title: Geographical and altitudinal distribution ofBrachycephalus(Anura: Brachycephalidae) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.
abstract: Mountains of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest can act as islands of cold and wet climate, leading to the isolation and speciation of species with low dispersal capacity, such as the toadlet species of the genusBrachycephalus. This genus is composed primarily by diurnal species, with miniaturized body sizes (<2.5 cm), inhabiting microhabitats in the leaf litter of montane forests. Still, little is known about the geographical distribution, altitudinal range, and ecological limits of mostBrachycephalusspecies. In this study, we review the available data on the geographical and altitudinal distribution ofBrachycephalusbased on occurrence records compiled from literature and museums, both for the genus as a whole and separately for the three recently proposed groups of species (ephippium,didactylus, andpernix). The final ensemble dataset comprised 333 records, 120 localities, 28 described species, and six undescribed ones. Species were recorded in six relief units, the richest of which being the Serra do Mar, with 30 species. When the Serra do Mar is subdivided into three subunits, Northern, Central and Southern Serra do Mar, the number of species increase from north to the south, with records of six, nine, and 16 species, respectively. We were able to estimate the extent of occurrence of nearly half of the described species, and the resulting estimates indicate that many of them show remarkably small ranges, some of which less than 50 ha.Brachycephalusspecies are present from sea level to roughly 1,900 m a.s.l., with the highest richness being found between 751 and 1,000 m a.s.l. (21 spp.). The species with the broadest altitudinal range wereB. didactylus(1,075 m) andBrachycephalussp. 1 (1,035 m), both in thedidactylusgroup, andB. ephippium(1,050 m), of theephippiumgroup. The broadest altitudinal amplitude for species of thepernixgroup was recorded forB. brunneus(535 m). The lowest altitudinal records for thepernixgroup were at 845 m a.s.l. in the state of Paraná and at 455 m a.s.l. in the state of Santa Catarina. The altitudinal occurrence in thepernixspecies group seems to decrease southward. Syntopy between species is also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil; Mater Natura-Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bornschein
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná , Curitiba , Paraná , Brazil.
authors.forename: Carina R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Firkowski
authors.affiliation: Mater Natura-Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belmonte-Lopes
authors.affiliation: Mater Natura-Instituto de Estudos Ambientais , Curitiba , Paraná , Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Mater Natura-Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Escola de Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: STCP Engenharia de Projetos Ltda. , Curitiba , Paraná , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio A A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morato
authors.affiliation: Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C. , Xalapa, Veracruz , Mexico.
authors.forename: Reuber L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Antoniazzi
authors.affiliation: Mater Natura-Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Laboratório de Biodiversidade, Conservação e Ecologia de Animais Silvestres, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreas L S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná , Curitiba , Paraná , Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cini
authors.affiliation: Mater Natura-Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pie
keywords: Cloud forest; Extent of occurrence; Highlands; Relief units; Species group; Syntopy