Leposoma osvaldoi avila-pires, 1995 (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae): New records and distribution map in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

The present study provides the distribution map and reports new records of the gymnophthalmid lizard Leposoma osvaldoi Avila-Pires, 1995, from Mato Grosso state, Brazil, extending the known geographical distribution of the species ca. 42 km northeastern in straight line from the nearest record in the state. © 2011 Check List and Authors.

Richness and similarity of the Cerrado vascular flora in the central west region of São Paulo state, Brazil

This study aims to characterize and compare three Cerrado areas (one cerradão and two cerrado sensu stricto areas) in Patrânia, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, concerning the floristic composition. In total, 250 taxa were found belonging to four species of pteridophytes, one species of an exotic gymnosperm and 243 species of angiosperms. Differences in species number and proportion of the woody and herbaceous components were observed among the three Cerrado areas. The similarity analysis revealed that the cerradão seems quite peculiar, showing low similarity level with the cerrado sensu stricto areas contiguous to it, being more similar to other cerradão areas located in nearby municipalities. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

New records and distribution extensions of three species of Mesoclemmys Gray, 1863 (Testudines: Chelidae) in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, with observations on terrestrial movements

Distribution patterns of most of the 20 Neotropical freshwater turtles belonging to the family Chelidae are usually based on few locality records. We here report on vouchered records of three species of the chelid genus Mesoclemmys in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Presence of M. vanderhaegei is confirmed for the Amazon River Basin, and M. gibba and M. raniceps are recorded in Mato Grosso for the first time. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Fish fauna of headwater streams that cross the Atlantic forest of South São Paulo state

The fishes of the present study were collected in the headwater streams of the Sorocaba, Paranapanema and Ribeira de Iguape river basins during the dry period in 2010. A total of 2892 fishes, grouped in 53 species, were captured. The composition of the ichthyofauna captured in the streams of Sorocaba and Paranapanema river basin was greatly similar. On the other hand, the fish fauna of the streams of Ribeira de Iguape river basin were quite different from the ones captured in the others basins, with the occurrence of endangered species (Isbrueckerichthys epakmos and I. duseni) and exotic species (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus). The previous list of fish for the Sorocaba river basin increased with the addition of seven species of Characiformes, one Gymnotiformes and four Siluriformes. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Erythroxylaceae, erythroxylum subsessile (Mart.) O.E. schulz in Espírito Santo: Distribution extension

Erythroxylaceae have tropical and subtropical distribution with four genera and about 250 species. Erythroxylum is the biggest genus of the family with approximately 100 species cited for Brazil. Erythroxylum subsessile (Mart.) O.E. Schulz is a species cited just for Rio de Janeiro state and now first recorded for the state of Espírito Santo, increasing its area of distribution. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Endlicheria lhotzkyi (Nees) Mez (Magnoliophyta: Laurales: Lauraceae): First record for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Endlicheria lhotzkyi is the first time recorded for the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, collected in the municipal district of Sonora, north of the state. Taxonomic comments and an identification key of Endlicheria species from Mato Grosso do Sul is presented. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

New records of the cicada genus Fidicinoides Boulard and Martinelli, 1996 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Fidicinini) from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Fidicinoides picea (Walker, 1850) and Fidicinoides poulaini Boulard and Martinelli, 1996 are recorded for the first time from the state of Mato Grosso, extending the known distribution of these species to the south. Thereby, the number of Fidicinoides species from Mato Grosso is increased to nine, being Mato Grosso the state with the largest number of recorded species of this genus in Brazil. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

First record of leucospis signifera bouček, 1974 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Leucospidae) in the São Paulo State, Brazil

The present note extends the geographic range of Leucospis signifera Bouček, 1974 farther to the Northeast, reaching the State of São Paulo, based on the examination of four females collected at Jataí Ecological Station, municipality of Luiz Antônio, São Paulo State, Brazil. The present finding indicates that L. signifera is associated with dry ecosystems, at least in part of its geographic distribution. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Hyperbaena domingensis (DC.) Benth. (Menispermaceae), new records for the Atlantic Forest from northeastern Brazil

Hyperbaena domingensis (DC.) Benth. has new records for the Atlantic Forest from northeastern Brazil. It is found in lowland coastal, sub-montane and montane remnants of Atlantic Forest as part of the forest canopy or drape dover edge shrubs and treelets. It can be recognized by the ovate to oblong leaves, spiciform or paniculiform inflorescence, dichlamydeous and 3-merous flowers, drupaceous and purple (at maturity) fruits, and horseshoe-shaped seeds. Comments, distribution map, and pictures are presented here. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, Brazil

The present study provides a record of the bat fauna captured in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, Brazil, between February and November 2011. The capture sessions were carried out using mist nets set on trails, around and above streams and lakes, near built areas and around livestock. After a total effort of 26,208 m2.h, we recorded 17 bat species belonging to Phyllostomidae (13 species), Vespertilionidae (3) and Molossidae (1). Sturnira lilium (73 captures), Artibeus fimbriatus (69), and A. lituratus (59) were the most abundant species, corresponding to 57.8% of all captures. Some information about shelters was also commented. This paper is the first to report Molossops neglectus for Guarulhos. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Occurrence record of Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) at Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, São Paulo state, Brazil

Invasive species are the second cause of biodiversity decline in the world. Among the many invasive species, the Sus scrofa (wild boar) is amongst those that cause more impacts. Our aim was to report the presence of the wild boar in the last remaining open area of Cerrado in the São Paulo state, Brazil. In September 2007 an individual was seen and tracks were also observed during the same period at the Estação Ecológica de Itirapina. © 2013 Check List and Authors.

First record of Austroleon dispar Banks, 1909 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from Brazil

The present note extends the geographic range of Austroleon dispar Banks, 1909 to Brazil based on the examination of three females and one male collected in the Estação Ecológica Jataí, Luiz Antônio, São Paulo. The present finding indicates that A. dispar is associated with dry ecosystems, at least in part of its geographic distribution. © 2013 Check List and Authors.

Lepidobatrachus asper Budgett,1899 (Amphibia: Anura: Ceratophryidae): New country record, distribution map and natural history notes

Lepidobatrachus asper is a large to medium frog known from the Chaco lowlands of Paraguay and Argentina. We provide the first species record for the Brazilian Chaco, which extends the species geographical distribution ca. 73 km northeast from Puerto Casado, Alto Paraguay Departament, Paraguay. We also provide a distribution map and information about the species habitat conditions and diet. The Brazilian Chaco is still poorly surveyed, and the rapid environmental degradation can lead to local extinctions of certain species. © 2013 Check List and Authors.

Checklist of freshwater ichthyofauna from coastal streams of Juréia-Itatins Reserve, Southeastern Brazil

The Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station (JIES) is one of the few protected areas in the state of São Paulo, which harbor a significant portion of the Atlantic forest. Although there is high diversity and endemism of fish species in this region, knowledge of the ichthyofauna in JIES is incipient. A total of 4,809 specimens belonging to six orders, 15 families and 31 species were captured during April 2009 to February 2010, using electrofishing, gillnets and traps. The family Characidae was predominant, mainly due to the abundance of freshwater species such as Astyanax ribeirae, Mimagoniates microlepis, and Hollandichthys multifasciatus. Although the estuarine regions were rarely sampled in this study, six brackish water species were captured. In this study, nine species previously unknown from JIES were discovered. Five endangered fish species, endemic to the Atlantic forest, occur at JIES, thus the presence of protected areas, as a conservation measure, is particularly relevant. © 2013 Check List and Authors.

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in urban fragments of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil

Bat assemblages in two urban fragments of Maringá city, north of the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, were inventoried. These fragments, Parque do Ingá (48 ha) and Parque Florestal dos Pioneiros (59 ha), are located in a subtropical region covered by semideciduous Atlantic forest. Bats were sampled with mist-nets from August 2006 to July 2007, over 24 nights (12 hours a night), adding up to a total of 30,240 h.m2 of net effort. A total of 839 individuals were captured belonging to 10 species and four families. Artibeus lituratus was the most abundant species (66% of the sample). The observed richness represents 22% of the bat species recorded for the state, 24% of the bat species occurring in the seasonal semideciduous forest of Paraná, 26% of the species previously recorded in urban environments in Brazil, and 83.4% of the estimated richness by Jackknife 1 (n= 12 species). Studies that provide data on richness and abundance of bat species in urban fragments are becoming increasingly important, but are still poorly available in Brazil. This habitat is especially interesting because anthropogenic pressure can be harmful to bat assemblages, reducing their diversity. © 2013 Check List and Authors.