Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diego J. Santana, Leandro Alves da Silva, Anathielle Caroline Sant'Anna, Donald B. Shepard, Sarah Mangia
Summary: A new species of Proceratophrys from southern Amazonia in Brazil has been described based on differences in morphology, male advertisement call, and genetic distance. This new species is most similar to P. concavitympanum and P. ararype but can be distinguished by its larger eyes and unique features of the advertisement call. The species is only known from its type locality and faces threats from illegal activities and development projects.
Article
Zoology
Diego Jose Santana, Sarah Mangia, Suelen da Silva Alves Saccol, Tiago Gomes dos Santos
Summary: The newly discovered Proceratophrys species has a small size and unique characteristics, with potential occurrences in other areas along the Campos Gerais of Parana, Brazil.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Facundo Deforel, Ana Sofia Duport-Bru, Sergio Daniel Rosset, Diego Baldo, Florencia Vera Candioti
Summary: The study examined the osteological variation and proposed synapomorphies of the genus Melanophryniscus. It found that most skeletal traits within the genus are fairly conserved, with main variations related to changes in body size and proportions of postcranial elements. The nasal region of the Melanophryniscus tumifrons group was highlighted as distinctive, while features considered diagnostic of the genus were found in other early branching bufonids as well, challenging earlier discussions on putative synapomorphies.
HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Cassio Zocca, Ricardo Lourenco-de-Moraes, Felipe S. Campos, Rodrigo B. Ferreira
Summary: Phylogenetic signals were used to assess the antipredator mechanisms of the horned frog Proceratophrys laticeps and its closely related species. The study found high similarity in antipredator mechanisms within Proceratophrys, providing new insights into the behavioral ecology of Proceratophrys species and revealing the evolutionary trajectory of ecological traits in amphibians.
ACTA HERPETOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Joern Koehler, Ernesto Castillo-Urbina, Cesar Aguilar-Puntriano, Miguel Vences, Frank Glaw
Summary: This study investigates the taxonomic status of the strabomantid frog species Pristimantis nebulosus from Peru. The study provides evidence of the conspecificity of the holotype and freshly collected topotypes through morphological comparison. Molecular phylogenetic analysis places P. nebulosus in the P. conspicillatus species group, closely related to P. bipunctatus and an undescribed candidate species from Cordillera de Carpish. The study also describes and names the closely related candidate species and discusses cryptic species diversity in the P. conspicillatus and P. danae species groups.
ZOOSYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Ninda L. Baptista, Pedro Vaz Pinto, Chad Keates, Javier Lobon-Rovira, Shelley Edwards, Mark-Oliver Roedel
Summary: This study identified three new lineages of the pygmy toad genus Poyntonophrynus, two of which were described as new species. These new species are closely related to known species but geographically isolated. The study also highlighted the importance of Angolan centers of endemism and the ecological variability of these toads.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mark-Oliver Roedel, Francois S. Becker, Bertha Buiswalelo, Werner Conradie, Alan Channing
Summary: In this study, we use genetic sequences and morphology to re-evaluate the taxonomy of Bufo vertebralis grindleyi and Bufo jordani. Based on our results and comparisons to related species, we elevate both taxa to full species status as Poyntonophrynus grindleyi and Poyntonophrynus jordani, respectively. Additionally, we report the first record of P. grindleyi in Mozambique.
Article
Zoology
Jakob von Tschirnhaus, Claudio Correa
Summary: Telmatobius halli was rediscovered at its type locality of Mino, originating from the Loa River, in Chile. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that T. halli, T. dankoi, and T. vilamensis form a clade. The few phenotypic differences between these species are proposed to be based on characteristics that vary widely within populations, suggesting their conspecificity.
Article
Zoology
Karina Nunez, Marta Dure, Griselda Zarate, Fatima Ortiz, Medes Mendoza
Summary: The Paraguayan toad is a native species found in the central grasslands of eastern Paraguay, categorized as Vulnerable nationally. The study analyzed the diet composition of the species and found that ants, mites, and beetles were the main prey items, with prey volume positively correlated with toad size. This highlights the importance of these arthropods as food sources for the Paraguayan toad.
HERPETOLOGICAL CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Renan B. dos Reis, Juliano Ferrer, Weferson J. da Graca
Summary: This study aimed to describe a new species, Cambeva cauim, endemic to the Rio Iguacu basin in Brazil, and to redescribe Cambeva stawiarski using morphological data. Both species are mainly diagnosed by caudal-fin rays, coloration, and other morphometric characters. They, along with eight other congeners, are endemic to the Rio Iguacu basin, a region with high biodiversity impact.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martin O. Pereyra, Boris L. Blotto, Diego Baldo, Juan C. Chaparro, Santiago R. Ron, Agustin J. Elias-Costa, Patricia P. Iglesias, Pablo J. Venegas, Maria Tereza C. Thome, Jhon Jairo Ospina-Sarria, Natan M. Maciel, Marco Rada, Francisco Kolenc, Claudio Borteiro, Mauricio Rivera-Correa, Fernando J. M. Rojas-Runjaic, Jiri Moravec, Ignacio de la Riva, Ward C. Wheeler, Santiago Castroviejo-Fisher, Taran Grant, Celio F. B. Haddad, Julian Faivovich
Summary: The study conducted phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological data of the genus Rhinella, revealing its nonmonophyletic nature but becoming monophyletic after excluding certain species, forming two major clades. The research defined eight species groups, synonymized some species, reclassified subspecies, and suggested potential undescribed species. The findings also discussed hybridization, mitochondrial introgression, incomplete phenotypic evidence, and the use of fossil records for divergence dating analyses.
BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Kathryn McCarthy, Ollie Shinn, Roberto Luna-Reyes, Joseph R. Mendelson
Summary: Based on examination of museum specimens, this study presents a redescription and new diagnosis for the rare frog species Incilius tacanensis. The species is limited to a small region of volcanic areas in southeastern Chiapas, Mexico, and adjacent parts of Guatemala. It has not been observed in the wild since 1984 and is believed to have been affected by regional epidemics of chytridiomycosis.
Article
Zoology
Leandro J. C. L. Moraes, Delio Baeta, Renata C. Amaro, Alexandre C. Martensen, Dante Pavan
Summary: This article reports the rediscovery of the rare phyllomedusid species P. appendiculata and presents new ecological, acoustic, and morphological data for this species. The authors found subtle intraspecific variations and inferred the phylogenetic relationships of P. appendiculata based on molecular data. The study also discusses factors influencing the rarity of this species and provides conservation perspectives.
Article
Zoology
Manuella Folly, Bruno B. Costa, Luiz F. Carmo, Angele Martins, Jose P. Pombal
Summary: This study provides a detailed developmental description of the skull and post-cranium osteology of Brachycephalus garbeanus. The results show that some skeletal elements are not fully developed after hatching, and complete bone formation and fusion occur at later developmental stages. The study also discusses the delayed skeletal development and the emergence of morphological novelties and structural simplifications in Brachycephalus.
ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Tomas Martinez Aguirre, Judit E. Dopazo, Agustina Cortelezzi, Maria Luz Arellano, Clara Trofino Falasco, Maria Veronica Simoy, Igor Berkunsky
Summary: Two new species of small-sized terrestrial toad belonging to the Melanophryniscus stelzneri group have been described from the Ventania and Tandilia Mountain Systems in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. They are characterized by a distinctive combination of features, including concealed tympanum and dark black dorsum, and should be categorized as threatened species due to local extinctions.
RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2021)
