Allometry of the secondary sexual characters of the shore crab Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850) (Brachyura, Grapsidae)

The allometric growth of secondary sexual characters in Pachygrapsus transversus is investigated from the 2(nd) crab stage onward. Clear sexual dimorphism is restricted to abdominal morphology, but ANCOVA analyses showed that chelae become larger in males and the carapace becomes wider in females. Size at the puberty moult in both sexes was estimated using Somerton's computer techniques. Mature II analyses applied to bi-log gonopod length vs, carapace length relationships indicated a puberty moult at 5.0 mm in males.In females, Mature I analyses detected the overlapping growth phase lines in bi-log carapace length vs. abdomen width scatterplots. Fitting the logistic equation provided an estimate of 50% maturity at 5.5 mm. The regression lines separate young and resting individuals from the potentially reproductive females, but they do not separate young from adult crabs. Year-round monthly samples showed that the proportion of small adult-like females is higher during the breeding season. After breeding, females may moult to a young-like morphotype, as observed in controlled laboratory conditions. Moulting to a resting condition splits smaller mature females into different growth phase lines. Therefore, estimates of female size at sexual maturity by means of abdomen allometric growth analyses are inadequate in this species.

Morphometry and sexual maturity of the tropical hermit crab Calcinus tibicen (Crustacea, Anomura) from Brazil

Ontogenetic changes in relative growth were studied in the hermit crab Calcinus tibicen in order to determine its growth phases with sexual maturity. Specimens were collected at 2-month intervals for two consecutive years. A total of 570 individuals was collected and analysed. Total mean animal size in terms of shield length was 5.14±1.23mm for males, 4.23±0.79mm for females and 4.53±0.60mm for ovigerous females. Sexual dimorphism in chela dimensions was stronger in males than in females. Differences between males and females were found in left propodus length (LPL) and height (LPH) versus shield length (SL) and wet weight (WW) versus SL relationships. Males showed a high positive allometry, while juveniles and adult females were isometric for the LPL/SL relationship. Negative allometry was observed in adult females in the LPL/SL relationship. The size at which a differentiation occurred in the growth of the chelipeds and in the weight gain of males and females was between 3.0 and 3.2mm SL, suggesting that sexual maturity occurs in small-sized individuals in the life cycle of C. tibicen.

Pelvimetria em macacos-da-noite (Aotus azarai infulatus - KUHL, 1820)

Related data to the diameters of the pelvis from 72 Aotus azarai infulatus, owl monkeys, 42 adult males and 30 adult non-pregnant females, were obtained in vivo by ventrodorsal projection radiographic exams, correlated with sex, the measures of the body and their origin. The mean values of the body length (30.94 cm), tail length (35.63 cm), thoracic perimeter (18.97 cm), hip perimeter (17.11 cm) and the weight (0.96 Kg) were verified. The radiographic images were digitalized and measured, and the mean values were 1.41 cm for the superior biiliac diameter; 1.58 cm for the inferior biiliac diameter; 1.97 cm for the medium biiliac diameter; 2.64 cm for the right diagonal diameter; 2.66 cm for the left diagonal diameter; 2.48 cm for the sacrum-pubic diameter; 3.85 cm 2 for the inlet pelvic area. In conclusion, the pelvis from males and females Aotus azarai infulatus can be classified as dolicopelvic and there is pelvic sexual dimorphism in adult owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus).

Relative growth, sexual maturity, and breeding season of three species of the genus Persephona (Decapoda: Brachyura: Leucosiidae): A comparative study

The relative growths of Persephona lichtensteinii, P. mediterranea, and P. punctata were investigated on the south-eastern Brazilian coast, focusing on differences in the growth rates between immature and mature phases, the onset of morphological sexual maturity, and the breeding seasons of these species. Crabs were collected every two months from January 1991 through to November 1992, from a shrimp fishing boat equipped with two otter-trawl nets. Significant differences in the patterns of body growth were observed between immature and mature phases of all three species. Changes in the growth rates of the chelipeds (males) and abdomen (females) observed for P. lichtensteinii, P. mediterranea, and P. punctata, seem to be related to the puberty moult for both sexes. Males of P. mediterranea and P. punctata reached larger mean sizes of carapace width than females, whereas no difference was recorded for P. lichtensteinii. The body size at which 50% of males attained sexual maturity was also larger in P. mediterranea and P. punctata, and smaller in P. lichtensteinii. The absence of a pronounced sexual dimorphism and the size at the onset of sexual maturity observed only for P. lichtensteinii might be explained by distinct reproductive strategies of males. The presence of ovigerous females during the entire sampling period suggests that all three species have a continuous reproduction pattern at the Ubatuba region. Future studies on the population structure, functional maturity, and mating system should improve the understanding of factors driving the biology and ecology of these species at a subtropical region. © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013.

História natural das serpentes dos gêneros Echinanthera e Taeniophallus (Echinantherini)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ecomorfologia e uso de recursos das espécies de Chironius (Serpentes, Colubridae) na Serra do Mar

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

Efeitos da castração e androgenização neonatal sobre o dimorfismo sexual esquelético e secreção de leptina e corticosterona em ratos

Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - FOA

Efeitos a longo-prazo do tratamento neonatal com glutamato-monossódico no dimorfismo sexual esquelético e secreção de leptina e corticosterona

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do testículo e da cauda do epidídimo de carneiros na pré-puberdade, na maturidade sexual, no criptorquidismo e na insulação escrotal: concentrações de testosterona plasmática e tecidual, histamina, fator de necrose tumoral-alfa e óxido nítrico

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Linear Versus Geometric Morphometric Approaches for the Analysis of Head Shape Dimorphism in Lizards

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dimorfismo sexual em Dasypops schirchi (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1924): aspectos morfológicos

Amphibians exhibit great morphological plasticity of habitat and life history. This heterogeneity contributes to the frequency of occurrence and diversity of sexual dimorphism (shape or size) is large. Dasypops schirchi is a species belonging to the subfamily and family Gastrophryninae Microhylidae and this endemic and endangered. Generally, very little is known about D. schirchi, much in part to its habit of living and cryptic small geographical distribution. In order to detect and characterize elements sexually dimorphic in this species was a survey of specimens of D. schirchi in major national zoological collections. We analyzed 16 morphometric variables were also searched and secondary sexual characters non-morphometric. Statistical analysis of the morphometric data, the results showed a clear distinction between males and females of D. schirchi, secondary sexual characters nonmorphometric were also found

Efeito da inibição dos receptores canabinóides CB₁ ou CB₂ durante o período neonatal sobre o dimorfismo sexual esquelético ao longo do desenvolvimento

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos da timectomia neonatal sobre o dimorfismo sexual esquelético e concentração plasmática de leptina em ratos

Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - FOA