Two new species of the Brachycephalus pernix group (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the state of Paraná, southern Brazil

PeerJ. 2017 Jul 27:5:e3603. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3603. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

We describe two new species of miniaturized toadlet in the B. pernix group of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic Forest of the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. The first new species is distinguished from all congeners by the pale red coloration from the head to the pelvic region, with sides of the body and thighs dorsally yellowish green. It is known only from the type locality in a cloud forest at altitudes ranging between 1,144-1,228 m a.s.l. The second species, although more closely related to B. izecksohni, is morphologically similar to B. brunneus in its overall brown coloration, but distinct from that species in the color of the iris (black with conspicuous golden spots, instead of entirely black). It was found on three mountains, at altitudes between 1,095-1,320 m a.s.l., and in vegetation types including cloud forest, montane forest, and secondary forest. The two new species exhibit neither vertebral fusions nor osteoderms, but one has both a distinct neopalatine and well-developed odontoids on the maxillae. We discuss the conservation status of both species.

Keywords: Atlantic rainforest; Conservation status; Micro-CT; Montane forest; Serra do mar.

Grants and funding

MRP was funded through a grant from CNPq/MCT (571334/2008-3 and 301636/2016-8). Fieldwork during 2012 and 2016 was partially funded by Fundação Grupo Boticário de Proteção à Natureza (through projects 0895_20111 & A0010_2014 conducted by Mater Natura—Instituto de Estudos Ambientais), and by personal funds from the authors. There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.