Research Article A candidate species currently classified as <i>Atelopus</i> <i>hoogmoedi</i> (Anura: Bufonidae) in the eastern Amazon, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Atelopus is one of the most diverse of the Bufonidae family; because of their bright color, they are referred to as harlequin frogs. They occur in mature tropical forest areas and in this region, these forests are under anthropic pressure and limited to fragments, which facilitates the action of pathogenic fungi. One of these toad species, Atelopus hoogmoedi, is only found to the north and south of the Amazon River. Based on genetic data this species name represents more than one evolutionary unit. To explore this premise, we compared individuals of A. hoogmoedi collected south and north of the Amazon river in the state of Pará, Brazil. The DNA was extracted by the phenol chloroform method from eight individuals, seven ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 19 (1): gmr18392 G.W.B. da Silva et al. 2 from Monte Alegre (north of Amazon River) and one from Anapu (south of Amazon River) and then amplified via PCR using a mitochondrial 16S rRNA marker. Phylogenetic analysis of maximum likelihood for A. hoogmoedi revealed a paraphyletic group with three lines: French Guiana 1 and 2, Guyana and Monte Alegre, and Anapu. The genetic distance between Anapu and Monte Alegre was 2.9%. According to the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery in both Simple Distance and Kimura 2 Parameters models, A. hoogmoedi collected in Anapu is recognized as a distinct species from those of the Guiana Shield. Thus A. hoogmoedi to the south of the Amazon River was classified as an unconfirmed candidate species, requiring more collections and access to individuals from other localities of its occurrence for confirmation.

Out of Bound: A New Threatened Harlequin Toad (Bufonidae, Atelopus) from the Outer Borders of the Guiana Shield in Central Amazonia Described through Integrative Taxonomy

“…They vocalize and forage on roots, accumulated leaves, fallen tree trunks on the bank, or over streams, at the base of herbaceous plants or stemless palms and even climbing inclined trunks of small shrubs, Figure 10. Distribution map for species of Atelopus used in the calculations of genetic distances and phylogenetic inferences, with colored circles representing species distributed to the west of Amazonia, on eastern and western versants of the Andes and Andean highlands; the squares representing species distributed in the Guiana Shield, and the green diamond a candidate species distributed on the south bank of the Amazon River, municipality of Anapu, state of Pará, Brazil [30]. The shaded polygon represents the portion of the Amazonian plain where there has been no record yet of a species of Atelopus, indicating a distribution gap for the genus (adapted from Lötters et al [32]).…”

Unveiling the polychromatism of Atelopus hoogmoedi (Anura, Bufonidae): Insights into adaptive significance and evolutionary implications

“…This characteristic provides an excellent opportunity to elucidate how evolutionary mechanisms such as selection, drift, or geographic isolation may operate to select for these patterns. Despite A. hoogmoedi being widely distributed in the Eastern Amazon and being one of the few species within the genus Atelopus that does not show strong evidence of population reduction (Valencia & Fonte, 2022), there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the species' biology and even its taxonomic delimitation (Silva et al, 2020).…”

“…In the Brazilian state of Pará the species was known from one small area in Monte Dourado and from a rather undefined locality "Brazil, 30 km S of the Suriname border" (material in RMNH), with outlying populations in Tucuruí, Serra de Carajás, Itaituba and near Santarém all four localities in Pará South of the Amazon River ( Ávila-Pires et al, 2010). It was also recorded in the south margin of the Amazonas river in the Virola-Jatobá Sustainable Development Project (PDS) in the Xingu river basin which is a candidate species (Silva et al, 2020). The species is also known from several localities in Amapá (Lima, 2008;Silvae-Silva & Costa-Campos, 2018) and from Uatumã river basin in Central Amazon (Jorge et al, 2020a).…”

“…The species exhibit high color polymorphism along its distribution (Noonan & Gaucher, 2005). However, the Atelopus spumarius sensu lato encompasses at least two nominal species along its distribution, namely A. hoogmoedi , A. manauensis (Jorge et al, 2020b), and one candidate species in the south margin of the Amazon River (Silva et al, 2020). These populations have exhibited a complex and highly variable color pattern within and among populations.…”

Anurans (Amphibia: Anura) of the Brazilian state of Amapá, eastern Amazonia: species diversity and knowledge gaps

“…However, Lötters & Schulte (2005) elevated the taxon to full species level and Noonan & Gaucher (2005) provided molecular support for their decision. The populations from Brazil distributed north of the Amazon River, including Amapá, are currently assigned to A. hoogmoedi Jorge et al 2020;Silva et al 2020). Thus, we considered the records of Atelopus barbotini Lescure, 1981from Lima (2006a, 2006b LC 7, 14, 21, 24, 26, 29-30, 32, 35 1, 3, 10-11, 16-18, 30, 38 Boana ornatissima (Noble, 1923) For Pedroso-Santos et al 2019) as R. margaritifera.…”