RCAAP Repository

New records for Helicina schereri Baker, 1913, are reported. It was a species previously restricted to the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Alagoas and Tocantins in Northeastern Brazil, and State of Santa Catarina, much further south. The new occurrences reported herein fill distribution gaps and also significantly expand the range of the species ca. 970 km westwards. The new records are from the following locations: Bahia State (Ituaçu and Itaquara municipalities) in Northeast Brazil; Mato Grosso do Sul State (Bonito Municipality) in the Midwest; and Minas Gerais (Lagoa Santa municipality) in the Southeast.

Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG), situated at Brazilian state of Pará, houses the third largest South-American mammal scientific collection, being a primary source of information for the study of Amazonian and Neotropical mammalians. The collection holds 245 felid specimens, comprising 210 skulls, 53 skins, 10 skeletons, and two anatomical pieces, representing 90% of wild Brazilian cat species, mainly from localities of Northern Brazil. We presented a list of this material, indexed by the genera and species. We also provided craniodental measurements of all the specimens with skull, and comment on the conservation status of the species and other remarkable data, including the first record of Leopardus tigrinus in the Brazilian state of Rondônia.

The Cerrado is the second largest Brazilian biome and only 2.8% is represented by protected areas. Considering the relevance of the Cerrado and Conservation Units in preserving the mammalian diversity, we provided the first assessment of the diversity of medium- and large-sized mammal species in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (CVNP) and surroundings. We tested the effectiveness of the CVNP by assessing the difference in species composition within the park and its surroundings. We sampled CVNP in the rainy (October-December 2013) and dry seasons (March-June 2014) in order to characterize the seasonality within the community. We selected 36 sampling sites to evaluate the composition of the medium and large mammals in the CVNP and its surroundings, 18 in the CVNP and 18 in the park surroundings. We ordered mammalian composition and frequency of individuals data by using a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling analysis (NMDS). We assessed the effect of season (dry and rainy seasons) and locality (within the CVNP and surroundings) on mammalian species richness with a two-way analysis of variance (Two-way ANOVA). We recorded 23 species, 13 within the CVNP and 17 species in its surroundings. Composition and frequency of records differed between dry and rainy seasons, with higher richness in the rainy season. Species’ composition and the frequency of records were also different between within the CVNP and its surroundings, with higher richness in the surroundings. These results provide information for the increase of the knowledge of mammalian ecology but also is useful as a tool for future strategies to the conservation of these species. More attention should be given to the monitoring of these species in the long term because this area still harbor some viable populations.

Six new species of the genus Desmopachria Babington, 1841 are described and illustrated from Brazil: D. anauine sp. nov., D. carranca sp. nov., D. francischettii sp. nov., D. nigrasphera sp. nov., D. nigricoxa sp. nov. and D. yanomami sp. nov. Desmopachria varians is redescribed and illustrated from syntypes photos and material identified by Dr. Frank Young. New records for eight other species from Brazilian states are presented here: D. amyae Miller, 2001 has a new record from Minas Gerais State, D. grammosticta Braga & Ferreira‑Jr., 2015 have new records from Minas Gerais and São Paulo States, D. granoides Young, 1986 has a new record from Espirito Santo State, D. laevis Sharp, 1882 have new records from Espírito Santo and Parana States, D. leptophallica Braga & Ferreira‑Jr., 2014 has a new record from Paraná State, D. sioli Young, 1980 has a new record from Minas Gerais State, D. striola Sharp, 1887 have new records from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo States and D. volatidisca Miller, 2001 has a new record from Paraíba States and an unpublished record of D. challeti Miller, 2001 from Brazil.

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The brain gross morphology of Rhamdia quelen is described and compared with seven species of six genera of Heptapteridae. Interspecific variation in shape, size, and position of brain subdivisions was observed in all examined species. The posterior position of the hypophysis on the hypothalamus and presence of a lateral subdivision on the lobus facialis are shared by all examined heptapterids. Rhamdia quelen and Pimelodella gracilis, currently considered closely related within the family Heptapteridae, exhibit the anterior and posterior area of the telencephalon with equivalent widths, and the lateral line lobe reaching the anterior area of the lobus vagi. Members of the so called Nemuroglanis sub-clade (Cetopsorhamdia iheringi, Heptapterus mustelinus, Imparfinis mirini, and Phenacorhamdia tenebrosa) share the lobus vagi proportional smaller than the lobus facialis; the lateral line lobe reaching the half length of the lobus facialis; the tectum mesencephali in contact with the telencephalon, and thinner anterior area of the telencephalon. The results reveal several features that are phylogenetically informative among the heptapterids examined, and corroborate previous hypotheses based on other non-neural anatomical characters.

Montane and submontane forest patches in the state of Bahia, Brazil, are among the few large and preserved Atlantic Forests remnants. They are strongholds of an almost complete elevational gradient, which harbor both lowland and highland bird taxa. Despite being considered a biodiversity hotspot, few ornithologists have surveyed these forests, especially along elevational gradients. Here we compile bird records acquired from systematic surveys and random observations carried out since the 1980s in a 7,500 ha private protected area: Serra Bonita private reserve. We recorded 368 species, of which 143 are Atlantic Forest endemic taxa. Some 16 and 13 species are threatened at the global and national levels, respectively. If one accounts for subspecies, the number of Brazilian threatened taxa raises to 21. Species composition differs between lower and higher elevations, in which case lowlands harbor Amazonia-related taxa, whereas highlands are the home of Atlantic Forest-related taxa.

Pantophthalmus pictus (Wiedemann, 1821) (Diptera, Pantophthalmidae) has been reported to occur in south and southeastern Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Here we report the first occurrence of these rare flies in the Cerrado vegetation of central Brazil. We also provide an updated list of the geographical distribution of the 20 species of the genus Opetiops Enderlein, 1921 (1 species) and Pantophthalmus Thunberg, 1919 (19 species) in the Neotropical region.

Specimens of Pegantha laevis H.B. Bigelow, 1909 and Pegantha triloba Haeckel, 1879 were found in oceanic waters off the northern Brazilian coast. The former species is clearly distinct due to the thickness and shape of peripheral channels, while the latter is recognized mainly due to the exumbrellar furrows and long otoporpae. This study represents the first actual record of P. laevis inside the Brazilian Economic Exclusive zone, since previous reports were far away from the coast, and clarify the presence of P. triloba off Brazil.

The unknown female of Brasineura diamantina Silva-Neto & García Aldrete, is described and illustrated, with new records and comments on variation in the fore-hindwing venation, based on 27 females and 113 males collected in five localities in the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Thirty four types of variation and anomalies in the fore-hindwing veins were found. A revised diagnosis of B. diamantina is also presented.

The distinction of squid species in the genus Doryteuthis is not easy due to their morphological similarity, lack of conspicuous specific characters, and overlap geographical occurrence. This difficulty has leading to an almost exclusive molecular approach, and a premature neglect of the morpho-anatomy. To emphasize that the squid phenotypic features can be useful to identify, as well as to perform any comparative analyses (such as taxonomy and phylogeny), two close species were selected as outset. Doryteuthis pleii and D. sanpaulensis are common sympatric squids in Brazilian waters, commonly used in fisheries, not so difficult to distinguish by external features of the adult specimens. The samples were analyzed from biometric data to dissections, and the found most expressive characters to distinguish them are the mantle-fin ratio; morphology of the tentacle club, its ratio compared to the mantle length; hectocotylus morphology and nidamental gland morphology.

The ability of an individual to withstand random perturbations during its development is considered a good indicator of environmental and genetic stress. A common means of assessing developmental stability is through analysis of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in bilateral traits. Tortoises, with their large, solid plastron, allow for measurement of body geometry. Their bilateral shell scutes are ideal candidates for asymmetries researches. With this issue in mind we assessed, as a preliminary study, levels of plastron scute asymmetry in a sample of 46 red-footed tortoise Chelonoidis carbonaria from Arauca, N Colombia. We found significative fluctuating asymmetry (FA) but no directional asymmetry, the former not increasing with carapace size and thus indicating that tortoise shells do not become increasingly asymmetrical with age, or in other words, signaling that FA is not being influenced by pholidosis (variability of scale cover mosaic according to the development of the scutes). Asymmetry in plastron shape, although not necessarily apparent at first glance, varied, with gender with males exhibiting higher levels of FA than females. Although we can not identify the potential sources of variation responsible for the observed patterns of developmental instability, we consider this detected form of asymmetry due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

Pseudoptilolepis Snyder, 1949 (Diptera: Muscidae) is a Neotropical genus with 10 known species. The present paper describes a new species from Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI). Male and female terminalia were dissected and illustrated.

Since early 2000 years, the knowledge about the taxonomy of Aloninae (Cladocera: Chydoridae) has been in rapid progress. For this reason, the most of Brazilian fauna was affected concerning nomenclature, besides an increase in the number of known genera and species. Thus, in this study, we bring an updated species list of Aloninae in Brazil, as well as identification keys based in current nomenclature and morphological standards. Our finding pointed to the occurrence of 46 valid species, belonging to 21 genera and three groups of Alona sensu lato. Two of these genera are endemic to Brazil. So far, South-East Asia and Brazil have the most well-studied Aloninae fauna in the entire planet.

During the ontogenetic development of crustaceans, the relative growth of some structures may change, especially during the transition from juvenile to adult. This study describes the relative growth of body structures of Macrobrachium iheringi, and provides information on its population dynamics, such as structure, fecundity, and morphological sexual maturity. The sampling of M. iheringi was carried out in “Ribeirão da Hortelã”, in Botucatu (SP, Brazil). The length of the carapace (CL), abdomen (AL), and ischium (IL), merus (ML), carpus (CrL), propodus (PpL), and dactyl (DcL) of the second right pereopod were measured. In addition, the width of the second abdominal pleura (PW) and propodus height (PpH) were included in analyses. The relationships that best demonstrated the changes in the allometric coefficient were CL vs PpL in males and females. The CL, in which males and females reach morphological sexual maturity, was estimated as 13.3 mm and 11.1 mm, respectively. The sex-ratio differed from the expected 1:1 and was skewed towards females. Precipitation and temperature influenced the abundance of different demographic classes. Macrobrachium iheringi has few but large eggs, which is expected since this species has an abbreviated larval development. Based on these results, we conclude that the propodus are good indicators of the size at onset of morphological sexual maturity. In addition, important information was obtained on the biology of M. iheringi, including its life cycle pattern, reproduction and influence of abiotic factors.

The genus Coeliaria Mulsant, 1850 of the tribe Chnoodini Mulsant, 1850 is recorded for French Guiana for the first time. One new species, Coeliaria monnei Churata & Almeida sp. nov. (holotype male deposited in MNHN: Montagne des Chevaux 04°44’56”N, 52°26’28”W, 75 m, 26.IX.2015, SEAG col.) is described and illustrated. The key published anteriorly is modified to include this new species. Currently, the genus is recorded for Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and French Guiana.

Knowledge about the diet of anurans in different environments is essential to understanding important aspects of their trophic ecology. The bromeliad-frog Phyllodytes luteolus inhabits tank bromeliads in sandy coastal plains and lowland forests on the mainland, as well as a continental island in southeastern Brazil. In this work, we describe and analyze the diet of P. luteolus in three environments. We obtained the consumed prey items of 92 frogs (32 from sandy coastal plain, 32 from lowland forest and 28 from the island) via a stomach-flushing procedure. We found some variations in consumed prey composition and prey volume across populations, but ants represented the most important consumed prey in all environments. Only ants had a relative importance greater than 50%, which may suggest a specialized diet that transcends the sandy coastal plain environment.

A revision of the genus Macromalthinus resulted on recognition of twelve species, six of which are herein proposed as new: Macromalthinus belemensis Brancucci, 1981, M. brasiliensis (Pic, 1906), M. globuliventris Brancucci, 1981, M. guyanensis sp. nov., M. luteoapicalis sp. nov., M. maximiceps Pic, 1919, M. orapuensis sp. nov., M. piceiventris sp. nov., M. quadratithorax sp. nov., M. santaremensis Brancucci, 1981, M. schmidli Constantin, 2010 and M. xerophilus sp. nov. No taxonomic changes were necessary in the previously described species, which are distinguished through differential diagnosis and an updated identification key. The type specimens of all species were revisited and their photographs are provided. Discussions on the diagnostic character of each species, general morphology and the first description of wings and female genitalia of Macromalthinus are presented, as well as the first description of the female of M. maximiceps Pic, 1919. Finally, new records and distribution maps are presented for all species.

Philornis larvae and pupae were collected in nestlings of Neothraupis fasciata (Lichtenstein), the White-banded Tanager (Passeriformes, Thraupidae), in three breeding seasons, between October and November 2003‑2005 in a reserve in central Brazil. Here, we present biological data, diagnosis to the recognition of the species and a key to the segregation of species occurring in the Cerrado. The larvae were intradermic in the nestlings and the pupae were collected in the nests after the birds have abandoned them. The immatures collected were taken to the laboratory and reared under laboratory conditions, until emergence. The species identified as Philornis torquans (Nielsen), is here firstly recorded from the Brazilian Cerrado, and firstly recorded its association with N. fasciata. With this record, the number of Philornis species occurring in the Cerrado rises to three.

Three new species of Trichomyia (Brachiotrichoyia) (Trichomyiinae, Psychodidae), Trichomyia spatulata sp. nov., Trichomyia ciliata sp. nov., and Trichomyia recurva sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Additionally, we present new records of Trichomyia (Brachiotrichoyia) armata Barretto, 1954, Trichomyia (Brachiotrichoyia) quatei Bravo, 2001, Trichomyia (Brachiotrichoyia) inermis Barreto, 1954, and Trichomyia (Brachiotrichoyia) plumata Bravo & Araújo, 2013 in Brazil. An identification key for males of the subgenus was updated to include the three new species.