A new species of Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1977 (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from the Japurá River basin, with a discussion of the diversity and distribution of the genus

Abstract

We describe and name the second species of Phyzelaphryne (Brachycephaloidea, Eleutherodactylidae), from northwestern Brazilian Amazonia. Phyzelaphryne nimio sp. nov. is distinguished from its only congener, Phyzelaphryne miriamae, by its smaller body size and the anatomy of the carpal and metacarpal regions, with relatively larger (sometimes fused) supernumerary carpal and metacarpal tubercles. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S rRNA and COI suggest that the currently known distribution of the species is restricted to its type locality and other areas within Estação Ecológica Juami-Japurá, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Based on molecular, morphological and bioacoustic evidence, we assigned other specimens recently collected in Parque Nacional do Jaú, state of Amazonas, Brazil, to P. miriamae, extending the species’ known geographic distribution north of the Amazon River.

How environmental factors affect the abundance and distribution of two congeneric species of Amazonian frogs

“…Phyzelaphryne miriamae (Figure 1a) has a wide distribution in the Amazon (Fouquet et al., 2012; Simões et al., 2018), and is commonly found in the litter of primary forests and with different degrees of disturbance, including regrowth. The species reaches approximately 20 mm in snout‐urostyle length, and males are territorial and vocalize mainly between 18:00 and 20:00 on decaying logs or litter clusters.…”

Amphibians and reptiles from a protected area in western Brazilian Amazonia (Reserva Extrativista do Baixo Juruá)

“…We compared the external morphology (morphometric and meristic characteristics, and coloration patterns) of specimens with original species' descriptions, dichotomous keys, geographically related inventories, and field guides (e.g., Peters & Donoso-Barros, 1986;Dixon et al, 1993;Ávila-Pires, 1995;Gascon, 1996, Lougheed et al, 1999, Gascon et al, 2000Morales, 2002;Peloso & Sturaro, 2008;Moravec et al, 2009;Souza, 2009;Angulo & Icochea, 2010;Maciel & Hoogmoed, 2011;Gordo et al, 2013;Brcko et al, 2013;Fouquet et al, 2014Peloso et al, 2014Peloso et al, , 2016Caminer & Ron, 2014, 2020Caminer et al, 2017;Rivadeneira et al, 2018;Simões et al, 2018;Cunha et al, 2019;Ferrão et al, 2020Ferrão et al, , 2022Sturaro et al, 2020;Magalhães et al, 2020;Rainha et al, 2021;Ribeiro-Júnior et al, 2021), as well as through direct comparisons with other voucher specimens deposited at INPA-H. Evidence for color in life were based on photographs taken during the expeditions of 2005-2007 and 2018. In some cases of the reappraisal of museum specimens, we rely on their external morphology data to determine their updated taxonomic status.…”

“…Several populations of small eleutherodactylids in lowland Amazonia are historically attributed to a single taxon of the genus Phyzelaphryne Heyer, 1997(Phyzelaphryne miriamae Heyer, 1977. Recently, the real diversity within the widespread P. miriamae has been clarified, indicating that at least two molecularly divergent lineages representing candidate new species were masqueraded under this name (Simões et al, 2018). Considering this taxonomic history, we initially thought that specimens from the RBJ could be conspecific with the "candidate new species 1" sensu Simões et al (2018), which occur at the middle Juruá River basin, or representatives of a never sampled new species.…”

“…Recently, the real diversity within the widespread P. miriamae has been clarified, indicating that at least two molecularly divergent lineages representing candidate new species were masqueraded under this name (Simões et al, 2018). Considering this taxonomic history, we initially thought that specimens from the RBJ could be conspecific with the "candidate new species 1" sensu Simões et al (2018), which occur at the middle Juruá River basin, or representatives of a never sampled new species. Surprisingly, our molecular and morphological evidence supports the identity of this population as conspecific with the recently described P. nimio, known only from the Japurá River basin (Simões et al, 2018).…”

“…Considering this taxonomic history, we initially thought that specimens from the RBJ could be conspecific with the "candidate new species 1" sensu Simões et al (2018), which occur at the middle Juruá River basin, or representatives of a never sampled new species. Surprisingly, our molecular and morphological evidence supports the identity of this population as conspecific with the recently described P. nimio, known only from the Japurá River basin (Simões et al, 2018). This record represents a southeast extension of ca.…”