Proceratophrys bigibbosa Species Group (Anura: Leptodactylidae), with Description of a New Species

The Proceratophrys bigibbosa species group is characterized by the presence of postocular swellings and absence of hornlike palpebral appendages. A new member of this group is described from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Proceratophrys brauni sp. nov. is known from the southern regions of the Serra Geral, where it inhabits small streams in subtropical rain forests. It is characterized by the pointed snout, development of palpebral tubercles, and black ventral surface spotted with red. Its body size is intermediate between the smaller Proceratophrys avelinoi and the larger P. bigibbosa, both being redescribed here. Life histories of these three species and advertisement calls of P. bigibbosa and P. brauni are briefly described. An identification key to the members of the bigibbosa group is provided, and new distributional data are given. The type locality of P. avelinoi is specified, and Proceratophrys cristinae is considered a junior synonym of P. bigibbosa.

Fig. 1.

Proceratophrys brauni sp. nov., holotype (MCP 3260), dorsal view (A), lateral view of head (B), and ventral views of right hand (C) and right foot (D)

Fig. 2.

Proceratophrys brauni sp. nov., MCP 3260 (holotype), dorsolateral view (A), MCP 3493 (paratype), ventral view (B). Proceratophrys bigibbosa, adult male, lateral view (C), ventral view (D). Proceratophrys avelinoi, adult male, dorsolateral view (E), ventral view (F)

Fig. 3.

Comparison of the holotype of Proceratophrys bigibbosa (ZMB 6790, middle) with recently collected males of P. bigibbosa (MCP 3204, left) and Proceratophrys brauni (MCP 3259, right)

Fig. 4.

Oscillogram and audiospectrogram of the advertisement call of Proceratophrys brauni (A); Timbé do Sul, SC, Brazil; 4 January 1998; 1500 h.; air temperature 23.5 C; voucher specimen MCP 3258. P. bigibbosa (B) Pró-Mata, São Francisco de Paula, RS, Brazil; 9 October 1997; 0030 h.; air temperature 14 C; voucher specimen MCP 3204

Fig. 5.

Distribution of Proceratophrys brauni (squares), Proceratophrys bigibbosa (open circles), and Proceratophrys avelinoi (dots) in the Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, and in the adjacent province of Misiones (Argentina). Record of P. avelinoi in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (Machado et al., 1999) not shown. Numbers refer to following localities (in order of their appearance in the specimen examined section): 1: Barracão; 2: Fortaleza dos Aparados; 3: Pró-Mata; 4: Timbé do Sul; 5: Arroio do Tigre; 6: Canela; 7: Linha Imperial; 8: Lagoas; 9: Dos de Mayo; 10: Campo San Juan; 11: Monyolito; 12: San Vicente; 13: Reserva U.N.A.M.; 14: Gobernador Roca; 15: Aguaray-Guazu

Fig. 6.

Proceratophrys bigibbosa (MCP 3269), adult male, dorsal views of head and arm (A), ventral views of right hand (B) and right foot (C). Proceratophrys avelinoi (MACN 36855), adult male, dorsal views of head and arm (D), ventral views of right hand (E) and right foot (F)

Accepted: 04 Jun 2000