RCAAP Repository

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.

Osteologic collections are used as an aid to scientific and teaching activities, to provide information on specific vertebrate characteristics, such as body support, posture, mode of locomotion, feeding habits and ecological niche. Known techniques for cleaning entire skeletons or mammalian skulls vary according to the destination of the material, the objective of the study, the taxonomic group, and the size of the specimen. The objective of this study was to test three different methods of maceration for cleaning bat skulls (traditional biological maceration, controlled biological maceration using Dermestes maculatus and controlled biological maceration using necrophagous fly larvae). The methods were carried out during five consecutive months, and the minimum and maximum times taken by each method were recorded and documented. Cleaning by fly larvae was the least costly method; the whole process was carried out during the preparation of the osteologic material. The flies ovulated directly on the pieces and the time spent was relatively short. Cleaning by dermestid larvae also resulted in clean parts in a short period, however, its culture needs specific maintenance conditions, since the size of the colony oscillates according to environmental temperature.

Malformations in animals have long been known. In gastropod, natural and induced malformations are mentioned in different systems and in ocular tentacles, mainly linked to cases of parasitism and exposure to pollutants (molluscicides and chemicals). In this study we present a new malformation not documented in the ocular tentacles of slug Deroceras reticulatum that could be due to the action of pesticides. This malformation in D. reticulatum is the first malformation to be mentioned for South America in nursery gardens.

As espécies Neotropicais de Curtonotidae são atualizadas e catalogadas. Um total de 33 nomes específicos é listado, incluindo dois táxons fósseis e um nomem dubium. Nomes válidos e inválidos e sinônimos são apresentados, totalizando 45 nomes. Referências bibliográficas são dadas para todas as espécies listadas, incluindo informações sobre o nome, autor, ano de publicação, número de página, espécie-tipo e localidade-tipo. Lectótipo e paralectótipos são designados para Curtonotum punctithorax (Fischer, 1933).

Based on material recently collected in Peru (Loreto department) the female of Poeciloxestia plagiata (Waterhouse, 1880), and the male of Iuati spinithorax Martins & Galileo, 2010 are described and figured for the first time. Both species are recorded for the first time from Peru.

Belostomatidae is a family of giant water bugs with 52 valid species in Brazil. Here, we list 33 valid species housed in the Invertebrates Collection of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Manaus, Brazil. Of the total species examined, 26 had their distributional ranges increased (new records provided in parentheses): Belostoma amazonum Estévez & Polhemus (Mato Grosso and Roraima); B. aurivillianum (Montandon) (Rondônia); B. bosqi De Carlo (Maranhão); B. candidulum Montandon (Mato Grosso do Sul); B. carajaensis Ribeiro & Estévez (Amazonas); B. dallasi De Carlo (Bahia and Pará); B. dentatum (Mayr) (Roraima); B. denticolle Montandon (Roraima); B. dilatatum (Dufour) (Maranhão); B. discretum Montandon (Rio Grande do Sul); B. elongatum Montandon (Paraná); B. estevezae Ribeiro & Alecrim (Amazonas); B. fittkaui De Carlo (Roraima); B. gestroi Montandon (Pará); B. guianae Lauck (Brazil, in Roraima); B. micantulum (Stål) (Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia and Roraima); B. minusculum (Uhler) (Brazil, in Amazonas, Pará and Rio Grande do Norte); B. parvum Estévez & Polhemus (Amazonas and Roraima); B. plebejum (Stål) (Roraima); B. pygmeum (Dufour) (Pará); B. ribeiroi De Carlo (Mato Grosso do Sul); B. stollii (Amyot & Serville) (Roraima); Horvathinia pelocoroides Montandon (Rondônia); Lethocerus annulipes (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Maranhão, Paraíba and Paraná); L. delpontei De Carlo (Amazonas and Pará) and L. maximus De Carlo (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas and Roraima). In addition, we provide a list of type and non-type specimens of Belostomatidae from INPA’s collection identified to the species level, photographs of these species and relevant taxonomic notes, when available.

Two new species of Novantinoe from Mexico, N. oaxaquena and N. fabiolae; and two new species of Eurysthea, E. nogueirai, from Mexico, and E. nakagomei from Colombia are described. Furthermore, geographical distributions of three species are expanded.