A new species ofBrachycephalus(Anura: Brachycephalidae) from Santa Catarina, southern Brazil

Abstract

A new species of Brachycephalus (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 the pernix group 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 m2 at 815–835 m a.s.l. and every 100 m2 at 790 m a.s.l. Together with the recently described B. boticario and B. fuscolineatus, the new species is among the southernmost species of Brachycephalus known to date.

New record of Brachycephalus fuscolineatus Pie, Bornschein, Firkowski, Belmonte-Lopes & Ribeiro, 2015 (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from Santa Catarina state, Brazil

“…We then estimated the area of the polygon using GEPath v. 1.4.5. We classified the area of the polygon as "extent of occurrence" or "area of occupancy" (IUCN 2012) in accordance with the distribution pattern of calling males (Bornschein et al 2016b), as homogenously distributed through the area (= area of occupancy) or patchily distributed (= extent of occurrence). We treated as patchily distributed locations in which we found patches with at least 2,500 m 2 without records of calling males between patches with records of calling males that were just as large as or even larger.…”

“…We estimated calling males density of B. fuscoli neatus as Bornschein et al (2016b), Ribeiro et al (2017), and Pie et al (2018a). We walked slowly in the forest for about 0.5 h, listening for individuals.…”

“…During the last decades, our efforts were focused on the study and conservation of mountain fauna, with the description of new species (e.g. Langone et al 2008, Maurício et al 2014, Ribeiro et al 2015, Bornschein et al 2016b, Pie et al 2018a), proposition of phylogenetic arrangements and biogeographic processes (e.g. Firkowski et al 2016, Pulido-Santacruz et al 2016, Maurício and Bornschein 2017, Pie et al 2018b, and novelties of species distribution (e.g.…”

Consequences of dispersal limitation and habitat fragmentation for the Brazilian heart‐tongued frogs (Phyllodytes spp.)

“…Phyllodytes is not unique in isolation and endemism, and other species of frogs of the Atlantic Forest are also isolated and endemic, often in habitat fragments found at higher elevations (Bornschein et al . ,b).…”

Anuran amphibians in state of Paraná, southern Brazil

“…The species of this genus are found on the eastern coast of Brazil between the states of Bahia, in the northeast, and Santa Catarina, in the south (Frost 2017), with most occurring at altitudes of over 600 m in the Serra do Mar (Ribeiro et al 2005, Alves et al 2006. Many of these species have been described recently (Garey et al 2012b, Ribeiro et al 2015, 2017, Bornschein et al 2016a, which emphasizes the importance of surveys in the least well-known remnants of Atlantic Forest, which are often found in relatively inaccessible areas of high altitude. The biodiversity corridors of the Atlantic Forest -the Central Atlantic Forest corridor, the Serra do Mar corridor, and the Northeast corridor (Rocha et al 2003) -contain a considerable number of endemic vertebrates, including anuran amphibians, and the coast of Paraná is located within the largest continuous remnant of Atlantic Forest, which is part of the Serra do Mar corridor (Câmara 2005), which implies that the state may have more endemic anurans than currently known.…”