A reassessment of the vocalization and distribution of Scinax exiguus (Duellman, 1986) (Anura: Hylidae) in the Amazonian savanna of Roraima, northern Brazil, with the description of its aggressive call

Authors

Thiago Ribeiro de Carvalho, Laboratório de Taxonomia, Sistemática e Evolução de Anuros Neotropicais, Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal (FACIP), Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, Uberlândia, Brazil
Priscila Azarak, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
Davi Bang, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciencias e Letras de Ribeirao Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
William Duellman, Biodiversity Insitute, Kansas State University, Lawrence, KS
Ariovaldo Giaretta, Laboratório de Taxonomia, Sistemática e Evolução de Anuros Neotropicais, Faculdade de Ciências Integradas do Pontal (FACIP), Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, Uberlândia, Brazil

Abstract

Scinax exiguus was described from the Gran Sabana, southeastern Venezuela, and its distribution is associated with the one Amazonian savanna region in northern South America. Herein, we describe the aggressive call and redescribe the advertisement call of S. exiguus, including recordings from the type locality. Also, we report on intraspecific variation between Venezuelan and Brazilian populations and we make remarks on its distribution in Brazil. Advertisement calls from the type locality (Bolívar, Venezuela) mainly differ in temporal traits from those of the two Brazilian populations, especially in duration and pulse organization. In contrast, calls from both Brazilian populations had remarkable differences from each other in the dominant frequency. Body size also varied between the type series (Venezuela) and a Brazilian population. We suggest that the acoustic variation in S. exiguus might be explained partly by differences in temperature and varying degrees of motivational state of calling males. One of our study sites (Cantá, Roraima) now represents the southernmost record for the species in comparison to the previous record (Boa Vista). Additional research and conservation measures are required in the Guyanan savanna in northern South America for the protection of its endemics.

Recommended Citation

Carvalho, Thiago Ribeiro de; Azarak, Priscila; Bang, Davi; Duellman, William; and Giaretta, Ariovaldo (2017) "A reassessment of the vocalization and distribution of Scinax exiguus (Duellman, 1986) (Anura: Hylidae) in the Amazonian savanna of Roraima, northern Brazil, with the description of its aggressive call," Neotropical Biodiversity Journal: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 19.
Available at: https://ikiam.researchcommons.org/neotropical-diversity/vol3/iss1/19