RELATIVE GROWTH OF THE SPECKLED SWIMMING CRAB ARENAEUS-CRIBRARIUS (LAMARCK, 1818) (BRACHYURA, PORTUNIDAE), NEAR UBATUBA, STATE OF SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Arenaeus cribrarius is a mainly tropical crab that occurs in the Western Atlantic Ocean, Brazil being its type-locality. The species ranges from Vinevard Sound, Massachusetts, USA to La Paloma, Uruguay. Information about this species is scarce. The relative growth of A. cribrarius was analyzed, based on some morphometric relations, where the carapace width, excluding lateral spines (CW), was used as an independent variable. A total of 403 specimens (189 males and 214 females), was collected in Ubatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, with otter-trawls. The animals were sexed and sorted to maturation phase (juvenile or adult). Some measurements were made: carapace (length and width excluding lateral spines), abdomen (greatest width of the fifth somite in females and the sixth in males) and major chela (greatest length, width and height, dactylus length). This study was made by the application of the power function (y=a.x(b)) which was fitted to the data and the pattern of growth established for each parameter by the ''b''-value (constant of allometry), as positive allometry (b>1), negative allometry (b<1) or isometry (b=1). The morphometric relations of the carapace showed a tendency to isometry. In females, the abdominal width grew in positive allometry, higher in juveniles (b=1.33) than in adults (b=1.18). In this case, an overlap and discontinuity was noticed between the phases over a carapace width range of 55 to 70 mm, where the puberty molt occurs. The majority of relationships showed that the major chela of the males grew in positive allometry, however, the greatest allometric difference between the phases was observed towards the propodus length with 1.09 as juvenile and 1.26 as adult ''b''values. In the males, this variable showed an inflection between the CW range of 45' to 55 mm, where the transition to the maturation phase occurs. The relative growth of this species is similar to those of previously studied species. This indicates, that the propodus length and the abdominal width are the morphometric variables most appropriate to estimate the size of the beginning of the sexual maturity for males and females of this species, respectively.

Aplicação da genética molecular no manejo e conservação de tubarões

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

Análisis morfométrico, merístico, filogenético y filogeográfico del caballo de mar Hippocampus reidi (Ginsburg 1933) (Teleostei: Sygnathidae) de la costa nororiental da Venezuela

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB

A família Squillidae (Crustacea : Hoplocarida : Stomatopoda) no Atlântico Sul ocidental: taxonomia e biogeografia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Taxonomia, biologia reprodutiva e dieta da Raia Borboleta, Gymnura micrura (Myliobatiformes: Elasmobranchii)

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

A test of large-scale reproductive migration in females of the amphidromous shrimp Macrobrachium acanthurus (Caridea : Palaemonidae) from south-eastern Brazil

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

Bony fishes (Teleostei) caught by small-scale fisheries off central to south coast of São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil

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

Karyotype of the invasive species Pterois volitans (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from Margarita Island, Venezuela

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

Zoeal stages and megalopa of Mithrax hispidus (Herbst, 1790) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Mithracidae): A reappraisal of larval characters from laboratory cultured material and a review of larvae of the Mithrax-Mithraculus species complex

Mithrax hispidus (Herbst, 1790) is a mithracid majoid crab occurring on sand, corals and rocks in waters of the western Atlantic. Larval development consists of two zoeal stages and a megalopa. All larval stages are described in detail based on multiple cultures. Prior to this study, larvae of M hispidus were considered to be different and grouped separately from most other larvae of Mithrax, primarily based on setation. A detailed morphological examination, based on the same specimens used for the first description, revealed that the inclusion of M hispidus in a separate group is not valid as zoeae now fully agree with the morphological characteristics defined for the other group of five Mithrax species, including M. pleuracanthus, M. verrucosus, M. caribbaeus, M. coryphe, and M. forceps. This illustrates the importance of precisely recording morphological details such as setation, which may otherwise lead to incorrect interpretations with regard to perceived taxonomic affinities. A comparison of larvae of the Mithrax -Mithraculus species complex does not support separation into two genera. Larval evidence supports the recently suggested adult-based synonymization of M caribbaeus with M. hispidus.

Cryptic hammerhead shark lineage occurrence in the western South Atlantic revealed by DNA analysis

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

An old taxonomic dilemma: the identity of the western south Atlantic lebranche mullet (Teleostei: Perciformes: Mugilidae)

The identification of the lebranche mullet in the western south Atlantic has long been problematical. In most recent works either Mugil liza Valenciennes and M. platanus Gunther, 1880 or M. liza and M. cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 were recognized from the region and more rarely the occurrence of only one species has been proposed but without sufficient morphological, biochemical or molecular data to allow the designation of the taxonomically appropriate name. Analysis of meristic and morphometric data taken from samples collected from Venezuela to Argentina, clearly indicates that there is only one species of lebranche mullet in the Caribbean Sea region and the Atlantic coast of South America and that Mugil liza is the appropriate name. The comparison of the combined data from all the samples of M. liza with the data taken from one sample of M. cephalus that originated in the Mediterranean, the possible locality from which type specimens were collected (Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2009), revealed significant differences indicating that they are different species. It is also suggested that individuals from the western north Atlantic identified as M. cephalus might represent a population of M. liza in this region.

Mammal occurrence and roadkill in two adjacent ecoregions (Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) in south-western Brazil

This paper examines the frequencies of mammal roadkill in two adjacent biogeographic ecoregions (Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) of Brazil. Mammals were recorded during a seven-year period and over 3,900 km of roads, in order to obtain data for frequencies of species in habitats (sites) and frequencies of species killed by cars on roads. Sites (n = 80) within ecoregions (Cerrado, n = 57; Atlantic Forest, n = 23) were searched for records of mammals. Species surveyed in the entire region totaled 33, belonging to nine orders and 16 families. In the Cerrado, 31 species were recorded in habitats; of these, 25 were found dead on roads. In the Atlantic Forest ecoregions, however, we found 21 species in habitats, 16 of which were also found dead on roads. There was no overall significant difference between ecoregions for frequencies of occurrence in habitats or for roadkills, but there were differences between individual species. Hence, anteaters were mostly recorded in the Cerrado ecoregion, whereas caviomorph rodents tended to be more frequent in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion (seen mainly by roadkills). The greater number of species (overall and threatened) and the greater abundance of species records in the Cerrado suggest that this ecoregion has a greater biodiversity and is better conserved than the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, south-western Brazil.

Contamination by chlorinated pesticides, PCBs and PBDEs in Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) in western South Atlantic

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Taxonomic comments and an identification key to species for the Smooth-hound sharks genus Mustelus Link, 1790 (Chondrichthyes: Triakidae) from the Western South Atlantic.

Five species of smooth-hound sharks genus Mustelus (Family Triakidae) are know in the western South Atlantic, as follows: Mustelus canis (Mitchell 1815); Mustelus fasciatus (Garman 1913); Mustelus higmani Springer & Lowe 1963; Mustelus norrisi Springer 1939; and Mustelus schmitti Springer 1939. In the present paper, new data on the anatomy, morphometrics and meristic characters are given. Taxonomic aspects and comparison between the species are discussed. Most general body morphologic measurements and proportions are useless as a tool for species identification, since many of them show remarkable intraspecific variations. Head proportions and structures related seem to be a more adequate procedure to identify the species of Mustelus. The labial folds proportions, internasal distance and orbit diameter were the most useful character to separate the western South Atlantic species. The buccopharingeal pattern of denticles as well as tooth counts not was useful to distinguish the Mustelus species from western South Atlantic adequately, due great intraspecific variation.

Reproductive biology of the guitarfish Rhinobatos percellens (Chondrichthyes, Rhinobatidae) from the São Paulo Coast, Brazil, western South Atlantic Ocean

The reproductive biology of the guitarfish Rhinobatos percellens was studied from 751 specimens caught by bottom pair trawlers off the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, between c. 24° 00′ S; 45° 15′ W and c. 25° 10′ S; 47° 52′ W, from September 2007 to August 2009. The total length (LT) and total mass (MT) relationship for males and females combined was MT = 1·29E-06 LT 3·15 (r = 0·99, n = 751). The mean LT of sexually mature specimens was 548 mm for males and 583 mm for females. Clasper growth was allometric and showed three distinct phases. Most claspers were calcified in specimens of c. 550 mm LT. The mean diameter of the largest oocyte was 29·8 mm, the mean ovarian fecundity was seven oocytes and ovulation occurred between August and November. Uterine fecundity ranged from two to 13 embryos (mean of five embryos). Larger females had higher litter sizes and larger embryos; the size-at-birth was c. 200 mm LT. The hepato-somatic index oscillated seasonally for males and females; the gonado-somatic index had little variation in males, but varied seasonally in females. The presence of many non-pregnant adult females and of encapsulated eggs during two consecutive seasons suggests a resting period between gestations and the possibility of diapause. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Fish Biology © 2012 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.