biostudies-literatureUnknown12Toledo LFThe genus <i>Brachycephalus</i> includes miniaturized toadlets with two distinct morphotypes: brightly colored species with a bufoniform phenotype and smaller, cryptic species with a leptodactyliform phenotype. The diversity of leptodactyliform species is still underappreciated, and we generally lack fundamental information about their biology. Recent sampling efforts, including DNA analyses and recordings of advertisement calls, have improved our understanding of this group. In the present study, we describe a new species of <i>Brachycephalus</i>, one of the smallest vertebrates known. This new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic data. Despite being among the smallest frogs globally (the second smallest amphibian species)PeerJe18265https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11514764biostudies-literatureAmong the world's smallest vertebrates: a new miniaturized flea-toad (Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic rainforest.PMC11514764Muscat EBlackburn DCCarrasco-Medina ASErnetti JRLyra MLNunes IGray JAGama JMBotelho LMToledo LFfalseAmong the world's smallest vertebrates: a new miniaturized flea-toad (Brachycephalidae) from the Atlantic rainforest.The genus <i>Brachycephalus</i> includes miniaturized toadlets with two distinct morphotypes: brightly colored species with a bufoniform phenotype and smaller, cryptic species with a leptodactyliform phenotype. The diversity of leptodactyliform species is still underappreciated, and we generally lack fundamental information about their biology. Recent sampling efforts, including DNA analyses and recordings of advertisement calls, have improved our understanding of this group. In the present study, we describe a new species of <i>Brachycephalus</i>, one of the smallest vertebrates known. This new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic data. Despite being among the smallest frogs globally (the second smallest amphibian species)2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-07-15T17:44:30.694Z2026-07-07T03:10:58.153ZS-EPMC115147643946959010.7717/peerj.18265