A reappraisal of Bufo levicristatus Boettger, 1885 (Anura: Bufonidae), a long forgotten toad from Paraguay.

In this work, we show that Bufo levicristatus Boettger, 1885 is a senior synonym of Bufo scitulus Caramaschi Niemeyer, 2003, and not a junior synonym of Bufo ornatus Spix, 1824, as previously considered. In addition, we present evidence that Bufo scitulus Caramaschi Niemeyer, 2003 complies with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature requirements for a reversal of precedence over the name Bufo levicristatus Boettger, 1885, and so the name Bufo scitulus is to be maintained for this species.

A new frog of the species group (Anura: Leptodactylidae), endemic from the South American Gran Chaco.

A new species of frog (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the South American Gran Chaco, morphologically similar and previously confused with the widespread , is described through the use of multiple sources of evidence (molecular, external morphology, coloration, osteology, bioacoustics, and behavior). The phylogenetic analysis with partial sequences of mitochondrial rDNA genes (12S and 16S) recovered the new species within the group, being highly divergent (>3% genetic distance in 16S). The new species was recovered as sister taxa of , from which it is distinguished by tympanum coloration, cephalic index, dorsum and legs coloration, and some osteological differences in nasals and prevomers.

On the identity of Bufo diptychus Cope, 1862 (Anura: Bufonidae).

The enigmatic toad Bufo diptychus was described by Cope (1862) based on a single individual (USNM 5841, now lost) of about 25 mm of SVL, collected during the expedition to La Plata River and tributaries, conducted by Captain Page between 1853 and 1856. As no dwarf species of toad was ever recorded in the surveyed area, and based on some tips that arise from Page's narrative, we postulate that the description was based on a toadlet. With this hypothesis in mind, we compared Cope's characterization of B.

What happened in the South American Gran Chaco? Diversification of the endemic frog genus Lepidobatrachus Budgett, 1899 (Anura: Ceratophryidae).

The Chaco is one the most neglected and least studied regions of the world. This highly-seasonal semiarid biome is an extensive continuous plain without any geographic barrier, and in spite of its high species diversity, the events and processes responsible have never been assessed. Miocene marine introgressions and Pleistocene glaciations have been mentioned as putative drivers of diversification for some groups of vertebrates in adjacent biomes of southern South America.

The Paraguayan Rhinella toad venom: Implications in the traditional medicine and proliferation of breast cancer cells.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Toads belonging to genus Rhinella are used in Paraguayan traditional medicine to treat cancer and skin infections.

Aim Of The Study: The objective of the study was to determine the composition of venoms obtained from three different Paraguayan Rhinella species, to establish the constituents of a preparation sold in the capital city of Paraguay to treat cancer as containing the toad as ingredient, to establish the effect of the most active Rhinella schneideri venom on the cell cycle using human breast cancer cells and to assess the antiprotozoal activity of the venoms.

Methods: The venom obtained from the toads parotid glands was analyzed by HPLC-MS-MS.

High levels of diversity uncovered in a widespread nominal taxon: continental phylogeography of the neotropical tree frog Dendropsophus minutus.

Species distributed across vast continental areas and across major biomes provide unique model systems for studies of biotic diversification, yet also constitute daunting financial, logistic and political challenges for data collection across such regions. The tree frog Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) is a nominal species, continentally distributed in South America, that may represent a complex of multiple species, each with a more limited distribution. To understand the spatial pattern of molecular diversity throughout the range of this species complex, we obtained DNA sequence data from two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the 16S rhibosomal gene (16S) for 407 samples of D.