A new account for the endangered Cerrado Rocket Frog Allobates goings (Bokermann, 1975) (Anura: Aromobatidae), with comments on taxonomy and conservation

Abstract

We report a new distributional record of Allobates goianus in Niquelândia (Goias State, Central Brazil), and its rediscovery in Minacu since the creation of the Serra da Mesa dam lake in 1997. Moreover, we describe the species advertisement call from Niquelândia, reporting on a new calling emission pattern for the species, plus we provide the first comprehensive definition, diagnosis, and interspecific comparisons of A. goianus based on our two newly collected additional specimens since its original description in the mid-1970s. Allobates goianus is compared with the 22 Allobates species known to occur in Brazil due to geographic proximity. Morphological, color, and acoustic traits diagnose A. goianus from all analyzed congeners, except A. brunneus and A. olfersioides . Our study draws attention to the importance of rediscovering A. goianus at the type locality (Chapada dos Veadeiros) aiming to properly address the species limits of the three Brazilian Allobates species ( A. brunneus , A. goianus , and A. olfersioides ) that are indistinguishable with regard to phenotypic traits. The conservation status of A. goianus , endemic to the Cerrado of Central Brazil, is discussed as its natural habitats are under increased pressure due to habitat fragmentation in the Cerrado.