There are 31 horned
leaf frogs in genus Proceratophrys which is distributed in Brazil,
northeastern Argentina, and Paraguay. The Black Horned Frog, Proceratophrys melanopogon
was described based on one adult female from Alto da Serra, Municipality of
Paranapiacaba, São Paulo, Brazil in 1926. The species was not accepted as valid
by some, but the species was revalidated in 1990 and data on morphology, and
natural history became available. Proceratophrys melanopogon is restricted high elevations of the Atlantic
rainforest of southeastern Brazil on the south, central, and northern portions of
the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Mângia and
colleagues (2014) recently reviewed of Proceratophrys melanopogon taxonomy based on morphological,
morphometric, and bioacoustic data from across the species distribution. The
results revealed four populations have sufficient differences in call and
morphology to be considered as new species allied to Proceratophrys melanopogon.
The authors found
P. gladius sp. nova and P. melanopogon
living in sympatry in the Serra da Bocaina. The cryptic Proceratophrys melanopogon
and P. mantiqueira sp nova share
morphological characteristics, but they have differences in external morphology
and advertisement calls that promptly distinguish them as distinct species. The
geographic distributions of P. melanopogon and P. mantiqueira reflect
the mountain ranges of the Atlantic Forest from southeastern Brazil.
Citation
Mângia S, Santana DJ, Gonçalves
Cruz, CA, Feio, RN. 2014. Taxonomic
review of Proceratophrys melanopogon (Mirandaribeiro, 1926) with
description of four new species (Amphibia, Anura, Odontophrynidae). Boletim
Do Museu Nacional Zoology (531): 1-36.
