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.

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.