Highly conserved and extremely variable: The paradoxical pattern of toxin expression revealed by comparative venom-gland transcriptomics of Phalotris (Serpentes: Dipsadidae).

Although non-front fanged snakes account for almost two-thirds of snake diversity, most studies on venom composition and evolution focus exclusively on front-fanged species, which comprise most of the clinically relevant accidents. Comprehensive reports on venom composition of non-front fanged snakes are still scarce for several groups. In this study, we address such shortage of knowledge by providing new insights about the venom composition among species of Phalotris, a poorly studied Neotropical dipsadid genus.

Impacts of isolated or mixed Roundup® Original DI and Boral® 500 SC herbicides on the survival and metamorphosis of Melanophryniscus admirabilis tadpoles.

The bufonid species Melanophryniscus admirabilis is restricted to a single location in the southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Although the site of occurrence of M. admirabilis is covered with native forest and it is not directly exposed to pesticides application, the area is surrounded by agricultural activity.

Anthropic Impact on the Critically Endangered Melanophryniscus admirabilis (Admirable Redbelly Toad): Evidence from the Presence of Multiresistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Melanophryniscus admirabilis is a microendemic and critically endangered toad, known from a single population. This microendemic species inhabits a small fragment of the Atlantic Forest in South Brazil, an area significantly impacted by hydroelectric power plant projects, livestock farming, agricultural activities, biopiracy, and tourism. Given the exclusive and limited population of M.

First Report of Culturable Skin Bacteria in Melanophryniscus admirabilis (Admirable Redbelly Toad).

Melanophryniscus admirabilis is a small toad, critically endangered with a microendemic distribution in the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. The amphibian skin microbiome is considered one of the first lines of defense against pathogenic infections, such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The knowledge of skin amphibian microbiomes is important to numerous fields, including species conservation, detection, and quantification of environmental changes and stressors.

The Oral Bacterial Community in (Admirable Red-Belly Toads): Implications for Conservation.

(admirable red-belly toad) is a microendemic and critically endangered species found exclusively along 700 m of the Forqueta River, in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. One of the greatest concerns regarding the conservation of this species is the extensive use of pesticides in areas surrounding their natural habitat. In recent years, the adaptation and persistence of animal species in human-impacted environments have been associated with microbiota.

Advertisement call of two threatened red-bellied-toads, Melanophryniscus cambaraensis and M. macrogranulosus (Anura: Bufonidae), from the Atlantic Rainforest, southern Brazil.

In anuran amphibians, acoustic signals are fundamental mechanisms of mate recognition and mate choice, which makes frog calls a fundamental tool for anuran taxonomy. In this work, we describe the advertisement call of two species for the genus Melanophryniscus, M. cambaraensis and M.

Species limits in the Tawny-crowned Pygmy-tyrant Euscarthmus meloryphus complex (Aves: Passeriformes: Tyrannidae).

Euscarthmus pygmy-tyrants include two species of tiny passerines that inhabit semi-open landscapes in South America. One of these, Euscarthmus meloryphus is a taxonomic complex comprising three recognized subspecies for which previously proposed splits and lumps were not founded on proper taxonomic analysis. We assessed morphology (morphometrics and plumage), distribution models, and vocalizations of a substantial dataset with the aim of evaluating species limits within the E.

Melanophryniscus admirabilis tadpoles' responses to sulfentrazone and glyphosate-based herbicides: an approach on metabolism and antioxidant defenses.

Melanophryniscus admirabilis is a frog endemic to the southern Atlantic Forest (Brazil), with restricted distribution and considered as critically endangered. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible alterations in biomarkers of metabolism (glycogen, proteins, and uric acid) and oxidative balance (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and lipoperoxidation) of tadpoles of Melanophryniscus admirabilis exposed to commercial herbicide formulations containing sulfentrazone (Boral® 500 SC: 130 and 980 μg a.i.

Anthropogenic substrate-borne vibrations impact anuran calling.

Anthropogenic disturbance is a major cause of the biodiversity crisis. Nevertheless, the role of anthropogenic substrate vibrations in disrupting animal behavior is poorly understood. Amphibians comprise the terrestrial vertebrates most sensitive to vibrations, and since communication is crucial to their survival and reproduction, they are a suitable model for investigating this timely subject.

Correction: Effects of traffic noise on the calling behavior of two Neotropical hylid frogs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Are the unken reflex and the aposematic colouration of Red-Bellied Toads efficient against bird predation?

Aposematic signals as well as body behaviours may be important anti-predator defences. Species of the genus Melanophryniscus are characterised by having toxic lipophilic alkaloids in the skin and for presenting a red ventral colouration, which can be observed when they perform the behaviour called the unken reflex. Both the reflex behaviour and the colouration pattern are described as defence mechanisms.

Effects of traffic noise on the calling behavior of two Neotropical hylid frogs.

Anthropogenic disturbance has been pointed to as one of the major causes of the world´s biodiversity crisis. Among them, noise pollution is a potential underestimated threat, projected to increase in the next decades accompanying urban expansion. Rising levels of noise pollution may result in negative impacts on species highly dependent on acoustic communication.

Climate change and the distribution of neotropical red-bellied toads (Melanophryniscus, Anura, Amphibia): how to prioritize species and populations?

We used species distribution modeling to investigate the potential effects of climate change on 24 species of Neotropical anurans of the genus Melanophryniscus. These toads are small, have limited mobility, and a high percentage are endangered or present restricted geographical distributions. We looked at the changes in the size of suitable climatic regions and in the numbers of known occurrence sites within the distribution limits of all species.

Community structure of helminth parasites of the "Cururu" toad, Rhinella icterica (Anura: Bufonidae) from southern Brazil.

Sixty specimens of the "cururu" toad, Rhinella icterica (Spix 1824) (Bufonidae), were collected in Campo Belo do Sul, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, between May 2009 and January 2011, and were examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Nine species of adult helminths were found: Catadiscus cohni, Rudolphitrema rudolphii, Cylindrotaenia sp., Rhabdias fuelleborni, Strongyloides sp.

A new microendemic species of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from southern Brazil and revalidation of Tropidurus catalanensis Gudynas & Skuk, 1983.

The South American and cis-andean lizard genus Tropidurus has a complex taxonomic history. Most species were recently described and previous revisions included few specimens from the southern part of the continent. Tropidurus torquatus has the broadest geographic distribution in the genus and several morphological and ecological differences were described within its distribution.