Phyllomedusa ayeaye

Baêta, Délio, Caramaschi, Ulisses, Cruz, Carlos Alberto G. & Pombal, José P., 2009, Phyllomedusa itacolomi Caramaschi, Cruz & Feio, 2006, a junior synonym of Phyllomedusa ayeaye (B. Lutz, 1966) (Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae), Zootaxa 2226, pp. 58-65 : 59-60

Status of Phyllomedusa ayeaye and P. itacolomi

Caramaschi et al. (2006) distinguished Phyllomedusa itacolomi from P. a y e a y e by the following combination of characters: (1) reticulate pattern on the upper lip and (2) borders of eyelids; (3) reticulated ventral surfaces; (4) size of blotches in hidden surfaces of flanks and limbs. According to these authors, P. itacolomi has a reticulate pattern less conspicuous in the upper lip and in the borders of eyelids than P. a y e a y e, which has this more conspicuous pattern. The ventral surfaces of P. itacolomi have gray reticulations, whereas individuals of P. ayeaye have black reticulations. The blotches in hidden surfaces of flanks and limbs of P. itacolomi are large and poorly defined in, while P. a y e a y e have small, well-defined blotches.

After comparing the type specimens and topotypes of the two species, we observed that the characters used to differentiate them are present in both P. ayeaye and P. itacolomi . For instance, the reticulate pattern on the upper lip and borders of eyelids, more or less conspicuous, is present in specimens of P. ayeaye and P. itacolomi ( Figure 1 ). Although both species also have gray or black reticulations on their ventral surfaces, in preservative the reticulations are similar in color but vary in intensity and distribution among specimens. The pattern of blotches on hidden surfaces of flanks and limbs, pointed out by Caramaschi et al. (2006) as large and less distinct versus small and well-defined, are variable in both species as illustrated in Figure 2 . Other characters observed in the forelimbs of both species also showed variation, such as the blue stripe on the dorsal arms and the size and distribution of blotches ( Figure 3 ).

Due to the lack of characters supporting these taxa as two different species, we consider Phyllomedusa itacolomi Caramaschi, Cruz & Feio 2006 as a junior synonym of Phyllomedusa ayeaye ( B. Lutz, 1966) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Reticulate patterns on the upper lip and borders of eyelids in specimens of Phyllomedusa ayeaye (A, MNRJ 57655 and C, MNRJ 3727) and Phyllomedusa itacolomi (B, LZV 603 A and D, MNRJ 34650) (scale bar 5 mm).

FIGURE 2. Patterns of cells in surfaces of legs in Phyllomedusa ayeaye (A, MNRJ 57656; B, MNRJ 57655; C, CFBH 850; D, MNRJ 3722) and Phyllomedusa itacolomi (E, LZV 603 A; F, MNRJ 34650; G, LZV 602 A; H, LZV 464 A; I, MNRJ 30602; J, MNRJ 34654; K, MNRJ 34655) (scale bar 5 mm).

FIGURE 3. Stripe and cells patterns on dorsal surfaces of arm in specimens of Phyllomedusa ayeaye (A, MNRJ 57655 and B, MNRJ 3722) and Phyllomedusa itacolomi (C, MNRJ 35650 and D, LZV 630 A) (scale bar 5 mm).