Type specimens of the species of Cycloramphus Tschudi, 1838 (Anura, Cycloramphidae) in the collections of the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Museu Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro, is the oldest scientific institution in Brazil, created by a decree of the Regent Prince and future King D. Joo VI on 06 June 1818. In particular, the herpetological collection dates from the early 1870s and were studied by the first Brazilian herpetologists, namely Alpio de Miranda Ribeiro (18741934) and Adolpho Lutz (18551940). Currently, the Museu Nacional houses many type-specimens of amphibians, including species of the genus Cycloramphus Tschudi, 1838, with many problems and inconsistencies between the published data, the labels of the specimens, and the register books. In this paper, we analyse the type-specimens of Cycloramphus deposited in the Museu Nacional and Adolpho Lutz collections, described by Miranda-Ribeiro, A. Lutz, and many later herpetologists. With the purpose of contributing to the stability of nomenclature within Cycloramphus, we newly designate lectotypes for Cycloramphus eleutherodactylus var. variegata A. Lutz, 1929, Grypiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935, and Iliodiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1929. Of the 14 nominal species treated, lectotypes for Cycloramphus eleutherodactylus var. variegata A. Lutz, 1929, Cycloramphus granulosus A. Lutz, 1929, Iliodiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1929, and Grypiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935, are designated and figured; the holotypes of Cycloramphus eleutherodactylus var. strigillata A. Lutz, 1929 and of Cycloramphus distinctus A. Lutz, 1932, are figured; the identity of holotype and paratypes of Cycloramphus heyeri Segalla et al. 2021 is clarified. A new synonymy between Grypiscus lutzi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1935 and Cycloramphus brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1864) is proposed. Information on the type localities of all species is updated.

A new species of Ischnocnema (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the mountainous region of Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil, with a new phylogeny and diagnose for Ischnocnema parva series.

We describe a new species of Rain Frog from Brazils Atlantic Forest, which harbors high richness, endemism and threatened species of anurans. Ischnocnema crassa sp. nov. is a leaf litter breeder from the montane rainforest of Santa Teresa, state of Esprito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Remarkably, the new species is so far unique amongst Ischnocnema for having moderate hand webbing between fingers. Ischnocnema crassa sp. nov. is the third species belonging to I. parva series and we present a new phylogeny based on molecular data and propose a new diagnosis for the series. We provide field and laboratory observations regarding amplexus, antipredator mechanisms, microhabitat preferences and conservation remarks. Although Santa Teresa is one of the most sampled areas in Brazil, new species are often discovered. Santa Teresa is a priority for amphibian conservation because it harbors 109 species of anurans (9% of Brazils species).

Taxonomic review of Dendrophryniscus brevipollicatus Jiménez de la Espada, 1870, with revalidation of D. imitator (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) br />and D. lauroi Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926, and description of four new related species (Anura, Bufonidae).

Dendrophryniscus brevipollicatus Jiménez de la Espada is a Neotropical bufonid endemic to a small range of the Brazilian Coastal Atlantic Forest, with reduced body size for the family and bromeligenous habit. We reviewed the taxonomic status of populations of D. brevipollicatus from states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, including some continental islands, based on external morphology. We tested our morphological species by a DNA-barcoding approach with sequences of 16S RNA ribosomal gene fragment. DNA-barcoding analysis included other recognized Dendrophryniscus species and was concordant with morphological species diagnosed in our review. Intraspecific genetic distances ranged from 0 to 2.72 % (± 0.91 %). Interspecific distances ranged from 3.35 % (± 0.90 %) to 20.15 (± 2.23 %). Optimal threshold values ranged from 2.8 % to 3.0 % and barcode gap analysis showed that for all individuals the furthest intraspecific distances was always lower than the closest non-conspecific individual. Seven distinct species were recognized. A neotype for D. brevipollicatus was designated and described; the type locality was determined for the Açude da Solidão (22º57'S, 43º17'W, Datum WGS 84; 410 m altitude), Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two species were revalidated: D. imitator (Miranda-Ribeiro), with designation of a lectotype and descriptions of the lectotype and of a topotype from the restricted type locality, Alto da Serra (23o46'S, 46o19'W, Datum WGS 84, 800 m altitude), Municipality of Paranapiacaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil; and D. lauroi (Miranda-Ribeiro), with descriptions of the lectotype and of a topotype from the type locality, Municipality of Angra dos Reis (22o54'S, 44o20'W, Datum WGS 84; 25 m altitude), State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four new species were described: D. davori sp. nov., from Baixo Caledônia (22º21'S, 42º35'W, Datum WGS 84; 1600 m altitude), Municipality of Nova Friburgo, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; D. haddadi sp. nov., from Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Santa Virgínia (23o21'S, 45o08'W, Datum WGS 84; 970 m altitude), Municipality of São Luís do Paraitinga, State of São Paulo, Brazil; D. izecksohni sp. nov., from Campo de Fruticultura da Bocaina (currently Núcleo Senador Vergueiro), Municipality of São José do Barreiro (22º38'S, 44º34'W, Datum WGS 84, 540 m altitude), State of São Paulo, Brazil; and D. jureia sp. nov., from Estação Ecológica da Juréia-Itatins-Núcleo Rio Verde (24º22'S, 47º04'W, Datum WGS 84; 32 m altitude), Municipality of Iguape, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Geographical distributions of all species are provided.

A total evidence analysis of the phylogeny of hatchet-faced treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae: Sphaenorhynchus).

The Neotropical hylid genus Sphaenorhynchus includes 15 species of small, greenish treefrogs widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Although some studies have addressed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus with other hylids using a few exemplar species, its internal relationships remain poorly understood. In order to test its monophyly and the relationships among its species, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic analysis of sequences of three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes, and 193 phenotypic characters from all species of Sphaenorhynchus. Our results support the monophyly of Sphaenorhynchus with molecular and phenotypic evidence, with S. pauloalvini as the earliest diverging taxon, followed by S. carneus, as the sister taxon of all remaining species of the genus. We recognize three species groups in Sphaenorhynchus (the S. lacteus, S. planicola and S. platycephalus groups), to facilitate its taxonomic study; only three species (S. carneus, S. pauloalvini and S. prasinus) remain unassigned to any group. Sequence data were not available for only two species (S. bromelicola and S. palustris) for which we scored phenotypic data; wildcard behaviour was detected only in S. bromelicola nested inside the S. platycephalus group. On the basis of the resulting phylogenetic hypothesis, we discuss the evolution of oviposition site and a number of phenotypic characters that could be associated with heterochronic events in the evolutionary history of this group.

On the taxonomy and natural history of the secretive Ischnocnema lactea Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923) (Anura: Brachycephaloidea: Brachycephalidae).

The original description of Ischnocnema lactea (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923) was based on  two specimens and an inaccurate type locality. These circumstances have obscured the identity of this name. Moreover, the I. lactea species  has had a complex taxonomic history and, in general, specimens of species in this group are poorly represented in amphibian collections. The diagnosis of the series is confusing, with many non-exclusive and variable characters barely useful. An accurate diagnosis for the series requires a precise characterization of I. lactea, its type species. Recently discovered populations, museum data, and new information on the collector of the type specimen allowed the elucidation of important issues related to this species. Here we provide the redescription of Ischnocnema lactea based on the lectotype, and intraspecific variation based on newly collected specimens. Ischnocnema lactea  is characterized by its large body size (adult 19.6-26.7 mm SVL; females 27.6-34.3 mm SVL); dorsum and flanks rugose, venter granular; vocal sac single and subgular, externally expanded; finger disks expanded, T-shaped, indented and truncate in fingers II-IV; toes relative length I<II<III<V<IV; black blotch on cloacal region, tarsus, and feet; moderate calcar tubercle present. Its advertisement call consists on a single short pulsed note ranging from 634 to 1060 milliseconds, with dominant frequency ranging from 2239.5 to 2756.2 Hz. Males call perched on vegetation mostly during daytime, starting early in the morning, and reproduction is explosive, associated to cold front rains. Ischnocnema lactea is a secretive and endemic inhabitant of the Serra do Mar in Southeastern Brazil. The type locality is redefined to the Municipality of Caraguatatuba.

On the taxonomic status of Bufo brasiliensis Laurenti, 1768.

The name Bufo brasiliensis was proposed by Laurenti (1768) and, for a long time, has been associated with the widely distributed Marine toad - Rhinella marina (Linnaeus, 1758). However, we found several inconsistences in this taxonomic proposal and disagree with it. We argue that the specimen illustrated does not correspond to any bufonid form (even less the Neotropical genus Rhinella) based on the following argumentation presented below. Laurenti (1768) used Seba's (1734) illustration in plate 73 (Fig. 1) to establish the name B. brasiliensis.

A new species of lizard Placosoma Tschudi, 1847 (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from the relictual forest mountains of the State of Ceará, Brazil.

A new species of Placosoma Tschudi, 1847, until now restricted to the Atlantic Forest areas of southeastern Brazil is        described based on specimens obtained about 1700 km north to the current distribution of the genus. Placosoma limaverdorum spec. nov. is apparently endemic to three "brejos-de-altitude", relictual forest mountains surrounded by dry Caatingas, in the State of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. It differs from their congeners by the presence of an undivided transparent palpebral disk, a divided nasal scale with a central nostril, a deep tympanic recess, a distinctive and thin light vertebral stripe on the dorsal surface of the head, body and tail, femoral pores present only in males (21-26), preanal pores absent and additionally by having 21-24 rows of transverse ventral scales, 34-38 dorsals, dorsal, lateral and ventral scales smooth, dorsal scales quadrangular, longer than wide, except in the neck region, where they are wider than long.

Timeless standards for species delimitation.

Recently a new species of bombyliid fly, Marleyimyia xylocopae, was described by Marshall & Evenhuis (2015) based on two photographs taken during fieldwork in the Republic of South Africa. This species has no preserved holotype. The paper generated some buzz, especially among dipterists, because in most cases photographs taken in the field provide insufficient information for properly diagnosing and documenting species of Diptera.

Redescription of the advertisement call of Physalaemus albifrons (Spix, 1824) (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae).

The genus Physalaemus Fitzinger, 1826 is composed by 46 species occurring from north to southern South America, east of the Andes (Frost 2015). Physalaemus albifrons is morphologically differentiated from the other species mainly due to the presence of a second tarsal tubercle located nearly the tibio-tarsal articulation (Bokermann 1966). Physalaemus albifrons occurs in Brazil from north of the State of Maranhão through the states of Piauí, Ceará, Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Alagoas, being its more austral occurrence in the State of Minas Gerais (Frost 2015). The advertisement call of P. albifrons was described by Bokermann (1966); however, the description needs improvement by applying new technologies, which we provide herein.

Synonymy of Crossodactylus bokermanni Caramaschi & Sazima, 1985 with Crossodactylus trachystomus (Reinhardt & Lütken, 1862) and description of a new species from Minas Gerais, Brazil (Anura: Hylodidae).

The analysis of the external morphology variation in Crossodactylus bokermanni, C. trachystomus, and in unidentified specimens from 14 localities along the southern region of the Serra do Espinhaço, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, revealed that all of these forms belong to the same taxon. Crossodactylus bokermanni is considered a junior synonym of C. trachystomus, whose holotype is redescribed and figured. The population from Serra da Canastra, western Minas Gerais, previously referred to as Crossodactylus cf. trachystomus, is herein described and figured as Crossodactylus franciscanus. Its advertisement call is redescribed and compared to those known for the genus.

The identity of Rana margaritifera Laurenti, 1768 (Anura, Bufonidae).

Rana margaritifera was described by Laurenti in 1768 and currently is associated to the genus Rhinella, under the combination Rhinella margaritifera. Currently, the R. margaritifera species group consists of 16 recognized species. Furthermore, many additional species have been suggested to exist in this group which highlights the ambiguity surrounding the identity of Rhinella margaritifera and impend further description of the species in this group. After an exhaustive bibliographic review, we concluded that the recent designation of a lectotype for R. margaritifera is invalid according with Art. 73, ICZN, 1999. Herein, we designate and provide the description of a neotype for Rana margaritifera Laurenti, 1768.

Three new species of Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro 1920 from Brazilian Cerrado (Anura, Odontophrynidae).

Based on the analyses of specimens collected at several areas in the Cerrado domain from Central Brazil and others housed in scientific collections and on specimens collected at the type-locality, herein we describe three new species belonging to the P. cristiceps group: Proceratophrys bagnoi sp. nov., from UHE Serra da Mesa power plant (13°49'47.5"S, 48°19'17"W; 570 m a.s.l.; WGS84 datum), Municipality of Minaçu, State of Goiás; Proceratophrys branti sp. nov., from Jalapão, Municipality of Mateiros (05o15'25"S, 48o12'00"W; 109 m a.s.l.; WGS84 datum), State of Tocantins; and Proceratophrys dibernardoi sp. nov., Municipality of Mineiros (17o33'52"S, 52o33'20"W; 803 m a.s.l.; WGS84 datum), State of Goiás. The diversity of Proceratophrys in Brazilian Cerrado is still underscored and several species will be described in the following years.

A survey of the internal oral morphology in larvae of the genus Hylodes Fitzinger, 1826 (Amphibia, Anura, Hylodidae).

From the 24 species allocated in the genus Hylodes, 16 have their tadpoles described, which five have information on the oral anatomy. Herein, the internal oral morphology of the tadpoles of H. dactylocinus, H. heyeri, H. aff. lateristrigatus, H. magalhaesi, H. meridionalis, H. phyllodes, H. sazimai, and H. uai is described, along with comparisons among all species in the genus with previously known oral morphology.