Species New to Science

The genus Brachycephalus includes miniaturized toadlets with two distinct morphotypes: brightly colored species with a bufoniform phenotype and smaller, cryptic species with a leptodactyliform phenotype. The diversity of leptodactyliform species is still underappreciated, and we generally lack fundamental information about their biology. Recent sampling efforts, including DNA analyses and recordings of advertisement calls, have improved our understanding of this group. In the present study, we describe a new species of Brachycephalus, one of the smallest vertebrates known. This new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic data. Despite being among the smallest frogs globally (the second smallest amphibian species), it exhibits skeletal traits typical of larger frogs, such as the presence of cranial bones that are lost or fused in other miniature frogs, including other Brachycephalus. Our description underscores how new discoveries within the megadiverse fauna of the Atlantic Forest—a rich biodiversity hotspot—can provide insights into phenotypic variation, including vertebrate body size. By describing this new species, we also aim to revisit the hypothesis that the type series of B. hermogenesi includes two species, potentially including individuals of the species described here.

Etymology–The specific epithet name ‘dacnis’ honors the Projeto Dacnis private reserve and NGO that has supported biodiversity research since 2010 in the municipalities of São José dos Campos, Miracatu and Ubatuba (where the new species was discovered), state of São Paulo, Brazil. The name is used as an invariable noun in apposition to the generic name.

 Luís Felipe Toledo​, Lucas Machado Botelho, Andres Santiago Carrasco-Medina, Jaimi A. Gray, Julia R. Ernetti, Joana Moura Gama, Mariana Lucio Lyra, David C. Blackburn, Ivan Nunes amd Edelcio Muscat. 2024. Among the World’s Smallest Vertebrates: A New miniaturized Flea-toad (Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic rainforest. PeerJ. 12:e18265 DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18265 

Peperomia is known for its remarkable diversity, the Atlantic Forest in Brazil being particularly noteworthy for its high levels of richness and endemism. Floristic research in the Atlantic Forest karst ecosystems has revealed new discoveries in the genus, based on fieldwork and thorough study of herbaria collections. Peperomia dryadica Marcusso is here described and characterised as entirely glabrous except for the distal third of the leaf margins which is ciliolate, light green stems when fresh, alate distal internodes, leaves decussate, opposite or alternate basally and opposite or 3-whorled distally, lamina oblanceolate, obovate or rarely elliptic and nerves sunken adaxially and raised abaxially. Peperomia dryadica is found solely in the Vale do Ribeira region of São Paulo state, in Southeast Brazil, which holds the largest limestone outcrops in the Atlantic Forest.

Key Words: Limestone, Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI), Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (PETAR), Piperales, Saxicolous

 

Mendes, Jone Clebson Ribeiro; Külkamp, Josimar; Bigio, Narcísio Costa; Torres-Leite, Filipe; Pereira-Silva, Rafaela Alves. 2023. Dalechampia seccoi (Euphorbiaceae), A threatened New Species from Southeastern Brazil. Acta Botanica Brasilica. 37;  DOI: doi.org/10.1590/1677-941X-ABB-2023-0027   Researchgate.net/publication/372616456_Dalechampia_seccoi_a_threatened_new_species_from_Southeastern_Brazil

A new and critically endangered species of Phyllanthus, endemic to the Parque Nacional da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, is described and illustrated here. Phyllanthus celatus is placed in Phyllanthus subgenus Phyllanthus section Phyllanthus subsection Phyllanthus. Morphologically it resembles P. augustinii, P. lobatus and P. niruri, but differs mainly by presenting reddish primary, secondary and intersecondary veins on the abaxial surface (vs absent in both species), and 5-lobed pistillate disc (vs entire only in P. augustinii and P. niruri). Of these, only P. lobatus has a lobed disc, but it differs in pistillate sepals light green (vs whitish or slightly pinkish), deeply 5-lobed pistillate glandular disc (vs 3–5-lobed), styles erect (vs curved), and geographic distribution restricted to the Southeast (vs South). The systematic position of this species and its morphological relationships with allies are discussed and field photographs, illustrations, a distribution map, preliminary conservation status, and taxonomic notes are provided.

Phyllanthus celatus J.C.R. Mendes, J.M.A. Braga & Fraga, sp. nov.

Eriotheca paganuccii Carv.-Sobr., A.C.Mota & Dorr, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Similar to Eriotheca obcordata A.Robyns due to its absence of buttresses, obcordate leaflets, oblong to oblanceolate flower buds, oblanceolate petals, and stamens c. 80 in number, but differing in its caducous (vs. often persistent) bracteoles, larger calyces (7 × 7–9 mm vs. 5–5 mm), globose to subglobose (vs. obovoid) capsules, scanty (vs. abundant) kapok, seed number (c. 10 vs. numerous) per fruit, seed size (10–19 mm vs. 5–7 mm) long, and marcescent, lignified calyces that often split into patent lobes (in herbarium collections, at least).

This study proposes a new species of Eugenia sect. Phyllocalyx from Atlantic Forest remnants in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. The new taxon, Eugenia guapiassuana, is proposed based on literature survey, examination of herbarium material and field work. We herein provide a morphological description, including comments on fruit taste, along with information on distribution, habitat, phenology, vernacular name, taxonomy and conservation status. Figures showing fresh and dry material and a map of the occurrence records are also presented. Eugenia guapiassuana is morphologically similar to E. involucrata and E. superba, and these species are contrasted in the discussion. Following an assessment, the conservation status of Eugenia guapiassuana is provisionally determined as Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)].