Three New Species of Salacia from Mesoamerica (Celastraceae, Salacioideae)

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

A New Species of Meliosma (Sabiaceae) from Southeastern Brazil and Notes on the Genus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Stomach contents and notes on the reproduction of the Onefin Skate Gurgesiella dorsalifera (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) off Southern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Rediscovered after 77 years: Odontodiaptomus thomseni - a rare species of calanoid (Crustacea: Copepoda) from South America

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

A noteworthy new species of Peritassa (Celastraceae, Hippocrateoideae) from Amazonian Brazil

The new species Peritassa Manaoara, Lombardi differs from other species in Peritassa Miers by its unique 3-lobed stigma. The inclusion of this new taxon in Peritassa was based on the characteristics of non-confluent anther locules and the disc free from the ovary wall, which distinguishes this species from Tontelea Aublet, the Only other genus of Neotropical Hippoerateoideae species with a 3-lobed stigma and tubular nectariferous disc.

Three new South American species of Salacia with fasciculate inflorescences (Celastraceae, Hippocrateoideae)

Three new fasciculate flowered species of Salacia L. (Celastraceae, Hippocrateoideae) from the Amazon basin are described: S. acevedoi Lombardi is distinguished by its small flowers, stamens with short filaments, disc connate to ovary, and size of fruits; S. negrensis Lombardi differs by its habit, characteristics and shape of leaves, flower diameter, features and size of stamens, and number of ovules: and S. odorata Lombardi is characterized by its long pedicels, conical flower buds, strongly adherent petals. and flat disc with fimbriate outer border.

A new species of Cordia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales) from Brazil

A new species from Brazil, Cordia pilosa M. Stapf & Taroda (Cordiaceae), is described from northeastern Brazil. Illustrations and data on habitat, distribution, and phenology are provided. The new species belongs to Cordia sect. Superbiflorae Taroda, and it is distinguished from similar species in section Superbiflorae by its compact inflorescences and the pilose indument on the twigs, leaves, and inflorescence axes. © 2010 Missouri Botanical Garden.

Revisão taxonômica de Sabiaceae Blume para o neotrópico

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O estado da arte das vocalizações de anfíbios anuros da Mata Atlântica

The vocals are the most conspicuous means of communication between frogs and can express evolutionary relationships among species. Call descriptions of frogs, in general, not standard acoustic parameters which are greatly diversified and usually restricted to comparisons between closely related taxa. The Atlantic Forest is considered one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, however, it appears that the number of species to be known is still very large. To anurans from this Brazilian Domain, vocalizations are complex and can vary intra and interpopulations. Thus, we presented a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the work descriptions of anuran advertisement call from the Atlantic Forest, available in the literature so far. The frog species from this Domain and their descriptions of the advertisement call have been raised in the literature, organized into families and threat category IUCN Red List Threatened Species. The analysis of the descriptions were made based on the presence of preset parameters. It was observed that the species which the advertisement call is described within the standard are expected within the Brazilian Atlantic Domain, but efforts to describe the advertisement call of frogs of the Atlantic are concentrated in non-threatened species. Among the descriptions works, there is a large discrepancy between the information presented, giving preference to the use of abiotic data in this kind of work, to the detriment of biotic data about choir where the songs were recorded. The results point to the need for advancements in the descriptions of the advertisement of endangered species or to those with deficient information on their conservation status in the Atlantic Forest, and also for greater communication between works that describe vocalizations of frogs. It will be important to know about the state of the art of descriptions works of frogs in other Brazilian Domains, and relate this information with knowledge...

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus Cervidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Natural History of the Lutz's Frog Cycloramphus lutzorum Heyer, 1983 (Anura: Cycloramphidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Description of the Advertisement Call, Tadpole, and Karyotype

We describe the advertisement call, tadpole, karyotype, and additional information on the natural history of Cycloramphus lutzorum from southern Brazil. Sonograms were generated from digitally recorded calls. Tadpoles were collected in the field for description in the lab, and an adult was collected for karyotyping. Data on seasonal activity were gathered monthly from November 2005 to November 2007. All tadpoles (N = 21), juveniles (N = 18), and adults (N = 52) were found exclusively in streams. Reproduction, as identified by calling frogs, occurred from July through November. Frogs call all day long, but mostly at dusk, from rock crevices inside the stream edges near the splash zone. The call is short and loud, with 11 pulsed notes, of 491-641 ms, with a dominant frequency of 0.98-1.39 kHz. We describe the exotrophic and semiterrestrial tadpoles, always found in constantly humid vertical rock walls in the stream. Tadpoles of C. lutzorum are recognized by differences in labial tooth row formula, eye diameter, body shape, position of nares, and development of tail. Like congeneric species, the karyotype of C. lutzorum comprises 26 metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. Cycloramphus lutzorum is restricted to and adapted for living in fast flowing streams, many of which are threatened by deforestation, pollution, and habitat loss. Therefore, we recommend the status of C. lutzorum be changed from its current "Data Deficient" to "Near Threatened (NT)" in the IUCN species red list.

From widespread to microendemic: Molecular and acoustic analyses show that Ischnocnema guentheri (Amphibia: Brachycephalidae) is endemic to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Many species of tropical amphibians are restricted to very small ranges, and this microendemism coupled with ongoing habitat loss and susceptibility to emerging pathogens imperils the long-term persistence of these species. Incomplete taxonomic and distributional knowledge may obscure conservation assessment, particularly in putatively widespread species that are typically considered to be of Least Concern in Red List assessments, but that in fact may constitute complexes of partly microendemic species. Such is the case in the Steindachner's Robber Frog, Ischnocnema guentheri which, together with the recently recognized Ischnocnema henselii, is thought to occupy most of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. To test whether these taxa may constitute a species complex of range-restricted and thus potentially threatened species, we analyzed 160 samples of I. guentheri and/or I. henselii for two molecular markers, 16S rRNA (16S) and recombination activation gene 1 (RAG1). To verify the monophyly of the complex, closely related species were also included in the 16S analysis. Congruent evidence from the molecular data and from analyses of advertisement calls support the existence of six distinct species within the complex: I. guentheri and I. henselii as well as four candidate new species. The lineages are distributed as a mosaic in the Atlantic Forest and are sympatric at some localities without indication of admixture. Their phylogeographical pattern partially agrees with paleo-models for the Atlantic Forest, but also suggests the existence of micro-refugia in less stable areas. I. guentheri, previously considered to be widespread, was found only in its type locality, a reserve within the urban area of Rio de Janeiro city. Although none of the species studied appears highly threatened with extinction, we recommend their IUCN threat status to be re-evaluated carefully for the next comprehensive update of the Red List of Brazil's amphibians. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Caracterização da estrutura genética populacional do tubarão-crocodilo (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai) no Atlântico equatorial utilizando marcadores moleculares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Rarity as an indicator of endangerment in neotropical frogs

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

Road-kills of the giant anteater in south-eastern Brazil: 10 years monitoring spatial and temporal determinants

Context. The giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is a large insectivorous mammal from Cerrado which is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN's red list. In spite of frequent giant anteater casualties, there continues to be a lack of published data on how road and landscape attributes affect road-kill rates - information that could prove useful in guiding mitigation measures.Aims. We seek to determine whether road and landscape attributes influence the incidence of road-kills of the giant anteater.Methods. From February 2002 to December 2012 (except for 2004), five roads in two regions in south-eastern Brazil were surveyed twice each month by car. We recorded temporal road-kill data for the giant anteater and related spatial road variables. These variables were also recorded at regular control sites every 2 km. We also took traffic volume data on stretches of the two roads to correlate with road-kills.Key results. Of the 45 anteater casualties recorded, there was a predominance of adult males. On roads MG-428 and SP-334, we found anteater road-kills were more common in the dry season, negatively correlated with traffic volume and related to the presence of native vegetation. Accordingly, road-kill sites tended to occur near the cerrado and grasslands and also appeared more frequently on some straight stretches of roadways. Although it was not shown to influence road-kill rates, topography data does point to regular overpass/underpass locations allowing population connectivity. Termitaria or ant nests were present at all road-kill sites, with 86% having signs of feeding.Conclusions. Native vegetation along roadways, together with straight road design, increases the probability of anteater road-kills by 40.1%.Implications. For mitigation, mowing and removing insect nests on roadsides, as well as roadside wildlife fencing in cerrado and grassland areas is suggested. Warning signs and radar to reduce vehicle speed are recommended for both human safety and anteater conservation. With regard to population connectivity, the absence of aggregated anteater road-kill data in this study meant that there were no particular crossing locations identified. However, the collected topography data do show places that could be used for roadway crossings. The measures indicated may apply to similar species and types of topography on other continents.