Geographical and altitudinal distribution of (Anura: Brachycephalidae) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.

Mountains of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest can act as islands of cold and wet climate, leading to the isolation and speciation of species with low dispersal capacity, such as the toadlet species of the genus . This genus is composed primarily by diurnal species, with miniaturized body sizes (<2.5 cm), inhabiting microhabitats in the leaf litter of montane forests. Still, little is known about the geographical distribution, altitudinal range, and ecological limits of most species. In this study, we review the available data on the geographical and altitudinal distribution of based on occurrence records compiled from literature and museums, both for the genus as a whole and separately for the three recently proposed groups of species (, , and ). The final ensemble dataset comprised 333 records, 120 localities, 28 described species, and six undescribed ones. Species were recorded in six relief units, the richest of which being the Serra do Mar, with 30 species. When the Serra do Mar is subdivided into three subunits, Northern, Central and Southern Serra do Mar, the number of species increase from north to the south, with records of six, nine, and 16 species, respectively. We were able to estimate the extent of occurrence of nearly half of the described species, and the resulting estimates indicate that many of them show remarkably small ranges, some of which less than 50 ha. species are present from sea level to roughly 1,900 m a.s.l., with the highest richness being found between 751 and 1,000 m a.s.l. (21 spp.). The species with the broadest altitudinal range were (1,075 m) and sp. 1 (1,035 m), both in the group, and (1,050 m), of the group. The broadest altitudinal amplitude for species of the group was recorded for (535 m). The lowest altitudinal records for the group were at 845 m a.s.l. in the state of Paraná and at 455 m a.s.l. in the state of Santa Catarina. The altitudinal occurrence in the species group seems to decrease southward. Syntopy between species is also reviewed.