Bioacoustics of Proceratophrys sanctaritae

Diagnosis. A broad and elongate zygomatic ramus of the squamosal in sutural contact with maxilla assigns the new species to the genus Proceratophrys . It is associated to the P. appendiculata complex by combining a single and long uni-cuspidate palpebral appendage with a triangular rostral appendage. Proceratophrys sanctaritae is diagnosed from other species of the P. appendiculata complex by the following combination of traits: (1) medium size (adult males SVL 38.4–45.5 mm ); (2) rostral appendage longer than upper lip width; (3) snout rounded from above, obtuse in profile; (4) eye small, 19% of head length; (5) head wider than long; (6) presence of preocular crest; (7) frontoparietal crest poorly developed; (8) gular region blackish brown or black; (9) ventral surfaces predominantly cream, scattered with dark brown dots mainly on chest and in smaller extent on belly; and (10) advertisement call consisting of a single note with 31 to 94 pulses, pulse rate of 102.3 to 142.4 pulses/s, call duration of 0.2 to 0.9 s, peaks of dominant frequency from 0.95 to 1.29 kHz, and call note with a bowling pin-shaped or bottle-shaped waveform. Comparisons with other species (only with males) . Proceratophrys sanctaritae is promptly diagnosed from all species of the P. cristiceps group ( P. concavitympanum , P. cristiceps , P. cururu , and P. goyana ), P. bigibbosa group ( P. avelinoi , P. bigibbosa , P. brauni , and P. palustris ), and also from P. schirchi , by the presence of a single large palpebral appendage (absent in those species), and from P. rondonae by an unicuspidate palpebral appendage (multi-cuspidate in P. rondonae ). From all species of the Proceratophrys boiei complex ( P. b o i e i , P. p a v i o t i i , and P. re n a l i s ), and also from P. rondonae , the new species is prompt diagnosed by the presence of a rostral appendage (absent in those species). In the P. appendiculata species complex, the rostral appendage longer than the upper lip width approximates P. sanctaritae to P. appendiculata , P. melanopogon , P. phyllostomus , P. subguttata , and P. tupinamba , and diagnoses it from P. laticeps and P. moehringi , in which the rostral appendage is vestigial and shorter than upper lip width. The presence of a preocular crest approximates P. sanctaritae to P. appendiculata , P. moehringi , and P. tupinamba , and promptly diagnoses it from P. laticeps , P. melanopogon , P. phyllostomus , and P. subguttata , in which such character is absent. Frontoparietal crests are poorly developed in P. sanctaritae , and well developed in P. appendiculata . The narrower head and smaller eyes diagnose P. sanctaritae (HL 80% of HW, ED 19% of HL) from P. tupinamba (HL 87% of HW, ED 23% of HL). Adult males of P. sanctaritae are in some extent similar in body size (SVL 38.4–45.5 mm ) to adult males of P. melanopogon (SVL 34.9–44.9 mm ), P. subguttata (SVL 36.7– 41.8 mm ), and P. appendiculata (SVL 40.4–59.9 mm ), and shorter than P. laticeps (SVL 59.5–78.0 mm), P. moehringi (SVL 59.2–62.6 mm ), P. phyllostomus (SVL 55.4 mm ), and P. tupinamba (SVL 52.6–63.4 mm ). Ventral surfaces of P. sanctaritae are predominantly cream and scattered with dark brown dots mainly on chest and, in smaller extent, on belly; belly with few irregular large dark brown markings near the chest, somewhat anastomosed, in P. melanopogon ; ventral surfaces predominantly black with few tan blotches on belly and legs in P. phyllostomus ; belly cream with large rounded dark brown markings in P. subguttata .

Remarks. Izecksohn et al. (2005) studied the osteocranium of Proceratophrys boiei , P. appendiculata , P. melanopogon , and P. l a t i c e p s , and considered the former three as members of a single phenetic species group by sharing higher lateral crests on the frontoparietals, quadratojugal corners similarly positioned in relation to the vertical level of the occipital condyles, cranial bones with granules and tubercles, and maxillaries with ventro-posterior pits; P. laticeps was considered a member of a distinct species group (not formerly named) by the presence of temporal arcades similar to Ceratophrys Wied-Neuwied , quadratojugal corners posterior to the vertical level of occipital condyles, wrinkled skull bones, and maxillaries without ventro-posterior pits. Proceratophrys sanctaritae shares with P. b o i e i , P. appendiculata , and P. melanopogon lateral crests on the frontoparietals, and quadratojugal corners similarly positioned in relation to the vertical level of the occipital condyles, but with maxillaries lacking ventro-posterior pits, condition similar to that observed in P. laticeps . It is important to note that the monophyly and intrageneric relationships of the genus Proceratophrys remain unresolved. Furthermore, some “synapomorphies” proposed by Lynch (1971) for Proceratophrys are currently not sustained ( Prado & Pombal 2008 ). Only the presence of a broad and elongate zygomatic ramus of the squamosal in sutural contact with maxilla remains as a valid character ( Prado & Pombal 2008 ), which led us to conclude the generic relationships of P. sanctaritae . Natural history. All specimens of Proceratophrys sanctaritae were captured inside the forest. The adult males UFBA 8488 and MNRJ 62357 (ex-UFBA 8490) were collected approximately at 12h, the former sheltering in a cavity under a rock and the latter near herbaceous vegetation, both inside a forest brook of shallow waters, with approximately 2–3 m wide, and with direct sunlight. The male UFBA 8488 released advertisement calls in the plastic bag from the time it was captured in the forest to the next day, mainly in response to human voices. The adult males UFBA 8487 ( holotype ) and MNRJ 62354–62357 (ex-UFBA 8485–8486, 8489, and 8490, respectively), were collected at night (19–22h) on the margins of a small rivulet of mud and sand bed, ca. 1 m wide, 10 cm depth, and without direct sunlight. These males were emitting sporadic advertisement calls and were ca. 2 m long from each other. All males cited above emitted advertisement calls in their plastic bags during the returning trip to the Municipality of Salvador , Bahia State, Brazil , during ca. 10 hours (from 8h to 18h), forming duets and choruses. The adult male UFBA 7314 was captured in the morning (between 7h and 9h), and UFBA 8003 was captured at night (ca. 20h), both in the same place of the holotype . The juveniles MNRJ 62358–62360 (ex-UFBA 9525–9527, respectively) were captured at afternoon on the leaf litter in a forest trail far from water bodies. The forest ranger Manoel P.D. Santos (personal communication) stated that P. sanctaritae , which is known by him as leaf toad (“sapofolha”), is usually seen in the morning and in the afternoon on the leaf litter of forest trails, mainly during rainy days. The available data lead us to assume that P. sanctaritae is active during all day, mainly in rainy seasons. Advertisement call. Based on calls of four adult males, UFBA 8487 ( holotype ), UFBA 8488 (paratopotype), and MNRJ 62354–62355 (ex-UFBA 8485–8486, paratopotypes). The advertisement call of Proceratophrys sanctaritae consists of one multi-pulsed note (31–94 pulses, x = 46.7 ± 6.4, n = 690 notes) (fig. 4 A). Calls (= notes) are produced in groups (trills) of 2 to 44 notes ( x = 11.6 ± 1.1, n = 60 call groups), with energy increasing from first to last note (fig. 4 B–C). A trill varies from 1.0 s (two notes) to 29.6 s (44 notes). Note duration ranges from 0.2 to 0.9 s ( x = 0.4 ± 0.1, n = 695 notes), note interval from 0.2 to 1.2 s ( x = 0.3 ± 0.6 s, n = 636), and pulse rate from 102.3 to 142.4 pulses/s ( x = 126.0 ± 7.4, n = 695 calls). Peaks of dominant frequency range from 0.95 to 1.29 kHz ( x = 1.13 ± 0.04, n = 695 calls). Note with increasing frequency modulation, from about 0.8 kHz in the beginning of the note to about 1.3 kHz in the end of the note. The lower frequency in the first fourth of the note coincides with a smaller amount of energy in the first pulses, which usually leads to a bowling pin-shaped or bottle-shaped waveform (fig. 4 D). The number of pulses of the advertisement call of P. sanctaritae (31–94 pulses) is higher than for P. brauni (24–28 pulses) and P. melanopogon (21–29 pulses), and much lower than for P. m o e h r i n g i (136–156 pulses; estimated from the data in Weygoldt & Peixoto 1985 ). The call duration of P. sanctaritae (0.2– 0.9 s) is shorter than in P. bigibbosa (1.6– 1.9 s) and P. cururu ( 1.2 s ), and much shorter than in P. moehringi (3.5– 4.0 s ). The pulse rate of P. sanctaritae (102–142 pulses/s) is much faster than in P. a v e l i n o i (64–72 pulses/s), P. bigibbosa (23–27 pulses/s), P. boiei (45 pulses/s), P. brauni (35–40 pulses/s), P. cristiceps (87–91 pulses/s), P. cururu (45 pulses/s), P. l a t i c e p s (46–62 pulses/s), P. melanopogon (50–54 pulses/s), and P. moehringi (33–40 pulses/s). Peaks of dominant frequency for P. sanctaritae (0.9–1.3 kHz) are lower than in P. avelinoi (1.6 kHz), and higher than in P. laticeps (0.4–0.7 kHz); peaks of dominant frequencies not available for P. b o i e i , P. cururu , and P. moehringi . The bowling pin-shaped or bottle-shaped waveform of P. sanctaritae , with energy concentrated from about the second half of the call, is different from that of P. bigibbosa , P. brauni , P. laticeps , P. melanopogon , and P. paviotti (ovoid-shaped waveform), and from P. avelinoi and P. cristiceps (energy greatly concentrated in the first half of the call); oscillograms of the calls of P. b o i e i , P. c u r u r u , and P. moehringi are not available from published data. FIGURE 4. Advertisement call of Proceratophrys sanctaritae . Oscillogram (A) of a multi-pulsed call (= note) emitted by the paratopotype UFBA 8488 featuring a bowling pin-shaped waveform. The audiospectrogram (B) and oscillogram (C) represent a complete trill of 20 calls. Arrows indicate the call used to build the oscillogram (A) and power spectrum (D). Vocalization recorded on 19 May 2009 , at 12h; air temperature 22.5o C. Geographic distribution. Proceratophrys sanctaritae is known only from the locality of Santa Rita ( 13°04'S , 39°38'W ) at the Serra do Timbó, a mountain range characterized by a rugged relief covered mainly by tropical semi-deciduous forests, and reaching elevations from 800 to 900 m above sea level. This is the northernmost record for a species belonging to the P. appendiculata complex. The locality of Santa Rita lies within the Municipality of Amargosa, in the State of Bahia, Brazil , and belongs, with the Serra da Jibóia ( 12°52'S , 39°28'W ), to a set of disjunct mountains located north of the Serra Geral mountain range. The Serra do Timbó is placed in the Vale do Jiquiriçá, western part of the geographic region known as Recôncavo Baiano, and is ca. 95 km northeast from the city of Maracás ( 13°26'S , 40°25'W ). This region was considered by Ab’Sáber (1977) as a transitional area between the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Tropical Atlantic domains. The tropical-humid climate prevails in the Serra do Timbó, but the region is surrounded by sub-humid and semiarid climates. Conservation. The forest cover of Serra do Timbó is currently threatened by human activities, mainly by deforestation for the development of banana and cacao cultivations, pastures, and selective logging of species of commercial interest. Concomitantly, the springs that rise in Serra do Timbó and support the water supply of the municipalities of Amargosa, Ubaíra, Matuípe, and Jiquiriçá are also endangered. Currently, the Serra do Timbó is the object of a conservation movement (Timbó’s Project) that seeks to protect natural resources including plant and animal species as well as their habitat. The Timbó’s Project is developed by the Centro Sapucaia, Núcleo Mata Atlântica (Ministério Público), and by the municipal government of Amargosa. This action includes the creation of a conservation unit with 674 ha of tropical semi-deciduous forest, which will be supported by the Ministério do Meio Ambiente (data obtained from Centro-Sapucaia, 2008, accessible at http://www.centrosapucaia.org.br).