Leptodactylus

Abstract: . A phylogeny of the species-rich clade of the Neotropical frog genus Leptodactylus sensu stricto is presented on the basis of a total evidence analysis of molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and non-molecular (adult and larval morphological and behavioral characters) sampled from > 80% of the 75 currently recognized species. Our results support the monophyly of Leptodactylus sensu stricto, with Hydrolaetare placed as its sister group. The reciprocal monophyly of Hydrolaetare and Leptodactylus sensu stricto does not require that we consider Hydrolaetare as either a subgenus or synonym of Leptodactylus sensu lato. We recognize Leptodactylus sensu stricto, Hydrolaetare, Adenomera, and Lithodytes as valid monophyletic genera. Our results generally support the traditionally recognized Leptodactylus species groups, with exceptions involving only a few species that are easily accommodated without proposing new groups or significantly altering contents. The four groups form a pectinate tree, wi...

Abstract: An inverse relationship between body size and advertisement call frequency has been found in several frog species. However, the generalizability of this relationship across different clades and across a large distribution of species remains underexplored. We investigated this relationship in a large sample of 136 species belonging to four clades of anurans (Bufo, Hylina, Leptodactylus and Rana) using semi-automatic, high-throughput analysis software. We employed two measures of call frequency: fundamental frequency (F0) and dominant frequency (DF). The slope of the relationship between male snout-vent length (SVL) and frequency did not differ significantly among the four clades. However, Rana call at a significantly lower frequency relative to size than the other clades, and Bufo call at a significantly higher frequency relative to size than Leptodactylus. Because the relationship between F0 and body size may be more straightforwardly explained by biomechanical constraints, we confirmed that a similar inverse relationship was observed between F0 and SVL. Finally, spectral flatness, an indicator of the tonality of the vocalizations, was found to be inversely correlated with SVL, contradicting an oft-cited prediction that larger animals should have rougher voices. Our results confirm a tight and widespread link between body size and call frequency in anurans, and suggest that laryngeal allometry and vocal fold dimensions in particular are responsible.

Abstract: The comprehension of structure and functioning of communities are fundamental for the execution of conservation efforts in forested areas. In the present study we evaluated a community of anurans in a State Forest in Southeast Brazil, emphasizing the reproductive biology of the species. It has been found 21 species, of four families: Bufonidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, and Microhylidae. The species of the family Bufonidae reproduced during the dry and cold season, while other species reproduced only during the wet and warm season of the year. Besides temporal segregation, some species divided the physical environment during reproductive season. Strong temporal and spatial overlap was observed among phylogenetically close species (of the same genus), such as Hyla nana and H. sanborni, Scinax fuscovarius and Scinax sp. (aff. similis), and Leptodactylus fuscus, L. mystacinus, and Leptodactylus sp. (gr. fuscus). In these cases, acoustic differences may be the main factor responsible for the reproductive segregation. Lack of reproductive segregation was observed among species of the genus Bufo, which were found in interespecific amplexus, even with acoustic differences in their advertisement calls.

Abstract: Variation of external morphology features and advertisement calls are analyzed for species currently identified as Leptodactylus knudseni, L. labyrinthicus, L. myersi, and L. pentadactylus from Middle America, the Pacific versants of Colombia and Ecuador, northern South America, greater Amazonia, and the corridor of open formations from Argentina to northeastern Brazil. Although there is noticeable geographic variation between eastern and western samples of L. knudseni, the variation is considered to be intraspecific in nature. Geographic variation within L. labyrinthicus is more pronounced and most consistent with recognizing three species: L. labyrinthicus (Spix, 1824), L. turimiquensis new species, and L. vastus A. Lutz, 1930. No new data are available for variation within L. myersi, which had previously been noted as possibly containing two species. Variation within L. pentadactylus is also pronounced and most consistent with recognizing four species: L. pentadactylus (Laurenti, 1768), L. peritoaktites new species, L. rhodomerus new species, and L. savagei new species. Some specimens that had been identified in collections as either L. knudseni or L. labyrinthicus from the Brazilian State of Para are considered to represent an undescribed species, herein described as L. paraensis new species. Standard simple statistical tests of significance for sexual dimorphism in members of the study group may not indicate biological significance. Adult morphological and advertisement call differentiation patterns among the species recognized in this paper do not provide completely reliable information for identifying the species involved, suggesting a different pattern of differentiation than occurs in the Leptodactylus fuscus species group. Larval morphological variation and habitat differentiation may be important in the evolution of species differentiation in the taxa dealt with in this paper.