Basicladia emedii (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta): a new freshwater epilithic species from Brazil

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

O Gênero Cyathus haller: pers. (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) em áreas de caatinga do Nordeste brasileiro

Fungi of the family Nidulariaceae or bird s nest fungi present a vase-shaped basidiomata with the wall surface smooth or striated lengthwise and internal structures resembling small bird eggs in a nest, the peridioles. Among the five genera that comprise the group, the more representative is Cyathus Haller: Pers. The Brazilian Northeast region shows major importance for the world s diversity by containing a Brazilian unique and exclusively phytoecological domain, the Caatinga, which lacks particular attention regarding macrofungi. Although the gradual growth of knowledge in recent years, studies are still insipient in the Caatinga domain. Between their various vegetal formations are the Brejos de Altitude , described as islands with moist perennial vegetation, low soil fertility and annual precipitation of 900 1.300 mm. This study aimed to evaluate the taxonomic richness of Nidulariaceae fungi in Caatinga s areas of Northeastern Brazil, describing and identifying species, as well as expanding the collection of Herbarium UFRN Fungos. For description of Nidulariaceae fungi was followed the proposed by specialized literature in the group. We have found and described 10 species of the genus Cyathus, namely: C. earlei Lloyd, C. gayanus Tul. & C. Tul., C. gracilis H.J. Brodie, C. intermedius (Mont.) Tul. & C. Tul., C. limbatus Tul. & C. Tul., C. montagnei Tul. & C. Tul., C. pallidus Berk. & M.A. Curtis, C. poeppigii Tul. & C. Tul., C. striatus (Huds.) Willd. and C. tríplex Lloyd. Beyond these have been described four new species to science: Cyathus calvescens R. Cruz & Baseia sp. nov., C. hortum R. Cruz & Baseia sp. nov., C. magnomuralis R. Cruz & Baseia sp. nov. and C. parvocinereus R. Cruz & Baseia sp. nov. Two samples were identified only to genus level. No member of Mycocalia J.T. Palmer, Nidula V.S. White, Nidularia Fr. and Crucibulum Tul. & C. Tul. has been found, however the results were extremely valuable for being an unprecedented work in Caatinga, and importante tool for implementation of conservation projects and sustainable utilization of this domain

Diversidade de paronellidae (collembola, arthropleona, entomobryoidea) no nordeste brasileiro, com ênfase em áreas úmidas da caatinga

Paronellidae is among the most diverse and distinctive components of epiedaphic Collembola in tropical countries. However, only 15 species of the family were recorded in Brazil, and only two of them were record in northeast region of the country. This condiction is clearly related to low sampling efforts and lack of specialists working with the group. Due to this reality, this work aimed to study the Paronellidae fauna, under a taxonomic point of view, in six distinct environments in Northeastern Brazil (from Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Piauí and Paraíba states), five areas of Caatinga and one from Atlantic Rain Forest biome. Collections were made during the rainy season on each area. The specimens were analyzed under stereomicroscope and mounted in glass slides for microscopy. The specimens identified as Paronellidae had their occurrence recorded and five new species were described. An identification key to the brazilian genera of the family was also prepared. Twelve species of Paronellidae were recorded for the first time to Brazil: Campylothorax mitrai; Lepidonella. sp. nov. 1; Lepidonella sp. nov. 2, Lepidonella sp. nov. 3, Lepidonella sp. nov 4, Lepidonella sp. nov. 5; Dicranocentruga sp. Nov. 1; Dicranocentruga sp. Nov. 2; Dicranocentruga sp. Nov. 3; Paronella sp. nov.1; Serroderus sp. nov.1 and Trogolaphysa. sp. 1, where C. mitrai, Lepidonella. sp. nov 1, Dicranocentruga sp. nov 1, Dicranocentruga sp. nov 2 and Dicranocentruga sp. nov 3 were described. Serroderus and Dicranocentruga genera were recorded for the first time to Brazil. The description of Lepidonella sp. nov 1 also represents the first description of a species of the genus for the country. The data presented show a high potential species richness to Paronellidae, not only in the northeast region, but as in Brazil. In fact, with the records presented in this work, the number of recorded species of Paronellidae in the country increased by 80%. The study of this particular fauna may direct environmental conservation policies, especially in areas of Caatinga

A new species of the Rhinella margaritifera group (Anura: Bufonidae) from Brazilian Pantanal

We describe adult morphology, advertisement call and some natural history traits of a new species of toad from the Pantanal, western Brazil. Rhinella paraguayensis sp. nov. belongs to the Rhinella margaritifera group, and is characterized by medium size, snout rounded in dorsal view, with a vertical apical ridge, supraorbital crests weakly developed, parietal crest not well developed, postorbital crest prominent, presence of a dorsolateral line of tubercles, tympanum evident, bony protrusions at angle of jaws, absence of vertebral apophyses and of projections on upper eyelids, and parotoid glands small. The new species is distinguished from other species of the group by geographic distribution and by the use of floating mats of vegetation as reproductive site.

A new species of Proceratophrys (Anura: Cycloramphidae) from western Brazil

A new species of Proceratophrys cristiceps group is described from western Brazil. The new species is characterized by absence of prominent palpebral appendages and postocular swellings, males measuring 44.2 +/- 2.1 mm SVL (41.1-47.3 mm) and females 56.4 +/- 2.8 mm SVL (52.7-59.8 mm), snout rounded in dorsal, and obtuse in lateral views, dorsal skin uniformly rugose, with no elevated warts, and tympanum defined as a depression on the skin. The new species was found in Guapore river drainage, a highly impacted area due to the construction of water dams.

A new fossil Adamussium (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) from Antarctica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evolution of Substrate Preparation Behaviors for Cultivation of Symbiotic Fungus in Attine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A new frog of the genus Hylodes (Amphibia : Leptodactylidae) from Minas Gerais, Brazil

A new species of leptodactylid frog is described from Parque das Mangabeiras, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. The new species is a member of the Hylodes lateristrigatus group, and is characterized by medium size, snout rounded in dorsal view and protruding in lateral view, presence of vocal slits and sacs, upper surface of finger and toe discs with well-developed scutes, a weakly developed stripe on the upper lip, dorsum, arm, leg, and foot dark brown with small irregular brown and black dots, and absence of red and yellow spots in live specimens. The descriptions of the tadpoles and vocalizations, and information on natural history are provided. Hylodes perplicatus (Miranda-Ribeiro), previously considered a member of the H. nasus species group, is transferred to the H. lateristrigatus species group.

A new species of the Dendropsophus parviceps group from the western Amazon Basin (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae)

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

New species of Ischnocnema (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from the atlantic rainforest of the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil.

We describe a new species of Ischnocnema from Santa Teresa, in the Atlantic Rainforest of the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Ischnocnema abdita sp. nov. is a member of the Ischnocnema lactea species series; it differs from other Ischnocnema mainly by presenting small size (adult male SVL 15.7 [plus or minus] 0.49 mm; range 15.0-16.8 mm); small discs on fingers I and II, and elliptical, wider than long, moderate sized discs on fingers III and IV; and finger I slightly smaller than finger II. The new species closely resembles Ischnocnema bolbodactyla, differing from it by presenting upper and lower margins of iris red in life; inguinal region with many yellow blotches in life; posterior region of belly and ventral surfaces of thighs, shanks, and feet roughly marbled with large pale yellow blotches; and hidden dorsal area of thighs dark brown with few large pale yellow blotches.

A new species of casque-headed tree frog, genus Aparasphenodon Miranda-Ribeiro (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae), from the Atlantic Rainforest of southern Bahia, Brazil

A new species of Aparasphenodon is described from patches of arboreal restinga within the Atlantic Forest Biome, in a region known as Baixo Sul in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Aparasphenodon arapapa sp. nov. is promptly diagnosed from other Aparasphenodon mainly by having small size (male snout-vent length 57.4-58.1 mm), loreal region flattened and wide, and canthus rostralis rounded and poorly elevated. The wide and flattened snout resembles that found in Triprion and Diaglena, and possibly is a parallelism (homoplasy) related to the phragmotic behavior of casque-headed tree frogs to their microhabitat usage. The decision to allocate the new species in the genus Aparasphenodon is discussed in detail, as the single morphological synapomorphy of the genus, the presence of a prenasal bone, is insufficient to morphologically relate the new species to Aparasphenodon, Triprion, or Diaglena.

A NEW SPECIES of MINIATURIZED TOADLET, GENUS BRACHYCEPHALUS (ANURA: BRACHYCEPHALIDAE), FROM SOUTHERN BRAZIL

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

Snout mites from caves in Brazil, with description of a new species (Acari: Trombidiformes: Bdellidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A NEW and THREATENED INSULAR SPECIES of LANCEHEAD FROM SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

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

The cyanobacterial genus Cyanoarbor Wang (Chroococcales, Entophysalidaceae) and its occurrence in Brazil

The new cyanobacterial species Cyanoarbor violascens was found and described from subaerophytic habitats (wet lateritic soils) in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The phenotypic generic features of the population were confirmed and the genus Cyanoarbor Wang 1989 was revised with four species recognized. Cyanoarbor rupestris Wang was first described from subaerophytic habitats in China. Cyanoarbor violascens Branco sp. nov. is here described from subaerophytic habitats (wet lateritic soils) in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil, differing from other species by violet-coloured sheaths, cell sizes and ecotopic preference. Additionally, material previously identified as Chlorogloea cf. microcystoides from Nepal was recognized as belonging to Cyanoarbor and is here described as C. himalayensis M. Watanabe et Komdrek sp. nov. Chlorogloea gessneri Schiller is transferred to the genus Cyanarbor, as C. gessneri (Schiller) nov. comb. All four species can be differentiated based on a combination of morphological characters and biotopic preferences. Descriptions and an identification key of the four species of this genus are provided.