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| Brachycephalus herculeus Folly, Condez, Vrcibradic, Rocha, Machado, Lopes & Pombal, 2024 |
Abstract
Brachycephalus is a genus of small ground-dwelling anurans, endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Recent molecular analyses have corroborated the monophyly of three species groups within this genus (B. ephippium, B. ephippium, and B. ephippium). In the meantime, the genus has been targeted as a group with recent taxonomic issues owing to its interspecific morphological similarity and genetic conservatism. Herein, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus from the northern portion of Serra do Mar mountain range, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It belongs to the B. ephippium species group, exhibiting moderate hyperossification of the skull and vertebral column. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners based on morphological, acoustic, and molecular data. Furthermore, we provide information on osteology and natural history of the new species.
Keywords: Atlantic Forest, Brachycephaloidea, osteology, pumpkin toadlet, Serra do Mar
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| Four specimens of Brachycephalus herculeus, new species, in life. Photographs by C. F. D. Rocha (A), C. F. B. Haddad (B) and T. H. Condez (C, D). |
Brachycephalus herculeus sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Brachycephalus herculeus sp. nov. is distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) skin on head and dorsum with dermal ossification; (2) skull with hyperossification of postorbital crests, which can be seen externally; (3) fourth presacral vertebra with transverse processes hyperossified, not ornamented and not visible externally; (4) urostyle crest extending up to 2/3 of urostyle length; (5) long oesophageal process of hyolaryngeal apparatus; (6) general color in life orange with dorsal green irregular patch; (7) presence of osteoderms; (8) presence of black connective tissue scattered over dorsal musculature; (9) medium body size for the genus (SVL of adults: 11.8–14.7 mm for males and 13.9–15.2 mm for females; (10) advertisement call characterized by one note repeated in sequence, commonly comprised of 8–12 pulses.
Etymology: Herculeus is a Latin adjective meaning very great, difficult, or dangerous; requiring the strength or courage of Hercules to challenge or accomplish a mission, as herculean labor or task (derived from Greek Mythology). The specific epithet was chosen to represent the “herculean” task that is, for such a small species, to survive in one of the most threatened forest environments in the world, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Manuella Folly, Thais H. Condez, Davor Vrcibradic, Carlos F. D. Rocha, Alessandra S. Machado, Ricardo T. Lopes and José P. Pombal Jr. 2024. A New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the northern portion of the State of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 1-21. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e103573
