Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Mauricio C Forlani; João F R Tonini; Carlos A G Cruz; Hussam Zaher; Rafael O de Sá

doi:10.7717/peerj.3005

Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

PeerJ. 2017 Feb 21:5:e3005. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3005. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Mauricio C Forlani¹, João F R Tonini², Carlos A G Cruz³, Hussam Zaher⁴, Rafael O de Sá⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States; Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States.
³ Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
⁴ Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
⁵ Department of Biology, University of Richmond , Richmond , VA , United States.

Abstract

Three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil are described. Two of these species occur in the northeastern states of Sergipe and Bahia, whereas the third species is found in the southeastern state of São Paulo. The new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the molecular data, as evidenced in the phylogeny, and by a combination of morphological characters including: size, foot webbing, dermal spines, and coloration patterns. Chiasmocleis species differ in osteological traits, therefore we also provide an osteological description of each new species and comparsions with data reported for other species in the genus.

Keywords: Atlantic Forest; Chiasmocleis; Distribution; Molecular; Osteology; Phylogeny; Three new species.

Grants and funding

MCF, JFRT, and RdS were supported at the University of Richmond through National Science Foundation-DEB award 1144692 to RdS. JFRT acknowledges support from CSF/CAPES (BEX 1187-13-9) and The George Washington University; CAGC to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ); and to HZ Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (BIOTA/FAPESP 2011/50206-9) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 565046/2010-1, 303545/2010-0). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.