Structural features of the epididymal region of the domestic duck (Anas plathyrynchos)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Two new feather mite species (Acari, Pteronyssidae) from the white-barred piculet, Picumnus cirratus (Ayes, Piciformes)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A NEW SPECIES of THE FEATHER MITE GENUS COTINGODECTES and A NEW GENUS of PTERODECTINAE (ASTIGMATA: PROCTOPHYLLODIDAE)

In this paper a second species of the feather mite genus Cotingodectes Valim and Hernandes, C. breviphallus n. sp., is described from Rupicola rupicola (Passeriformes, Cotingidae) in Brazil. A new genus, Berladectes, is erected to accommodate Dolichodectes neotropicus Hernandes and Valim.

Feather mites of Brazil (Acari: Astigmata: Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea)

We present a checklist of feather mites known from native birds in Brazil. The list was compiled from a survey of Brazilian records published in indexing databases (e.g. Zoological Records) and from the available literature. To date, 185 nominal species representing 21 families have been recorded from Brazilian birds. Associations with 15 bird orders were found: Anseriformes, Apodiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Ciconiiformes, Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Opisthocomiformes, Passeriformes, Piciformes, Psittaciformes, Tinamiformes and Trogoniformes. These birds sum to 218 species, which represent only 12.4% of all bird species occurring in Brazil. The feather mite fauna of several species-rich and important bird orders in Brazil remain unexplored, including Cathartiformes, Charadriiformes, Coraciiformes, Galbuliformes and Strigiformes. We estimate that between 900 and 5300 feather mite species are expected to occur on Brazilian birds, which is at least five times greater than current records. The training of researchers with expertise in the taxonomy of this group of mites should be stimulated so that there is a compatible number of taxonomists to discover and describe the almost unexplored feather mite fauna in Brazil.

Two new genera and five new species of the feather mite subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Astigmata : Proctophyllodidae) from suboscine birds in Brazil

Two new genera and five new species of feather mites of the family Proctophyllodidae are described from passerine birds from Brazil: Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n. from Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae); Atrichophyllodes delalandi gen. n., sp. n. from Corythopis delalandi (Tyrannidae); A. mentalis gen. n., sp. n. from Dysithamnus mentalis (Thamnophilidae); Anisophyllodes candango sp. n. from Elaenia chiriquensis (Tyrannidae); and Platyacarus sittasomi sp. n. from Sittasomus griseicapillus (Dendrocolaptidae). The discovery of these taxa might give data for a better understanding of the evolution of the family Proctophyllodidae in general and the dispersion of these mites on passerines in South America in paricular.

AN INEXPENSIVE METHOD FOR CHROMOSOME PREPARATIONS FROM FEATHER PULP IN BIRDS, USING SHORT-TERM TREATMENT WITH COLCHICINE IN-VITRO, DEMONSTRATED ON AMAZONA-AMAZONICA (PSITTACIDAE)

In order to develop an efficient and low-cost technique for obtaining bird chromosome preparations, and to adapt the cytogenetic process of bird sexing for general use at zoos and breeding farms with the technical support of cytogenetics laboratories, we tested variants of the technique described by Giannoni et al. (Genet. Sel. Evol. 23: 123-125, 1991), based on the utilization of cellular material from growing feather pulp cultured in complete medium for six hours. Hanks' saline solution gave satisfactory performance as a substitute for complete medium, with no need to use PHA, serum of collagenase, when utilized in material obtained from feather pulp of Amazona amazonica (Psittacidae).

Ultrastructure of the Spermatozoa of the Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos sp.)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructural characteristics of spermiogenesis in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

In this present study was observed that the spermatids underwent morphological differentiation and modifications, which primarily comprised nuclear elongation, during the process of spermiogenesis in the domestic duck. The acrosome was formed and the flagellum developed concomitantly with nuclear modifications. Thus, various modifications could be observed during this process, especially changes in the distribution of cytoplasmic organelles. Long cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum present in the spermatid cytoplasm dissociated into vesicles and the distal centriole initiated the development of the flagellum in the cellular portion opposite to the acrosome. The ultrastructure of the spermatids of the domestic duck did not show the characteristic development of pre-acrosomal granules, but the acrosomal granule could be directly visualized in this species. © 2005 Blackwell Verlag.

Two new species of the feather mite subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazil

We describe two new pterodectine feather mites (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazilian passerines (Passeriformes): Pterodectes amaurochalinus sp. n., from Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis (Turdidae), and Dolichodectes neotropicus sp. n., collected from Elaenia chiriquensis Lawrence (Tyrannidae). A key to species of the genus Dolichodectes is presented. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

A systematic review of feather mites of the pterodectes generic complex (acari: Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) with redescriptions of species described by vladimír cerný

Five species of feather mites originally described in the genus Pterodectes by Vladimir černý (1974) are redescribed: Pterodectes havliki, P. maculatus , P. reticulatus, P. storkani, P. thraupicola and P. troglodytis. The formerly unknown males of P. thraupicola and P. reticulatus and the female of P. maculatus are described for the first time. A synopsis of known species of the Pterodectes generic complex is presented, and species content of the genus Pterodectes is revised. Fifteen species previously included in this genus are transferred to the new genus Amerodectes gen. n.: Amerodectes atyeoi (OConnor et al., 2005) comb. n., A. bilineatus (Berla, 1958) comb. n., A. geothlypis (Berla, 1973) comb. n., A. gracilis (Trouessart, 1885) comb. n., A. maculatus comb. n., A. molothrus (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. nordestensis (Berla, 1958) comb. n., A. paroariae (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. pitangi (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. tangarae (Mironov, 2008) comb. n., A. turdinus (Berla, 1959) comb. n., A. sialiarum (Stoll, 1893) comb. n., A. storkani (černý, 1974) comb. n., A. thraupicola (cčerný, 1974) comb. n., and A. troglodytis (černý, 1974) comb. n. Five species are transferred to the genus Tyrannidectes Mironov, 2008: Tyrannidectes amaurochalinus (Hernandes et Valim, 2006) comb. n., T. banksi (Valim et Hernandes, 2008) comb. n., T. crassus (Trouessart, 1885) comb. n., T. fissuratus (Hernandes et Valim, 2005) comb. n., and T. reticulatus (Cerný, 1974) comb. n.; and one species is moved to the genus Metapterodectes Mironov, 2008: Metapterodectes muticus (Banks, 1909) comb. n. The genus Pterodectes remains monotypic, with the type species P. rutilus Robin, 1877. © Acarina 2010.

Two new feather mite species (Acari, pteronyssidae) from the white-barred piculet, picumnus cirratus (Aves, piciformes)

Two new species of the feather mite family Pteronyssidae Oudemans, 1941 are described from the white-barred piculet, Picumnus cirratus Temminck from Brazil: Pterotrogus picumni sp. n. and Ramphastobius scutatus sp. n., representing the first mites described from this host. Pterotrogus picumni sp. n. can be readily distinguished from all previous species of the simplex group by having dorsal crest on femora I and II in both sexes. This is the first representative of the genus Pterotrogus Gaud, 1981 recorded on a host of the genus Picumnus Temminck. Ramphastobius scutatus sp. n. is unique among species of the genus by having in both sexes the prodorsal and scapular shields fused into a single propodonotal shield covering all prodorsum. An updated key to known species of the genus Ramphastobius Gaud, 1981 is presented. © Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre ASCR.

The feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) of the Violet-capped Woodnymph, Thalurania glaucopis (Gmelin) (Aves, Trochilidae), with descriptions of three new species

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Three new proctophyllodine feather mites (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines in Brazil (Aves: Passeriformes)

Three new species of the feather mite subfamily Proctophyllodinae are described from passerines in Brazil: Nycteridocaulus guaratubensis sp. nov. from Phylloscartes kronei (Rhynchocyclidae), Mimicalges neopelmae sp. nov. from Neopelma pallescens (Pipridae) and Atrichophyllodes leucopterus sp. nov. from Pyriglena leucoptera (Thamnophilidae). The females of Mimicalges are described for the first time. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:88E17B8B-CBFD-4B05-94B9-23FFCC34910. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

A new genus and species of pterodectine feather mite (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from Tod-Tyrants in Brazil (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae)

A new genus and species of feather mite, Hemitriccodectes furcatus gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from passerines of the genus Hemitriccus from Brazil: Hemitriccus furcatus, H. margaritaceiventer and H. striaticollis (Tyrannidae). The new genus belongs to the Pterodectes generic complex and most clearly differs from previously established genera of this complex by the following combination of features: trochanteral setae sRIII are present, and solenidia σ are absent from genua III. The new genus also lacks dorsal hysteroromal setae c1. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.