ABSTRACT The brain is one of the most important organs of vertebrates. Over the years, several studies have investigated brain features under different approaches, such as comparative morphology. Although many recent studies use non-invasive methods, such as micro-CT scan, some methods require access to the brain, such as histological analyses and cell count methods. In addition, several researchers do not have access to those expensive devices and rely on the traditional dissection to conduct their studies. Still, for most vertebrates, very few protocols are available for removing the brain, especially those committed to minimizing the damage to the specimen for further examinations. Here we describe in detail a method to dissect the brains of anurans and squamates maintaining the specimen’s external morphology as undamaged as possible. This simple method can be performed using few tools and can be achieved in the first trials, representing an incentive for more research on vertebrate’s brains. This method contributes to the maximum utilization of each animal collected, a positive practice from both ethical and practical perspectives.

Based on preserved specimens from the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Flectonotus ulei Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 is resurrected from its synonymy with Flectonotus fissilis (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) and is redescribed. Analysis of osteological characters and brood pouch structure confirms that F. ulei belongs to Fritziana. The species is small for the genus (snout-vent length in males, 19.2-26.9 mm, n = 2; in females, 20.3-21 mm, n = 4) and was found in bromeliads. Flectonotus ulei is characterized by dorsal pattern consisting of interorbital pentagon or hexagon-shaped mark delimited by heavy dark line, diameter of tympanum smaller than that of disc of third digit, and a brood pouch covering the eggs dorsally except for a narrow longitudinal slit; eggs arranged in rosette.

We describe the external morphology of the tadpole of Proceratophrys izecksohni Dias, Amaro, Carvalho-e-Silva & Rodrigues, 2013, its internal oral features, and chondrocranial anatomy, based on specimens collected at the type locality. The tadpole has short and oval body, spiracle with inner wall fused to the body, and oral formula 2/3(1). The oral cavity of P. izecksohni is typical of stream-dwelling tadpoles, with several papillae and pustulations. The chondrocranium is longer than wide and the suprarostral corpora are free ventromedially. The palatoquadrate has a well developed processus pseudopterygoideus. We also compare the tadpole of P. izecksohni with tadpoles those of other species of the genus, emphasizing the usage of larval morphology to assist in the systematic of the genus.

Ischnocnema holti (Cochran, 1948) foi descrito com base em apenas um único indivíduo coletado no início do século XX no alto da Serra do Itatiaia. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma redescrição dessa espécie, baseada em 25 exemplares (18 machos e sete fêmeas), coletados na localidade-tipo. Medições dos exemplares, descrição da coloração em vida e aspectos de sua biologia e reprodução, observados em campo são incluídos. Ischnocnema holti é uma espécie de porte médio (comprimento rostro-anal: 13,5 a 31,7mm), vista dorsal e lateral arredondada e discos adesivos dos dedos bem desenvolvidos, e muita plasticidade em relação a sua morfologia e coloração. Encontra-se no grupo de I. lactea (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923) e é aqui comparada com alguns de seus componentes.

Ischnocnema holti (Cochran, 1948) was described based on a single specimen collected in the beginning of 20th century at the Itatiaia mountain range. In this study, we present a redescription of the species based on 25 specimens (18 males and seven females) collected at the type locality. Measurements of the specimens, description of its color pattern in life, as well as aspects of its biology and reproduction are presented. Ischnocnema holti is a medium-sized species (snout-vent length from 13.5 to 31.7mm), snout shape rounded in dorsal and lateral views and digital discs well developed. Ischnocnema holti presents considerable plasticity in its morphology and coloration. This study includes I. holti in the I. lactea (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923) group and compares it with some of its components.

As vocalizações de anuros são um importante mecanismo de isolamento pré-zigótico, e por isso seu estudo deve ser incentivado. Neste artigo re-descrevemos o canto de anúncio de Aplastodiscus arildae, de uma área mais próxima da localidade tipo e descrevemos o canto de anúncio de A. weygoldti comparando-os a cantos previamente descritos de outras espécies do gênero. Ambas as espécies apresentam os cantos de anúncio simples, não-modulados, muito similares, mas significativamente diferentes no que diz respeito à duração da nota. Descrevemos o primeiro "distress call" registrado para o gênero, o "distress call" de A. arildae, que não possui uma forma rígida e foi emitido apenas por um dos indivíduos coletados. Notas sobre o gênero Aplastodiscus são dadas.

The study of anuran advertisement calls is very significant for it is an important premating premating mechanism. Herein we redescribe the advertisement call of Aplastodiscus arildae from an area near type-locality and describe the advertisement call of A. weygoldti comparing them to previously described advertisement calls of species of the genus Aplastodiscus. Both advertisement calls are simple, non-modulated calls, very similar to each other, but significantly different in what matters to call duration. We describe the first distress call registered for the genus, the distress call of A. arildae, that does not have rigid form and was only recorded for one individual. Some general notes of the genus Aplastodiscus are given.