A review of the elusive bicolored iris Snouted Treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae:Scinax uruguayus group)

PLoS One. 2019 Sep 25;14(9):e0222131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222131. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The genus Scinax currently includes more than 120 species, recovered in two major clades, the S. catharinae and the S. ruber clades. The latter comprises 75 species, most of which remain unassigned to any species groups, while 12 are included in the S. rostratus and S. uruguayus groups. In this paper we present a taxonomic review of the two species currently included in the S. uruguayus group, discussing some putative phenotypic synapomorphies of this group. Although S. pinima and S. uruguayus have been considered as distinct species, this has been based on scant evidence, and several authors doubted of their distinctiveness. Our study of available specimens of S. pinima and S. uruguayus corroborates that both are valid and diagnosable species based on phenotypic evidence. Furthermore, our results show that S. pinima previously known only from its type locality, has a much widespread distribution than previously thought (including the Brazilian states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul), which, added to the biological information presented here allows to suggest the removal of this species from the "Data Deficient" IUCN Red List category to "Least Concern". Also, we describe a new species formerly reported as S. aff. pinima and S. uruguayus from NE Argentina and some localities from the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul. All species are diagnosed and characterized using adult and larval morphology, osteology, vocalizations, cytogenetics, and natural history.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution
  • Animals
  • Anura / anatomy & histology
  • Anura / classification*
  • Anura / genetics
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Cytogenetics
  • Female
  • Larva / anatomy & histology
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Pigmentation
  • Species Specificity
  • Vocalization, Animal

Grants and funding

DB, JF, KAV and MOP thanks Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica (ANPCyT; PICTs 0404/2013, 1343/2014, 1930/2014, 2035/2014, 0813/2015, 0820/2015, and 2381/2015). CFBH, JF, and KAV thanks São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP Procs. #2012/10000-5, #2013/50741-7, and 2014/50342-8). CFBH thanks Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico for the research fellowship. CB and FK thanks Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII/SNI). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.