Open AccessThree New Species of Phytotelm-Breeding Melanophryniscus from the Atlantic Rainforest of Southern Brazil (Anura: Bufonidae)
Author(s) -
Marcos R. Bornschein,
Carina R. Firkowski,
Diego Baldo,
Luiz Fernando Ribeiro,
Ricardo Belmonte-Lopes,
Leandro Corrêa,
Sérgio Augusto Abrahão Morato,
Márcio R. Pie
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0142791
Subject(s) - rainforest , biology , range (aeronautics) , ecology , habitat , atlantic forest , snout , extinction (optical mineralogy) , conservation status , zoology , paleontology , materials science , composite material
Three new species of Melanophryniscus are described from the Serra do Mar mountain range of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. All species are found at intermediate to high altitudes and share phytotelm-breeding as their reproductive strategy. The new species are distinguished from other phytotelm-breeding Melanophryniscus based on different combinations of the following traits: snout-vent length, presence of white and/or yellow spots on forearms, mouth, belly and cloaca, pattern and arrangement of warts, and presence and number of corneous spines. The discovery of these species in a rather restricted geographical area suggests that the diversity of phytotelm-breeding species of Melanophryniscus might be severely underestimated. The conservation status of these species is of particular concern, given that one of them is at risk of extinction not only due to its restricted habitat, but also because of anthropogenic disturbances.