RCAAP Repository

Variations in the físh populations of mullets were assessed aiming to detect trends in abundances during their early life cycle and relationship with environmental parameters. Fish were sampled between August 1994 and July 1997 using a beach scine and environmental parameters of water temperature, salinity and transparency were taken at each sampling. Five sites were systematically sampled, two of them in the inner Bay, and three in the outer Bay near to the sea limit. Three Mugilidae species were identified: Mugil liza Valencienes, 1836; Mugil curema Valencienes, 1836 and Mugil platanus Günter, 1880; mostly juveniles in their early life cycle, being M. liza the most abundant species. Overall all mullets were more abundant in the inner Bay, where transparencies values lower and temperature values higher.

Twelve genera and seventeen species of corophiid amphipods are reported from Brazilian coastal waters: Ampelisciphotis podophthalma J.L. Barnard, 1958, Aora spinicornis Afonso, 1976, Audulla chelifera Chevreux, 1901, Bemlos foresti (Mateus & Mateus, 1966), B. unicornis (Bynum & Fox, 1977), Cheiriphotis megacheles (Giles, 1885), Chevalia mexicana Pearse, 1913, Corophium acherusicum Costa, 1851, Gammaropsis (Gammaropsis) atlantica Stebbing, 1888, G. (G.). thompsoni (Walker, 1898), G. (G.) togoensis (Schellenberg, 1925), G. (Podoceropsis) sophiae (Boeck, 1861), Globoso-lembos smithi (Holmes, 1905), Lembos hypacanthus (K.H. Barnard, 1916), Photis brevipes Shoemaker, 1942, P. longicaudata Bate & Westwood, 1862 e Pseudomegamphopus barnardi Myers, 1968. An identification key, diagnosis and latitutinal distribution of each species are provided.

The cartilaginous Structures of the cmbryos of Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933, were described as well as the beginning of the ossification process in the dentary, angular, retroarticular, operculum, frontal, supraoccipital bonés and neural end hemal arches. The viteline sac is well developed. The results show that cartilaginous structures are predominam in specimens with an average of 4.85 mm in total length.

The sequence of events of the ossification process in the newly bom specimens of Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933 up to 37 days of life has been described, mainly the ossification in the ethmoid plate, palatine, pectoral girdle, and postorbital bones and bony structures such as mesoethmoid, articular and six suborbitals. Observation on adult specimens are presented too.

Assessing the composition of an area's bat fauna is typically accomplished by using captures or by monitoring echolocation calls with bat detectors. The two methods may not provide the same data regarding species composition. Mist nets and harp traps may be biased towards sampling low flying species, and bat detectors biased towards detecting high intensity echolocators. A comparison of the bat fauna of Fazenda Intervales, southeastern Brazil, as revealed by mist nets and harp trap captures, checking roosts and by monitoring echolocation calls of flying bats illustrates this point. A total of 17 species of bats was sampled. Fourteen bat species were captured and the echolocation calls of 12 species were recorded, three of them not revealed by mist nets or harp traps. The different sampling methods provided different pictures of the bat fauna. Phyllostomid bats dominated the catches in mist nets, but in the field their echolocation calls were never detected. No single sampling approach provided a complete assessment of the bat fauna in the study area. In general, bats producing low intensity echolocation calls, such as phyllostomids, are more easily assessed by netting, and bats producing high intensity echolocation calls are better surveyed by bat detectors. The results demonstrate that a combined and varied approach to sampling is required for a complete assessment of the bat fauna of an area.

A new species of Coelidiana Oman, 1936 is described from Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished by the aspect of the male genitalia, mainly by the aedeagus apex.

This paper presents 28 species of Echinoderms collected on 5 beaches of Salvador (12º54' to 13º01' S and 38º26' to 38º33' W), Brazil, which are distributed in 19 families. Ophiuroidea represented 53,6% of the collected species, followed by Echinoidea (28,6%), Asteroidea (7,1%), Holothuroidea (7,1%), and Crinoidea (3,6%). Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea were the most frequent groups, occurring at all the studied beaches while Crinoidea occurred only on 20% of them. Most of the species are characterized as belonging to the tropical warm waters, some to the shallow coastal areas and some having a broad bathymetric distribution. The richness of species values on beaches ranged from 7 to 24, at Itapua Beach, and from 2 to 14 among different kinds of habitats, where protected ones showed higher values.

The occurrence of a rare ginandromorph specimen of Saturniidae collected in the State of Amazonas, Brazil is reported. This is the first unique deposit of a gynandromorph in the Collection of the National Institute for Amazonian Research.

The poorly known phenomenon of copula "inter mares" (a male insect copulating with another male) is reported in Pirascca sagaris satnius (Dalman, 1823) (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae, Riodininae).

Tynelia Stål, 1858 is revised and its limits redefined; two species are included: T. longula Burmeister, 1835 (= Boethoos nitida Funkhouser, 1922, Syn.n.)and T. godoyae sp.n. (from Brazil, Pará). Neotynelia gen.n. (type species: Darnis pubescens Fabricius, 1803) is described and the following species are treated, as well as some nomenclatural changes introduced: Neotynelia pubescens (Fabricius, 1803) comb.n. (= Tragopa prominens Walker, 1858 Syn.n.;= Boethoos hirsuta Funkhouser, 1922 Syn.n.; = Boethoos cinctata Haviland, 1925, Syn.n.); Neotynelia vertebralis (Fairmaire, 1846) sp. reval., comb.n. (= Tragopa bilinea Walker, 1858 Syn.n.; = Boethoos brunnea Funkhouser, 1922 Syn.n.); Neotynelia distinguenda (Fowler, 1895), sp. reval., comb.n.; Neotynelia nigra (Funkhouser, 1940) comb.n. (= Tynelia flavodorsata Fonseca, 1941 Syn.n.); Neotynelia bandeirai sp.n., Neotynelia martinsi sp.n., and Neotynelia rafaeli sp.n. (all three new species from Brazil, Mato Grosso).

The reproductive cycle of Hoplias malabaricus Bloch, 1794, was studied through histological preparations, based on 102 specimens collected in the Gramame reservoir, Paraiba State, from August 1993 to July 1994. Seven developmental stages were identified for the feminine gametes and five for the masculine gametes.

There are report two human envenenomations for species from Clelia Fitzinger, 1826 (opisthoglyph snake). The patients exhibited symptoms similar from bothropic accident. Then this work have with objective, the hystological and histochemical study of Duvernoy's gland from Clelia plumbea. For the hystological observation of the Duvernoy's gland were using, with paraffin's cutting edge, two methods: Hematoxylin + Eosin and Toluidine's Blue. With historesine's cutting edge were using three methods: Metilen's Blue, Toluidine's Blue + Floxine and Toluidine's Blue. For the histochemical detection were using six techniques, with paraffin's cutting edge: PAS, PAS + Alcian Blue pH 2,5, Alcian Blue pH 2,5, PAS + Salivar Amilase, Method of Lars Grimelius and Method of Lillie. It was evidenced the predominance of serous cells on Duvernoy's gland. In relation to the histochemical constituion of the duvernoy's gland, was verified the presence of glucoconjugates neuters, enzymes and cells with reduetive activity. By fact from this species to kill his preys by constriction, the predominance of serous cells in the duvernoy's gland, don' t must be direct related with the subjugation of his preys, but with the digestive processes. Histological and histochemical analysis showed cells of Duvernoy's gland are constituted for two populations: serous cells (prodution of enzymes) and mucous cells (prodution of glucoconjugates).

Populational flotation of Cordiamyia globosa Maia, 1996 - a gall maker species - was studied during 12 months using its galls as parameter. The maximum and medium number of galls/leaf/month was obtained, as well as the percentage of attacked leaves. Eight species of parasitoid Hymenoptera were associated with the gall maker. Seasonal rates of parasitoidism are given.

Albinapis gracilis gen.n. and sp.n. from Caçapava do Sul and Hexantheda enneomera sp.n. from Capão da Canoa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with peculiar number of labial palpi articles, are described and illustrated.

The biology and immature stages of Psigida walkeri (Grote) are described for the first time. Development is rapid with only 35 days from egg to adult. The larva feed on Calliandra parviflora Benth. (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae), its natural host plant. Egg, larval instars, pupa and adults are illustrated in color.

In Central Amazonia the tabanid Betrequia ocellala Oldroyd, 1970 was recorded for the first time blood feeding on caimans during an experiment in September/October 1996 at Ducke Reserve, Manaus, Brazil. Among different available hosts (Caiman, horse, duck and human) B. ocellata was observed only on Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus, 1758), suggesting specific blood feeding on crocodilians. The adult flight season, diurnal blood feeding period and flight stratification are presented. Other tabanid species feeding or landing on caimans are also recorded.

One hundred eighty species in a preliminary inventory were identified. From these, 166 were in an area of 832.5 ha (Mata São Francisco State Park), 84 in another of 9.7 ha (Manoel Júlio de Almeida Municipal Forest) and 99 in the third remnant, briefly sampled, of 218 ha (Mata São Paulo). Comparing these numbers to inventories of nearby sites was considered that the larger area is poor in number of bird species, and believe this to be mainly due to the high degree of environmental degradation. Was considered that the smaller area is rich in birds, but its proximity (375 meters) to the third remnant certainly exeits strong influence. This paper presents the list of birds by site and with their relative frequency of occurrence. A new record for Paraná (Scarlet-headed Blackbird Amblyramphus holosericeus), two new ones for the interior of the state (Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor and Yellow-lored Tody-flycatcher Todirostrum poliocephalum) and several other important records are commented (e.g. Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata, Vinaceous Parrot Amazona vinacea, and Black-banded Owl Ciccaba huhula). Locally extinct species are discussed (e.g. Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja), as well as the ones that colonized landscapes created by men (e.g. pastures, agricultural areas). When discussing Atlantic Forest endemism, some species were shown not to be endemic to this biome. Because the north of Paraná is almost totally deforested, the presence of the forest remnants by itself conter them great importance for conservation, besides the existence of species endemic to the Atlantic Forest and considered to be under the threat of extinction. Conservation and management measures are also proposed.

This work presents the characterization of larval external morphology of the kissing gourami Helostoma temminckii, an aquarium fish of the family Helostomatidae, reared all over the world. A total of 38 larvae (standard length between 3.2 and 10.1 mm), obtained through natural reproduction carried out in the Fish Culture Station of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, were used. The morphometric measurements pre-dorsal, pre-pectoral and pre-anal distances, and body height varied positively with standard length, and body proportions varied between 30.8 and 51.2%; 12.9 and 37.9%; 38.2 and 58.3%, and 17.2 and 30.43% CP, respectively. The eye diameter varied positively with the length of the head (CC), but its body proportion decreased with growth, varying between 63.3 and 30.2% CC, within fish lenghts from 3.2 to 10.1 mm, respectively. The external morphological characterization of larvae with 3.9, 6.6, 7.7, 8.0 and 10.1 mm CP are presented, showing the notochord flexion (CP between 5.5 and 6.8 mm), the appearance of rays and formation of the caudal (CP between 5.5 and 7.5 mm), dorsal (CP above 7.5 mm), anal (larger than 7.5 mm CP) and pectoral fins (larger than 8 mm CP); the modification of body shape and pigmentation absence. Larvae with 10.1 mm CP don't show completely developed dorsal and anal fins, with their definitive number of rays. The opening of mouth and anus, and reduction of the yolk-sac were observed in larvae with CP between 6.5 and 7.5 mm. Such information is importam for larval rearing of the species, besides providing data for comparative ontogenic analysis of other Perciformes.

A new species of xanthid crab, Hexapanopeus manningi, closely related to H. caribbaeus Stimpson, 1871 collected from mangrove areas in the estuaries of Rio Grande do Norte. Brazil is described. This is the sixth species of Hexapanopeus Rathbun, 1898 from Brazil. Distinguishing features of the species are also mentioned to facilitate its separation from closely related species.

The bee-plant community in a xeric ecosystem in northwestern Argentina was studied concerning diversity, relative abundance, floral preference and phenology. Fifty-seven bee species were recorded, 42.1% of them endemic to arid regions of southern South America, visiting flowers of 11 plant species. The most abundant bees were Canephorula apiformis (Friese, 1908), Isomalopsis niveata (Friese, 1908) and Melectoides bellus (Jorgensen, 1912). No strictly specialist bee was observed. Some aspects of bee-flowers associations and distribution patterns are discussed.