The leaf or monkey frogs of the hylid subfamily Phyllomedusinae are a unique group of charismatic anurans. We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis that includes 45 of the 60 species of phyllomedusines using up to 12 genes and intervening tRNAs. The aims were to gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic position of Phrynomedusa, test the monophyly and explore the relationships among several putative lineages (Hylomantis, the H. buckleyi Group, Phasmahyla, the four species groups of Phyllomedusa, and the species of Phyllomedusa that remain unassigned to any group), and to examine the implications of our phylogeny for the evolution of several characters in phyllomedusines. The analyses resulted in a well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis that provides a historical framework for a discussion of the evolution of characters associated with reproductive biology, gliding behaviour, the physiology of waterproofing, and bioactive peptides. Implications include an earlier origin for eggless capsules than for leaf-folding behaviour during amplexus, two independent origins of gliding, and an earlier origin of reduction in evaporative water loss than uricotelism, which is a result that originally was predicted on the basis of physiology alone. Furthermore, our results support the prediction that bioactive peptides from different peptide families are to be expected in all species of Phyllomedusinae. Hylomantis (as recently redefined) is shown to be paraphyletic and the synonymy of Agalychnis is revised to remedy this problem by including both Hylomantis and Pachymedusa.

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We describe a new species of flea-toad related to Brachycephalus didactylus and B. hermogenesi from the Serra Bonita mountain, an Atlantic rainforest remnant in the Municipality of Camacan, State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, constituting the northernmost record of the genus. Brachycephalus pulex sp. nov. is mainly diagnosed by the toe II externally absent, the toe V vestigial, fingers I and IV externally absent, and an inverted depigmented v-shaped mark on chest bordered above by a dark brown stripe on each side.

The range of the genus Chiasmocleis found in the south-eastern and southern parts of the Atlantic rainforest of eastern Brazil, is expanded to the north-eastern region. Chiasmocleis alagoanus sp. nov. is described from two localities in the State of Alagoas. It is characterized by: medium size (snout±vent length 25.5±27.8 mm in females, 22.7±23.4 mm in males); snout short, tip truncate in dorsal and rounded in lateral pro®le; hand and foot not webbed; ®ngers and toes without lateral dermal spines; dorsal and ventral surfaces of body and limbs smooth, without dermal spines; colour on dorsum uniformly dark brown; venter roughly marbled in dark brown and pale cream.

ABSTRACT. T flXONOMIC NOTES ON P SEUDIS FUSCA Gfl RMflN fiNO P . BOLBOD.1CTYLA A. LUTZ, W ITH OESCRlPTION 01' A NEW CORRELATED SPECIES (ANURA, PSEUOIDAE). The taxonomic status of Pseudisfusca Garman and P. bo/bodac tyla A. Lutz is revalidated, and here they are considered fllll species. The rediscovely of P.Jusca is related, and a redescription of the species is presented. The redescription, the designation of the lectotype, and the description of the tadpole of P. bolbodactyla are provided. Pseudis locanlins sp.n. is described from the Tocantins river basin. The geographical distriblltion of these three species is discllssed.