Reproductive biology of direct developing and threatened frog Adelophryne maranguapensis (Anura, Eleutherodactylidae) reveals a cryptic reproductive mode for anurans and the first record of parental care for the genus

Abstract

Anurans with direct development are among the most difficult species for conducting studies concerning ecology and natural history. This paper provides information on the reproduction of Adelophryne maranguapensis, a threatened species endemic to Serra de Maranguape, an Atlantic Forest relict surrounded by dry Caatinga phytophysiognomies. Our objectives were to identify the reproductive periods, verify any preference for breeding sites, review the reproductive mode and describe parental care. The species reproduces during the rainy season and is not selective as to the species of bromeliad used for oviposition. This is the first report of parental care for the genus since females demonstrate egg attendance until the formation of the gel layer in all the eggs. We revisit the terms that define the reproductive mode of this species and propose the need to redefine it. The redefinition considers: (1) deposition of bromeligen and non-aquatics eggs around the phytotelm; (2) direct development; (3) parental care with egg attendance by the female.