''Ameerega braccata'', formerly ''Epipedobates braccatus'', is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...

in the family

Dendrobatidae Poison dart frog (also known as dart-poison frog, poison frog or formerly known as poison arrow frog) is the common name of a group of frogs in the Family (biology), family Dendrobatidae which are native to tropical Central and South America. T ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the Central-West Region of Brazil and is known from southern

Mato Grosso Mato Grosso ( – lit. "Thick Bush") is one of the states of Brazil, the third largest by area, located in the Central-West region. The state has 1.66% of the Brazilian population and is responsible for 1.9% of the Brazilian GDP. Neighboring ...

Mato Grosso do Sul Mato Grosso do Sul () is one of the Midwestern states of Brazil. Neighboring Brazilian states are (from north clockwise) Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Paraná. It also borders the countries of Paraguay, to the southwest, and ...

, and southwestern

Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian state located in the Center-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso. The state capital is Goiânia. ...

states; however, it is likely that its true range extends into adjacent Bolivia and Paraguay.

Description

''Ameerega braccata'' are relatively small frogs measuring in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the most c ...

. Skin is slightly granular. The fingers bear small discs. The dorsum is dark brown with pale brown marbling and, in most individuals, yellowish spots. The flanks are black. There are two yellowish white to yellow dorsolateral stripes extending from the tip of the snout to the groin. The belly is brownish white with scattered small black spots. The chest and throat are brown. ''Ameerega braccata'' produces several types of calls. The male advertisement call consists of a single, unpulsed note lasting about 0.1 seconds, with a frequency range from 3.5–4.2 kHz. The territorial call is composed of 5–6 repeated notes that are structurally similar to the advertisement call notes. The courtship call is emitted in close-range male–female interactions. These calls consist of short notes (duration 0.04 seconds) and may reach frequencies of 2.2–5.3 kHz.

Diet

''Ameerega braccata'' has a specialized diet in ants, termites, and mites. Additionally, the abundance of consumed prey differed among the males and females of this species.

Habitat and conservation

This frog inhabits gallery forests in the Cerrado and cound be found amidst leaf litter; they have also been recorded in more open areas. The eggs are deposited on land; the larvae are then transported (in at least one occasion, by the male) to streams where they develop further. ''Ameerega braccata'' does not adapt well to anthropogenic disturbance and is therefore threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

caused by agriculture (both crops and livestock) and by fires. It is present in the Pantanal Matogrossense and

Chapada dos Guimarães National Park The Chapada dos Guimarães National Park ( pt, Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães) is a national park in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is a region of rugged terrain with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, and contains the geographical c ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q28053336 braccata Endemic fauna of Brazil Amphibians of Brazil Amphibians described in 1864 Taxa named by Franz Steindachner Taxonomy articles created by Polbot