Amphibians of a grassland area at Depressão Central in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Rio Grande do Sul is the only Brazilian state where the Pampa biome is represented, comprising approximately 63% of its area. Characterized as a grassland biome, it has suffered severe degradation process due to intense agricultural activities. Our objective was to contribute towards the knowledge of the Pampa amphibian fauna. We surveyed amphibians at the area of Agronomic Experimental Station of Rio Grande do Sul, located in the municipality of Eldorado do Sul. Samplings were made fortnightly between August 1998 to August 2000, through diurnal active search. We recorded 16 species of anuran amphibians, distributed in six families (Bufonidae, Cycloramphidae, Hylidae, Leiuperidae, Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae). Species composition was compared with other seven grassland localities, and we found larger similarity with an area at the Uruguayan-Brazilian boundary. An area in the municipality of Palmeira, state of Paraná, was the less similar between the localities.