Melanophryniscus stelzneri

Kwet, Axel, Maneyro, Raúl, Zillikens, Anne & Mebs, Dietrich, 2005, Advertisement calls of Melanophryniscus dorsalis (MERTENS, 1933) and M. montevidensis (PHILIPPI, 1902), two parapatric species from southern Brazil and Uruguay, with comments on morphological variation in the Melanophryniscus stelzneri group (Anura: Bufonidae), Salamandra 41 (1 / 2), pp. 3-20 : 12

Key to the species of the Melanophryniscus stelzneri group

1 a. Dorsum uniformly brown. ................................................ Melanophryniscus krauczuki

1 b. Dorsum black. .................................................................................................................. 2

2 a. Dorsum black with many small and/or few large yellow spots; at least one pair of yellow blotches on the suprascapular region............................................................ 3

2 b. Dorsum uniformly black or with red middorsal line, without yellow spots on middorsum or suprascapular region (however, yellow blotches may be present laterally). .......................................................................................................................... 6

3 a. One yellow stripe between the eyes or 2-3 large yellow blotches forming a distinct interocular band. Dorsal and ventral surfaces with large and small, irregularly formed, yellow spots, sometimes with a black center ( Figs. 10A, B ). .................................................................................... Melanophryniscus klappenbachi

3 b. Without distinct yellow interocular band. Dorsal surface with numerous small, or few mid-sized yellow spots without black center. .................................................... 4

4 a. Dorsum and venter with numerous small, irregularly arranged yellow spots; yellow blotches on suprascapular region not enlarged ( Figs. 10C, D ). Skin densely granular.......................................................... Melanophryniscus fulvoguttatus

4 b. Dorsum and venter with larger, symmetrically arranged blotches; at least one pair of distinct yellow blotches on suprascapular region. Skin scarcely granular or nearly smooth. ............................................................................................................ 5

5 a. Dorsal surface uniformely black with a pair of distinct large, copper-coloured blotches on suprascapular region ( Figs. 10E, F ). .............................................................................. Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularis

5 b. Dorsal surface black with two large yellow blotches on suprascapular region and additional smaller and larger yellow spots on dorsum ( Fig. 11 ). ............................................................................................. Melanophryniscus stelzneri

6 a. Dorsum usually with a distinct red (brown in preservative) middorsal line which is rarely absent but often interrupted or present only as a small trace behind the eyes and/or above anus. Without yellow lateral blotches and yellow line on posterior region of arms (sometimes there are few reddish spots). Ventral surface with red (not orange or yellow) blotches ( Figs. 5 , 6 ). .............................................................................................. Melanophryniscus dorsalis

6 b. Dorsum without red middorsal line; uniformly black, with or without yellow lateral spots. Distinct yellow stripe on posterior region of the arms. Ventral surface black, with red, orange and yellow spots (yellow colouration at least present on throat). ........................................................................................................... 7

7 a. Dorsum uniformly black, without yellow lateral blotches ( Fig. 9 ). Skin texture warty and granular. Distribution in rocky habitats; does not occurr in sandy areas on the coast............................................................. Melanophryniscus atroluteus

7 b. Dorsum usually with yellow lateral spots ( Figs. 7 , 8 ), but sometimes uniformly black. Skin texture less granular. Exclusively in sandy habitats on the coast. ................................................................................... Melanophryniscus montevidensis

Figures

Fig. 10. Melanophryniscus klappenbachi (without locality; specimen from pet trade):(A) dorsal surface; (B) ventral surface.Melanophryniscus fulvoguttatus (without locality;specimen from pet trade):(C) dorsal surface; (D) ventral surface.Photos:T. E ISENBERG. Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularisfrom Argentina: (E) dorsal surface; (F) ventral surface. Photos: D. BALDO.

Fig. 11. Melanophryniscus stelzneri from Argentina: (A) dorsal surface; (B) ventral surface. Photos: B. SCHLUMPBERGER.

Fig. 5. Variation in dorsal body pattern in living Melanophryniscus dorsalis from Brazil. (A) male with distinct red middorsal line from Torres, Rio Grande do Sul; (B) two males from Torres with weak middorsal line; (C) male with distinct middorsal linefrom Laguna, Santa Catarina.Photos:A. KWET.

Fig. 6. Variation in ventral body pattern in living Melanophryniscus dorsalis from Torres, Rio Grande doSul.(A) male with predominantelyblack colouration; (B) male with predominantely red colouration; (C) series of five specimens. Photos:A. KWET.

Fig.9. Melanophryniscus atroluteus from the Brazilian Araucaria plateau:(A) dorsal surface; (B)ventral surface.Photos:A.KWET. Specimen from São Borja, near the type locality:(C) dorsal surface;(D) ventral surface. Photos: M. D I-BERNARDO.

Fig. 7. Variation in dorsal body pattern in living Melanophryniscus montevidensisfrom La Paloma, Uruguay. Specimen with (A) numerous yellow lateral spots; (B) few lateral spots; (C) without lateral spots. Photos:A. KWET.

Fig. 8. Variation in ventral body pattern in living Melanophryniscus montevidensis from La Paloma, Uruguay. (A), (B) specimens with many ventral spots; (C) specimen with only a few ventral spots. Photos: A. K WET.