Scinax rogerioi Pugliese, Baêta & Pombal, 2009, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Pugliese, Adriana
name: Baêta, Délio
name: Pombal, José P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2009
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Amphibia
Anura
Hylidae
Scinax
Scinax rogerioi

description: Scinax rogerioi sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–2)
Holotype. MNRJ 27759, adult male, collected at Chapada dos Veadeiros (14 0 09’S; 47 0 36’W; approximately 1070 m alt.), Municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, State of Goiás, Brazil, on 1–2 December 2001 by José P. Pombal Jr., Rogério P. Bastos, and Leôncio P. Lima.
Paratopotypes. MNRJ 27754–27758, 27760–27761, adult males, collected with the holotype.
Referred specimens. Adult male, LZV 480A, Serra de Ouro Branco (20 0 29`23``S; 43 0 42`36``W), Municipalty of Ouro Branco, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Adult males, LZV 123A, 124A, 151A, 198A, 310A, 345A, 540A, 549A, 566A, 567A, 570A, 572A, 575A, 724A; MNRJ 30603–30604, 34624–34625, 41703–41721, 46700–46710; adult females, LZV 311, 312, 313, 548, 569, 571. MNRJ 41703, 41704, 41707, 41710, 46700, 46703, 46704 Lagoa Seca (20 0 25`52``S; 43 0 29`12`W), Parque Estadual do Itacolomi, Municipality of Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Diagnosis. A species belonging to the Scinax ruber clade (sensu Faivovich et al. 2005) and S. ruber species group (sensu Pombal et al. 1995a), characterized by: (1) medium size (SVL males 25.0– 35.6 mm; females 28.0– 34.5 mm); (2) snout protruding in lateral view and almost subovoid in dorsal view; (3) loreal region concave; (4) adhesive discs on fingers medium–sized, wider than long; (5) brown dorsal blotches extending in a pair of longitudinal irregular and interrupted blotches/stripes from head to inguinal region; (6) inverted brown triangular interocular blotch; (7) brown spot in loreal region; (8) advertisement call is a multipulsed note, of 6 to 12 pulses (interval between pulses 0.02 to 0.03 s), and dominant frequency of 1.38 to 3.19 kHz.
Comparison with other species. The size of male Scinax rogerioi (25.0– 32.6 mm) distinguishes it from S. cardosoi (SVL 19.6–23.2 mm; Carvalho e Silva & Peixoto 1991), S. dolloi (SVL 34.9 mm; Faivovich, pers. com.), S. eurydice (SVL 42.0–52.0 mm; Bokermann 1968), S. perereca (SVL 34.0– 38.5 mm; Pombal et al. 1995a), S. fuscomarginatus (SVL 18.0–23.0 mm; B. Lutz 1973), S. fuscovarius (SVL 41.0–44.0 mm; Cei 1980), and S. hayii (SVL 39.0–43.0 mm; Heyer et al. 1990). From S. alter, S. cabralensis, S. crospedospilus, S. curicica, S. duartei, S. fuscomarginatus, S. hayii, S. maracaya, and S. squalirostris, the new species differs by its dorsal pattern, which consists of a pair of longitudinal interrupted and irregular stripes extending from the posterior corner of the eye to the inguinal region, and dark brown blotches irregularly distributed (dorsum with a pair of continuum longitudinal stripes in S. alter, S. caldarum, S. curicica, S. cuspidatus, S. duartei, S. fuscomarginatus, and S. squalirostris; Bokermann 1968; B. Lutz, 1973; Pugliese et al. 2004; Uetanabaro et al. 2008. Dorsum with small dark spot equally distributed in S. cabralensis; Drummond et al. 2007. Dorsum with several pairs of large white edge dark brown spots in S. crospedospilus; Heyer et al. 1990. Dorsum without dorsal drawing in S. hayii; Heyer et al. 1990. Dorsum with dark blotches with light rims in S. maracaya; Cardoso & Sazima 1980). The new species is distinguished from S. acuminatus by smaller size in females (S. acuminatus SVL 40.0–44.0 mm; B. Lutz 1973) and by the dorsum being smooth or having scattered granules (very rugose in S. acuminatus). From S. camposseabrai, S. rogerioi differs by its subgular vocal sac and unreduced head (head length in males 32.6-33.4% of SVL in S. rogerioi; in S. camposseabrai vocal sac expanded laterally and reduced head, head length in males 24.4-26.3% of SVL; Caramaschi & Cardoso 2006). Scinax rogerioi is distinguished from S. nasicus by its protruding snout in lateral view (nearly rounded in S. nasicus), concave loreal region (oblique in S. nasicus), and medium–sized finger and toe discs (smaller discs in S. nasicus). From S. curicica, S. duartei, S. fuscomarginatus, and S. squalirostris, the new species is distinguished by the absence of a brown stripe beginning immediately behind the nostril, extending to the pupil, then above the tympanum and extending to the lateral surfaces of body (present in those species; B. Lutz 1973; Heyer et al. 1990; Pugliese et al. 2004). The new species can be distinguished from S. alter, S. cabralensis, S. caldarum, S. camposseabrai, S. cardosoi, S. crospedospilus, S. curicica, S. cuspidatus, S. duartei, S. eurydice, S. fuscomarginatus, S. fuscovarius, S. hayii, S. maracaya, S. perereca, S. similis, and S. squalirostris by the presence of a brown spot on the loreal region and by its distinct advertisement call. The number of pulses (6–12) of the multipulsed note of the advertisement call of S. rogerioi differs from S. curicica (29–43 pulses; Pugliese et al. 2004), S. eurydice (3 pulses; Pombal et al. 1995b, where the pulses were called notes), S. fuscomarginatus (85–104 pulses; Pombal et al. 1995b), S. hayii (14–21; Pombal et al. 1995b, where the pulses were called notes), and S. perereca (21–24 pulses; Pombal et al. 1995b). By the dominant frequency of the advertisement call, S. rogerioi (1.38–3.19 kHz) differs from S. cabralensis (3.70– 4.22 kHz; Drummond et al. 2007), S. fuscomarginatus (4.1–4.7 kHz; Pombal et al. 1995b), S. perereca (1.3– 1.6 kHz; Pombal et al. 1995b), and S. squalirostris (3.9–4.6 kHz; Pombal et al. 1995b). The advertisement call duration of S. rogerioi (0.27– 0.70 s) differs from that of S. curicica (0.76– 4.5 s; Pugliese et al. 2004), S. cuspidatus (0.12– 0.15 s; Pombal et al. 1995b), S. eurydice (0.09– 0.11 s; Pombal et al. 1995b), and S. fuscovarius (0.17– 0.22 s; Pombal et al. 1995b). Furthermore, the new species is distinguished from S. caldarum by its larger and almost elliptical adhesive discs (small and nearly rounded in S. caldarum), less developed vocal sac, (large in S. caldarum), and concave loreal region (oblique in S. caldarum). From S. curicica, the new species is distinguished by its larger and almost elliptical adhesive discs (small and nearly rounded in S. curicica) and concave loreal region (almost oblique in S. curicica). Scinax rogerioi has larger adhesive discs than S. duartei. We cannot compare the new species to S. x-signatus for the reasons explained in Remarks.
Description of holotype. Body moderately robust; medium–sized; head as wide as body, slightly wider than longer (head width/head length 1.09); snout protruding in lateral view and almost subovoid in dorsal view; nostrils directed dorsolaterally, nearly elliptical, located on small elevations; canthus rostralis almost straight, weakly developed; loreal region concave, broad; eye medium–sized (eye diameter/SVL 0.10); tympanum medium–sized (tympanum diameter/SVL 0.04), rounded, smaller than adhesive disc on finger III; supratympanic fold weak, extending to shoulder level; vocal sac single, externally expanded, median, subgular; vocal slits present laterally in floor of mouth; tongue large, rounded, slightly notched posteriorly, barely free behind; vomerine teeth in two straight series, narrowly separated, between small, oval choanae. Arm slender, forearm and fingers moderately robust, medium–sized; finger lengths I<II<IV<III; nuptial excrescence poorly developed on inner surface of Finger I; inner metacarpal tubercle single, large, nearly elliptical; outer metacarpal tubercle bifid, elongated; finger discs large, almost elliptical, wider than longer; disc on Finger I smaller than those of the other fingers; subarticular and supernumerary tubercles single, small and rounded; webbing almost imperceptible. Legs moderately robust; inner metatarsal tubercle small, single, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle small, single, rounded, protruding; toes long; toe lengths I<II<III<V<IV; subarticular and supernumerary tubercles single, small, rounded; adhesive toe discs medium–sized, expanded, toe discs I–II smaller than toe discs III–V. Webbing formula I 2 + – 2 II 1 1/3 – 2 2/3 III 1 2/3 – 3+ IV 2 2/3 – 1 1/ 3 V. Skin on dorsum smooth; throat, chest and belly granular.
Measurements of the holotype (in mm). Snout–vent length 29.7; head length 8.7; head width 9.5; arm length 9.3; forearm length 5.4; hand length 7.7; femur length 13.5; tibia length 14.1; tarsus length 7.8; foot length 12.5; interorbital distance 3.4; internarial distance 2.1; nostril diameter 0.4; eye–nostril distance 2.7; eye–snout distance 3.7; eye diameter 3.0; tympanum diameter 1.3; disc of finger III width 1.2; disc of IV toe width 1.2.
Color of the holotype in preservative. Dorsum grayish–brown with many dark brown blotches; conspicuous inverted interocular triangular dark brown blotch; pair of longitudinal, interrupted, irregular dark brown blotches on dorsum from behind eyes to inguinal region; rounded brown spot in loreal region; canthal stripe continuous with darkly highlighted supratympanic fold. Limbs with brown stripes; transversly elongated spots on posterior surfaces of thighs (condition three of variation; see below); interrupted bars on upper surfaces of shank (condition three of variation; see below); most ventral surfaces cream; ventral surface of feet and tarsi pale brown.
Variation. The measurements of 46 males and 13 females are summarized in Table 1. Males are significantly (T0,0 5 = 2.58, p = 0.012) smaller than females. Some males have small nuptial pads. Choanae vary from rounded to oval. The shape and density of the blotches and of the pair of longitudinal interrupted irregular blotches on the dorsum is variable. The shape and intensity of the loreal spot is variable; only one specimen lacks this dark brown spot. There are three arrangements of spots on the posterior surfaces of thighs: (1) spots in transverse rows; (2) spots irregularly; (3) spots transversally elongated. There are four color patterns on the upper surfaces of the shank: (1) uniform, without spots; (2) rounded or oval spots disposed irregularly; (3) bars, interrupted or not and with rounded spots; and (4) complete transverse bars. The outer metacarpal tubercle is divided or bilobed and rounded, oval, or elliptical in shape. The skin on the dorsum has scattered tubercles in some individuals.
The color in life is based on pictures of a specimen from the type –locality (Fig. 3) and another from Ouro Preto. The general dorsal aspect is light yellow–green with dark brown blotches or light gray–green with brown blotches. Iris copper or pale copper.
Vocalization. We analyzed 20 advertisement calls of three specimens of Scinax rogerioi from the type – locality (only one was collected; MNRJ 27754). The call is a multipulsed note with a duration of 0.27 to 0.70 s (x = 0.46 s; SD = 0.11; n = 20; Fig. 4); each note contains 6 to 12 pulses with a duration of 0.02 to 0.04 s (x = 0.03 s; SD = 0.00; n = 20) and intervals between pulses of 0.02 to 0.03 s (x = 0.02 s; SD = 0.00; n = 20). The interval between notes is 0.88 to 1.53 s (x = 1.19 s; SD = 0.20; n = 15). Call frequency ranges from 0.95 kHz (x = 1.35 kHz; range = 0.95-1.64 kHz; SD = 0.19; n = 20) to 3.96 kHz (x = 3.44 kHz; range = 2.76-3.96 kHz; SD = 0.41; n = 20). The dominant frequency ranges from 1.38 kHz (x = 2.31 kHz; range = 1.38-2.76 kHz; SD = 0.48; n = 20) to 3.19 kHz (x = 2.80 kHz; range = 1.90-3.19; SD = 0.47; n = 20).
Seven advertisement calls of one specimen from Parque Estadual do Itacolomi, Municipality of Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais were analyzed. The call is a multipulsednote with a duration of 0.66 to 0.84 s (x = 0.75 s; SD = 0.7; n = 7); each note contains 9 to 12 pulses with a duration of 0.02 to 0.04 s (x = 0.03 s; SD = 0.00; n = 7) and intervals between pulses of 0.02 to 0.03 s (x = 0.02 s; SD = 0.00; n = 7). The interval between notes is 1.42 to 2.63 s (x = 1.87 s; SD = 0.35; n = 7). Call frequency ranges from 1.11 kHz (x = 1.27 kHz; range = 1.11-1.44 kHz; SD = 0.1; n = 7) to 3.75 kHz (x = 3.63 kHz; range = 3.46-3.75 kHz; SD = 0.1; n = 7). The dominant frequency ranges from 1.38 kHz (x = 2.08 kHz; range = 1.38-2.78 kHz; SD = 0.81; n = 7) to 3.19 kHz (x = 3.09 kHz; range = 3.01-3.19; SD = 0.09; n = 7).
Natural history. The three known localities for Scinax rogerioi are in the Cerrado Domain (sensu Ab'Sáber 1977), where the climate is seasonal with wet summers and dry winters. The Cerrado amphibian fauna is rich, with several endemic species (Colli et al. 2002). The localities where S. rogerioi were found are characterized by rocky mountain fields called “campos rupestres” in Brazil. The flora of the “campos rupestres” is highly endemic, and some species are locally endemic, known only from small areas; several vegetation types occur in Chapada dos Veadeiros, and herbaceous communities are abundant (Figueiras 2002; Oliveira-Filho & Ratter 2002). The anuran frog of “campos rupestres” is not well known. The campos rupestres frog fauna has been derived from Atlantic Forest and Cerrado/Caatinga (Heyer 1999).
Scinax rogerioi vocalize from low vegetation such as grass or bushes, a few centimeters above of the ground or water. In the Ouro Preto region, State of Minas Gerais, this species breeds in the Lagoa Seca, a temporary pond at Parque Estadual do Itacolomi. Individuals were commonly found resting by day on grassy, vegetation above flooded muddy soil of ponds. This pond has been well studied during the last several years and it is the type –locality of two species of frogs recently described: Physalaemus erythros Caramaschi, Feio & Guimarães-Neto 2003 and Phyllomedusa itacolomi Caramaschi, Cruz & Feio 2007 [a junior synonym of P. ayeaye (B. Lutz 1966); see Baêta et al. 2009]. At this pond, males of Scinax rogerioi vocalize at night, on the shrubby vegetation, rocks and, occasionally, on the ground near the pond, and within bromeliad rosettes, close to the breeding sites. Males call after the first rains, from September to October, and are explosive breeders, as evidenced on one night (7 October 2005), when more than 80 individuals were observed calling in the pond. On other occasions, only a few individuals were encountered in the same place (Baêta, pers. obs).
Distribution. The new species is known from the type –locality in Chapada dos Veadeiros, Municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, State of Goiás, Central Brazil, from Parque Estadual do Itacolomi (Municipality of Ouro Preto), and from the Municipality of Ouro Branco; the last two localities are in the Serra do Espinhaço range, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil (Fig. 5).
Etymology. The specific name honors our friend and colleague Dr. Rogério P. Bastos, Universidade Federal de Goiás, for his contribution to the knowledge of the Brazilian anuran fauna.
Remarks. Faivovich et al. (2005) transferred Hyla dolloi Werner to the genus Scinax. Currently, this name (a species inquirenda) cannot be associated with any known natural population. In the original description, Werner (1903) reported the total length as 45 mm. However, the two syntypes have SVLs of 34.9 and 42.9 SVL, male and female, respectively (J. Faivovich, pers. comm.).
There are eleven available names in the synonymy of six Scinax species belonging to the S. ruber clade (sensu Faivovich et al. 2005) known from southeastern and central Brazil: Hyla phrynoderma Boulenger, 1889 and Hyla fiebrigi Ahl 1927 in the synonymy of S. acuminatus; Hyla madeirae Bokermann, 1964 in the synonym of S. fuscomarginatus; H. megapodia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 and H. trachythorax Müller & Hellmich 1936 in the synonymy of S. fuscovarius; H. nigra Cope, 1887 and H. anisitsi Méhely, 1904 in the synonymy of S. nasica; H. lindneri Müller & Hellmich, 1936 and H. evelynae Schmidt 1944 in the synonymy of S. squalirostris; H. affinis Spix, 1824 and H. coerulea Spix 1824 in the synonymy of S. x-signatus (see Frost 2009). The new species can be distinguished from H. phrynoderma and H. fiebrigi by its smaller size, dorsum being smooth or scattered with granules (very rugose in H. phrynoderma and H. fiebrigi; B.Lutz 1973; Duellman 1974); H. madeirae is smaller (males SVL 10.0-22.0 mm) than S. rogerioi and has dorsum with a pair of continuum longitudinal stripes (Bokermann 1964); from H. megapodia and H. trachythorax, S. rogerioi differ by its smaller size (SVL 34.5 and 44.4 mm lectotype and paralectotype of H. megapodia, respectively; S. fuscovarius from Paraguayan Chaco [= H. trachythorax] SVL 41.0- 48mm; Norman 1994). Gallardo (1961) examined the type specimens of S. lindneri and S. evelynae considering both in the synonymy of S. squalirotris; such as in S. squalirostris, the dorsal color pattern have a pair of continuum longitudinal stripes differ each from S. rogerioi (Müller & Hellmich 1936; Schmidt 1944). Herein, we follow Duellman (1974) and Langone (1991) considering Hyla nigra and Hyla anisitsi as synonymies of Scinax nasicus. As pointed out by Pombal et al. (1995a), the literature on S. x-signatus is confusing, apparently a consequence of ignorance about which populations should be called S. x-signatus. Actually, in the museum collections, distinct species are identified as S. x-signatus and the original description or redescriptions of S. x-signatus (e.g., Cochran 1955; B. Lutz 1973; Heyer et al. 1990) preclude a correct identification. Because the type specimen is lost (Hoogmoed & Gruber 1983), the designation of a neotype from a locality visited by Spix in “Provincia Bahia” and a detailed redescription is necessary. Hoogmoed and Gruber (1983) considered Hyla affinis and H. coerulea as synonymies of Scinax x-signatus; the type localities of the last two names are in Amazonian region (S. x-signatus is on Atlantic Forest) while S. rogerioi is on Campo Rupestre into Cerrado Domain.
Bokermann (1967) and Pombal et al. (1995a) commented about geographic variation with Scinax duartei and the need for revision. A study of the S. duartei complex recognized different morphological patterns among the populations previously referred to S. duartei and showed that there were different species associated with that name, including the recently described S. curicica (Pugliese et al. 2004) and S. rogerioi (called S. duartei in Colli et al. 2002). In the present study, we recognize four species of the S. duartei complex (S. caldarum, S. curicica, S. duartei, and S. rogerioi); all of these were previously considered to be populations or subspecies of S. duartei (Bokermann 1967; B. Lutz 1968, 1973). Scinax rogerioi is the first species of this complex recorded in central Brazil. All others are species occurring in southeastern Brazil. The species of the S. duartei complex are found in the highlands, occupying different morphoclimatic zones, such as the “Cerrado” (Brazilian Savannah: S. curicica and S. rogerioi) and the Atlantic Forest (S. caldarum and S. duartei) in the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira mountain ranges.
Approximately 800 kilometers separate the localities where the S. rogerioi is known. However, these three populations are morphologically similar and have the same advertisement call, suggesting been only one species. Field works are necessary to find others localities where S. rogerioi occurs.
description: Published as part of Pugliese, Adriana, Baêta, Délio & Pombal, José P., 2009, A new species of Scinax (Anura: Hylidae) from Rocky Montane Fields in Southeastern and Central Brazil, pp. 53-64 in Zootaxa 2269 on pages 54-61, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.190903