A new species ofBrachycephalus(Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil.
A new species ofBrachycephalus(Anura: Brachycephalidae) is described from the Atlantic Forest of northeastern state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Nine specimens (eight adults and a juvenile) were collected from the leaf litter of montane forests 790-835 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The new species is a member of thepernixgroup by its bufoniform shape and the absence of dermal co-ossification and is distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of its general coloration (dorsal region of head, dorsum, legs, arms, and flanks light, brownish green to dark, olive green, with darker region in the middle of the dorsum and a white line along the vertebral column in most specimens) and by its smooth dorsum. The geographical distribution of the new species is highly reduced (extent of occurrence estimated as 25.04 ha, or possibly 34.37 ha). In addition, its habitat has experienced some level of degradation, raising concerns about the future conservation of the species. Preliminary density estimates suggest one calling individual every 3-4 m2at 815-835 m a.s.l. and every 100 m2at 790 m a.s.l. Together with the recently describedB. boticarioandB. fuscolineatus, the new species is among the southernmost species ofBrachycephalusknown to date.
Campus do Litoral Paulista, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil; Mater Natura - Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Marcos R
MR
Bornschein
Mater Natura - Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Escola de Ciências da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Luiz F
LF
Ribeiro
University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History , Gainesville , FL , USA.
David C
DC
Blackburn
University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History , Gainesville , FL , USA.
Edward L
EL
Stanley
Mater Natura - Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil.
Marcio R
MR
Pie
Abundance; Atlantic Rainforest; Conservation; Microcomputed tomography; Microendemism; Montane forest; Serra do Mar