A New Species of Megaelosia from the Mantiqueira Range, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

-A new species of frog of the genus Megaelosia is described. The new form closely resembles Megaelosia massarti and is distinguished from it by coloration pattern and number of chromosomes. Natural history notes, tadpole description, and a discussion on the conservation status of the new species are provided. Megaelosia (Mir.-Rib., 1923) (Anura: Leptodactylidae) species are known to occur in forested mountain rivers of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil (Giaretta et al., 1993). The genus was recently reviewed, and four species were recognized (Giaretta et al., 1993). Recent findings of Megaelosia individuals in the Mantiqueira Range revealed a new species. Here the new species is characterized by aspects of its morphology, coloration, and karyotype. In addition, notes on natural history and tadpole morphology are provided. The conservation status of the new species is discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS The new species was collected at the Parque Florestal do Itapetinga (23?15'S; 46?45'W, 1250 m asl), Atibaia municipality, Mantiqueira range of Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The Serra da Mantiqueira is badly defined in its continental face and, in the Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, the east border runs approximately parallel to the coastal Serra do Mar (Fig. 1) (Moreira and Camelier, 1977). The terminology and measurements used in the specmens description follow Lynch (1971) and Giaretta et al. (1993). Tadpoles identification were based in comparisons among developmental series and staging follows Gosner (1960). The karyotype was based on eight mitotic metaphases obtained from the gills of two tadpoles. Herpetological works in the type locality of the new species have been carried out since 1991 (Giaretta, 1994) and, since just one species of Megaelosia was found there, there is little chance in confounding congeneric tadpoles. Terminology in the karyotype description follows Levan et al. (1964). The types and voucher specimens are housed in the Museu de Historia Natural da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (ZUEC) (Campinas, SP, Brazil). Megaelosia boticariana sp. nov. Holotype.-ZUEC 9561, a 74.9 mm SVL female bearing immature eggs, collected in March 1994 in the Parque Florestal do Itapetinga, Municipality of Atibaia, state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Paratypes.-ZUEC 9562, a 78.1 mm SVL female (Fig. 2) bearing immature eggs, collected in November 1993; ZUEC 9563, a 46.8 mm SVL juvenile, collected in April 1993. All individuals were collected in the type locality (Fig. 1). Diagnosis (See also figures in Giaretta et al., 1993).-Snout round in dorsal and lateral views; fold of fifth toe not reaching the outer metatarsal tubercle; dorsum of fingers smooth; no evidence of scutes on finger tips; belly finely reticulated, 30 pairs of chromosomes. The new speces differs from M. goeldii in snout shape and in the extension of the fold of the fifth toe; from M. lutzae in snout shape; from the holotype of M. bocainensis (Giaretta et al., 1993) by the absence of scutes and tubercles on the fingers and by having the tympanum partially covered by the supratympanic ridge; from M. massarti by showing a finely reticulated belly and females about 28% smaller in size. Description of the Holotype (Fig. 3).-Snout outline round in dorsal and lateral views; canthus rostralis evident and straight; lores concave; tympanum distinct, small, about 32% of the eye diameter; maxillary arch with fanglike teeth; one large vomerine tooth between and slightly posterior each choanae; a round median pin-like process in the mandibular symphysis region, which has a correspondent case in the maxillae. Finger length II < IV < I < III; upper surfaces of fingers smooth. Dorsal surfaces of body, belly, throat, upper surface of upper arms, thighs, and forearms smooth. Lower surfaces of thighs smooth anteriorly and finely granular posteriorly. Supratympanic ridge conspicuous, comThis content downloaded from 157.55.39.205 on Sun, 04 Dec 2016 04:54:59 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms NEW SPECIES OF MEGAELOSIA