal pores, nasals in broad contact at midline, no major fusions at head scales, 239-250 body annuli, 23-25 caudal annuli, and 14-16 dorsal and 14-16 ventral segments per annuli at midbody. Other attributes of the new species are: suture between frontals slightly smaller than parietal suture and much longe than nasal suture, three supralabials (the first being the smallest) second infralabial the largest and much larger than postmental, two rows of postgenials, and absence of a postmolar row.

Leposoma puk, a new species of the scincoides group is described from the Atlantic forests of southern state of Bahia, Brazil. The new species is characterized by a single frontonasal; elongate dorsal and lanceolate ventral scales arranged in diagonal rows; weakly striated or smooth scales on top of head; a longer than wide interparietal, with almost straight lateral margins; 17-18 pores; third supraocular the largest one, wider than long and clearly rectangular in shape; a suture between frontal and frontoparietal scales coincident with the middle of the third supraocular; and, a black pigmentation in the venter or along venter margins in males. The discovery of this new species, sympatric with Leposoma annectans, L. nanodactylus, and L. scincoides ranks the Atlantic Rainforest region of Southern Bahia first in species diversity for the genus. Zoogeography and speciation of Leposoma of the scincoides group are discussed.Leposoma puk, uma nova espécie do grupo scincoides é descrita para a região da mata Atlântica do sul da Bahia, Brasil. A nova espécie é caracterizada por apresentar: frontonasal simples; escamas dorsais alongadas e ventrais lanceoladas dispostas em fileiras diagonais; escamas do topo da cabeça lisas ou levemente estriadas; interparietal mais longa que larga, com margens laterais quase paralelas; 17-18 poros; terceira supraocular mais larga que longa e a maior da área supraocular; sutura entre a frontal e frontoparietal coincidente com a região mediana da terceira supraocular; e machos com pigmentação negra no ventre ou ao longo da região paraventral. A descoberta desta nova espécie, simpátrica com Leposoma annectans, L. nanodactylus, e L. scincoides torna a região da mata atlântica do sul da Bahia a área com a maior diversidade local de espécies do gênero. Discutem-se alguns aspectos sobre a zoogeografia e a especiação de Leposoma do grupo scincoides.

A new species of a small typhlopid snake is described from Ibiraba, in the sand- dune area of the left bank of Rio São Francisco, State of Bahia, Brazil. Typhlops amoipira sp. nov. is a small, light brown, and slightly pigmented Typhlops characterized by an incomplete nasal suture,18 scale rows around the body (SAB), and 212-242 dorsal scales. The geographic and morphologically closer species, Typhlops yonenagae (18 SAB, 259-291 dorsals) lives in the same area, in the sands of the opposite side of the river.Descreve-se uma nova espécie de Typhlops de Ibiraba, no campo de dunas da margem esquerda do Rio São Francisco, Bahia, Brasil. Typhlops amoipira sp. nov. é um pequeno tiflopídeo castanho claro, pouco pigmentado, caracterizado por apresentar 18 fileiras de escamas ao redor do corpo e 212 a 242 dorsais. A espécie geográfica e morfologicamente mais próxima, Typhlops yonenagae, ocorre na mesma área, nas areias da margem oposta do rio e, embora também tenha 18 fileiras de escamas ao redor do corpo, apresenta 259 a 291 escamas dorsais.

Foi estudada a utilização de sítios reprodutivos e de vocalização em uma taxocenose de anuros do Parque Estadual Intervales, uma reserva de Mata Atlântica localizada no sudeste do Brasil (24°12' - 24°25' S, 48°03' - 48°30' W). Os trabalhos de campo foram desenvolvidos entre abril de 1990 e março de 1991. Na área de estudo, foram registradas 47 espécies pertencentes a quatro famílias: Bufonidae (4), Hylidae (24), Leptodactylidae (18) e Microhylidae (1). Foram obtidos dados sobre a distribuição dos hábitats reprodutivos e dos micro-habitats de vocalização para 26 espécies por meio do monitoramento mensal de seis corpos d'água ao longo de um ciclo anual. O número de espécies que utilizaram um determinado hábitat variou de 7 a 22. As espécies foram classificadas como generalistas ou especialistas. A maioria das espécies mostrou preferência por determinados sítios de vocalização. Para algumas espécies, a especificidade por sítios de vocalização pareceu depender da densidade de machos emitindo canto nupcial e não da composição de espécies das agregações reprodutivas.Breeding and calling site utilization were studied for an anuran community of the Parque Estadual Intervales, an Atlantic Rainforest reserve located in Southeastern Brazil (24°12'-24°25'S, 48°03'-48°30'W). Field work was carried out between April 1990 and March 1991. Forty-seven species from four families were recorded in the study site: Bufonidae (4), Hylidae (24), Leptodactylidae (18), and Microhylidae (1). We were able to obtain data on breeding habitat and microhabitat distribution for 26 species by monitoring six breeding sites year-round on a monthly basis. The number of species in the sites varied from 7 to 22. Species were classified as habitat generalists and specialists based on breeding site utilization. Most species showed preferences for certain calling sites. For some species calling site specificity seemed to depend on the density of the male aggregations rather than on the species composition of the assemblages.

Amphisbaena arda sp. nov. is described based on a specimen obtained at Mocambo do Vento, on the left bank of the São Francisco river, Bahia state, Brazil. A. arda is a medium size amphisbaenian with a checkered black and white color pattern similar to the one present in the fuliginosa group but differing from that by having a lighter pigmentation, an uniformly white ventral surface, and by several other important morphological characters. A. arda is similar to Amphisbaena vermicularis in meristic characters currently used to assist amphisbaenian identification but can be separated from it by its color pattern, its flatter cephalic shields, and by the more ventral position of the nostril.

Leposoma annectans Ruibal, 1952 is resurrected from synonymy with Leposoma scincoides (Spix, 1825). Both were obtained syntopically, along with new specimens of Leposoma nanodactylus, from remaining Atlantic forests of the State of Bahia. Leposoma annectans differs from Leposoma scincoides by having a posteriorly enlarged interparietal with slightly concave and divergent lateral margins; parietals as long as large and shorter than interparietal; by the presence of a small scale separating third pair of chinshiels from infralabials; by presenting a large and almost squarish third supraocular; by the presence of sharp striations in the ventral part of head; and, by its shorter body size and relative tail length. Additionally it differs from L. scincoides by having a lower number of dorsal and ventral scales, fewer scales around body, fewer fourth finger and toe infradigital lamellae and, a lower total number of pores. The highly skewed sex-ratio towards males in large samples of Leposoma annectans and L. scincoides suggests that a temperature sex determination mechanism (TSD) could be the mode of sex determination in these species. Populations of reptiles with TSD mechanisms may be more prone to extinction due to skewed sex ratios caused by increased temperatures in disturbed tropical forests.

Among a series of eight specimens of Anolis phyllorhinus obtained in the northern part of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, one was determined to be the first female known for the species and the first so far reported for proboscid anoles. The female lacks the characteristic male proboscis and, excepting a few consistent differences, is morphologically similar to females of Anolis punctatus, a species closely related and broadly sympatric with A. phyllorhinus. Males and females of the new series are described and new data on their ecology and behavior presented. The new data are consistent with the hypotheses that the male proboscis probably evolved as a sexual signal and that visual signals for intra and interspecific recognition are redundant in anoles.Em uma série de 8 exemplares de Anolis phyllorhinus coletados em Aripuanã, no norte do estado de Mato Grosso encontra-se a primeira fêmea da espécie, que também vem a ser a primeira fêmea conhecida para os anolis dotados de apêndice nasal. A fêmea não apresenta a probóscide característica dos machos e, exceto por pequenas diferenças, embora consistentes, é morfologicamente muito semelhante às fêmeas de Anolis punctatus, espécie relacionada e amplamente simpátrica com Anolis phyllorhinus. Descrevem-se os machos e a fêmea da nova série, acrescidos de informações obtidas no campo sobre sua ecologia e comportamento. Os novos dados, concordam com hipóteses anteriores sugerindo que a probóscide do macho possívelmente evoluiu como um sinal sexual e que os sinais visuais para reconhecimento intra e interespecífico são redundantes no gênero Anolis.

Obituary for a Brazilian herpetologist

Much of the debate around speciation and historical biogeography has focused on the role of stabilizing selection on the physiological (abiotic) niche, emphasizing how isolation and vicariance, when associated with niche conservatism, may drive tropical speciation. Yet, recent re-emphasis on the ecological dimensions of speciation points to a more prominent role of divergent selection in driving genetic, phenotypic, and niche divergence. The Vanishing Refuge Model (VRM), first described by Vanzolini and Williams in 1981, describes a process of diversification through climate-driven habitat fragmentation and exposure to new environments, integrating both vicariance and divergent selection. This model suggests that dynamic climates and peripheral isolates can lead to genetic and functional (i.e., ecological and phenotypic) diversity, resulting in sister taxa that occupy contrasting habitats with abutting distributions. Here, we provide predictions for populations undergoing divergence according to the VRM that encompass habitat dynamics, phylogeography, and phenotypic differentiation across populations. Such integrative analyses can, in principle, differentiate the operation of the VRM from other speciation models. We applied these principles to a lizard species, Coleodactylus meridionalis, which was used to illustrate the model in the original paper. We incorporate data on inferred historic habitat dynamics, phylogeography and thermal physiology to test for divergence between coastal and inland populations in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Environmental and genetic analyses are concordant with divergence through the VRM, yet physiological data are not. We emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to test this and alternative speciation models while seeking to explain the extraordinarily high genetic and phenotypic diversity of tropical biomes.

Species distributed across vast continental areas and across major biomes provide unique model systems for studies of biotic diversification, yet also constitute daunting financial, logistic and political challenges for data collection across such regions. The tree frog Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) is a nominal species, continentally distributed in South America, that may represent a complex of multiple species, each with a more limited distribution. To understand the spatial pattern of molecular diversity throughout the range of this species complex, we obtained DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the 16S rhibosomal gene (16S) for 407 samples of D. minutus and closely related species distributed across eleven countries, effectively comprising the entire range of the group. We performed phylogenetic and spatially explicit phylogeographic analyses to assess the genetic structure of lineages and infer ancestral areas. We found 43 statistically supported, deep mitochondrial lineages, several of which may represent currently unrecognized distinct species. One major clade, containing 25 divergent lineages, includes samples from the type locality of D. minutus. We defined that clade as the D. minutus complex. The remaining lineages together with the D. minutus complex constitute the D. minutus species group. Historical analyses support an Amazonian origin for the D. minutus species group with a subsequent dispersal to eastern Brazil where the D. minutus complex originated. According to our dataset, a total of eight mtDNA lineages have ranges >100,000 km2. One of them occupies an area of almost one million km2 encompassing multiple biomes. Our results, at a spatial scale and resolution unprecedented for a Neotropical vertebrate, confirm that widespread amphibian species occur in lowland South America, yet at the same time a large proportion of cryptic diversity still remains to be discovered.

Uma extensa revisão taxonômica das espécies do grupo Rhinella granulosa foi realizada com base em caracteres morfológicos externos e caracteres morfométricos. Foram analisados 8700 exemplares depositados em 35 coleções nacionais e estrangeiras, representando 865 localidades. Doze espécies foram reconhecidas para o grupo, uma delas descrita como nova; são elas: Rhinella granulosa (Nordeste do Brasil), R. pygmaea (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil), R. bergi (Paraguai, Noroeste da Argentina, e Mato Grosso, Brasil), R. major (Argentina, Bolívia, Paraguai, e Norte e Oeste do Brasil), R. mirandaribeiroi (Brasil Central e Bolívia), R. azarai (Província de Misiones, Argentina, Paraguai, e Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil), R. nattereri (Venezuela, Guiana e Roraima, Brasil), R. fernandezae (Argentina, Uruguai, Paraguai, e Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil), R. dorbignyi (Província de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Uruguai, e Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil), R. merianae (Venezuela, Suriname, Guiana, e Amazonas e Roraima, Brasil), R. humboldti (Colômbia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guiana e Trinidad), R. centralis sp. n. (Panamá). Caracteres morfológicos externos, como formato da cabeça e do focinho, tipo de cristas cefálicas, tamanho do tímpano, tamanho e formato das glândulas parotóides e granulação cutânea, são alguns dos atributos utilizados na identificação das espécies. Diagnose comparativa, descrição e sumário de distribuição são fornecidos para cada espécie, assim como uma chave artificial para identificação das espécies do grupo. A distribuição geográfica das espécies de Rhinella está amplamente associada às formações abertas da América do Sul e Panamá.

Using a principal components analysis of morphological data of 1,759 specimens, we detected that the Bothrops neuwiedi complex (with 12 subspecies) is, actually, comprised of 7 full species, differing mainly by qualitative characteristics. One species was nominal. Five subspecies were elevated to the species level. Bothrops iglesiasi and the remaining B. neuwiedi subspecies entered in the synonymy of these six species. A new species is described. The new classification includes: Bothrops neuwiedi (synonyms: B. n. goyazensis, B. n. meridionalis, B. n. paranaensis and B. n. urutu), B. diporus, B. lutzi (synonyms: B. n. neuwiedi, B. n. piauhyensis and B. iglesiasi), B. mattogrossensis (synonym: B. n. bolivianus), B. pauloensis, B. pubescens, and the new species. This new species is characterized by stippled supralabials, instead of the conspicuous supralabial blotches present in other species of this complex. It is further characterized by an inconspicuous postorbital stripe and by 15-27 white-edged trapezoidal dorsolateral dark blotches throughout the body, 5-9 intersupraoculars (usually 7), 1-2 rows of small scales between the subocular and fourth supralabial, 8-9 supralabials (rarely 7 or 10), prelacunal separated from second supralabial, 9-13 infralabials (usually 10-11), 21-26 midbody dorsal scale rows (usually 23), 157-181 ventrals in males, 158-182 ventrals in females, 41-50 divided subcaudals in males, 37-47 in females. The pair of spots at the base of the dorsolateral blotches, typical of the B. neuwiedi complex, is generally diffuse, conferring to the whole blotch the aspect of a transverse saddle. The stippled aspect of the supralabials also appears in other scales throughout the rest of the body. This color pattern and the diffuse borders of the blotches confer a marbled pattern to this snake. We compare the new species with all related congeners, provide comments upon its distribution, and present an artificial identification key for the species of B. neuwiedi complex.