Species of the Phyllomedusa burmeisteri group from easter Brazil, with description of a new species (Amphibia, Hylidae)

Abstract

We describe Phyllomedusa tetraploidea, sp.n., a species from the Phyllomedusa burmeisteri group, with a wide distribution in the interior regions of the Brazilian States of Sao Paulo and Parana. Tadpole and vocalizations are also described, and information on the natural history of the new species are presented. This species is characterized mainly by the tetraploid chromosome number. The distribution for the four species and two subspecies of Phylomedusa from the burmeisteri group is presented. We describe and figure the thigh color patterns, the best diagnostic character in this group. We consider Phyllomedusa bahiana as a subspecies of P. burmeisteri based on an ample cline for the thigh color pattern, from Rio de Janeiro (Southeastern Brazil) to Bahia (Northeastern Brazil). We suggest the presence of Phyllomedusa distincta (diploid species) in the ancestral lineage of the new species. This suggestion is based mainly on the indistinguishable vocalizations of these two species, which allow natural hybridizations in the contact area leading to production of sterile triploid hybrids.