Friday, May 18, 2012

[Herpetology • 2008] Strabomantis aramunha • A large and enigmatic new eleutherodactyline frog (Anura, Strabomantidae) from Serra do Sincorá, Espinhaço range, Northeastern Brazil


Figure 1. Living specimens of Strabomantis aramunha from the state of Bahia, Brazil.

Abstract
We describe a new species of a large eleutherodactyline frog from the mountain rocky meadows (“campos rupestres”) of the Serra do Sincorá, Espinhaço mountain range, Mucugê municipality, State of Bahia, Brazil. The new species is promptly diagnosed from all the other Brazilian eleutherodactylines by its large size (males SVL 40.3–41.1; females SVL 75.2–79.7mm), broad head (head width 43–49% of SVL), presence of frontoparietal crests, pars fascialis of the maxilla deepened, discs absent on fingers, toes with poorly developed discs, first and second toes ridged, and tarsal fold absent. On the basis of these characters the new species is attributed to the genus Strabomantis up to now restricted to southern part of Central America and northwest part of South America. 
Key words: Strabomantis aramunha sp. nov., Eleutherodactylus, Strabomantidae, Amphibia, Atlantic forest, Campos rupestres, Taxonomy


Figure 2. Geographic distribution of Strabomantis aramunha on topographic map. Star, municipality of Mucugê, type locality; new records within the Chapada Diamantina Ecoregion, state of Bahia, Brazil: triangle, Miguel Calmon; lozenge, Iraquara; circle, Palmeiras; square, Lençóis; inverted triangle, Abaíra.

Figure 4. Strabomantis aramunha. (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of UFBA 6221, adult female, SVL 66.1 mm. (C) Dorsal and (D) ventral views of MZUEFS 2125, adult male, SVL 36.6 mm (photo by Marcelo F. Napoli)


Abstract
During surveys of anurans in the Chapada Diamantina, a semiarid region in central Bahia, Brazil, we obtained new records of Strabomantis aramunha Cassimiro, Verdade and Rodrigues. The new records extend the geographic distribution of S. aramunha in about 200 km north and 75 km south in relation to the type locality (municipality of Mucugê, state of Bahia, Brazil). We observed males calling at night at the Morro do Pai Inácio, municipality of Palmeiras. This new data is important, as in the original description the authors suggested the possibility of absence of advertisement call in the species. We also provide additions on color and morphometric data.

Cassimiro, J., V.K. Verdade and M.T. Rodrigues. 2008. A large and enigmatic new eleutherodactyline frog (Anura, Strabomantidae) from Serra do Sincorá, Espinhaço range, Northeastern Brazil. Zootaxa. 1761: 59-68. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01761p068f.pdf
Napoli, M. F.; Juncá, F. A.; Cruz, D.; Abreu, R. O. 2010. Amphibia, Anura, Strabomantidae, Strabomantis aramunha Cassimiro, Verdade & Rodrigues, 2008: Distribution extension with notes on natural history, color patterns, and morphometric data. Check List. 6: 275–279.