Plumage variability and taxonomy of the Capped Seedeater Sporophila bouvreuil (Aves: Passeriformes: Emberizidae)

The species Sporophila bouvreuil comprises four subspecies: S. b. bouvreuil, S. b. pileata, S. b. saturata and S. b. crypta. The males of each subspecies differ in plumage whereas the females and juveniles are very similar and difficult to identify to subspecies. Here we use external morphological characters, mostly plumage, to examine the validity of the subspecies. A total of 209 specimens was examined (131 S. b. bouvreuil, 29 S. b. crypta, 43 S. b. pileata and 6 S. b. saturata). Although morphological measurements did not separate any taxa, plumage patterns support recognition of two taxonomic units, one of birds having reddish brown male plumage and the other of birds with grayish to white male plumage. Discrete diagnostic characters and sympatry in SE Brazil allow separation of Sporophila pileata (Sclater 1864) from S. bouvreuil (Muller 1776). On the other hand, S. b. saturata Hellmayr 1904 and S. b. crypta Sick 1968 should be considered synonyms of S. bouvreuil.

Taxonomy of ""Mouse-colored Tapaculos"". I. On the application of the name Malacorhynchus speluncae Menetries, 1835 (Aves: Passeriformes: Rhinocryptidae)

The type specimen of Malacorhynchus speluncae was described and illustrated as being ""mouse gray with a bluish luster"" on the upperparts and as having a ""lighter color on the lower side of the body"" which ""becomes whitish towards the middle of the throat and breast"". It represents a taxon presently placed in the genus Scytalopus. Since 1907, the name Scytalopus speluncae has been attributed to the predominantly dark-gray species from the southeastern coastal Brazilian mountains. Recently, it was suggested that the name S. speluncae should be applied to a species that is light-gray with whitish belly and extensive barring on the flanks and that occurs predominantly in the Espinhaco Range, Minas Gerais state, to the west of the range of the dark-gray taxon. As a consequence, the dark-gray species, presumably without any available name, was described as a new species, S. notorius. However, on the basis of a critical analysis of the available information on the type specimen of S. speluncae, including the original description and illustration (Menetries 1835), and our examination of large series of museum specimens, we demonstrate that the type of S. speluncae falls within the known plumage variation of the dark-gray species and that it does not show the diagnostic characters of the light-gray form. Thus, we propose that the name S. speluncae be applied only to the dark-gray species. Consequently, S. notorius must be regarded a junior-synonym of S. speluncae. Because of problems related to the exact collecting sites of Menetries, and taking into consideration the distribution of the dark-gray species, we suggest ""Serra dos Orgaos"", in Rio de Janeiro state, as the type-locality of S. speluncae.

Are biological species and higher-ranking categories real? Fish folk taxonomy on Brazil`s Atlantic Forest coast and in the Amazon

Analysis of Brazilian fishers` classifications of 24 marine (Atlantic coast) and 24 freshwater (Amazon) fish species reveals that fishers from the Atlantic coast identify fish mainly through generic names (primary lexemes), while riverine Amazonian fishers typically identify them through binomials. The similarity of Amazonian fish species seems to contribute to the detailed folk taxonomy used by riverine fishers. High-ranking groups called ""relatives"" or ""cousins"" are sorted by fishers in terms of similarities of habitat, diet, and morphology and, secondarily, behavior. The general correspondence between the folk and scientific taxonomies reinforces the reality of both the supracategories used by these fishers and the biological groups as discontinuities in nature. Given the urgency of biological inventories and the lack of knowledge of high-biodiversity environments such as the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon, these results suggest that fisher knowledge and experience could contribute to scientific research.

TAXONOMY OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN DWARF BOAS OF THE GENUS TROPIDOPHIS BIBRON, 1840, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES FROM THE ATLANTIC FOREST (SERPENTES: TROPIDOPHIIDAE)

A taxonomic study on the South American dwarf boas of the genus Tropidophis revealed the existence of two new species in the Atlantic Forest bionic. As a result, we recognize five mainland species, three in the Atlantic Forest and two in northwestern South America. Based on general distribution and morphological orientation, the type locality of T. paucisquamis is restricted to Estacao Biologica de Boraceia (EBB), municipality of Salesopolis, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil; furthermore, a lectotype for T. taczanowskyi is designated. We provide data on the hemipenial morphology of two South American Tropidophis, showing that the quadrifurcate condition described for West Indian taxa also occurs in mainland congeners. The distributions of the three Atlantic Forest species are congruent with patterns of diversification of other vertebrate taxa associated with cold climates prevalent at high elevations. Refugial isolation and riverine barriers may account for such speciation events.

Comparative neurocranial morphology of angelsharks from the south-western Atlantic Ocean (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii, Squatinidae): implications for taxonomy and phylogeny

Neurocrania of three species of angelsharks from the south-western Atlantic Ocean, occurring off south-eastern and southern Brazil, are described. A detailed morphological description is provided of the neurocranium of Squatina guggenheim and compared with S. argentina and S. occulta. Despite being generally conservative, the neurocranium of Squatina presents significant differences among these species which aid in their identification, which is otherwise problematical. The main distinctions were found in rostral projections, anterior fontanellae, supraorbital crests, upper and lower postorbital processes, otic capsules, suborbital crests, and pterotic processes. Squatina guggenheim and S. occulta share more neurocranial characters when compared to S. argentina. No basal angle was found, but we confirm the presence of a very much reduced and barely noticeable basioccipital fovea in Squatina; systematic implications within elasmobranchs of these and other features are discussed.

Modelling shared attention through relational reinforcement learning

Shared attention is a type of communication very important among human beings. It is sometimes reserved for the more complex form of communication being constituted by a sequence of four steps: mutual gaze, gaze following, imperative pointing and declarative pointing. Some approaches have been proposed in Human-Robot Interaction area to solve part of shared attention process, that is, the most of works proposed try to solve the first two steps. Models based on temporal difference, neural networks, probabilistic and reinforcement learning are methods used in several works. In this article, we are presenting a robotic architecture that provides a robot or agent, the capacity of learning mutual gaze, gaze following and declarative pointing using a robotic head interacting with a caregiver. Three learning methods have been incorporated to this architecture and a comparison of their performance has been done to find the most adequate to be used in real experiment. The learning capabilities of this architecture have been analyzed by observing the robot interacting with the human in a controlled environment. The experimental results show that the robotic head is able to produce appropriate behavior and to learn from sociable interaction.

Taxonomy, Hemipenial Morphology, and Natural History of Two Poorly Known Species of Anadia (Gymnophthalmidae) from Northern South America

Anadia pariaensis Rivas, La Marca, and Oliveros, 1999, and Anadia steyeri Nieden, 1914, are two particularly rare and poorly known lizards described from single specimens. In the case of A. pariaensis, it remains known from the holotype, whereas A. steyeri is known from three additional specimens reported in the literature after the original description of the species. A single new specimen of A. pariaensis and five of A. steyeri, including the first adult males recorded for both species, make possible a more representative description of both species, including descriptions of the hemipenes. Despite both species presenting some similar morphological characteristics, the examination of the hemipenial morphology revealed very different organs. The hemipenis of A. steyeri presents some characteristics that resemble the organs of two species from the Santa Marta Mountain Range in the "bitaeniata-group" (Anadia pulchella and Anadia altaserrania). On the other hand, the hemipenes of A. pariaensis are unique morphologically and cannot be associated with the hemipenes known from other species in the genus. We describe variation within both species, and we comment on possible sexual dimorphism (number and arrangement of the femoral pores), natural history, and the known geographic distribution of the species. We also comment on Anadia bumanguesa Rueda-Almonacid and Caicedo 2004 based on a new specimen, the second known. This species may be a synonym of A. steyeri.

New species of Pseudanos Winterbottom, 1980 (Characiformes: Anostomidae), with notes on the taxonomy of P. gracilis and P. trimaculatus

A new species of Pseudanos (Characiformes, Anostomidae) is described from the Rio Negro in Brazil, and the Rio Casiquiare and Rio Atabapo, in Venezuela. Specimens of the new species were previously mistakenly identified as Pseudanos gracilis. The new species is diagnosed by having three branchiostegal rays (vs. four in P. gracilis and most specimens of P. winterbottomi), dark transversal bars on dorsum absent (vs. present in P. trimaculatus), dark spots present on the center of each body scale, forming conspicuous, straight dark lines (vs. dark spots absent in P. gracilis and in some specimens of P. trimaculatus), four midlateral dark blotches on body (vs. usually two, sometimes three or four in P. trimaculatus, or body lacking midlateral blotches and presenting instead a broad midlateral stripe in P. winterbottomi), angle of dorsal and ventralmost radii of body scales between 40 degrees and 90 degrees (vs. angle between 110 degrees and 180 degrees in P. gracilis and P. trimaculatus), and cranial fontanel opened along its entire length (vs. cranial fontanel partially closed in P. trimaculatus). Type specimens and extensive additional material of Pseudanos gracilis and P. trimaculatus were examined and comments on the taxonomy of both species are provided. Pseudanos irinae is herein considered a junior synonym of P. trimaculatus. In addition, an updated key to identification of valid species of Pseudanos is presented.

MR-Radix: a multi-relational data mining algorithm

Abstract Background Once multi-relational approach has emerged as an alternative for analyzing structured data such as relational databases, since they allow applying data mining in multiple tables directly, thus avoiding expensive joining operations and semantic losses, this work proposes an algorithm with multi-relational approach. Methods Aiming to compare traditional approach performance and multi-relational for mining association rules, this paper discusses an empirical study between PatriciaMine - an traditional algorithm - and its corresponding multi-relational proposed, MR-Radix. Results This work showed advantages of the multi-relational approach in performance over several tables, which avoids the high cost for joining operations from multiple tables and semantic losses. The performance provided by the algorithm MR-Radix shows faster than PatriciaMine, despite handling complex multi-relational patterns. The utilized memory indicates a more conservative growth curve for MR-Radix than PatriciaMine, which shows the increase in demand of frequent items in MR-Radix does not result in a significant growth of utilized memory like in PatriciaMine. Conclusion The comparative study between PatriciaMine and MR-Radix confirmed efficacy of the multi-relational approach in data mining process both in terms of execution time and in relation to memory usage. Besides that, the multi-relational proposed algorithm, unlike other algorithms of this approach, is efficient for use in large relational databases.

Microfossils in micrites from Serra da Bodoquena (MS), Brazil: taxonomy and paleoenvironmental implications

Microfossils present in Quaternary micrites from Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, are here described for the first time. The studied taxa are: a) ostracods: Candona sp., Candonopsis sp., Cyclocypris sp., Cypria sp., Cypridopsis sp., Notodromas sp., Ilyocypris sp., Cyprideis sp., Wolburgiopsis cf. chinamuertensis (Musacchio 1970), Darwinula sp. and 5 morphotypes; b) microgastropod Acrobis sp., and c) Characeae remains and gyrogonites Chara sp.. The presence of these microfossils suggests clear-water shallow lacustrine paleoenvironments and the presence of aquatic vegetation. Similarities between microfossils and the living taxa suggest possible Holocene ages for these deposits, which is in accordance with previous C14 dates.

Molecular phylogeny, morphology and their implications for the taxonomy of Eriocaulaceae

The pantropical family Eriocaulaceae includes ten genera and c. 1,400 species, with diversity concentrated in the New World. The last complete revision of the family was published more than 100 years ago, and until recently the generic and infrageneric relationships were poorly resolved. However, a multi-disciplinary approach over the last 30 years, using morphological and anatomical characters, has been supplemented with additional data from palynology, chemistry, embryology, population genetics, cytology and, more recently, molecular phylogenetic studies. This led to a reassessment of phylogenetic relationships within the family. In this paper we present new data for the ITS and trnL-F regions, analysed separately and in combination, using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The data confirm previous results, and show that many characters traditionally used for differentiating and circumscribing the genera within the family are homoplasious. A new generic key with characters from various sources and reflecting the current taxonomic changes is presented.

Cradoscrupocellaria, a new bryozoan genus for Scrupocellaria bertholletii (Audouin) and related species (Cheilostomata, Candidae): taxonomy, biodiversity and distribution

A new genus, Cradoscrupocellaria n. gen., is erected for Scrupocellaria bertholletii Audouin, 1826), reported as widespread in tropical and subtropical waters. Here we select a neotype of this species in order to establish its identity and distinguish it from morphologically similar species. We include redescriptions and figures of additional species now assigned to this new genus: Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis (Fransen, 1986) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria hirsuta (Jullien & Calvet, 1903) n. comb., and Cradoscrupocellaria macrorhyncha (Gautier, 1962) n. comb. Five additional species are assigned to the genus: Cradoscrupocellaria ellisi (Vieira & Spencer Jones, 2012) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria nanshaensis (Liu, 1991) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria reptans (Linnaeus, 1758) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria serrata (Waters, 1909) n. comb., and Cradoscrupocellaria tenuirostris (Osburn, 1950) n. comb. Eighteen new species are described: Cradoscrupocellaria aegyptiana n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria arisaigensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria atlantica n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria calypso n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria floridana n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria galapagensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria gautieri n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria gorgonensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria hastingsae n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria insularis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria jamaicensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria lagaaiji n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria macrorhynchoides n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria makua n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria marcusorum n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria normani n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria odonoghuei n. sp., and Cradoscrupocellaria osburni n. sp.