RCAAP Repository

The digestive system of Trichomycterus brasiliensis (Lütken, 1874), a small sized tropical Teleostean fish widely distributed in South America, was studied. Tissue samples were prepared for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Trichomycterus brasiliensis shows stratified esophagus epithelium with taste buds and goblet cells with neutral and acid mucus at the anterior region. The stomach is caecal, presenting a pyloric valve with neutral mucus cells. At the terminal portion it is surrounded by a thick muscular wall. The intestine shows two loops; the epithelium is single columnar, with acid and neutral mucus in goblet cells. Multicellular intestinal glands are absent. Granular cells are often seen in the mucosa, less in the submucosa but were not observed in the muscularis. After the intestine-rectal valve, the rectum shows lower mucosal folds, more goblet cells and a thicker muscularis. No lobes were observed at the liver. Small regions of pancreatic tissue may be identified within the hepatic tissue mainly surrounding vessels and ducts. A compact pancreas may also be observed ventrally to the stomach and covering the bile duct. The possible significance of the heterogeneous character of the digestive tube mucosubstances is discussed. The digestive system of T. brasiliensis presents structural characteristics of a predator fish.

The macroecological approach has been used recently to analyze correlations between ecological variables in large taxonomic groups, at continental scales. A positive relationship between body weight and geographic range size has been described as a poligonal space envelope form, that can be explained by ecological and evolutionary constraints. However, these variables can be disturbed by spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation effects. In this work, the relationship between body weight and geographic range size was analyzed for 80 species of Neotropical mammals present in the Brazilian "cerrado". Spatial and taxonomic effects were tested using a linear trend surface analysis and an ANOVA (at level of order), combined in a generalized model. Around 61% of variation in geographic range size and 69% of variation in body weight in mammals of the "cerrado" can be explained simultaneously by spatial and taxonomic effects. The analysis of residuals of the generalized model showed that positive correlation between variables persist even after removing these effects. Thus, variation and covariation of traits in the mammals of the brazilian "cerrado" agree with the general macroecological pattern proposed for another taxonomic groups such as mammals, birds and snakes worldwilde.

Two new species of Ablaptus Stål, 1864 are described and illustrated: A. costaricensis sp.n. and A. phoenix sp.n., both from Costa Rica. The female genitalia of A. brevirostrum Rolston, 1988 is described and key to the species of Ablaptus Stål, 1864 (only for females) is presented.

A study on the morphology of the muscular and reproductive systems of Anisancylus obliquus (Broderip & Sowerby, 1832) based on specimens from Chile is presented. Differences are observed in the number of folicules of the ovotestis and prostata when comparing them with specimens from Brazil (chilean specimens: ovotestis = 28 to 32; prostata = 3 to 5; brazilian specimens: ovotestis = 20 to 21; prostata = 6 to 8). In the muscular system, the right aductor muscle scar is often longer than in brazilian specimens. The general morphology of muscular and reproductive systems is similar to that observed to Uncancylus concentricus (d'Orbigny, 1835) and Gundlachia dutrae Santos, 1994 (V-shaped adhesive area; single right anterior muscle with elongated moon-shaped scar; ejaculatory complex with projected ejaculatory duct) and differs from G. ticaga (Marcus & Marcus, 1962), G. radiata (Guilding, 1828) and Hebetancylus moricandi (d'Orbigny, 1837) (elongated adhesive area; double right anterior muscle with rounded or oval-shaped muscle scar and ejaculatoiy complex without projected ejaculatory duct). Differences are also observed when comparing them with Ancylus fluviatilis Müller, 1774 where the right muscle scar is continuous with the posterior one, whereas A. obliquus shows three well defined muscle scars. The ejaculatory system of A. fluviatilis presents flagellum duct and ejaculatory duct opening apart into the sheath; there are penis, prepuce with muscular pillars and a muscular flagellum, whereas A. obliquus shows the flagellum duct and ejaculatory duct reaching the sheath together; there are not penis and muscular pillars on prepuce; the flagellum is glandular. These differences shows A. obliquus and others neotropical pateliforms basommatophorans are not closely related to european Ancylus.

Protothaca (Leukoma) pectorina (Lamarck, 1818) lives from the West Indies to Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in soft muddy beaches in quiet waters of protected bays with little amounts of suspended material. A study of the functional anatomy of P. pectorina and its ecological aspects were undertaken. The anatomy and functioning of the stomach and the mechanisms for selection of particles were observed. The siphons, ctenidia, labial palps and stomach were analised and related to the animal's natural environment. The siphons belong to type B (Yonge 1948), the ctenidia to type C (1a) (Atkins 1937). The ctenidia are homorhabdic (Ridewood 1903) and the stomach belongs to type V (Purchon 1960).

The skeleton of Trachemys dorbignyi (Duméril & Bibron, 1835), based on 16 specimens incluind young and adult of both sexes is described. Designations of some structures are proposed and discussed based on data from literature and norms published in the The World Association of Veterinary Anatomists (1994).

This report deals with the identification of samples of nematodes recovered from Tropidurus nanuzae Rodrigues, 1981, with the description of a new species, and is a part of a major study on helminth parasites of reptiles in Brazil, taking into account previous data on this subject. The main approach is that referring to the first occurrence of subulurid nematodes in a reptilian host, since they have been assigned previously to birds and mammals.

The systematic position of four species considered as Cyrtoneurina in Carvalho et al. (1993) - C. alifusca Couri, 1982; C. brunnea (Hough, 1900); C. pallipes Stein, 1918 and C. scutellata Johnson, 1919 are discussed. These species were originally described, respectively, in Cyrtoneurina, Muscina, Cyrtoneurina and Clinopera. The detailed analysis of the morphology, especially of the terminalia, enabled the transference of C. brunnea and C. pallipes to Cyrtoneuropsis and C. scutellata to Neomuscina, all are new combinations, and the confirmation of C. alifusca in the Cyrtoneurina. The morphology of the terminalia is described and illustrated. The lectotype of Cyrtoneuropsis pallipes (Stein, 1918) is herein proposed.

Two species of Lepeophtheirus Nordmann, 1832 parasitic on the ariid fish Netuma barba Lacépède, 1803, and the bothiid fish Paralichthys sp. from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, are redescribed and illustrated: L. bagri Dana, 1852, and L. monacanthus Heller, 1865. New junior synonyms for these species are proposed: L. marginatus syn.n., L. christianensis syn.n. and L. platensis syn.n. of L. bagri and L. unispinosus syn.n. of L. monacanthus.

A study of the population of the xanthid crab Pilumnus dasypodus Kingsley, 1879 from rocky shore at the Farol Isle (25º51'S and 48º32'W) was carried out in the following aspects: temporal and spatial distributions of density, annual fluctuation of the sex ratio, size composition of the population and reproductive activities of the species. Monthly, four leveis in relation to emmersion time within intertidal zone were sampled, from May/90 to April/91, but Pilumnus dasypodus was obtained only in the levels 2, 3 and 4. The surface water temperature ranged from 16.0ºC (July/90) to 28.0ºC (February/91). A total of 775 individuais of Pilumnus dasypodus were collected among which, 92 were ovigerous females. The population density ranged from 14.63 ind.m-3 (February/91) to 148.00 ind.m-3 (March/91). Higher densities were observed in the level 4, a local of permanent submersion. The sex ratio was 1:1 in almost all months. The carapace width varied from 1.01 to 8.28 mm for males, from 1.01 to 7.18 mm for females and 0.01 to 1.00 mm for juveniles. The fecundity ranged from 81 to 1834 eggs per female. The species has continuous reproduction with two peaks of recruiting in the year. There was a positive relationship, with weak correlation rate, between the carapace width of the ovigerous females and the number of eggs in the abdomen. The rocky shore at Farol Isle is a complex environment which harbor the decapod Pilumnus dasypodus, for breeding and surviving.

This note relates the occurrence of Evadne spinifera Müller, 1867 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The samples were obtained by vertical tows with a 200µm mesh-size conical net at different times over a four day period in September, 1995. Evadne spinifera densities was always low.

The tribes Caupolicanini, Diphaglossini and Dissoglottini, and its genera are presented. Taxonomical comments, geographical occurrences, flowers visited, type localities and depositary museums are mentioned. Genus status is given for Alayoapis Michener, 1966. The following type-specimens are designated as lectotypes: Bicornelia aterrima Friese, 1925; Bicornelia sericata Friese, 1925; Caupolicana curvipes Friese, 1898; Caupolicana fuhicollis Spinola 1851; Caupolicana interrupta Perez, 1911; Caupolicana mystica Schrottky, 1902; Caupolicana mystica baeriana Vachal, 1904; Caupolicana niveofasciata Friese, 1898; Caupolicana rufipes Friese, 1904; Caupolicana weyrauchi Moure, 1953; Megacilissa albofimbriata Cameron, 1903; Megacilissa magrettii Friese, 1899; Megacilissa olivacea Friese, 1898; Megacilissa (Ptiloglossa) tarsata Friese, 1900; Megacilissa tomentosa Friese, 1898; Ptiloglossa chalybaea Friese, 1906; Ptiloglossa cyaniventris Friese, 1925; Ptiloglossa ducalis buchwaldi Friese, 1908; Ptiloglossa eburnea Friese, 1904; Ptiloglossa goffergei Moure, 1953; Ptiloglossa obscura Friese, 1908; Ptiloglossa ochracea Friese, 1906; Ptiloglossa willinki Moure, 1953; Ptiloglossa (Megacilissa) zikani Friese, 1925 and Ptiloglossidia fallax Moure, 1953. The following ones are recognized as new synonyms: Caupolicana albicollis Smith, 1906, syn. n. Caupolicana mystica Schrottky, 1902; Caupolicana interrupta Perez, 1911, syn. n. Caupolicana adusta Friese, 1899; Caupolicana mystica baeriana Vachal, 1904, syn. n. Caupolicana lugubris Smith, 1879; Megacilissa albofimbriata Cameron, 1903, syn.n. Caupolicana niveofasciata Friese, 1898 and Megacilissa superba Smith, 1853, syn.n. Caupolicana fuhicollis Spinola, 1851. The following ones are recognized as new combinations: Alayoapis nigrescens (Cresson, 1869); Alayoapis notabilis (Smith, 1861); Alayoapis subaurata (Cresson, 1869); Foersterapis foersteri (Moure & Seabra, 1962) and Ptiloglossa tenuimarginata (Smith, 1879); and, as reinstated combinations: Bicornelia inusitata Snelling, 1980; Bicornelia longitarsis Friese, 1925; Bicornelia serrata Friese, 1899; Zikanapis clypeata (Smith, 1879); Zikanapis funeraria Moure, 1964; Zikanapis megalopta Moure, 1948; Zikanapis modesta Moure, 1964; Zikanapis seabrai Moure, 1953; Zikanapis tucumana (Moure, 1945); Zikanapis zikani (Friese, 1925) and Willinkapis chalybaea (Friese, 1906).

Neocorbicula limosa (Maton, 1811) is the only species of that South American genus that occurs in the hydrographic basins of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Seasonal quantitative collections between 1995 and 1996 in the lake Guaiba were accomplished, with the aim to know the reproductive dynamics and environmental preferences of populations of N. limosa. A substratum constituted by medium to coarse sands at an 'average depth around 2m shown to be favorable to installation of population of N. limosa. The largest population density (2.496 ind./m²) was registered in summer. Embryos at various development phases were registered inside individuals. The shell sizes of these individuals started from 8mm in length. The embryo's size could reach ¼ of the shell-mother's size, and their liberation occurs through the rupture of the gills.

Four places in Latin-America have Melipona Illiger, 1806 beekeeping: Mexico, with M. beecheii Bennet, 1831; Northeast Brasil, with M. scutellaris Latreille, 1811; Maranhão State (Brazil) with M. compressipes fasciculata Smith, 1854; Venezuela, in her coast, with M. favosa (Fabricius, 1798). Natural colonies of M. compressipes fasciculata occupied tree holes ranging from 6,5 to 24 1. The average honey production of 60 colonies in hives with capacity of 50.2 1, 41.0, 30.2, 16.5 and 6.2 were respectively 8.4, 6.5, 5.5, 3.3 and 2.0 Kg. Due to lack of bee flowers within the city limits, hives with a volume of 27 1 (30x30x30 cm) were used successfully in our future experiments with M. compressipes fasciculata instead of the ideal size of 40 to 50 liters, since the intense use of biological material did not allow the colonies to reach large sizes.

The feeding of X. kroyeri (Heller, 1862) was analyzed during the period from August/98 to July/99 using the frequency of occurrence, frequency of points and feeding index methods. The species presents a broad trophic specter and diversified, composed by 30 items: Gammaridae, organic matter, Acetes americanus, Polychaeta, Globigerina and Osteichthyes were the most explored items.

Loyolanthidium gen. n. (type species: Anthidium apicale Cresson, 1878) is proposed to accommodate the western hemisphere species hitherto placed by the authors in Anthidiellum Cockerell, 1904. Three new species are described: Loyolanthidium bolivianum sp. n. (from Bolívia), Loyolanthidium azteca sp. n. and Loyolanthidium xilitlense sp. n. (both from México). The following nomenclatural changes are introduced: Loyolanthidium apicale (Cresson, 1878) comb. n. = Anthidium albopilosum Friese, 1910 syn. n. = Anthidium auricolle Friese, 1921 syn. n.; Loyolanthidium ehrhorni (Cockerell, 1900) comb, n.; Loyolanthidium gilense (Cockerell, 1897) comb, n.; Loyolanthidium notatum (Latreille, 1809) comb, n.; Loyolanthidium perplexum (Smith, 1854) comb, n.; Loyolanthidium robertsoni (Cockerell, 1904) comb. n. and Loyolanthidium toltecum (Cresson, 1878) comb. n.

The present work is the first report of Dardanus venosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1848) in São Paulo State and extends the range of this species in the western Atlantic farther to the south in the Brazilian region. A total of twenty two males (mean shield length: 7.56 ± 1.62 mm, 4.7 to 10.9 mm), and fifteen females (7.25 ± 2.53 mm, 4.3 to 14.5 mm) were collected in 1987, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by scuba diving from three areas of Anchieta Island (23º33'S, 45º05'W) in the Ubatuba region, and south of São Sebastião Island (23º57.8'S, 45º16'W), northern coast of São Paulo State. No ovigerous females were captured during the study period. Shells of eleven gastropod species were occupied by D. venosus: Astraea latispina (Philippi, 1844), A. olfersii (Philippi, 1846), A. phoebia Roding 1798, Calliostoma bullisi Clench & Turner 1960, Chicoreus tenuivaricosus (Dautzenberg, 1927), Cymatium parthenopeum (von Salis, 1793), Olivancillaria urceus (Röding, 1798), Phalium granulation (Born, 1778), Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767), Strombus pugilis Linnaeus, 1758 and Zidona dufresnei (Donovan, 1823).

Females of Orphulella punctata (de Geer, 1794) were captured in the field and kept in cages with food and boxes filled with moist soil for oviposition. The eggs, macerated with 0,85% saline solution and centrifugated, were used as the immunizing antigen for obtention of the specific antiserum (AS-O). Rabbits were immunized by the linphonodule injection method with two injections of this antigen, with an interval of 15 days between the 1st and 2nd inoculations. Serological tests were performed using double diffusion in agar gel with homologous and heterologous antigens. Specific serological reactions were obtained 14 days after the 1st inoculation. The antiserum of the 30th day gave 5, 2-4 and 1-4 precipitation lines respectively with eggs, female and male antigen. Such differences can be attributed to the high specificity of AS-O. Positive reaction was observed with arachnids and mirmeleontids captured in the field, indicating the predation on O. punctata.

Foregut in D. hominis (Linnaeus Jr., 1781) as the majority of the larval Diptera somatic tissue, is made up of polytenic cells, and grows at the expenses of the polytenization of its nuclei followed by the increase in size of each cell. The oesophagus, of ectodermic origem, is interiorly covered by a chitinous squamous epithelium that rests upon a very thin basal lamina. This sheet is surrounded by thick muscle bundles. The oesophagus intussuscepts the midgut forming the cardia. The cardia, with three epithelial layers: two internal ones, of ectodermal origin and one external of endodermic origin. At the anterior portion of the cardia, between these two types of epithelium, there is a cluster of small, non polytenic cells, forming the imaginal disk of the foregut. Metamoiphosis begins at the end of the larval period with signs of nuclear degeneration of all the polytenic cells, as well as the increase in number of the imaginal disk ones. The oesophagic portion intussuscepted into the cardia, everts; its cells suffer apoptosis and are replaced by the new cells growing from the imaginal disk. The external layer cells also degenerate and are pinched off into the lumen of the very anterior portion of the midgut. The newly formed oesophagus intussuscepts "de novo" to form the two internal layers of the adult cardia. At the same time the midgut regenerative cells grow anteriorly to form the new external layer of the adult cardia.

Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus, 1781) midgut is internally lined by an epithelium of polytenic cells, some low others prismatic with well developed brush border. Their apical portion are enlarged by secretory vesicles, forming button-like structures that are pinched off to the lumen, some accompained by the nucleus characterizing apocrine and holocrine secretions. This epithelium is gradually renewed by small, non polytenic regenerative cells, found scattered at its basal portion. At the end of the third instar the metamorphosis begins. The epithelial cells present signs of degeneration and at the first day of pupation the regenerative cells increase in number. By the 5th day of pupation these regenerative cells, besides being increased in number, differentiate themselves into two layers: one similar to the dense conective tissue that sustainning the larval epithelium is pinched off to the midgut lumen forming the "yellow bodies"; the other, develops right under it as the imaginal epitelium. The disorganized muscles bundles of the midgut wall, are invaded by phagocytes. At the end of pupation the midgut has a low prismatic epithelium with brush-border. In the adult, the torax portion of the midgut has prismatic homogeneously basophilic epithelium while in the abdominal portion the epithelium is made of high prismatic cells full of small vacuoles. The larval midgut epithelium suffers programmed cell death non compatible with apoptose. During the metamorphosis the midgut lenght diminishes from 31mm in the larva to 14mm in the adult.