Aspectos da morfologia e biologia de Scinax ruber (Laurenti, 1768) com comentários taxonômicos (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract

The adult external morphology, osteology, spermatozoa ultrastructure, and calls from a population of Scinax ruber (Laurenti, 1768) from Magé Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil) are described. The external morphology of tadpoles is also described. Species from the Scinax ruber and Scinax x-signatus groups are compared with S. ruber. The latter species can be distinguished by the following features: 1) small to medium size (snout-ventlength 26.3 mm in males and 29.6 mm in females); 2) dorsolateral stripes beige, cream or yellowish with dark-brown borders) beginning on posterior border of eyes and extending to shortly before inguinal region; 3) concealed limb surfaces and inguinal region brown, without yellow spots; 4) oral disc of tadpoles with third inferior row of teeth remarkably shorter than second row, its length corresponding to 53.6 % of latter; 5) advertisement call presenting harmonic structure weakly modulated, with 8 to 26 short notes per call, each note with at least seven harmonics; 6) fundamental frequency of advertisement call at 500 Hz and dominant frequency equal to third harmonic; 7) encounter call composed of just one note, with harmonic structure more modulated than advertisement call; 8) fundamental frequency of encounter call ranging from 500 to 620 Hz and dorninant frequency equal to third harmonic; 9) flagellum of spermatozoa consisting of an axoneme and an axial fiber connected by an undulating membrane. Taxonornic notes are provided. Scina.x alter (B. Lutz, 1973) is confirmed as ajunior synonym of S. ruber. The existence in Ecuador of a species closely related to S. ruber is reported. lt is suggested that S. auratus (Wied-Neuwied, 1821) is closely related to species in the Scinax ruber and Scinax x-signatus groups.