Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate group, with at least 32% of species categorized as threatened (The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, v. 2020-1, iucnredlist.org). Of these, 86% are categorized using geographical distribution criteria (B1 or B2, or D2 for Vulnerable). These are also the criteria most commonly used for Amphibia in Brazil (ICMBio, 2018, Livro Vermelho da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçada de Extinção). Therefore, adequate knowledge of geographical distributions and valid taxonomy are essential for accurate species categorization.
The genus Pithecopus (Phyllomedusidae) comprises 11 species, of which four are endemic to the highlands of the Brazilian Cerrado. They mainly occur in environments threatened by habitat loss caused by mining, silviculture, livestock, fires and unsustainable tourism (Silveira et al., 2016, Plant and Soil, 403, 129–152). Pithecopus ayeaye is categorized on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, and Pithecopus centralis, Pithecopus megacephalus and Pithecopus oreades as Data Deficient. However, on the Brazilian Red List these species are categorized as Least Concern, except for P. centralis, which is categorized as Near Threatened. Being endemic, the global and national Red List categorizations for these four species should be identical. To rectify this, and to resolve uncertainties regarding geographical distributions and species delimitations, we obtained a research grant from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, implemented by Instituto Internacional de Educação do Brasil (International Education Institute of Brazil) to (1) investigate the species’ geographical distribution, through fieldwork, (2) delimit species using genomic tools, (3) refine the species’ Red List assessments, (4) characterize larval ecological requirements and (5) assess the impacts of water contaminants and landscape degradation on the species.
We conducted fieldwork during October 2019–February 2020, searching for the species in locations identified through a combination of ecological niche modelling and predictive distribution mapping (Silva & Alves-Silva, 2013, Zootaxa, 3609, 213–222). We recorded one new location for P. megacephalus, four for P. ayeaye, and 12 for P. oreades, and located 12 new populations that need further work for taxonomic assignment. Once this has been completed, we will be able to prioritize populations (for proposals of new private reserves), update Red List categorizations, and define priority areas for conservation. In addition to support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and Instituto Internacional de Educação do Brasil, this project, which will finish at the end of 2021, involves a partnership between one non-governmental organization, five Brazilian universities, and several researchers, students and managers.
