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Morphological Variation and Geographical Distribution of Luetkenotyphlus Brasiliensis (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae)

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Morphological Variation and Geographical Distribution of Luetkenotyphlus Brasiliensis (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) Phyllomedusa 10(2):153–163, 2011 © 2011 Departamento de Ciências Biológicas - ESALQ - USP ISSN 1519-1397 Morphological variation and geographical distribution of Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) Tamí Mott1, Mário Ribeiro de Moura2, Adriano Oliveira Maciel3, and Renato Neves Feio2 1 Setor de Biodiversidade e Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 57010-020, Maceió, AL, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected]. 2 Museu de Zoologia João Moojen, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. 3 Departamento de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, 66077-530, Belém, PA, Brazil. Abstract Morphological variation and geographical distribution of Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae). The geographical distribution of Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis is reviewed based on data from the literature and examination of specimens recently collected in Brazil. We also provide new information on variation of the vomerine diastema, and meristic and morphometric data for L. brasiliensis based on Brazilian specimens. Keywords: Brazil, caecilian, meristic data, morphometry, vomerine diastema. Resumo Variação morfológica e distribuição geográfica de Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis (Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae). A distribuição geográfica de Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis é revisada com base em dados de literatura e análise de espécimes recentemente coletados no Brasil. Informações inéditas sobre a variação do diastema vomeriano, dados merísticos e morfométricos para L. brasiliensis são fornecidas a partir da análise dos espécimes brasileiros. Palavras-chave: Brasil, cecília, dados merísticos, diastema vomeriano, morfometria. Introduction designation. The diagnosis proposed by Taylor (1968) includes the following characters: anterior Luetkenotyphlus Taylor, 1968 is a monotypic terminal shield well defined; eyes in sockets that genus of Gymnophiona established to accommodate are closer to tentacular apertures than to nostrils; Siphonops brasiliensis Lütken, 1851, by original premaxillary-maxillary series of teeth reduced; splenial teeth absent; 131 primary annuli; secondary grooves absent; scales absent. Taylor Received 29 January 2011. (1968) described S. confusionis to accommodate Accepted 25 November 2011. Distributed December 2011. other specimens previously assigned to S. Phyllomedusa - 10(2), December 2011 153 Mott et al. brasiliensis. However, Nussbaum (1986) inter- Materials and Methods preted the holotype of S. confusionis as a juvenile L. brasiliensis and placed S. confusionis as a We (TM and AOM) have examined the most junior synonym of L. brasiliensis. Based on representative Brazilian collections for specimens Wilkinson and Nussbaum (2006), a short series of caecilians. Fifteen specimens of L. brasiliensis of premaxillary-maxillary teeth that does not were found in three zoological collections— extend posterior to the level of the choanae, Museu de Zoologia João Moojen, Universidade along with the presence of an anterior diastema Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais (MZUFV); in the vomerine teeth in adults distinguishes Museu de História Natural Capão da Imbuia, Luetkenotyphlus from Siphonops. Surprisingly, Paraná (MHNCI); and Universidade Estadual the most recent diagnosis of Luetkenotyphlus Paulista, Campus de Rio Claro, Coleção “Célio brasiliensis presented by Wilkinson et al. (2011) F. B. Haddad,” São Paulo (CFBH). All specimens disregarded the vomerine diastema without were sexed by direct observation of the gonads comment. and/or the musculus retractor cloacae (of Since the description of Luetkenotyphlus males). brasiliensis based on a single specimen from We include literature records and new “Brazil,” few specimens have been reported in Brazilian locations reported here to illustrate the the literature. Ihering (1911) cited the occurrence geographic distribution for L. brasiliensis. of this species in the states of Minas Gerais and However, we cannot vouch for the taxonomic São Paulo in southeastern Brazil, but no voucher veracity of the literature records. We used specimens were reported. Dunn (1942) cited 21 geographic coordinates of the municipal seat of specimens from south and southeastern Brazil, the municipality adopted by the Instituto housed at seven herpetological collections. A Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) record of L. brasiliensis from Argentina (Heer (SISCOM 2011) and gazetteer publications (e.g., and Lanari 1998) is based on a single specimen Paynter Jr. and Traylor-Jr 1991) when neces- collected on September 1947. Nussbaum (1986) sary. cited records from Paraguay, based on two specimens collected between 1980 and 1982 Results (A. Schmitz pers. comm.). The conservation status of L. brasiliensis is unknown, and Historical Records currently is defined as Data Deficient on the IUCN red list globally (IUCN 2011), as well as The first record of Siphonops brasiliensis is nationally for Paraguay (Motte et al. 2009), known to be from “Brasilien” or Brazil, as Argentina (Lavilla 2001), and the Brazilian reported in its description by Lütken (1851). states of Minas Gerais (Feio et al. 2008), São Subsequently, Ihering (1911) stated that the Paulo (Garcia et al. 2009) and Paraná (Mikich species inhabits the states of Minas Gerais and and Bérnils 2004). São Paulo. In the latter state, the taxon is known Herein we review the geographic distribution from the localities of Franca and Rio Feio, a of Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis based on data tributary of upper Rio Paraná, up the Rio Batalha, from the literature, and from specimens housed near the municipality of Presidente Alves at Brazilian zoological collections. We provide (Paynter-Jr and Traylor-Jr 1991). However, no information on meristic and morphometric voucher specimens were reported by Ihering. variation and discuss the vomerine diastema Three decades later, Dunn (1942) reported 21 for Brazilian specimens. A photograph of a specimens from south and southeastern Brazil. living individual of the species also is The data associated with the vouchers document provided. collection dates between the end of nineteenth Phyllomedusa - 10(2), December 2011 154 Morphological variation and geographical distribution of Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis century and the first half of the twentieth century 2009. All other records are based on specimens (A. Schmitz [MHNH], C. McCarthy [BMNH], previously housed in Brazilian herpetological H. Zaher and C. Mello [MZUSP], H. Grillitsch collections and inspected by TM and AOM. [NHNW], J. Hallermann [ZMH], J. Rosado [MCZ], L. Acker (SMF), M. Gomes [MNRJ], Morphological Variation pers. comm.; Appendix I). The data associated with some specimens deposited at MCZ cited by Little morphological variation was found Dunn (1942) have typographical errors—e.g., among 15 specimens examined of Luetkenoty- MCZ 24826 and MCZ 24829 are catalogue phlus brasiliensis from seven Brazilian munici- numbers for two frogs cataloged as Hyla sp. The palities in four States (Table 1). Nevertheless, an specimen MCZ 2482 reported by Nussbaum apparent sexual dimorphism was noted when (1986) is the holotype of S. confusionis (now in adult males and females with similar total lengths the synonymy of L. brasiliensis) (J. Rosado, were compared. Males have a larger body and pers. comm.). Other specimens cited by Dunn head than females (Figure 2); the morphometric (1942) that lack a catalogue number were data clearly demonstrate this (Table 1). We also checked with the help of current curators of the noted a possible indication of geographic relevant collections (Appendix I). variation in size, with individuals from eastern Taylor (1973) commented that the collector Minas Gerais state being larger than those from of the holotype of Siphonops brasiliensis was other populations (Table 1). In MNHCI 3147 “Dr. Langgaard” from “São Paulo.” We think and 3528, the primary grooves are slightly that this person is Dr. Theodoro Johanis Henrique incomplete dorsally. Eyes are visible externally Langgaard (1813–1883), an European doctor in most specimens, except MHNCI 5508, 6364, who had been based in Brazil since 1842, living and CFBH 2498; in MZUFV 10214 only the in the interior of São Paulo, in the cities of right eye is visible. MNHCI 6382 is dehydrated Iperó and Sorocaba (1842–1865), and Campinas and MZFV 4617 was identified as a juvenile (1865–1870). Subsequently, he lived in the female; it lacks developed gonads, as well as the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (1870–1883), musculus retractor cloacae, which is present in state of Rio de Janeiro, where he died (Menezes males. The number of primary annuli in L. 1978). Because Dr. Langgaard may have received brasiliensis ranges from 119–138 and there is no specimens from other regions in the interior of apparent sexual dimorphism in this character São Paulo state, we cannot affirm that the (Table 1). municipalities of Sorocaba or Iperó would be the All specimens have a short series of type locality of L. brasiliensis. premaxillary-maxillary teeth that does not extend Based on compiled records of Luetkenotyphlus posterior to the choanae (the diagnostic character brasiliensis (Figure 1), the geographic distribution of the genus proposed by Wilkinson and of this species is mainly associated with the Nussbaum 2006), and the tongue is smooth and ecorregion of Tropical and Subtropical Moist attached anteriorly to the mandibular mucosa Broadleaf forests (Olson et al. 2001) from eastern behind the dentary teeth.
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