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The composition of ground-dwelling anuran species was hypothesized to vary according to the different selected vegetation physiognomies of the Morro do Diabo State Park (MDSP), one of the largest remnants of Mesophytic Semideciduous Forest from southeastern Brazil. Thus, the studied vegetation physiognomies were compared concerning their anuran species composition.The existence of indicator species for these areas was also tested. Similarity analyzes showed a high beta diversity among the different areas studied, but it is rather a consequence of the low species richness recorded in the studied vegetation physiognomies, instead of the different anuran species compositions expected among them. On the other hand, a higher similarity on species composition was found among the most preserved areas at MDSP, which is related to preferential habitat use of some species in these areas. Three species were indicative of the studied vegetation physiognomies: Rhinella ornata as indicator of the Mature Forest, and Eupemphix nattereri and Physalaemus cuvieri as indicators of Forest in Advanced Regeneration Stage. The efficiency of pitfall traps for capturing the anurans in the studied area was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the richness and composition of the anuran assemblage of Morro do Diabo State Park, the major remnant of Mesophytic Semideciduous Forest in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through hypothesis tests. From September 2005 to March 2007 we recorded 28 anuran species, comprising a mix of Atlantic, Cerrado and South American widespread species, usually considered tolerant to anthropic modifications. The low richness of species and reproductive modes, the predominance of habitat generalist species, and the high similarity with Cerrado areas can be explained by the climatic seasonality of the studied area (a pronounced dry season), as well as its large distance from centres of anuran diversification, such as the coastal mountains of the wet Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]