Serra de Mantiqueira Big-headed Frog

description

Description of the holotype. Body robust (Figure 1); snout sub-elliptical in dorsal view (Figure 2 A) and acuminate-rounded in lateral view (Figure 2 B); nostrils protuberant, directed laterally; canthus rostralis distinct; loreal region concave; eye large, protruding; tympanum distinct, large, diameter about 1 / 2 of eye diameter; small supratympanic fold extending from the back of the eye to near the arm insertion; vocal sac single, externally expanded; vocal slits present; tongue large, shallowly notched posteriorly; vomerine teeth in two small, oblique, and narrowly separated series of approximately 10 teeth each, between and behind choanae; choanae small, slightly rounded. Forearm moderately robust, arm slender; fingers long; thumb without nuptial pad; subarticular tubercles single, round; outer metacarpal tubercle cordiform, inner metacarpal tubercle elliptical; supernumerary tubercles on the palmar region (Figure 2 C); finger lengths I <II <IV <III; disk on the tip of 1 st finger not well developed; disks on the tips of 2 nd, 3 rd, and 4 th fingers nearly rounded and large. Ungual flaps on the disks indented. Legs slender; foot with an elliptical inner metatarsal tubercle an

A new species of Ischnocnema from highlands of the Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil (Terrarana, Brachycephalidae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A member of the Ischnocnema lactea Species Series. It differs from other members of the Species Series by the following combination of traits: (1) diminutive size (males 13.3 – 16.6 mm SVL and females 18.4 – 22.1 mm SVL) (Table 1); (2) iris yellow in live specimens; (3) snout sub-elliptical in dorsal view and acuminate-rounded in lateral view; (4) vocal sac expanded externally; (5) tympanic membrane differentiated; (6) skin texture granular on the flanks and venter; (7) adhesive disks rounded; (8) calcar appendage absent or small; (9) external face of the thigh with a light line in the central area or irregular light blotches; (10) notes of the advertisement call with two harmonics; (11) note duration 38 – 72 ms; (12) mean dominant frequency of the advertisement call 3611 ± 103 Hz (3417 – 3763 Hz). TABLE 1. Measurements of Ischnocnema vizottoi sp. nov. (holotype and paratopotypes). Mean (x), standard deviation (SD), and range (in millimeters) for males and females. Comparison with other species. The new species differs from Ischnocnema sambaqui by its smaller size (I. vizottoi sp. nov. males 13.3 – 16.6 mm SVL and females 18.4 – 22.1 mm SVL; I. sambaqui males 32.3 – 40.0

A new species of Ischnocnema from highlands of the Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil (Terrarana, Brachycephalidae)

discussion

Remarks. The Atlantic forest is the biome with the greatest endemism in species of anurans in the world, at the same time having high diversity of species and of phylogenetic groups (Duellman, 1999, Frost et al., 2006). This high diversity and endemism can be explained by the physical environment, a reflex of the complex geomorphologic, climatic, and phytogeographic characteristics of this formation. However, the species diversity of anurans in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil is still poorly known, particularly in places with more than 1000 m of altitude (Rossa-Feres et al., 2008). The number of species in the genus Ischnocnema will probably increase in the next years, considering the recent descriptions of new species (Giaretta et al., 2007; Targino et al., 2009) and mainly the large number of unnamed species that can be found in the shelves of Brazilian collections (personal observations). The use of molecular information and vocalizations, allied to morphological studies, will increase our comprehension on the evolution of this genus and certainly uncover a great diversity of cryptic species.

A new species of Ischnocnema from highlands of the Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil (Terrarana, Brachycephalidae)

distribution

Distribution. The new species has been found in Serra da Mantiqueira at the localities of Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão, Municipality of Campos do Jordão, São Paulo State, (type locality); Lavrinhas farm, Municipality of Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo State; Municipality of São Bento do Sapucaí, São Paulo State; Monte Verde, Municipality of Camanducaia, Minas Gerais State; and Serra do Mar, at Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina, Municipality of São José do Barreiro, São Paulo State. All the localities are in the Atlantic forest, above 1300 elevation (Figure 6).

A new species of Ischnocnema from highlands of the Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil (Terrarana, Brachycephalidae)