ECOLOGICAL NICHE MODELING AND AN UPDATED GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION MAP OF Leptodactylus notoaktites HEYER, 1978 (ANURA, LEPTODACTYLIDAE) WITH A NEW OCCURRENCE RECORD

Abstract

Leptodactylus notoaktites Heyer, 1978 (Anura, Leptodactylidae) is a Neotropical frog that can be found in open areas, forest edges, and inside forest clearings in southern Brazil. In this study, we present an updated distribution map of this species for a variety of vegetation types in the Atlantic Rain Forest and report a new occurrence record in the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forests. We also performed an Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) which combined environmental variables with occurrence records to predict environmentally suitable areas for this species. Our study was based on published data, specimens collected in the field, and specimens from Brazilian herpetological collections. The ENM predicted high environmental suitability ranging from São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul states, mainly in Serra do Mar Coastal Forest areas, while the lowest values were in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and some inland regions in the states of São Paulo and Paraná. Based on the distribution of L. notoaktites, we suggest that field efforts should be extended to inland regions of the Atlantic Rain Forest. In fact, species restricted to coastal regions of the Atlantic Rain Forest could have larger ranges than expected if data from such inland regions was available.