DOI: 10.15468/shsrk6
title: Preliminary study on hematological values of two endangered turtle species: Indotestudo travancorica and Batagur kachuga

description: This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Bardi, Edoardo, Lubian, Emanuele, Whitaker, Nikhil, Romussi, Stefano (2022): Preliminary study on hematological values of two endangered turtle species: Indotestudo travancorica and Batagur kachuga. Journal of Herpetology 56 (1): 120-136, DOI: 10.1670/20-070, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.13130/2283-3927/9999ABSTRACT.— The genus Proceratophrys currently comprises 40 species, of which five are distributed within the Caatinga domain and associated phytophysiognomies along northeastern Brazil. During field surveys at high altitudinal sites in Boqueirão da Onça region, northern Bahia state, we collected individuals of Proceratophrys that could not be assigned to any species currently known to occur within the Caatinga, which we describe herein. The new species can be diagnosed from remaining congeners based on vocalization, adult and tadpole morphology, and is also supported by molecular data (mitochondrial 16S, cytochrome b, and nuclear rhodopsin). We recovered the new species nested in the clade composed of species distributed within the Caatinga domain and associated phytophysiognomies, exhibiting a minimum of 7% of genetic divergence for the 16S gene in comparison to all its congeners. The new species seems to be restricted to high altitude locations (above 800 m) at the Boqueirão da Onça region, which represents the largest remaining contiguous Caatinga remnant (~986,000 ha) being classified as of extreme biological importance.RESUMO.— Atualmente, o gênero Proceratophrys compreende 40 espécies, das quais cinco estão distribuídas no domínio Caatinga e fitofisionomias associadas no nordeste do Brasil. Durante pesquisas de campo em locais de alta altitude na região do Boqueirão da Onça, norte da Bahia, coletamos indivíduos de Proceratophrys não atribuídos a nenhuma espécie atualmente conhecida dentro da Caatinga e, portanto, a descrevemos no presente estudo. A nova espécie pode ser diferenciada das outras espécies do gênero com base na vocalização, morfologia de adultos e girinos, e em dados moleculares (genes mitocondriais 16S e Cyt b, e nuclear rodopsina). Recuperamos a nova espécie no clado composto por espécies distribuídas no domínio Caatinga e fitofisionomias associadas, exibindo um mínimo de 7% de divergência genética para o gene 16S com relação a todos os seus congêneres. A nova espécie parece estar restrita a locais de altitude (acima de 800 m) na região do Boqueirão da Onça, que representa o maior remanescente contínuo da Caatinga (~ 986 mil ha) sendo classificado como de extrema importância biológica.The genus Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 currently comprises 40 species of small to large-sized frogs (Frost, 2021), distributed in Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and Paraguay, and occurring in forests, savannas, grasslands, and shrublands of eastern South America (Mângia et al., 2018; Frost, 2021). These species have been organized into four phenetic groups/ complexes (Prado and Pombal Jr., 2008; Mângia et al., 2014): the P. bigibbosa and P. cristiceps species groups (Giaretta et al., 2000; Kwet and Faivovich, 2001) and the P. boiei and P. appendiculata species complexes (Izecksohn et al., 1998; Prado and Pombal Jr., 2008), which were recovered as paraphyletic in previous molecular phylogenetic hypotheses, except for the P. bigibbosa species group (Amaro et al., 2009; Mângia et al., 2018; Magalhães et al., 2020). Some species of genus Proceratophrys are not assigned to any morphological group (e.g., P. minuta, P. redacta, P. rondonae, and P. schirchi). Nevertheless, no taxonomic rearrangements have been proposed for these species groups, whereas the genus Proceratophrys still lacks a comprehensive systematic review.Along northeastern Brazil there are five Proceratophrys species currently distributed within the Caatinga Domain and associated phytophysiognomies (e.g., Rainforest enclaves, called Brejos de altitude, transitional areas Caatinga-Cerrado and Caatinga-Atlantic Forest, and enclave forests along the Chapada Diamantina ecoregion), which include: P. cristiceps (Müller, 1883), P. renalis (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920), P. minuta Napoli et al., 2011, P. redacta Teixeira et al., 2012, and P. ararype Mângia et al., 2018. Except for P. cristiceps and P. renalis, all these species were only described in the past decade, a fact associated with recent field efforts along underexplored highland regions within this Domain (Napoli et al., 2011; Teixeira-Jr. et al., 2012). Additionally, a recent work identified a relictual population of Proceratophrys occurring in a rainforest enclave in northeastern Brazil as a new species (P. ararype, Mângia et al., 2018), suggesting the possibility of other undescribed species of Proceratophrys along other isolated understudied mountainous regions within the Caatinga Domain.The Caatinga is characterized by deciduous xerophytic and thorny vegetation such as cactus, shrubs, and small trees and by a severe water deficit caused by intense and unpredictable dry seasons (Cole, 1960; Ab’Saber, 1998). Despite its extreme environmental characteristics, the Caatinga harbors an important biological diversity, exhibiting a mosaic of altitudinal areas with forested environments, such as Brejos de altitude north of the São Francisco River, where endemic species of amphibians are found (Leite et al., 2012; Garda et al., 2017). In Bahia State, besides the rocky outcrop fields (known as‘ ‘ campos rupestres’ ’) and relictual moist forests in eastern Chapada Diamantina plateau reaching elevations above 2,000 m a.s.l. (which correspond to the northern portion of Espinhaço range), there are isolated mountain tops to the north, reaching 1,200 m a.s.l., characterized by rocky outcrops and typical Caatinga vegetation (Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest and Woodlands (SDTFW) sensu de Queiroz et al., 2017). Despite the biological importance of this region (Tabarelli and Silva, 2003; Campos et al., 2019; Dias et al., 2019), anuran faunal inventories in northern Bahia State are scarce and centered along the campos rupestres and forest enclaves of central Chapada Diamantina (e.g., Juncá, 2005; Leite et al., 2008; Magalhães et al., 2015).3 These authors contributed equally to this work.4 Corresponding Author. E-mail: sarahmangia@yahoo.com.br DOI: 10.1670/20-070FIG. 1. Topographic map with the distribution of Proceratophrys species reported for the Caatinga Biome. A partial distribution of P. schirchi along northeastern Brazil (but outside Caatinga), which is a phylogenetically related congener of the new species, is also shown. Abbreviations for Brazilian states: AL = Alagoas; BA = Bahia; CE = Ceará; MG = Minas Gerais; PB = Paraíba; PE = Pernambuco; PI = Piauı´; RN = Rio Grande do Norte; and SE = Sergipe. Highlighted areas denote the Environmental Protection Area (EPA, in blue) and National Park (NP, in red) Boqueirão da Onça, in Bahia State, Brazil. Satellite view of the two sites in which Proceratophrys oelhochico sp. nov. was found (P1 = Campo Formoso municipality, P2 = Umburanas municipality).During field expeditions to high altitudinal sites at Boqueirão da Onça region, northern Bahia State, we collected individuals of Proceratophrys that could not be assigned to any of the described species of this genus. Herein, we described this population as a new species, nested in the clade composed of P. cristiceps, P. minuta, and P. redacta, which are distributed within the Caatinga Domain and associated phytophysiognomies.