Lages Glass Frog

Vitreorana parvula is a diminutive glass-frog (SVL 17 mm). The snout in dorsal view is rounded and short, head as long as broad; the vomerine teeth are absent. Eyes large and prominent. Tympanum distinct, its diameter about 1/3 the eye diameter. Dorsal pattern is reticulate, not uniform. Finger and toe discs moderate. Outer tarsus and foot lacking folds, heel smooth, without fold. Skin smooth above; belly and lower surface of the thighs granulate. Bones are green. Cloacal region with granular seat patch. Color: grayish or pale brown above, speckled with white, lower parts white. Pigment cells unevenly distributed (Taylor and Cochran 1955; Heyer 1985; Cisneros-Heredia and McDiarmid 2007). Cisneros-Heredia and McDiarmid (2007) provided a brief overview of the internal morphology: the liver is bulbous and iridophores are absent from the entire gastrointestinal tract but present on the urinary bladder. The tadpole has not yet been described but should be similar to others of the species group (Altig and McDiarmid 1999).The species is known from the holotype described by Boulenger (1894).

V. parvula presumably lives near forest streams and rivulets in primary forest. The species occurrence is restricted to the type locality in Lages (between 850 and 1500 m a.s.l.) and São Bento do Sul, southern Santa Catarina in southern Brazil (Heyer 1985). The regional climate is subtropical, with frosts and snow common in the winter. Araucaria woodlands form the main vegetation, which is very degraded. There are several rivers running through the city.

Vitreorana parvula has not been collected since its description. Its ecology is probably similar to that of other members of the species group, i.e., living near streams and rivulets inside primary forests, with oviposition taking place on leaves hanging above swift streams, to where tadpoles later drop and continue development (Haddad and Prado 2005). The advertisement call is unknown.

Its range encompasses the town of Lages (2,644.313 Km2) and São Bento do Sul on the south of the State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil (Heyer 1985). Therefore, its range is not currently within any protected area. Population trend is unknown.

Diagnosis (1) Dorsal ground pattern reticulated, pigment cells unevenly, distributed; (2) outer tarsus and foot lacking folds, heel smooth, without fold; (3) snout slightly truncate in profile (probably an artifact of preservation, likely rounded in profile), upper lip without ridge; (4) anal region with granular seat patch; (5) advertising call unknown; (6) known from single . juvenile specimen 17.7 mm SVL; (7) life colors unknown.

Known from type locality in Santa Catarina State, in south-eastern Brazil.

tanino

Description of the lectotype At the present the only known specimen. Tongue circular, entire. Head as long as broad; snout short, rounded; no canthus rostralis; eye large and very prominent; upper eyelid very narrow; interorbital space broad and convex; tympanum hidden, hardly one third the diameter of the eye. Fingers distinctly webbed at the base, first slightly shorter than second; toes two-thirds webbed; disks moderate. Tibio-tarsal articulation reaching a little beyond the tip of the snout. Skin smooth above; belly and lower surface of thighs granulate. Greyish or pale brown above, speckled with white ; lower parts white. From snout to vent 17 millim. Specimen juvenile (based on lack of vocal slits and no visible eggs through belly wall) There is no indication of a fleshy lip ridge. Ulnar, outer tarsal, heel or foot ridges are absent. The dorsal pattern is reticulate, not uniform and the reticulateness of the pattern is due to a clumped scattering of pigment cells, with areas lacking pigment cells.

Europa Ásia menor e Marrocos

DD. Data Deficient.

Vitreorana parvula is a species of small green frog in the family Centrolenidae. It is closely related to Vitreorana uranoscopa. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, and intermittent freshwater marshes, but it is threatened by habitat loss.