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Entre enero de 2011 y octubre de 2012, durante un monitoreo de sitios potenciales de reproducción de anuros, se registraron tres eventos de depredación de huevos por Oxyptychus sp. En todos los casos estos eventos fueron observados días después de intensas lluvias, en charcas permanentes con presencia de juncos (Schoenoplectus californicus) que son utilizadas como bebederos por el ganado vacuno y equino., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

Anurans can be classified as explosive or prolonged breeders. In species with short breeding periods, intensive competition for females is expected. We analyse the temporal breeding pattern of Melanophryniscus aff. montevidensis, a bufonid inhabiting grasslands of Argentina, whose breeding is concentrated in events of short duration. Males are active during more than one breeding event per season, whereas most females take part in a single event per season. Active males outnumbered females by up to 14 times at one event, operational sex ratio (OSR) ranged from 0.07 to 0.75 and intensity of sexual selection (I s) from 0.69 to 24. We found a negative association between I s and OSR, but no correlation between number of active males per event and OSR or I s. The OSR is the key that regulates the intensity of sexual selection, nevertheless, and in spite of being explosive breeders, females would potentially have chances to select their mate. Fil: Cairo, Samanta Lis. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biologia, Bioquimica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios En Conservacion y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahia Blanca; Argentina Fil: Zalba, Sergio Martin. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biologia, Bioquimica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios En Conservacion y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Bahia Blanca; Argentina Fil: Úbeda, Carmen A.. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Reg.universidad Bariloche. Departamento de Zoologia. Catedra de Vertebrados; Argentina

Several lineages of brightly colored anurans independently evolved the ability to secrete alkaloid-containing defensive chemicals from granular glands in the skin. These species, collectively referred to as 'poison frogs,' form a polyphyletic assemblage that includes some species of Dendrobatidae, Mantellidae, Myobatrachidae, Bufonidae, and Eleutherodactylidae. The ability to sequester alkaloids from dietary arthropods has been demonstrated experimentally in most poison frog lineages but not in bufonid or eleutherodactylid poison frogs. As with other poison frogs, species of the genus Melanophryniscus (Bufonidae) consume large numbers of mites and ants, suggesting they might also sequester defensive alkaloids from dietary sources. To test this hypothesis, fruit flies dusted with alkaloid/nutritional supplement powder were fed to individual Melanophryniscus stelzneri in two experiments. In the first experiment, the alkaloids 5,8-disubstituted indolizidine 235B' and decahydroquinoline were administered to three individuals for 104 days. In the second experiment, the alkaloids 3,5-disubstituted indolizidine 239Q and decahydroquinoline were given to three frogs for 153 days. Control frogs were fed fruit flies dusted only with nutritional supplement. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses revealed that skin secretions of all experimental frogs contained alkaloids, whereas those of all control frogs lacked alkaloids. Uptake of decahydroquinoline was greater than uptake of 5,8-disubstituted indolizidine, and uptake of 3,5-disubstituted indolizidine was greater than uptake of decahydroquinoline, suggesting greater uptake efficiency of certain alkaloids. Frogs in the second experiment accumulated a greater amount of alkaloid, which corresponds to the longer duration and greater number of alkaloid-dusted fruit flies that were consumed. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that bufonid poison frogs sequester alkaloid-based defenses from dietary sources.

Synonymy of Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus Atelopus pachyrhynus. ��� Miranda-Ribeiro (1920). Type locality: "S��o Louren��o, S. Paulo", Brazil. Corrected to "S��o Louren��o no Rio Grande do Sul", Brazil, by Bokermann, 1966. Given as " Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, S��o Louren��o do Sul (31 22 S; 51 59 W)" by Caramaschi and Cruz (2002). Syntypes (2 specimens): MZUSP 0752; MZUSP 0 756, designated lectotype by Caramaschi and Cruz (2002). Atelopus pachyrhinus (unjustified emendation).��� Miranda-Ribeiro (1926). Dendrophryniscus tumifrons. ���(nec Boulenger 1905) M��ller (1934, partim). Atelopus tumifrons. ���(nec Boulenger 1905). Vellard (1947, partim). Melanophryniscus tumifrons. ���(nec Boulenger 1905) Gallardo (1961, partim). Bokermann (1966). Klappenbach 1968 (partim). McDiarmid (1971, partim). Braun and Braun (1980, partim). Frost (1985, partim). Gallardo (1987, partim). Prigioni and Langone (" 1987 " 1986, partim). Garcia and Vinciprova (2003, partim). Melanophryniscus pachyrhinus (unjustified emendation).��� Lutz (1972). C��spedez and Motte (2001). Melanophryniscus sanmartini. ���(nec Klappenbach 1968) Klappenbach (1968, partim). Achaval and Olmos (1997, partim). Melanophryniscus orejasmirandai. ��� Prigioni and Langone (" 1987 " 1986), type locality: "Cerro de Animas (34 �� 46 ��� S; 53 �� 19 ��� W), 500 metros al NO. del Mirador Nacional, Departamento de Maldonado, Uruguay ". Holotype: MNHN 5476, by original designation. Kolenc (1987). Achaval (1989). Prigioni and Langone (1990). Echeverr��a (1992). Klappenbach and Langone (1992). Prigioni and Arrieta (1992). Langone (��� 1995 ��� 1994). Duellman (1993). Maneyro et al. (1995). Achaval and Olmos (1997). Lavilla and Vaira (1997). Echeverr��a (1998). Evia and Gudynas (2000). Lavilla and Cei (2001). Maneyro and Langone (2001). Caramaschi and Cruz (2002). Achaval and Olmos (2003). Cruz and Caramaschi (2003). Haas (2003). Kolenc et al. (2003 a). Kolenc et al. (2003 b). Langone (2003). Larson et al. (2003). Baldo and Basso (2004). Langone et al. (2004). Manzano et al. (2004). Naya et al. (2004). N����ez et al. (2004). Kwet et al. (2005). Di-Bernardo et al. (2006). Achaval and Olmos (2007). Kolenc et al. (2007). Vera Candioti (2007). Maneyro and Kwet (2008). Langone et al. (2008). Stuart et al. (2008). Vaz-Silva et al. (2008). Ziegler and Maneyro (2008). Baldo et al. (2010). Bernardo-Silva et al. (2010). Canavero et al. (2010). Almeida-Santos et al. (2010). Bidau et al. (2011). Caramaschi and Cruz (2011). Dos Santos et al. (2011). Haad et al. (2011). Langone (2011). Baldo et al. (in press). Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus. ��� Caramaschi and Cruz (2002). Cruz and Caramaschi (2003). Manzano et al. (2004). Borteiro et al. (2005). Kwet et al. (2005). Achaval and Olmos (2007). Kolenc et al. (2007). Colombo et al. (2007). Maneyro and Kwet (2008). Vaz-Silva et al. (2008, partim). Almeida-Santos et al. (2010). Canavero et al. (2010). Bidau et al. (2011). Caramaschi and Cruz (2011). Dos Santos et al. (2011). Haad et al. (2011). Lema and Martins (2011). Toledo et al. (2011). Diagnosis. Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus can be diagnosed as follows: medium sized Melanophryniscus species (males = 22.15���30.36; females = 24.75���35.44); with a glandular swelling on snout; skin of dorsum granular, scattered with blunt, rounded, small to medium-size glandular warts; warts tipped with one to several keratinized spicules; dorsal color of head, body, and upper surfaces of appendages range from different brown tones to gray, with scapular region and swelling on the snout lighter; ventral surface of abdominal, pectoral and gular regions dark grey with an extensive orange reticulated pattern; some specimens with a gland on metatarsus of toes IV and V. The presence of a glandular swelling on snout (putative synapomorphy of the Melanophryniscus tumifrons group, Baldo & Basso 2004), allows to easily distinguish M. pachyrhynus from all members of the M. stelzneri group: M. atroluteus (Miranda-Ribeiro), M. cupreuscapularis C��spedez & ��lvarez, M. dorsalis (Mertens), M. estebani C��spedez, M. fulvoguttatus (Mertens), M. klappenbachi Prigioni & Langone, M. krauczuki Baldo & Basso, M. montevidensis (Philippi), M. paraguayensis C��spedez & Motte, M. rubriventris (Vellard), and M. stelzneri (Weyenbergh); of the M. moreirae group: M. langonei Maneyro et al., M. moreirae (Miranda-Ribeiro), and M. sanmartini Klappenbach; and from those species unassigned to any species group, M. admirabilis Di-Bernardo et al., M. alipioi Langone et al., and M. vilavelhensis Steinbach-Padilha. The glandular dorsal skin, with small to medium-sized glandular warts, tipped with one to several keratinized spicules, allow to distinguish M. pachyrhynus from M. cambaraensis and M. macrogranulosus (dorsal skin smooth, with big rounded glandular warts, warts with very few or without keratinized spines on tip). The general dorsal color pattern ranging from different brown tones to gray with scapular region and swelling on the snout lighter, distinguish M. pachyrhynus from M. cambaraensis and M. macrogranulosus (dorsum light bright to dark green), from M. simplex and M. tumifrons (dorsum homogeneously black to dark brown), and from M. spectabilis (background dark brown to black, with a distinct marbled pattern of sinuous yellow/orange stripes and two yellow/orange spots on scapular region). The reticulated orange ventral pattern characteristic of Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus readily distinguish this species from M. cambaraensis and M. macrogranulosus (background dark green to gray, with big red spots on abdominal region, which can be extended to cover the entire ventral surface), from M. simplex and M. tumifrons (abdominal region with a large red patch that usually covers the posterior half of abdomen; anterior half of the abdomen and pectoral region dark brown to black, gular surface with three red or yellow blotches, one on the mental and two on subarticular regions), M. devincenzii (abdominal region with a big spot orange/red; pectoral and gular regions uniformly brown to black), and M. spectabilis (background dark brown with a big uniform orange spot on the abdominal region, with some small orange spots on the pectoral region, and with three yellow/orange spots on the gular surface, one on the mental and two on the subarticular regions, usually connected). Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus is most similar to the recently described M. peritus, which also apparently has a reticulated ventral pattern. The single known specimen of M. peritus is a female of 39.3 mm (Caramaschi & Cruz 2011), which is somewhat larger than known females of M. pachyrhynus, being this at present the only apparent difference between these species. The subgroups of the Melanophryniscus tumifrons group defined by Caramaschi and Cruz (2002) associated M. pachyrhynus (and M. orejasmirandai) with M. spectabilis, and one of the proposed diagnostic characters was related to the ventral pattern. This grouping was not based on a phylogenetic analysis and since the particular orange ventral pattern is to date exclusive of M. pachyrhynus (and quite different from that observed in M. spectabilis), we prefer not to recognize the subgroups for the time being. Besides, we prefer to use the term glandular warts to tubercles (as defined by Lynch & Duellman 1997) based on available histological evidence (Delfino et al. 1998; Naya et al. 2004; Mebs et al. 2005). Osteological remarks. McDiarmid (1971) indicated that the presence of nasal ornamentation would be characteristic of the genus Melanophryniscus. However, we found ornamentations (exostosis) only in species of the M. tumifrons group, including M. pachyrhynus. These ornamentations consist on small irregular ridges that underlie the frontal skin gland. Associated to this ornamentation, nasals are more convex transversally. We consider that nasal ornamentation most probably distinguishes species in the M. tumifrons group from the rest of the genus. We noticed that the posterolateral processes of the hyoid plate described by Baldo and Basso (2004), C��spedez and Motte (2007), and C��spedez (2008) for different species of the Melanophryniscus stelzneri group could be the posterior lobe of the anterolateral processes, and that the posterolateral processes would be lacking as was previously described in other species of the genus (Trewavas 1933; Badenhorst 1945; McDiarmid 1971; 1972; present work). The anterolateral processes have a wide base with two lobes distally, one anterior and another posterior, which may be misidentified as being the posterolateral processes. The wide basis of the alary process of the hyoid (as hypobranchial I) was considered as a possible synapomorphy of the genus by Cannatella (1986) and also Graybeal and Cannatella (1995). Developmental studies would help to discern if the posterolateral processes of the hyoid plate are indeed not present or if they are fused with the anterolateral processes. Geographic distribution. We reported in the present study five new localities for Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus, four of them in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (17.5 km northern from a Arroio Grande; Piratini; Viam��o, Parque Saint-Hilaire; 22 km south from Encruzilhada do Sul), and one in southern Uruguay (Abra de Castellanos, Maldonado), see Appendix I and Figure 6. The examination of the specimens ZUFSM 3210 ��� 2 from Nova Roma (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) previously assigned to M. pachyrhynus by Vaz-Silva et al. (2008) showed that they are actually M. simplex. Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus occurs in the Uruguayan Savanna ecoregion, which is composed by extensive characteristic grasslands, palm savannas and gallery forests (Dinerstein et al. 1995). The habitat of this species consists of rocky open areas on top of hilly landscapes (Kolenc et al. 2003 a; Vaz-Silva et al. 2008; present study)., Published as part of Baldo, Diego, Borteiro, Claudio, Kolenc, Francisco, Rosset, Sergio, Prigioni, Carlos & Debat, Claudio Mart��nez, 2012, The taxonomic status of Melanophryniscus orejasmirandai Prigioni & Langone, 1987 " 1986 " (Anura: Bufonidae), pp. 45-61 in Zootaxa 3235 on pages 54-56, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214664, {"references":["Miranda-Ribeiro, A. de (1920) Os Brachycephalideos do Museu Paulista. Revista do Museu Paulista, 12, 307 - 313.","Bokermann, W. C. A. (1966) Lista anotada das localidades tipo de anfibios brasileiros. Servico de Documentacao, Reitoria da Universidade de Sao Paulo, 183 pp.","Caramaschi, U. & Cruz, C. A. G. (2002) Taxonomic status of Atelopus pachyrhynus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920, redescription of Melanophryniscus tumifrons (Boulenger, 1905), and descriptions of two new species of Melanophryniscus from the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae). Arquivos do Museu Nacional, 60, 303 - 314.","Miranda-Ribeiro, A. de (1926) Notas para servirem ao estudo dos Gymnobatrachios brasileiros. Tomo I. Arquivos do Museu Nacional, 27, 1 - 227.","Boulenger, G. A. (1905) Descriptions of new tailless batrachians in the collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 7, 180 - 184.","Muller, L. (1934) Uber eine neue Rasse von Atelopus cruciger (Licht. u. Marts.) von Venezuela. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 108, 145 - 155.","Vellard, J. (1947) Un nuevo batracio del norte argentino. Acta Zoologica Lilloana, 4, 115 - 119.","Gallardo, J. M. (1961) La ubicacion sistematica y distribucion geografica de Brachycephalidae argentinos. In: Iª Reunion de Trabajo y Comunicaciones de Ciencias Naturales y Geografia del Litoral Argentino. Universidad Nacional de Santa Fe, Santa Fe, pp. 205 - 212.","Klappenbach, M. A. (1968) Notas herpetologicas IV. El genero Melanophryniscus (Amphibia, Salientia) en el Uruguay, con la descripcion de dos nuevas especies. Comunicaciones Zoologicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo, 9, 118, 1 - 12.","McDiarmid, R. W. (1971) Comparative morphology and evolution of frogs of the Neotropical genera Atelopus, Dendrophryniscus, Melanophryniscus & Oreophrynella. Bulletin of Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 12, 1 - 66.","Braun, P. C. & Braun, C. A. S. (1980) Lista previa dos anfibios do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Iheringia (Serie Zoologia), 56, 121 - 146.","Frost, D. R. (1985) Amphibian species of the world: a taxonomic and geographical reference. Published as a Joint Venture of Allen Press, Inc. and The Association Systematics Collections Lawrence, Kansas, 732 pp.","Gallardo, J. M. (1987) Anfibios Argentinos. Guia para su identificacion. Libreria Agropecauria, Biblioteca Mosaico, Buenos Aires, 98 pp.","Prigioni, C. M. & Langone, J. A. (1987 \" 1986 \") Melanophryniscus orejasmirandai n. sp. un nuevo Bufonidae (Amphibia, Anura) de Uruguay, con una clave para las especies del grupo tumifrons. Comunicaciones Zoologicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo, 159, 1 - 11.","Garcia, P. C. A. & Vinciprova, G. (2003) Anfibios. In: Fontana, C. S., Bencke, G. A. & Reis, R. E. (Eds.), Livro vermelho da fauna ameacada de extincao no Rio Grande do Sul. EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre, pp. 147 - 164.","Lutz, B. (1972) Geographical and ecological notes on cisandine to platine frogs. Journal of Herpetology, 6, 83 - 100.","Cespedez, J. A. & Motte, M. (2001) Distribucion de sapos del genero Melanophryniscus (Gallardo, 1961) en Argentina y Paraguay (Anura: Bufonidae). Boletin de la Asociacion de Herpetologia Espanola, 12, 71 - 76.","Achaval, F. & Olmos, A. (1997) Anfibios y Reptiles del Uruguay. Barreiro y Ramos, Montevideo, 128 pp.","Kolenc, F. (1987) Anuros del genero Melanophryniscus en la Republica Oriental del Uruguay. Aquamar, 5, 16 - 21.","Achaval, F. (1989) Lista de especies de vertebrados del Uruguay. Parte 2. Anfibios, reptiles, aves y mamiferos. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, 41 pp.","Prigioni, C. M. & Langone, J. A. (1990) Descripcion de la larva de Melanophryniscus orejasmirandai Prigioni & Langone 1986 (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae). Comunicaciones Zoologicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo, 173, 1 - 9.","Echeverria, D. D. (1992) Microscopia electronica de barrido del aparato bucal de las larvas de Melanophryniscus stelzneri (Weyemberg, 1875) (Anura, Bufonidae). Alytes, 10, 137 - 143.","Klappenbach, M. A. & Langone, J. A. (1992) Lista sistematica y sinonimica de los anfibios del Uruguay con comentarios y notas sobre su distribucion. Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Montevideo, 8, 163 - 222.","Prigioni, C. M. & Arrieta, D. (1992) Descripcion de la larva de Melanophryniscus sanmartini Klappenbach, 1968 (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae). Boletin de la Sociedad Zoologica del Uruguay, 7, 57 - 58.","Duellman, W. E. (1993) Amphibian Species of the World: additions and corrections. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Special Publication, No. 21.","Maneyro, R., Forni, F. & Santos, M. (1995) Anfibios del Departamento de Rocha. PROBIDES, Serie Divulgacion Tecnica, 1, 1 - 24.","Lavilla, E. O. & Vaira, M. (1997) La larva de Melanophryniscus rubriventris rubriventris (Vellard, 1947) (Anura, Bufonidae). Alytes, 15, 19 - 25.","Echeverria, D. D. (1998) Aspectos de la reproduccion in-vitro y del desarrollo larval de Melanophryniscus stelzneri (WEYEN- BERGH, 1875) (Anura, Bufonidae) con comentarios acerca del organo de Bidder. Alytes, 15, 158 - 170.","Evia, G. & Gudynas, E. (2000) Ecologia del Paisaje en Uruguay. Aportes para la Conservacion de la Diversidad Biologica, MVOTMA, AECI, Junta de Andalucia, Sevilla, 173 pp.","Lavilla, E. O. & Cei, J. M. (2001) Amphibians of Argentina. A second update, 1987 - 2000. Monografie Museo Regionali di Scienze Naturali, Torino, 28, 1 - 175.","Maneyro, R. & Langone, J. A. (2001) Categorizacion de los anfibios del Uruguay. Cuadernos de Herpetologia, 15, 107 - 118.","Achaval, F. & Olmos, A. (2003) Anfibios y Reptiles del Uruguay. 2 nd Ed. Graphis, Montevideo, 136 pp.","Cruz, C. A. G. & Caramaschi, U. (2003) Taxonomic status of Melanophryniscus stelzneri dorsalis (MERTENS, 1933) and Melanophryniscus stelzneri fulvoguttatus (MERTENS, 1937) (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae). Boletim do Museu Nacional, 500, 1 - 11.","Haas, A. (2003) Phylogeny of frogs as inferred from primarily larval characters (Amphibia: Anura). Cladistics, 19, 23 - 89.","Kolenc, F., Borteiro, C., Tedros, M., Nieto, M., Gutierrez, F. & Prigioni, C. (2003 a) Primer hallazgo de Melanophryniscus orejasmirandai Prigioni & Langone, 1986 (Anura: Bufonidae) fuera de su localidad tipica y algunos comentarios sobre su biologia. Boletin de la Sociedad Zoologica del Uruguay (2 a epoca), 14, 29 - 31.","Kolenc, F., Borteiro, C. & Tedros, M. (2003 b) La larva de Hyla uruguaya Schmidt, 1944 (Anura: Hylidae), con comentarios sobre su biologia en Uruguay y su status taxonomico. Cuadernos de Herpetologia, 17, 87 - 100.","Langone, J. A. (2003) Diversidad de la Biota Uruguaya. Amphibia. Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural y Antropologia, 10, 1 - 12.","Larson, P. M., de Sa, R. O. & Arrieta, D. (2003) Chondrocranial, hyobranchial and internal oral morphology in larvae of the basal bufonid genus Melanophryniscus (Amphibia: Anura). Acta Zoologica, 84, 145 - 154.","Baldo, D. & Basso, N. G. (2004) A new species of Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae), with comments on the species of the genus reported for Misiones, Northeastern Argentina. Journal of Herpetology, 38, 393 - 403.","Manzano, A. S., Baldo, D. & Barg, M. (2004) Anfibios del Litoral Argentino. Temas de la Biodiversidad del Litoral fluvial argentino. INSUGEO, Miscelanea, 12, 5 - 12.","Naya, D., Langone, J. A. & de Sa, R. O. (2004) Caracteristicas histologicas de la tumefaccion frontal de Melanophryniscus (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae). Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 77, 593 - 598.","Nunez, D., Maneyro, R., Langone, J. A. & de Sa, R. O. (2004) Distribucion geografica de la fauna de anfibios del Uruguay. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service, 134, 1 - 34.","Di-Bernardo, M., Maneyro, R. & Grillo, H. (2006) New species of Melanophryniscus (Anura: Bufonidae) from Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Journal of Herpetology, 40, 261 - 266.","Achaval, F. & Olmos, A. (2007) Anfibios y Reptiles del Uruguay. 3 rd Ed. Biophoto, Montevideo, 160 pp.","Kolenc, F., Borteiro, C., Tedros, M. & Prigioni, C. (2007) The tadpole of Scinax aromothyella (Anura: Hylidae) from Uruguay. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 42, 175 - 180.","Vera Candioti, M. F. (2007) Anatomy of anuran tadpoles from lentic water bodies: Systematic relevance and correlation with feeding habits. Zootaxa, 1600, 1 - 175.","Maneyro, R. & Kwet, A. (2008) Amphibians in the border region between Uruguay and Brazil: Updated species list with comments on taxonomy and natural history (Part I: Bufonidae). Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde A (Neue Serie), 1, 95 - 121.","Langone, J. A., Segalla, M. V., Bornschein, M. & de Sa, R. O. (2008) A new reproductive mode in the genus Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae) with description of a new species from the state of Parana, Brazil. South American Journal of Herpetology, 3, 1 - 9.","Stuart, S. N., Hoffmann, M., Chanson, J. S., Cox, N. A., Berridge, R. J., Ramani, P. & Young, B. E. (2008) Threatened Amphibians of the World. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona; IUCN, Gland; and Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, 758 pp.","Vaz-Silva, W., Balestrin, R. L. & Di-Bernardo, M. (2008) Rediscovery of Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) in southern Brazil, with addenda to species redescription. South American Journal of Herpetology, 3, 36 - 42.","Ziegler, L. & Maneyro, R. (2008) Clave para la identificacion de los Anfibios de Uruguay (Chordata: Amphibia). Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, 72 pp.","Baldo, D., Maneyro, R. & Laufer, G. (2010) The tadpole of Melanophryniscus atroluteus (Miranda Ribeiro, 1902) (Anura: Bufonidae) from Argentina and Uruguay. Zootaxa, 2615, 66 - 68.","Bernardo-Silva, J. S., Rocha Dos Santos, R. & Both, C. (2010) The tadpole of Melanophryniscus cambaraensis Braun & Braun, 1979 (Anura: Bufonidae). Zootaxa, 2569, 67 - 68.","Canavero, A., Carreira, S., Langone, J. A., Achaval, F., Borteiro, C., Camargo, A., da Rosa, I., Estrades, A., Fallabrino, A., Kolenc, F., Lopez-Mendilaharsu, M. M., Maneyro, R., Meneghel, M., Nunez, D., Prigioni, C. M. & Ziegler, L. (2010) Conservation status assessment of the amphibians and reptiles of Uruguay. Iheringia (Serie Zoologia), 100, 5 - 12.","Almeida-Santos, P., Nascimento D. S. D., Abrunhosa, P. A. & Sluys, M. B. (2010) Melanophryniscus moreirae (Maldonado Redbellied Toad). Defensive behavior. Herpetological Review, 41, 200 - 201.","Bidau, C. J., Marti, D. A. & Baldo, D. (2011) Inter- and intraspecific geographic variation of body size in south american redbelly toads of the genus Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae). Journal of Herpetology, 45, 66 - 74.","Caramaschi, U. & Cruz, C. A. G. (2011) A new possibly threatened species of Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 from the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Bazil, (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae). Boletim do Museu Nacional, 528, 1 - 9.","Dos Santos, T. G., Maneyro, R., Cechin, S. Z. & Haddad, C, F. B. (2011) Breeding habitat and natural history notes of the toad Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) (Anura: Bufonidae) in Southern Brazil. Herpetological Bulletin, 116, 15 - 18.","Haad, M. B., Vera Candioti, M. F. & Baldo, D. (2011) Shape variation in lentic and lotic tadpoles of Melanophryniscus (Anura: Bufonidae). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 46, 91 - 99.","Langone, J. A. (2011) Threats to Uruguayan Amphibians. In: Heatwole, H., Barrio-Amoros, C. L. & Wilkinson, J. W. (Eds.), Amphibian Biology. Volume 9. Status of decline of Amphibians: Western Hemisphere. Part 2. Uruguay, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney, pp. 79 - 84.","Borteiro, C., Kolenc, F., Tedros, M. & Gutierrez, F. (2005) Geographic distribution: Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus. Herpetological Review, 36, 199 - 200.","Colombo, P., Zank, C, Schmidt, L. E. C., Goncalves, G. & Marinho, J. R. (2007) Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae, Melanophryniscus simplex: Distribution extension. Check List, 3, 305 - 307.","Lema, T. D. & Martins, L. A. (2011) Anfibios do Rio Grande do Sul. Catalogo, Diagnoses, Distribuicao, Iconografia. EDIPU- CRS, Porto Alegre, 196 pp.","Toledo, L. F., Sazima, I. & Haddad, C. F. B. (2011) Behavioural defences of anurans: An overview. Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 23, 1 - 25.","Lynch, J. D. & Duellman, W. E. (1997) Frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus in western Ecuador. Systematics, ecology and biogeography. Special Publications, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, 23, 1 - 236.","Delfino, G., Brizzi, R., Kracke-Berndorff, R. & Alvarez, B. (1998) Serous gland dimorphism in the skin of Melanophryniscus stelzneri (Anura: Bufonidae). Journal of Morphology, 237, 19 - 32.","Cespedez, J. A. & Motte, M. (2007) Una nueva especie de Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 de Paraguay (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae). Facena, 23, 31 - 42.","Cespedez, J. A. (2008) Una nueva especie de Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 de Argentina (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae). Facena, 24, 35 - 48.","Trewavas, E. (1933) The hyoid and larynx of the anura. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London, B, 222, 401 - 527.","Badenhorst, C. E. (1945) Die skedelmorfologie van die neotropiese anure Atelopus moreirae de Miranda-Ribeiro. Annals of The University of Stellenbosch, 23, Section A, 1 - 19.","McDiarmid, R. W. (1972) La posicion sistematica de la rana Atelopus rubriventris Vellard. Physis, 31,15 - 21.","Cannatella, D. C. (1986) A new genus of bufonid (Anura) from South America and phylogenetic relationships of the Neotropical genera. Herpetologica, 42, 197 - 205.","Graybeal, A. & Cannatella, D. C. (1995) A new taxon of Bufonidae from Peru, with descriptions of two new species and a review of phylogenetic status of supraspecific bufonid taxa. Herpetologica, 51, 105 - 131.","Dinerstein, E., Olson, D. M., Graham, D. J., Webster, A. L., Primm, S. A., Bookbinder, M. P. & Ledec, G. (1995) A Conservation Assessment of the Terrestrial Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean. The World Bank and World Wildlife Fundation, Washington, 129 pp."]}

We describe a new species of bufonid from a lowland, sandy soil, restinga habitat in the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Based on the shared occurrence of putative morphological synapomorphies of Melanophryniscus and the results of a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of a broad sample of bufonids, and other anurans, we assign the new species to Melanophryniscus. The new species possesses several peculiar character states that distinguish it from all other Melanophryniscus including, but not limited to: fingers II, III, and V much reduced; nuptial pad with few enlarged, brown-colored spines on medial margin of finger II; seven presacral vertebrae, the last fused with the sacrum; and ventral humeral crest prominent, forming a spinelike projection. © Copyright © American Museum of Natural History 2012. Fil: Peloso, Pedro L.V.. American Museum of Natural History; Estados Unidos Fil: Faivovich, Julián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. American Museum of Natural History; Estados Unidos Fil: Grant, Taran. American Museum of Natural History; Estados Unidos Fil: Gasparini, João Luiz. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasil Fil: Haddad, Célio F.B.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil

We used species distribution modeling to investigate the potential effects of climate change on 24 species of Neotropical anurans of the genus Melanophryniscus. These toads are small, have limited mobility, and a high percentage are endangered or present restricted geographical distributions. We looked at the changes in the size of suitable climatic regions and in the numbers of known occurrence sites within the distribution limits of all species. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to project current and future suitable climatic areas (a consensus of IPCC scenarios A2a and B2a for 2020 and 2080) for each species. 40% of the species may lose over 50% of their potential distribution area by 2080, whereas 28% of species may lose less than 10%. Four species had over 40% of the currently known occurrence sites outside the predicted 2080 areas. The effect of climate change (decrease in climatic suitable areas) did not differ according to the present distribution area, major habitat type or phylogenetic group of the studied species. We used the estimated decrease in specific suitable climatic range to set a conservation priority rank for Melanophryniscus species. Four species were set to high conservation priority: M. montevidensis, (100% of its original suitable range and all known occurrence points potentially lost by 2080), M. sp.2, M. cambaraensis and M. tumifrons. Three species (M. spectabilis, M. stelzneri and M. sp.3) were set between high to intermediate priority (more than 60% decrease in area predicted by 2080); nine species were ranked as intermediate priority, while eight species were ranked as low conservation priority. We suggest that monitoring and conservation actions should be focused primarily on those species and populations that are likely to lose the largest area of suitable climate and the largest number of known populations in the short-term. Fil: Zank, Caroline. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Becker, Fernando Gertum. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Abadie, Michelle. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina Fil: Maneyro, Raúl. Universidad de la Republica; Uruguay Fil: Borges Martins, Márcio. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil

We present a cytogenetic survey of the basal bufonid genus Melanophryniscus that covered 14 of the 25 species currently recognized, representing the three phenetic species groups: M. moreirae, M. stelzneri, and M. tumifrons. All species presented a diploid chromosome complement constituted by 11 bi-armed chromosome pairs (2n = 2x = 22; FN = 44). Some remarkable differences were observed between species groups: chromosome pair 4 was metacentric in species of the M. tumifrons group (also with a distinctive C-positive block) but submetacentric in the M. stelzneri group and M. sanmartini (M. moreirae group); pair 5 was submetacentric in M. sanmartini and metacentric in the rest. Chromosome secondary constrictions and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions were located either in pair 5, 7, or 8 in the M. tumifrons group, M. sanmartini and M. krauczuki (M. stelzneri group), and M. stelzneri group, respectively; and pair 7 was relatively larger in M. sanmartini and M. krauczuki. Studied cytogenetic characters support the M. tumifrons group and suggest a close relationship between M. krauczuki and M. sanmartini. These results call for a reassessment of species relations within Melanophryniscus under an inclusive phylogenetic study. Fil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Genética. Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva y Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina Fil: Cotichelli, Leonardo. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Pereyra, Martín Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina Fil: Borteiro, Claudio. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Uruguay Fil: Netto, Flavia. Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay; Paraguay. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Kolenc, Francisco. Museo Nacional de Historia Natural; Uruguay Fil: Brusquetti, Francisco. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil. Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay; Paraguay Fil: Bidau, Claudio Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

A Savana Uruguaia é uma ecorregião onde a cobertura vegetal é constituída predominantemente por gramíneas, representando uma das formação campestres mais ricas do mundo. Se comparada às florestais tropicais, até recentemente, pouca atenção foi dispensada para o estudo e a conservação desta formação campestre. Nos próximos anos, os campos temperados tendem a experimentar as maiores taxas de alterações provocadas, tanto por mudanças no uso do solo quanto por mudanças no clima. No caso da ecorregião Savana Uruguaia, isto deve se tornar particularmente grave, se considerarmos que o sistema de unidades de conservação é precário. Por ocuparem tanto ambientes aquáticos quanto terrestres, os anfíbios representam um grupo especialmente vulnerável a alterações ambientais e climáticas. Além do avanço acelerado de tais alterações, nosso conhecimento básico sobre composição e distribuição de anuros na ecorregião é ainda insipiente. E as listas de espécies de anfíbios, bem como nosso conhecimento sobre as espécies, ainda está muito concentrado aos limites políticos, indicando uma grande carência de conhecimento em nível de unidades biogeográficas. Neste sentido, nosso estudo buscou preencher algumas das lacunas do conhecimento sobre os anfíbios anuros da ecorregião Savana Uruguaia. A tese está composta por três artigos. O primeiro artigo fornece uma listagem das espécies de anfíbios anuros da ecorregião Savana Uruguaia e descreve a distribuição geográfica de cada uma dessas espécies ao longo da ecorregião. O segundo artigo descreve o padrão espacial da riqueza de anuros ao longo da ecorregião, identifica áreas prioritárias para conservação de anfíbios anuros na ecorregião, propõe ações específicas para cada região indicada e desta forma, avalia a concordância do atual sistema de unidades de conservação existente ao longo da ecorregião Savana Uruguaia em abranger as áreas prioritárias para conservação de anuros. E o terceiro artigo analisa os efeitos potenciais das mudanças climáticas sobre as espécies do gênero Melanophryniscus, buscando subsidiar decisões sobre pesquisa e conservação através da elaboração de modelos que permitam quantificar os efeitos potenciais das mudanças climáticas sobre espécies e populações.

República del Paraguay. Departamento de Itapúa. Distrito San Cosme y Damián. Remanente de la Isla Yacyreta, margen derecha, 27º 22' 39,76" S y 56º 14' 42,19" O. (Fig. 1). El sitio de colecta está conformado por un mosaico de esteros, pastizales en suelos saturados o inundados, vegetación hidromórfica permanente y bosques en islas (Cubas et al., 2008). Colectores: Katia Airaldi Wood y Viviana Rojas Bonzi. Fecha de colecta: 3 de febrero de 2011. Los materiales de referencia se encuentran depositados en el Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay (MNHNP 11484–91) (Fig. 2). Longitud hocico-cloaca (en mm) de los ejemplares en orden de numeración: 25, 21, 24, 19, 23, 24, 25 y 25., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

Melanophryniscus moreirae (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) belongs to the M. moreirae group, which is composed by M. moreirae and M. sanmartini (Cruz and Caramaschi 2003). This species is known only from areas of high altitude (from 1800 to 2400 m a.s.l.) near temporary swamps in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Serra da Mantiqueira, on the border of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, municipality of Itamonte, state of Minas Gerais (Bokermann 1967; Guix et al. 1998; IUCN 2006), and in the state of Sao Paulo (Marques et al. 2006). According to the GAA (Global Amphibian Assesment) and IUCN (2006), M. moreirae is a very common species within small range, but it appears to have declined recently (Eterovick et al. 2005). Furthermore, it is listed in the NT (Near Threatened) category.

The bufonid genus Melanophryniscus includes 26 species that are divided into three phenetic groups based on adult morphology. Larvae develop in environments such as temporary ponds, streams or phytotelms. We studied variation in external morphology related to lentic and lotic microhabitats, through landmark-based geometric morphometrics on body shape, and multivariate analysis on oral disc measurements. Results show a morphological continuum between species that inhabit lentic versus lotic water systems. Features both in body shape and oral disc coincide with previous characterizations of lentic and lotic tadpoles published elsewhere. Fil: Haad, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología. Instituto de Herpetología; Argentina Fil: Vera Candioti, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología. Instituto de Herpetología; Argentina Fil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología. Instituto de Herpetología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Departamento de Genética. Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva y Molecular; Argentina

Skins of bufonid toads of the genus Melanophryniscus contain several classes of alkaloids: decahydroquinolines, pumiliotoxins, allopumiliotoxins, homopumiliotoxins, both 3,5- and 5,8-disubstituted indolizidines, 3,5-disubstituted pyrrolizidines, and a 1,4-disubstituted quinolizidine. Tricyclic alkaloids, including precoccinelline [193A] and alkaloid 236, an oxime methyl ether, are present in one population of Melanophryniscus stelzneri.

A new species of bufonid toad of the genus Melanophryniscus from northern Uruguay is described. It is included in the M. moreirae group and its external morphology is similar to Melanophryniscus sanmartini. Melanophryniscus sp. nov. is distinguished by having a light brown dorsal coloration with six darker longitudinal glandular ridges on the dorsal surface of the body and the gular region uniformly black. Se describe una nueva especie de anuro bufónido del género Melanophryniscus, procedente del norte de Uruguay. La nueva especie se incluye en el grupo M. moreirae y es similar, en cuanto a su morfología externa, con Melanophryniscus sanmartini. Melanophryniscus sp. nov. se distingue por presentar una coloración dorsal castaño clara con seis cordones glandulares longitudinales más oscuros en la superficie dorsal del cuerpo y la región gular de color negro uniforme.

A short synthesis of the postulated structure for indolizidine alkaloid 259B with the hydrogens at C5 and C9 entgegen has been achieved with complete control of stereochemistry at C5. Both diastereoisomers at C8 were obtained, but neither proved to be the natural product. The comparison of the mass and FTIR spectral properties of the synthetic compounds to those of the natural material strongly suggest that the gross structure is correct and that the difference may be a branch in the C5 alkyl side-chain. The GC-retention times of the two synthetic compounds were markedly longer than that of the natural 5,9E-259B.

The genus Melanophryniscus currently includes 20 species distributed in southern Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and central and northern Argentina (Di-Bernardo et al. 2006). To date, nine species of Melanophryniscus are known to occur in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Following Caramaschi and Cruz (2002), three species, M. atroluteus, M. dorsalis, and M. montevidensis (see Braun and Braun 1980; Tedros et al. 2001), are included in the Melanophryniscus stelzneri species group; five, M. macrogranulosus, M. cambaraensis, M. tumifrons M. pachyrhynus, and M. devincenzii (see Braun and Braun, 1973; 1979; 1980; Caramaschi and Cruz 2002; Zanella et al. 2007), are in the Melanophryniscus tumifrons group; and M. admirabilis is unassigned to any group (Di-Bernardo et al. 2006).

In whole animal ethanolic extracts from adult specimens of Melanophryniscus atroluteus (27 specimens) and M. devincenzii (16 specimens) as well as of two egg clutches and four tadpole samples from the latter species, the major alkaloid pumiliotoxin (PTX) 251D and hydroquinone were assayed quantitatively by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All toad extracts contained high concentrations of PTX 251D and hydroquinone and exhibited considerable variation in the content of these compounds among individual specimens. The extracts of the eggs and tadpoles were entirely free of alkaloids as well as hydroquinone, pointing to a dietary origin of these compounds.

Toads belonging to the genus Melanophryniscus contain toxic alkaloids in their skin. From six locations in south-eastern Uruguay 81 specimens of Melanophryniscus montevidensis were collected. In whole animal methanolic extracts of individual specimens, alkaloids of the pumiliotoxin (PTX) group and indolizidines were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; the predominant component PTX 251D was assayed quantitatively. The PTX-content of the various toad populations was found to be highly variable among individual specimens as well as among the populations. Very high levels of PTX 251D were detected in toads of the western part of the collection area, whereas very low levels of this alkaloid were assayed in toads near the Brazilian border. Remarkably high concentrations of the non-alkaloid hydroquinone were found to be present in all toads. The analysis of extracts from 125 arthropod samples (Arachnida and Insecta, including termites, ants and beetles), which may represent a potential food source, revealed no alkaloids of the PTX group.

Se analizó la histología tegumentaria de la región cefálica en seis especies del género Melanophryniscus, pertenecientes a los grupos stelzneri (4) y tumifrons (2), con el objetivo de esclarecer la estructura de la tumefacción frontal y su posible función. Las características generales de la histología del grupo stelzneri, coincidieron con las descripciones tegumentarias existentes para el género. Sin embargo, la región cefálica frontal en las dos especies del grupo tumifrons muestran cambios histológicos correlacionados a la tumefacción frontal. Esta estructura presenta una organización similar a otras macroglándulas presentes en la dermis de anuros (e.g., parotoides, paracnémicas), y por tanto se propone el nombre de macroglándula frontal para la misma. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren un rol defensivo para esta macroglándula We analyzed the histology of skin from the head region of six species of Melanophryniscus, belonging to the stelzneri (4) and tumifrons (2) groups, to understand the frontal tumefaction structure and function. The histological features of the skin in the stelzneri group are in agreement with the current description for the genus Melanophryniscus. However, the features of the skin on the anterior head region of M. tumifrons shows several changes associated with the frontal tumefaction. This structure consists of a macrogland of similar organization to that of other dermic glands (e.g., parotoid, paracnemid) of amphibians. We propose the name frontal macrogland for this structure. Our results suggest a possible defense role for this macrogland

Se analizó la histología tegumentaria de la región cefálica en seis especies del género Melanophryniscus, pertenecientes a los grupos stelzneri (4) y tumifrons (2), con el objetivo de esclarecer la estructura de la tumefacción frontal y su posible función. Las características generales de la histología del grupo stelzneri, coincidieron con las descripciones tegumentarias existentes para el género. Sin embargo, la región cefálica frontal en las dos especies del grupo tumifrons muestran cambios histológicos correlacionados a la tumefacción frontal. Esta estructura presenta una organización similar a otras macroglándulas presentes en la dermis de anuros (e.g., parotoides, paracnémicas), y por tanto se propone el nombre de macroglándula frontal para la misma. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren un rol defensivo para esta macroglándula

Tanto los patrones como el tono de la coloración dorsal y ventral han sido caracteres comúnmente utilizados para el reconocimiento y diferenciación de numerosas especies y subespecies del género de Bufonidae Melanophryniscus. Sin embargo, raramente se han presentado análisis detallados y sistematizados que indiquen la ausencia o la baja frecuencia de polimorfismos en estos caracteres para asegurar que son realmente diagnósticos. Mediante una metodología sistematizada se estableció la validez diagnóstica de estos caracteres para las poblaciones argentinas de Melanophryniscus rubriventris. La información obtenida en este trabajo, sugiere la existencia de poblaciones con variaciones morfológicas distintivas aunque no exclusivas y se propone que las actuales subespecies sean sinonimizadas. Dada la importante variabilidad registrada en los patrones de coloración de ejemplares conservados y de la intensidad de la coloración in vivo en todo el rango de distribución de Melanophryniscus rubriventris, así como la multiplicidad de fuentes de variabilidad que estos caracteres pueden expresar, se sugiere que el uso de la coloración como carácter diagnóstico único para la delimitación de especies sea utilizado con cierta precaución o empleando una metodología de muestreo rigurosa que contemple la edad, el sexo y la mayor cantidad posible de poblaciones en todo el rango de distribución del grupo a investigar., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

Uruguay. Departamento de Rivera. 7 de Abril de 2001: ZVCB 6127, ZVCB 6128; 12 de Mayo de 2001: ZVCB 6371, ZVCB 6372 (Estancia Trinidad, campos de COFUSA, 20 km al SE de la ciudad de Rivera por ruta 27, 34º48'S, 61º63'W). 7 de Abril de 2001: ZVCB 6129 y ZVCB 6130; 12 de Mayo de 2001: ZVCB 6376 y ZVCB 6377 (Estancia Rocha, campos de COFUSA, 30 km al SE de la ciudad de Rivera por ruta 27, 34º56'S, 61º60'W). 12 de Mayo de 2001: ZVCB 6373, ZVCB 6374 (Estancia Vázquez, campos de COFUSA, 32.5 km al SE de la ciudad de Rivera por ruta 27, 34º65'S, 61º66'W), Col.: D. E. Naya., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

Prigioni y Langone (2000) describen M. klappenbachi, indicando como localidad tipo "Arroyo Palometa, Ruta Nacional Nº 1, provincia del Chaco, República Argentina"; dicha localidad es inexacta ya que la ruta mencionaa no atraviesa el territorio chaqueño y debe ser reemplazada por "Arroyo Palometa, Ruta Nacional Nº 11 (27º 43' 02.2'' S, 59º 13' 57,9'' W, 65 msnm), Dto. San Fernando, provincia del Chaco, República Argentina"., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

Brasil, Estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Alvorada, Barra do Chui, 33°45'S 53°16' W. Febrero de 1989. Colector: M. Tedros. (Colección de Batracios de la Sección Zoología Vertebrados de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de la República, Uruguay ZVCB 7276, ZVCB 7277 y ZVCB 7278)., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

República Federativa do Brasil, Estado de Matto Grosso do Sul: Bella Vista (EI 4235 al 4256). 50 Km al Norte de Rio Verde (ZVC-B 2128). Ponta Porá (4220, 4221, 4223, 4226, 4227, 4228, 4242)., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

None

Se estudiaron varios aspectos de la reproducción y desarrollo larval de Melanophryniscus stelzneri stelzneri: condiciones ambientales en las que ocurre la reproducción, conductas pre y postreproductivas de los adultos, puesta, desarrollo embrionario, comportamiento larval, y metamorfosis. Se realizó también una descripción anatómica de la larva. La mayor parte de las conductas observadas son corrientes en anuros argentinos. La larva es típicamente pequeña y de tipo léntico-bentónica. Su fórmula dentaria mas común es 2/3. El tiempo de metamorfosis está afectada por la disponibilidad de agua, un paulatino descenso en el nivel de agua la acelera., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA)

Melanophryniscus stelzneri fulvoguttatus (Mertens, 1937). República Argentina, provincia de Santiago del Estero, Monte Quemado, 25° 48'S, 62° 52'W. Nueve ejemplares adultos (seis machos y tres hembras). MACN 35421-35429., Asociación Herpetológica Argentina

Amphibians show strong dependence on environmental variables (water balance, temperature). However, interactions affecting geographic distribution of body size are poorly known. We present an analysis of body size within and between species of an anuran genus using a climatic approach. We studied geographic body size distribution in 23 species of South American redbelly toads (Melanophryniscus) spanning 166 latitude, 226 longitude, and 2,400 m altitude. Body size was analyzed in relation to climatic parameters including temperature, precipitation, seasonality, evapotranspiration, and water balance at interspecific, interpopulational (all populations regardless of species), and intraspecific (populations within species) levels. LogSVL was regressed against climatic principal components scores using simultaneous autoregression. Interspecifically and interpopulationally, temperature and precipitation are the main factors responsible for the observed size clines, larger body sizes being associated with decreasing maximum ambient temperature and water availability. Intraspecific results for two species suggested comparable body-size trends. That temperature affects these size clines is reinforced by the strong positive correlation of logSVL with altitude. Because anurans strongly depend on water for survival and reproduction, it is reasonable that ,besides temperature, larger body size is favored in drier environments, which is supported by the correlation between body size and coefficients of variation of annual rainfall: lower surface : volume ratios in larger species would help conserve water in unpredictable environments. Also, Melanophryniscus has reproductive peculiarities associated with ephemeral aquatic environments: explosive breeding synchronized with rainfall; eggs deposited in several clutches; and rapid tadpole development, which suggest a strong relationship between life history and water balance. Fil: Bidau, Claudio Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; Brasil Fil: Marti, Dardo Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina Fil: Baldo, Juan Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina

A new species of Melanophryniscus (Anura, Bufonidae) from the Campos Gerais region of Southern Brazil. A new species of Melanophryniscus is described from the Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, municipality of Ponta Grossa, Parana State, Southern Brazil. The Parque Estadual de Vila Velha is located in the Campos Gerais region, an environment dominated by natural grasslands with patches of Araucaria Forest. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by its small size (12.8- 14.0 mm snout-vent length in adult males) and unique color pattern of copper brown dorsum covered with small spinulose black warts; ventral surface black finely spotted with white, posterior abdomen and ventral surfaces of the forearm, hand and foot with red stains. The new species is nocturnal and breeds in the water accumulated in the leaf-axils of phytotelmata. Resumo Nova especie de Melanophryniscus (Anura, Bufonidae) da regiao dos Campos Gerais, sul do Brasil. Uma nova especie de Melanophryniscus e descrita do Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, municipio de Ponta Grossa, estado do Parana, sul do Brasil. O Parque Estadual de Vila Velha esta inserido na regiao dos Campos Gerais, ambi- ente composto por um mosaico de campos naturais com capoes de Mata de Araucaria. A nova especie difere de todos os seus congeneres pelo pequeno tamanho (12.8-14.0 mm de comprimento rostro-cloacal em machos adultos) e padrao unico de coloracao, com a superficie dorsal do corpo marrom acobreada coberta com pequenas verrugas ne- gras espinhentas e superficie ventral negra finamente pontuada de branco, abdomem posterior e palma da mao, pe e antebraco com manchas vermelhas. A nova especie e noturna e se reproduz na agua acumulada nas axilas das folhas de fitotelmatas. Palavras-chave: Anura, Bufonidae, descricao de especie, fitotelmata, Mata de Araucaria, sul do Brasil.

Argentina, Misiones, Departamento Capital, Parque Provincial Fachinal (27° 30' S; 55° 44' W). 1 Agosto de 1998. Krauczuk y Cabanne. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" Buenos Aires, Argentina (MACN 36856).

República del Paraguay, Dpto. Presidente Hayes, entre el Río Pilcomayo y el Río Confuso (24° 43' S, 58° 37' O). 2 ejemplares adultos, números MACN 07630 y 07631. Colectado por el Sr. Pedro Williams el 5 de mayo de 1940, Asociación Herpetológica Argentina

SUMMARYKaryotypes of twelve species of Leptodactylidae and one Brachycephalidae were studied. They were: Eleutherodactylus unistrigatus (2n=20), Holoaden bradei (2n=18), Paralelmatobius lutzi (2n=24), Physalaemus aguirrei, P. cicada, P. gracilis, P. kroyeri, P. sp. (1), P. sp. (2), P. olfersi, P. signiferus, P. soaresi (2n=22) and Melanophryttiscus moreirae (2n=22). Centric fusion and pericentric inversions are the most important mechanisms of karyotype differentiation in Leptodactylidae. Melanophryniscus moreirae, of the Brachycephalidae family, presents a karyotype related to those of the Bufonidae. No morphologically distinguishable sex chromosomes could be observed.

A ocorrência de hemagregarinas no sangue dos sapos que examinamos (Bufo crucifer, B. marinus e Melanophryniscus moreirae) revelou-se extremamente rara; apenas um exemplar de B. crucifer procedente de Manguinhos (Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara) apresentou-se parasitado. As formas sanguíneas encontradas eram intra-eritrocitárias, medindo em média 10,8/ 3,6µ; não as identificamos como trofozoítos ou gametócitos e discutimos este fato. As hemácias parasitadas tinham dimensões normais, porém podiam ter o núcleo deslocado. Supomos ser esta a primeira referência a hemogregarinas neste hospedeiro. Não encontramos identidade entre as formas que descrevemos e aquelas referidas em outras espécies de sapos; fornecemos uma lista das hemogregarinas achadas nestes hospedeiros. Denominamos provisoriamente os parasitos que encontramos Haemogregarina "sensu lato", até que novos dados sobre seu ciclo evolutivo sejam conhecidos. The occurrence of hemogregarines in the blood of Brazilian toads that we have examined (Bufo crucifer, B. Marinus and Melanophryniscus moreirae) has displayed very scarce; only one specimen of B. crucifer from Manguinhos (Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara) was infected. The blood forms that we found were intraerythrocytic, averaging 10,8 by 3,6µ; we did not differenciate them as thophozoites or as gametocytes and we discuss this fact. The infected erythrocytes were not hypertrophied and their nucleus was normal and sometimes displaced. We think that it is the first reference to hemogregarines in this host. We did not evidence identity among the forms that we described and those reported in other species of toads; we give a list of hemogregarines found in those hosts. We provisorily named the parasites that we found Haemogregarina "sensu lato", until new data about their life cycle become known.

Several taxa of small frogs from the southern hemisphere contain alkaloids similar or identical to compounds previously known only from neotropical poison frogs of the family Dendrobatidae. Skin of the Brazilian toad Melanophryniscus moreirae (family Bufonidae) contains a new alkaloid 8-hydroxy-8-methyl-6-(5'-hydroxy-2'-methyl-hexylidene)-1-azabicycl o-[4.3.0] nonane (C16H29NO2), which is designated pumiliotoxin 267C. Such a structure is typical of the pumiliotoxin-A class of dendrobatid alkaloids. Melanophyryniscus moreirae contains smaller quantities of an alkaloid (C19H33NO3) identical in chromatographic and mass spectral properties to the dendrobatid alkaloid allopumiliotoxin 323B. Allopumiliotoxin 323B and an isomer of 267C occur with unidentified alkaloids in skin of the Australian frog Pseudophryne semimarmorata (family Myobatrachidae) and also in the skin of the Madagascan frog Mantella aurantiaca (family Ranidae, subfamily Mantellinae). In addition to new compounds, Mantella aurantiaca and M. madagascariensis also contain other alkaloids (e.g. histrionicotoxin and pumiliotoxin B) that were known previously only in dendrobatid frogs. Such alkaloids have not been detected in a phylogenetically wide array of other anuran amphibians, and the dendrobatid alkaloids thus become an evolutionary enigma. Certain of these compounds may have arisen convergently from new biosynthetic pathways in several families of frogs, or these alkaloids may represent parallel expression of shared-primitive pathways that are unexpressed or lost in related frogs.

The distribution of various amines and polypeptides of the skin in 90 species of five frog families show general agreement with classifications based on other criteria. In particular, the skin biochemistry generally supports the subgeneric divisions of Leptodactylus based on secondary sex characters; the isolated position of Odontophrynus among the Cerato- phryidae indicated by serological evidence is supported; Phyllomedusa differs strongly from other hylid genera in its possession of large amounts of polypeptides; and the presence of bufotenine in Melanophryniscus confirms the assignment of the genus to the Bufonidae. There is great variation within and between species of Bufo in amounts of amines of the skin., Material digitalizado en SEDICI gracias a la colaboración del Dr. Jorge Williams (FCNM-UNLP)., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The value of the study of biogenic amines and active polypeptides of the amphibian skin in providing taxonomic evidence has been pointed in an earlier paper (Cei, Erspamer and Roseghini, 1967). The point was stressed that biochemical taxonomy, in its broadest sense, is possibly more discriminating than traditional taxonomy, based on somatic or osteological structures, size or coloration. In the first paper of this series sets of biochemical and pharmacological data concerning the skins of lep- todactylid frogs were reported and discussed. The present paper deals similarly with representatives of another very important family of Procoela, the Bufonidae., Material digitalizado en SEDICI gracias a la colaboración del Dr. Jorge Williams (FCNM-UNLP)., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo