Brachycephalus ferruginus is a species of frogs in the family Brachycephalidae. It is endemic to southern Brazil and only known from its type locality, Pico Marumbi, in the Serra do Mar in Morretes, Paraná state.[1][2][3] Its altitudinal range is 965–1,470 m (3,166–4,823 ft) above sea level.[4]
| Brachycephalus ferruginus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Brachycephalidae |
| Genus: | Brachycephalus |
| Species: | B. ferruginus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brachycephalus ferruginus | |
  | |
| Range in Brazil | |
Etymology edit
The specific name ferruginus is a Latin noun and means "rust" or "reddish-brown". This alludes to the dorsal reddish-brown markings of this species.[2]
Description edit
As all brachycephalids, Brachycephalus ferruginus are small: adult males measure 11.6–12.5 mm (0.46–0.49 in) and females 13.0–14.5 mm (0.51–0.57 in) in snout–vent length; this miniaturization is associated with loss of phalanges in hands and feet. The body is robust and toad-like. There is no tympanum. The general color is orange. There are irregular reddish-brown markings above; the underside has small dark brown spots, and the belly has small brownish spots and dots. The skin on top of the head and central part of the back body is smooth and without dermal co-ossification, whereas skin on the dorso-lateral surfaces of body, flanks, and dorsal surface of thighs is granular.[2]
A dissected female was found to contain three eggs. Eggs are probably terrestrial with direct development (i.e., there is no free-living larval stage[5]), as in B. ephippium.[2]
Habitat and conservation edit
Brachycephalus ferruginus inhabit the leaf litter in the Atlantic Rainforest. They are active by day; males are exposed on the litter when calling. The species can be locally abundant.[1][2] There are no known threats to this species, but it is only known from a single location.[1][3] Its conservation status was last reviewed by the IUCN in 2008 where regarded as data deficient (insufficient information for rating it),[1] but an independent review in 2019 using IUCN's criteria recommended that B. ferruginus should be considered "least concern" (not threatened).[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Ariadne Angulo (2008). "Brachycephalus ferruginus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T135912A4220152. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T135912A4220152.en. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Alves, Ana C. R.; Ribeiro, Luiz F.; Haddad, Célio F. B. & dos Reis, Sérgio F. (2006). "Two new species of Brachycephalus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic forest in Parana State, Southern Brazil". Herpetologica. 62 (2): 221–233. doi:10.1655/05-41.1. hdl:2250/1267125. S2CID 86434441.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2023). "Brachycephalus ferruginus Alves, Ribeiro, Haddad, and Reis, 2006". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.2. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b Bornschein, M.R.; M.R. Pie & L. Teixeira (2019). "Conservation status of Brachycephalus toadlets (Anura: Brachycephalidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest". Diversity. 11 (9): 150. doi:10.3390/d11090150.
- ^ Vitt, Laurie J. & Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 166.