New Species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic Rain Forest in São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Indolizidine 239Q and quinolizidine 275I. Major alkaloids in two Argentinian bufonid toads (Melanophryniscus)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Molecular phylogeny of microhylid frogs (Anura: Microhylidae) with emphasis on relationships among New World genera

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Arcovomer passarellii Carvalho, 1954 (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae): distribution extension in São Paulo state, Brazil and geographic distribution map.

The Passarelli's Frog, Arcovomer passarellii Carvalho, 1954, was registered for the first time in the city of Santos, on the seacoast of São Paulo state, extending 160 km to southwest of the distribution previously known for this species. Here we show a distribution map for an up-to-date map for A. passarelli.

Alterações de fluidos corpóreos na rã Leptodactylus fuscus durante a estivação (Anura, Leptodactylidae).

The frog, L. fuscus, becomes dormant during the dry season in southeastern Brazil. Plasma and urine were obtained and analyzed for K+, Na+, and osmotic concentrations in active and estivating frogs. Soil water potential from the estivation sites was compared with the osmotic concentrations of the frog. Plasma and urine osmotic concentrations (286.2 +/- 13.8 and 242.3 +/- 17.2 mOsm1(-1), respectively) were higher in the estivating than in active frogs (240.3 +/- 12.8 and 112.7 +/- 15.6 mOsm1(-1); plasma and urine), and the same holds true for plasma K+ content. The Na+ concentration was the same for active and estivating frogs. Soil water potential corresponded to osmotic pressure of 110 mOsm1(-1), showing that L. fuscus may uptake water from the soil during the estivation.

New species of Hylodes from the Atlantic forest of Brazil (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae)

A new species of leptodactylid frog is described from Eldorado, state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The new species is a member of the Hylodes lateristrigatus group and is characterized by its large size, slightly rugose to rugose dorsal skin texture, robust body, and high number of notes per call. Descriptions of the advertisement call and information on natural history are provided.

Dermatoses provocadas por animais venenosos

The venomous brazilian animals can cause accidents in human beings with great frequency. By means of this revision, the authors talk about the species and the accidentes more commons and more serious in our country. The function of the dermatologist in diagnostic, treatment and prevention of the accidents is enphatized.

Frogs of the genus Paratelmatobius (Anura: Leptodactylidae) with descriptions of two new species

Two new species of Paratelmatobius are described from the Atlantic Forest of Sao Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The vocalization, tadpole, and natural history of one new species are described. Natural history observations of P. poecilogaster are reported, including the description of a specialized reproductive mode. Diagnoses, measurements, figures, color in life, and distributional data for the species of Paratelmatobius are provided.

New species of Eleutherodactylus (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) from Guaraquecaba, Atlantic Forest of Brazil

A new species of the leptodactylid frog genus Eleutherodactylus is described from Guaraquecaba, State of Parana, southern Brazil. The new species is characterized by its large size, slightly rugose to rugose dorsal skin texture, robust body, and low number of pulses per call. Descriptions of the advertisement calls of the new species and of E. manezinho, a close related species, are provided, as well as information on natural history.

Cytogenetics of two species of Paratelmatobius (Anura: Leptodactylidae), with phylogenetic comments

In this paper we provide a cytogenetic analysis of Paratelmatobius cardosoi and Paratelmatobius poecilogaster. The karyotypes of both species showed a diploid number of 24 chromosomes and shared some similarity in the morphology of some pairs. On the other hand, pairs 4 and 6 widely differed between these complements. These karyotypes also differed in their NOR number and location. Size heteromorphism was seen in all NOR-bearing chromosomes of the two karyotypes. In addition, both karyotypes showed small centromeric C-bands and a conspicuous heterochromatic band in the short arm of chromosome 1, although with a different size in each species. The P. cardosoi complement also showed other strongly stained non-centromeric C-bands, with no counterparts in the P. cardosoi karyotype. Chromosome staining with fluorochromes revealed heterogeneity in the base composition of two of the non-centromeric C-bands of P. cardosoi. Comparison of the chromosomal morphology of these Paratelmatobius karyotypes with that of P. lutzii showed that the P. poecilogaster karyotype is more similar to that of P. lutzii than P. cardosoi. These cytogenetic results agree with the proposed species arrangements in the P. cardosoi and P. lutzii groups based on morphological and ecological data.

Observações clínicas, anatomopatológicas e tratamento de seis casos de dermovilite exsudativa vegetante crônica (cancro da ranilha) de cqüinos

Chronic hypertrophic pododermatitis cases in six horses of different breeds, aging 14 months to 19 years are described. The lesion begun with a infiltrative tissue in the frog and sole regions of the hoof, characterized by a fast and disorganized growth, with a papillary aspect, white colored in the roots and dark on the extremity, with a necrotic secretion and an extremely fetid odor. Microscopically, an exuberant epidermic proliferative tissue was observed, intermingled with little connective tissue. The horses were divided into two treatment groups. In the first group, including three young mares and a foal, showing lesions in only one limb, a surgical resection of the invasive mass was performed, followed by cauterization of the remaining edges and subsequent daily local application of antiseptic substances. In three of these horses, recurrence of the initial lesion occurred, with fast growth of hyperplasic tissue, affecting almost all the frog and half of the sole. Two horses developed contraction deformities of the hoof. In the second group, one male and one female, each with lesions in two limbs, after surgical debridement of the tissue, the animals received daily applications of picric acid 5%, associated to local use of oxitetracyclin. Although one of these cases required a second surgical intervention for removal of the mass, the horses showed after a period of two to three months total absence of the infiltrative tissue. The use of local picric acid 5% and oxitetracyclin associated to previous surgical debridement showed to be more efficient than the use of antiseptic substances in the treatment of chronic hypertrophic pododermatitis.

The thrombocyte aggregation process in the turtle Phrynopys hilarii (Chelonia). An ultrastructural study

This study investigates the thrombocyte aggregation process in the South American fresh water turtle (Phrynopys hilarii) using electron microscopy. Blood was taken from surgically exposed lateral neck vessels often turtles Phrynopys hilarii during the spring and summer seasons, when the mean temperature is 37°C. Blood samples were fixed with Karnovsky solution for processing by transmission electron microscopy. The turtle thrombocytes were spindle-shaped with lobulated nuclei. Prominent vesicles and canaliculi were found throughout the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm organelles showed an agranular endoplasmatic reticulum, Golgi complex near the centrioles and scattered free ribosomes. These cells are similar to bird thrombocytes but distinct from fish and frog thrombocytes. Blood clotting time was 5 min ± 30 sec measured by the Lee and White method. Structural alterations resulting from the aggregation process occurred after activation. Thrombocytes developed numerous filopodial projections, an increased number of vacuoles and changed from spindle to spherical shape. P. hilarii thrombocytes have different morphologic characteristics compared to other non-mammalian vertebrate cells. These cells can participate in the aggregation process, as observed in birds.

Description of a new reproductive mode in Leptodactylus (Anura, Leptodactylidae), with a review of the reproductive specialization toward terrestriality in the genus

The genus Leptodactylus provides an example among anurans in which there is an evident tendency toward terrestrial reproduction. Herein we describe a new reproductive mode for the frog Leptodactylus podicipinus, a member of the melanonotus group. This new reproductive mode represents one of the intermediate steps from the most aquatic to the most terrestrial modes reported in the genus. Three reproductive modes were previously recognized for the genus Leptodactylus. However, based on our data, and on several studies on Leptodactylus species that have been published since the last reviews, we propose a new classification, with the addition of two modes for the genus.

New species of Phrynohyas from Atlantic rain forest of southeastern Brazil (Anura, Hylidae)

A new species of hylid frog is described from south of the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil in Atlantic rain forest. The new species is a member of the genus Phrynohyas and is characterized by snout rounded in dorsal view and nearly truncate in lateral view, small adhesive disks, fingers slightly webbed, nasal bones widely separated, and frontoparietals without medial articulation.

Testicular morphological changes during the seasonal reproductive cycle in the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana

Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis undergo seasonal variations during the reproductive cycle in amphibians. Testicular morphological and morphometric seasonal variations as well as interstitial lipidic inclusions and intralobular glycoconjugates were evaluated during seasonal cycle of Rana catesbeiana. Testes of frogs collected during the annual seasons were weighed for calculation of GSI (Gonadosomatic index). Seminiferous lobule diameters (DSL) and volume densities of seminiferous lobules (VvSL), excretory ducts (VvED), and interstitial tissue (VvIT) were analyzed. Semithin sections were submitted to Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian Blue (AB) methods for detection of glycoconjugates, while lipidic inclusions were detected by Sudan Black B. GSI showed no significant variations during the year. Since VvED and VvIT increased significantly during summer and were inversely proportional to VvSL, a compensatory effect between the testicular compartments may be related to the maintenance of GSI. During autumn/winter, larger lobular diameters were observed in comparison to spring/summer when spermiogenesis and spermiation were commonly observed. The increased VvIT and the numerous lipidic inclusions in the interstitial cells during summer suggest a relationship between spermiogenesis and steroidogenesis. Besides the structural stability variations occurring in the IT and SL, a possible paracrine interaction between ED and IT should be also involved in the IT development during summer. The presence of PAS and AB-positive globular structures were observed in the seminiferous lobules and excretory ducts. These structures containing acid glycoconjugates appear to be Sertoli cell apical portions, which are accumulated in the lumen of the seminiferous lobules mainly during spermiation. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.