Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 791-793 (2020) (published online on 30 September 2020)

Interspecific amplexus of Dendropsophus elegans with a newly metamorphosed individual from the known predator Boana semilineata (Anura: Hylidae)

Frederico M. S. R. Pedro1, and Renato C. Nali1,*

A crucial component of the reproductive success in We observed the couple on a bromeliad leaf (Portea frogs is the successful pairing of adult males and adult petropolitana) distant ca. 2 m from the main body of females of the same species (Wells, 1979). Even though water, a permanent pond with grasses (Juncaceae) cases of viable hybrids are known, those are restricted emerging from its bed, where both species normally to phylogenetically related frogs from the same genus reproduce (R.C. Nali, pers. obs.). The central tank of the (Haddad et al., 1994; Thomé et al., 2012). In any other bromeliad contained 18 cm of water, but the axil of the cases, erroneous mating, in the form of interspecific leaf where they were located was dry. The individuals amplexus, becomes highly disadvantageous. Some remained still for about 50 minutes, after which they mechanisms exist to prevent this behaviour, such as were carefully collected and placed in a plastic bag with species-specific calling characteristics and complex a small quantity of water. courtships (Gerhardt, 1974; Wells, 2007). When it They were brought to the laboratory and remained in occurs, the clasped individual may emit release calls amplexus for at least seven hours. In the next morning, (Toledo et al., 2015), indicating the error to the clasping after the individuals disengaged from the amplexus, male and preventing further reproductive loss. Despite they were euthanised, fixed and deposited at the these mechanisms, cases of interspecific amplexus are Coleção de Anfíbios da Universidade Federal de Juiz rather common among adult frogs (e.g., Vivek et al., de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, under the 2014; Shahrudin, 2016; Groffen et al., 2019). vouchers CAUFJF 2085 and CAUFJF 2086. The Boana Herein we report on a case of interspecific amplexus semilineata was recognised as a newly metamorphosed between an adult male of Dendropsophus elegans (Wied- individual by its different overall body colouration Neuwied, 1824) and a newly metamorphosed individual from the adults (see Mendes et al., 2012), including the of Boana semilineata (Spix, 1824) (Fig. 1). These presence of dots across the body, dark colouration on the species belong to two different subfamilies within the inner parts of the legs and flanks, and the reminiscent of Hylidae family (Dendropsophinae and Cophomantinae, the tail (Fig. 1). Interspecific amplexuses that include respectively; Duellman et al., 2016). The observation a sexually immature individual are very rare in frogs took place on 27 October 2019 at 19:48 h (air temperature (Gama et al., 2020). = 22°C, relative air humidity = 71%), during fieldwork Dendropsophus elegans breeds in aggregations, and at the Botanical Garden of the Universidade Federal de males do not wait for contact by females to engage in Juiz de Fora, Municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais amplexus (Bastos and Haddad, 1996), likely to prevent State, Brazil (GPS coordinates 21.7353°S, 43.3697°W). clasping by satellite males. This species has also been found on bromeliads, with reproductive activity around them (Mageski et al., 2014). Boana semilineata is abundant in the locality, and we have observed multiple imagoes and newly metamorphosed juveniles coming out of the nearby pond simultaneously (F.M.S.R. Pedro, 1 Laboratório de Ecologia Evolutiva de Anfíbios, Departamento pers. obs.). Taken together, these factors likely explain de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas why this interspecific amplexus took place. Males Gerais, Brazil. of Boana albomarginata (Spix, 1824) and Ololygon * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] kautskyi Carvalho-e-Silva and Peixoto, 1991 have 792 Frederico M. S. R. Pedro & Renato C. Nali

Figure 1. Interspecific amplexus between an adult of Dendropsophus elegans (snout-vent length = 26.23 mm) and a newly metamorphosed individual of Boana semilineata (snout-vent length = 37.45 mm), Municipality of Juiz de Fora, southeastern Brazil. In detail: notice the dark colouration and the reminiscent of the tail in the collected Boana semilineata (CAUFJF 2086). Photo by Frederico Pedro.

been reported to erroneously clasp females of Boana predator, and amplexus with a newly metamorphosed semilineata, but all individuals involved were adults individual. We hope this observation will encourage (Prado and Pombal Jr, 2005; Lirio et al., 2019). other studies focusing on the reproductive shortcomings As mentioned, one mechanism to prevent erroneous coupled with survival risks of erroneous mating in mating is the emission of release calls by the clasped frogs. individual. However, even if this mechanism is present in Boana semilineata, it is unlikely that newly Acknowledgements. The authors thank the staff of the Botanical metamorphs would emit any type of calls (but see Garden of the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora for authorising Toledo et al., 2015). This reproductive encounter was nocturnal field activities. Priscilla G. Gambale, Leandro O. highly disadvantageous, especially because it lasted Drummond and Fabrício H. Oda provided valuable suggestions for the manuscript. Collection of individuals was authorised by for several hours. Highly unfavourable amplexuses the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/ also include those with dead females, like in another Sistema de Autorização e Informação em Biodiversidade (Process Dendropsophus (Gómez-Hoyos et al., 2012), and even n. 69659) and approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use of with inanimate objects (Mollov et al., 2010). More Animals from Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (Protocol n. interestingly, Mendes et al. (2012) reported that Boana 31/2019). semilineata preys upon Dendropsophus elegans. Thus, more than disadvantageous in terms of reproduction, this References amplexus was potentially dangerous. We hypothesise Bastos, R.P., Haddad, C.F.B. (1996): Breeding activity of the that the selective pressures on males of Dendropsophus Neotropical treefrog Hyla elegans (Anura, Hylidae). Journal of elegans to secure a mating partner surpass the risks of Herpetology 30: 355–360. mating with a potential predator. Duellman, W.E., Marion, A.B., Hedges, B. (2016): Phylogenetics, Our interspecific amplexus report is novel compared to classification, and biogeography of the treefrogs (Amphibia: most in frogs, both in terms of amplexus with a potential Anura: Arboranae). Zootaxa 4104: 1–109. Interspecific amplexus of Dendropsophus elegans with a Boana semilineata 793

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Accepted by Fabrício Oda