Polycystic kidney disease in rough toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) found in the Paraná coast, southern Brazil

Background: Renal cystic diseases (RCD) are characterized by cystic structures on renal parenchyma associated withobstructive lesions, membranous disruptions, and/or growth disturbances. The polycystic kidney disease (PKD) showsspecific pathological characteristics, related to mutations on PKD1 and/or PKD2 chromosome locus on humans. In Persiancats and bull terriers the condition is like the human “adult-onset” PKD, while in Perendale sheep the “childhood”-like isdescribed. In cetaceans, RCD are reported, however the characterization of PKD is scarcely described. This report aimsto describe two cases of PKD and one of RCD in stranded Steno bredanensis, and to discuss the disease associated factors.Cases: Four rough-toothed-dolphins were found stranded in the Paraná coast, southern Brazil between 2016 to 2018,through the Santos Basin Beach Monitoring Project (PMP-BS), one of the systematic monitoring programs required byBrazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) for the environmental licensing processof oil production and transport by Petrobras in the presalt province. In three animals histological sampling was performed.One of them (animal 3) was found alive, presenting altered buoyancy with lateralization to the right and signs of pneumonia. The blood analysis showed anemia and leukocytosis. The animal showed poor clinical prognosis, and even withsupportive treatment, come to death four days after the rescue. Routine autopsies were performed on all animals. Animals1 and 2 presented macroscopically enlarged kidneys containing disseminated cystic...

Polycystic kidney disease in rough toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) found in the Paraná coast, southern Brazil

Background: Renal cystic diseases (RCD) are characterized by cystic structures on renal parenchyma associated withobstructive lesions, membranous disruptions, and/or growth disturbances. The polycystic kidney disease (PKD) showsspecific pathological characteristics, related to mutations on PKD1 and/or PKD2 chromosome locus on humans. In Persiancats and bull terriers the condition is like the human “adult-onset” PKD, while in Perendale sheep the “childhood”-like isdescribed. In cetaceans, RCD are reported, however the characterization of PKD is scarcely described. This report aimsto describe two cases of PKD and one of RCD in stranded Steno bredanensis, and to discuss the disease associated factors.Cases: Four rough-toothed-dolphins were found stranded in the Paraná coast, southern Brazil between 2016 to 2018,through the Santos Basin Beach Monitoring Project (PMP-BS), one of the systematic monitoring programs required byBrazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) for the environmental licensing processof oil production and transport by Petrobras in the presalt province. In three animals histological sampling was performed.One of them (animal 3) was found alive, presenting altered buoyancy with lateralization to the right and signs of pneumonia. The blood analysis showed anemia and leukocytosis. The animal showed poor clinical prognosis, and even withsupportive treatment, come to death four days after the rescue. Routine autopsies were performed on all animals. Animals1 and 2 presented macroscopically enlarged kidneys containing disseminated cystic...(AU)

Lectin spatial immunolocalization during in vitro capacitation in Tursiops truncatus spermatozoa

Spermatozoa interactions with the female reproductive tract and oocyte are regulated by surface molecules such as glycocalyx. The capacitation process comprises molecular and structural modifications which increase zona pellucida binding affinity. Lectins allowed us to describe glycocalyx changes during maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction. This study had as its aim to identify lectin binding patterns using four lectins with different carbohydrate affinity in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa both before and after in vitro capacitation. Two semen samples from the same dolphin obtained on consecutive days were used, with four different lectin binding patterns becoming visible in both samples before and after capacitation. A highly stained equatorial segment with prolongations at the edges appeared as the most frequent pattern with Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in uncapacitated spermatozoa. However, it was homogeneously distributed over the acrosomal region after capacitation. Instead, the use of Peanut agglutinin (PNA) resulted in most spermatozoa showing high labelling in the acrosomal periphery region before capacitation and a homogeneous staining in the acrosomal region within the population of capacitated spermatozoa. Nevertheless, the most representative patterns with Concavalin A (ConA) and Aleuria aurantia agglutinin (AAA) lectins did not change before and after capacitation, labelling the acrosomal region periphery. These findings could contribute to the understanding of the reproductive biology of cetaceans and the improvement of sperm selection techniques.(AU)

Lectin spatial immunolocalization during in vitro capacitation in Tursiops truncatus spermatozoa

Spermatozoa interactions with the female reproductive tract and oocyte are regulated by surface molecules such as glycocalyx. The capacitation process comprises molecular and structural modifications which increase zona pellucida binding affinity. Lectins allowed us to describe glycocalyx changes during maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction. This study had as its aim to identify lectin binding patterns using four lectins with different carbohydrate affinity in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa both before and after in vitro capacitation. Two semen samples from the same dolphin obtained on consecutive days were used, with four different lectin binding patterns becoming visible in both samples before and after capacitation. A highly stained equatorial segment with prolongations at the edges appeared as the most frequent pattern with Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in uncapacitated spermatozoa. However, it was homogeneously distributed over the acrosomal region after capacitation. Instead, the use of Peanut agglutinin (PNA) resulted in most spermatozoa showing high labelling in the acrosomal periphery region before capacitation and a homogeneous staining in the acrosomal region within the population of capacitated spermatozoa. Nevertheless, the most representative patterns with Concavalin A (ConA) and Aleuria aurantia agglutinin (AAA) lectins did not change before and after capacitation, labelling the acrosomal region periphery. These findings could contribute to the understanding of the reproductive biology of cetaceans and the improvement of sperm selection techniques.

Ontogeny of the skull of Sotalia guianensis (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) on the Northern coast of Brazil

This study aimed to investigate the ontogenetic development of the skull in the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis Van Bénéden, 1864 ) through the comparison of 29 morphological non-metrical characters together with the estimated age of 54 specimens derived from four areas on the northern coast of Brazil. The state of each character was associated with the age of each specimen to assess the formation of bone structures, and the degree of fusion of the sutures in each state of the character studied. Nineteen qualitative morphological characters presenting state ontogenetic variations have been analyzed statistically. The analysis depicted that the characters associated with the parietal-frontal suture, parietosupraoccipital, parietoexoccipital, supraoccipital-exoccipital and basioccipital-pterygoid varied according with the age. The results suggest that the physical maturity of the cranium was more premature in the specimens from the Northern Coast, suggesting a geographical adjustment of the species, or a biological response to an intense pressure of by-catch in fisheries over decades on the populations.(AU)

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar o desenvolvimento ontogenético craniano do boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis Van Bénéden, 1864), comparando 29 caracteres morfológicos não métricos aliados às estimativas de idade de 54 espécimes provenientes de quatro áreas da Costa Norte do Brasil. Cada estado de caráter foi associado à idade de cada espécime para avaliar a formação de estruturas ósseas e o grau de fusionamento das suturas em cada estado de caráter analisado. Foram analisados estatisticamente 19 caracteres morfológicos qualitativos que apresentaram variação nos estados de caráter. A análise revelou que os caracteres que diferiram de acordo com a idade foram aqueles ligados à sutura parietal-frontal, parietal-supraoccipital, parietal-exoccipital, supraoccipital-exoccipital e basioccipital-pterigóide. Os resultados indicaram que a maturidade física do crânio foi mais precoce nos espécimes da Costa Norte, sugerindo uma estruturação geográfica da espécie ou uma resposta biológica a uma intensa pressão de captura acidental em redes de pesca sobre as populações.(AU)

Ontogeny of the skull of Sotalia guianensis (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) on the Northern coast of Brazil

This study aimed to investigate the ontogenetic development of the skull in the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis Van Bénéden, 1864 ) through the comparison of 29 morphological non-metrical characters together with the estimated age of 54 specimens derived from four areas on the northern coast of Brazil. The state of each character was associated with the age of each specimen to assess the formation of bone structures, and the degree of fusion of the sutures in each state of the character studied. Nineteen qualitative morphological characters presenting state ontogenetic variations have been analyzed statistically. The analysis depicted that the characters associated with the parietal-frontal suture, parietosupraoccipital, parietoexoccipital, supraoccipital-exoccipital and basioccipital-pterygoid varied according with the age. The results suggest that the physical maturity of the cranium was more premature in the specimens from the Northern Coast, suggesting a geographical adjustment of the species, or a biological response to an intense pressure of by-catch in fisheries over decades on the populations.

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar o desenvolvimento ontogenético craniano do boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis Van Bénéden, 1864), comparando 29 caracteres morfológicos não métricos aliados às estimativas de idade de 54 espécimes provenientes de quatro áreas da Costa Norte do Brasil. Cada estado de caráter foi associado à idade de cada espécime para avaliar a formação de estruturas ósseas e o grau de fusionamento das suturas em cada estado de caráter analisado. Foram analisados estatisticamente 19 caracteres morfológicos qualitativos que apresentaram variação nos estados de caráter. A análise revelou que os caracteres que diferiram de acordo com a idade foram aqueles ligados à sutura parietal-frontal, parietal-supraoccipital, parietal-exoccipital, supraoccipital-exoccipital e basioccipital-pterigóide. Os resultados indicaram que a maturidade física do crânio foi mais precoce nos espécimes da Costa Norte, sugerindo uma estruturação geográfica da espécie ou uma resposta biológica a uma intensa pressão de captura acidental em redes de pesca sobre as populações.

Pulmonary Aspergillis in the dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei)

Fungal infections that affect marine mammals, like most fungal infections, can be secondary to environmental stress or other infectious diseases. This article describes a case of pulmonary infection by Aspergillus spp. in a specimen of Pontoporia blainvillei found dead near the town of San Clemente de Tuyu and near the bay of Samborombón, BuenosAires, Argentina. The lung was collapsed with necrotic foci, fragments were collected, fixed in 10% formalin and submitted to histopathological examination. Microscopically, a marked change of the pulmonary architecture was observed, with total alveolar collapse, extensive necrotic areas, where septal hyphae were observed weakly, when stained with H-E and clearly evidenced with Grocott staining. Since the potential causes of immunosuppression were not evident, the authors consider it probable that infection by Aspergillus spp. was established in the lungs that presented a primary, possibly bacterial pneumonia, as a result of some degree of immunosuppression.(AU)

Pulmonary Aspergillis in the dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei)

Fungal infections that affect marine mammals, like most fungal infections, can be secondary to environmental stress or other infectious diseases. This article describes a case of pulmonary infection by Aspergillus spp. in a specimen of Pontoporia blainvillei found dead near the town of San Clemente de Tuyu and near the bay of Samborombón, BuenosAires, Argentina. The lung was collapsed with necrotic foci, fragments were collected, fixed in 10% formalin and submitted to histopathological examination. Microscopically, a marked change of the pulmonary architecture was observed, with total alveolar collapse, extensive necrotic areas, where septal hyphae were observed weakly, when stained with H-E and clearly evidenced with Grocott staining. Since the potential causes of immunosuppression were not evident, the authors consider it probable that infection by Aspergillus spp. was established in the lungs that presented a primary, possibly bacterial pneumonia, as a result of some degree of immunosuppression.

Fatal asphyxia due to laryngeal displacement by large-sized prey in a Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), Brazil / Asfixia por deslocamento laríngeo associado a consumo de presa de grande tamanho em boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis), Brasil

The Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) is a small odontocete distributed from Santa Catarina state, Brazil, to Honduras. Although it is currently considered “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, considerable knowledge on health and disease aspects of this species has been gained over the last decade. The main threats for the species are represented by multiple anthropic factors. Guiana dolphins feed on a variety of taxa, primarily teleosts, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Herein, we reported a case of severe laryngeal displacement and esophageal impaction with ulceration associated with a deglutted adult leatherjacket (Oligoplites sp.). This fish species is not a common prey item of Guiana dolphins diet. Severe upper aerodigestive compromise likely led to death by mechanical asphyxia (choke) in this dolphin. This report attested the occurrence of upper aerodigestive dysfunction due to overzealous feeding in Guiana dolphin and contributed to general knowledge on pathology of the species.(AU)

O boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) é um pequeno odontoceto que ocorre desde o estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil, até Honduras. Embora esta espécie seja considerada “quase ameaçada” pela União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza, um considerável conhecimento sobre diversos aspectos de saúde e doença nesta espécie foi adquirido na última década. As principais ameaças para a espécie são representadas por múltiplos fatores antrópicos. Os botos-cinza se alimentam de uma variedade de táxons, incluindo principalmente teleósteos, crustáceos e cefalópodes. No presente estudo relatamos um caso de deslocamento laríngeo grave e impactação esofágica com ulceração pela deglutição de um peixe adulto do gênero Oligoplites. Esta espécie de peixe não é um elemento comum da dieta dos botos-cinza. É possível que o comprometimento aerodigestivo grave tenha levado o animal à morte por asfixia mecânica. Este relato atesta a ocorrência de disfunção aerodigestiva superior devido à alimentação de tamanho excessivo por um boto-cinza, e contribui para o conhecimento geral de patologias na espécie.(AU)

Gastric Braunina cordiformis and a review of helminth parasitism in the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

A pregnant adult female finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded off the coast of Phuket, Thailand and died during attempted rehabilitation. The cadaver was frozen for use in a Marine mammal stranding training event. During necropsy, the animal was observed to have approximately 60% of the gastric mucosa embedded with exophytic, heart shaped digenean trematodes interpreted to be Braunina cordiformis. Tissue samples were collected from the stomach to include the embedded parasites and these were evaluated histopathologically, confirming the diagnosis. This is the first report of Braunina cordiformis trematodes in Asian waters and the first report of the parasite in a finless porpoise.

Gastric Braunina cordiformis and a review of helminth parasitism in the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

A pregnant adult female finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded off the coast of Phuket, Thailand and died during attempted rehabilitation. The cadaver was frozen for use in a Marine mammal stranding training event. During necropsy, the animal was observed to have approximately 60% of the gastric mucosa embedded with exophytic, heart shaped digenean trematodes interpreted to be Braunina cordiformis. Tissue samples were collected from the stomach to include the embedded parasites and these were evaluated histopathologically, confirming the diagnosis. This is the first report of Braunina cordiformis trematodes in Asian waters and the first report of the parasite in a finless porpoise.(AU)

Toxoplasma gondii in cetaceans of Brazil: a histopathological and immunohistochemical survey / Toxoplasma gondii em cetáceos do Brasil: estudo histopatológico e imuno-histoquímico

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In cetaceans, T. gondii infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the worldwide range and broad cetacean host record of T. gondii infection, there is limited information on toxoplasmosis in cetaceans from the Southern hemisphere. We investigated the occurrence of T. gondii by histopathology and immunohistochemistry in tissue samples of 185 animals comprising 20 different cetacean species from Brazil. Three out of 185 (1.6%) animals presented T. gondii-associated lesions: a captive killer whale Orcinus orca, a free-ranging common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and a free-ranging Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis. The main lesions observed in these animals were necrotizing hepatitis, adrenalitis and lymphadenitis associated with protozoal cysts or extracellular tachyzoites presenting immunolabeling with anti-T. gondii antibodies. This study widens the spectrum of species and the geographic range of this agent in Brazil, and provides the first reports of T. gondii infection in a captive killer whale and in a free-ranging common bottlenose dolphin in South America.(AU)

Toxoplasmose é uma doença parasitária causada pelo protozoário Toxoplasma gondii. A infecção por T. gondii é uma causa significativa de morbidade e mortalidade, nos cetáceos. Apesar da abrangência mundial e amplo registro de espécies de cetáceos infectadas por T. gondii, informações sobre toxoplasmose em cetáceos do hemisfério sul são limitadas. Neste estudo pesquisou-se por meio de histopatologia e imuno-histoquímica a ocorrência de T. gondii em amostras de tecido de 185 animais, compreendendo 20 diferentes espécies de cetáceos que ocorrem no Brasil. Três dos 185 (1,6%) animais apresentaram lesões associadas a T. gondii: uma orca Orcinus orca mantida em cativeiro, um golfinho-nariz-de-garrafa Tursiops truncatus e um boto-cinza Sotalia guianensis de vida livre. As principais lesões observadas nesses animais foram hepatite, adrenalite e linfadenite necrotizantes associadas a cistos protozoários ou taquizoítos extracelulares, marcados com anticorpos anti-T. gondii. O presente estudo amplia o espectro de espécies susceptíveis a esse agente e o seu alcance geográfico no Brasil, fornecendo o primeiro relato da infecção por T. gondii em uma orca mantida em cativeiro e em um golfinho-nariz-de-garrafa de vida livre na América do Sul.(AU)

Revisão sobre a ocorrência e migração de orcas (orcinus orca) em águas brasileiras

Dentre os mamíferos marinhos baleias e golfinhos (Cetacea), são os animais que melhor se adaptaram ao meio aquático. Ao ponto que ocupam uma ampla gama de posições na cadeia alimentar, como consumidores secundários ou predadores de topo, como a Orca (Orcinus orca). A orca é popularmente conhecida como Baleia Assassina (Killer Whale), é o maior representante da família Delphinidae, podendo atingir 8 m de comprimento e dentre os cetáceos é o mais cosmopolita de todos, ocorrendo em todos os mares e oceanos e sendo conhecida por avistamentos ocasionais em rios de água doce. Porém tendo uma ocorrência maior em águas frias, onde a produtividade das águas é maior. Esses animais vivem em unidades sociais estáveis chamadas Pods. Apesar de só ser descrita uma única espécie de orca (Orcinus orca), a mesma apresenta diversos ecótipos que são ecologicamente, geneticamente e morfologicamente distintos. Dentre os ecótipos de orcas, os mais estudados são aqueles que ocorrem nas águas do pacifico norte que são as residentes, as transientes e offshore, no atlântico norte é descrito os ecótipos tipo 1 e tipo 2 e na antártica as orcas tipo A, tipo B, tipo C e tipo D. No Brasil os históricos de ocorrência da espécie é em toda a costa exceto em águas da região norte. Os registros de ocorrência se dão principalmente de avistamentos esporádicos, encalhes ou relatos de interações com a pesca de espinhe

Ferramentas da reprodução na conservação dos mamíferos aquáticos da Amazônia / Reproductive tools in the conservation of Amazonian aquatic mammals

O peixe-boi da Amazônia (Trichechus inunguis) e o boto-vermelho (Inia geoffrensis) são os mamíferos aquáticos da Amazônia com maior risco de extinção. Deste modo, esta revisão apresenta os avanços no conhecimento sobre a biologia reprodutiva destas espécies, bem como as lacunas no conhecimento existentes, podendo estas ser, de grande importância, para futura aplicação de biotecnologias como aliada na conservação destas espécies.(AU)

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) and the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) are the most threatened aquatic mammals of the Amazon. Therefore, this review highlights the advances on knowledge about reproductive biology of these species, as well as the information gaps, which is of great importance to the future use of biotechnologies as a tool for the conservation of those species.(AU)

Ferramentas da reprodução na conservação dos mamíferos aquáticos da Amazônia / Reproductive tools in the conservation of Amazonian aquatic mammals

O peixe-boi da Amazônia (Trichechus inunguis) e o boto-vermelho (Inia geoffrensis) são os mamíferos aquáticos da Amazônia com maior risco de extinção. Deste modo, esta revisão apresenta os avanços no conhecimento sobre a biologia reprodutiva destas espécies, bem como as lacunas no conhecimento existentes, podendo estas ser, de grande importância, para futura aplicação de biotecnologias como aliada na conservação destas espécies.

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) and the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) are the most threatened aquatic mammals of the Amazon. Therefore, this review highlights the advances on knowledge about reproductive biology of these species, as well as the information gaps, which is of great importance to the future use of biotechnologies as a tool for the conservation of those species.

Comparative anatomical description of brain hemisphere surfaces in toninha dolphin and humans

Pontoporia blainvillei (cetacean order and odontoceti suborder), popularly known in Brazil as Toninha, is a small dolphin with a long, thin beak found on the southern shore waters of the western Atlantic. The brain development of dolphins (expressed by the encephalization coefficient) in relation to body size is quite high, and is second only to humans. This high correlation in brain development between dolphins and humans was targeted in this research to describe and compare the morphology of cerebral hemisphere surfaces of these two species. Five brains of Pontoporia blainvillei donated by the BioPesca Project (a non-governmental organization) were analyzed. The brains were fixed in 20% formaldehyde solution for further description and comparison to human brains described in books of neuroanatomy. The telencephalon of Pontoporia blainvillei is rostrally tapered and expanded at the caudal end and it has a greater number of folds/gyrus when compared to human species. Some encephalic grooves/sulcus are similar to grooves found in the human species, such as the cruciate sulcus (central sulcus), lateral fissure (Sylvian cleft), cingulate sulcus and calcarine sulcus. The same encephalic lobes are seen in both species; however the parietal and temporal lobes are highly developed in the Pontoporia blainvillei. These differences are associated with specific function of the species, as the presence of the an efficient auditive system in dolphins.

Comparative anatomical description of brain hemisphere surfaces in toninha dolphin and humans

Pontoporia blainvillei (cetacean order and odontoceti suborder), popularly known in Brazil as Toninha, is a small dolphin with a long, thin beak found on the southern shore waters of the western Atlantic. The brain development of dolphins (expressed by the encephalization coefficient) in relation to body size is quite high, and is second only to humans. This high correlation in brain development between dolphins and humans was targeted in this research to describe and compare the morphology of cerebral hemisphere surfaces of these two species. Five brains of Pontoporia blainvillei donated by the BioPesca Project (a non-governmental organization) were analyzed. The brains were fixed in 20% formaldehyde solution for further description and comparison to human brains described in books of neuroanatomy. The telencephalon of Pontoporia blainvillei is rostrally tapered and expanded at the caudal end and it has a greater number of folds/gyrus when compared to human species. Some encephalic grooves/sulcus are similar to grooves found in the human species, such as the cruciate sulcus (central sulcus), lateral fissure (Sylvian cleft), cingulate sulcus and calcarine sulcus. The same encephalic lobes are seen in both species; however the parietal and temporal lobes are highly developed in the Pontoporia blainvillei. These differences are associated with specific function of the species, as the presence of the an efficient auditive system in dolphins.(AU)

Revisão bibliográfica: comparação entre a coluna vertebral da orca (Orcinus orca) e do cavalo (Equus caballus) / Literature review: comparison between the vertebral column of the orca (Orcinus orca) and the horse (Equus caballus)

A coluna vertebral é constituída por conjuntos de vértebras conectadas por disco-intervertebrais, que se articulam pela articulação sinovial presente nos processos articulares. Devido a orca (Orcinus orca) e o cavalo (Equus caballus) habitarem ambientes diferentes, a formula vertebral difere numérica e morfologicamente. O objetivo desse trabalho consistiu em identificar diferenças morfológicas e características adaptativas nas colunas vertebrais de Orcinus orca e Equus caballus. A pesquisa foi realizada através de levantamento bibliográfico, descrevendo características como a quantidade, formato e características morfofuncionais adaptativas das vértebras de cada espécie. Foram consideradas referências bibliográficas que descreviam a evolução de cada espécie e artigos científicos relacionados à coluna vertebral de mamíferos aquáticos. Levantou-se que ambas espécies devem ter evoluído a partir de um único modelo de coluna vertebral ancestral, através de pressões ambientais seletivas diferenciais. A quantidade numérica de cada segmento que forma a coluna também mostrou diferenças entre O. orca e E. caballus, sendo que a fusão das cervicais de Atlas a C3 e o fusionamento de C4 a C7 foram as mais notáveis. A fórmula vertebral da Orcinus orca [C7, T11­13, L10­12, Ca20­24 = 50­54] e Equus caballus [C7, T18, L6, S5, Ca15-21 = 51-57] claramente corroboram a hipótese de origem a partir do modelo único.

The spine is composed of a set of vertebrae, connected by intervertebral discs. It is articulated through synovial joints present in the articular processes. Because the orca (Orcinus orca) and the horse (Equus caballus) evolved in different habitats, their vertebral formula differs numerically and morphologically. This study aimed to identify and compare morphological differences and adaptive features of the vertebral column of Orcinus orca and Equus caballus. Data was collected through a literature review on number of vertebrae, vertebral shape and morphofunctional adaptive characters for each subject species and related aquatic mammals. According to the literature, both species must have evolved from a single vertebral column morphological model under differential selective environmental pressures. The number of vertebrae per column segment also differs between O. orca and E. caballus, notably because of cervical vertebrae fusion from Atlas to C3 and C4 to C7. Comparing the vertebral formula of Orcinus orca C7, T11-13, L10-12, Ca20-24 = 50-54, and Equus caballus C7, T18, L6, S5, Ca15-21 = 51-57, clearly corroborates the single model hypothesis.

Behavioral event occurrence differs between behavioral states in Sotalia guianensis (Cetarctiodactyla: Delphinidae) dolphins: a multivariate approach

Difficulties in quantifying behavioral events can cause loss of information about cetacean behavior, especially behaviors whose functions are still debated. The lack of knowledge is greater for South American species such as Sotalia guianensis (Van Benédén, 1864). Our objective was to contextualize the behavioral events inside behavioral states using a Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Three events occurred in the Feeding, Socio-Sexual and Travelling states (Porpoising, Side flop, Tail out dive), and five events occurred in the Feeding and Travelling states (Back flop, Horizontal jump, Lobtail, Spy-hop, Partial flop ahead). Three events (Belly exposure, Club, and Heading) occurred exclusively in the Socio-sexual state. Partial Back flop and Head flop occurred exclusively in the Feeding state. For the events that occurred in multiple states, we observed that some events occurred more frequently in one of the states (p 0.001), such as Lobtail, Tail out dive horizontal Jump, Partial flop ahead and Side flop. Our multivariate analysis, which separated Socio-sexual behavior from Feeding and Travelling, showed that the abundance of behavioral events differs between states. This differentiation indicates that some events are associated with specific behavioral states. Almost 40% of the events observed were exclusively performed in one state, which indicates a high specialization for some events. Proper discrimination and contextualization of behavioral events may be efficient tools to better understand dolphin behaviors. Similar studies in other habitats and with other species, will help build a broader scenario to aid our understanding of the functions of dolphin behavioral events.

Behavioral event occurrence differs between behavioral states in Sotalia guianensis (Cetarctiodactyla: Delphinidae) dolphins: a multivariate approach

Difficulties in quantifying behavioral events can cause loss of information about cetacean behavior, especially behaviors whose functions are still debated. The lack of knowledge is greater for South American species such as Sotalia guianensis (Van Benédén, 1864). Our objective was to contextualize the behavioral events inside behavioral states using a Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Three events occurred in the Feeding, Socio-Sexual and Travelling states (Porpoising, Side flop, Tail out dive), and five events occurred in the Feeding and Travelling states (Back flop, Horizontal jump, Lobtail, Spy-hop, Partial flop ahead). Three events (Belly exposure, Club, and Heading) occurred exclusively in the Socio-sexual state. Partial Back flop and Head flop occurred exclusively in the Feeding state. For the events that occurred in multiple states, we observed that some events occurred more frequently in one of the states (p 0.001), such as Lobtail, Tail out dive horizontal Jump, Partial flop ahead and Side flop. Our multivariate analysis, which separated Socio-sexual behavior from Feeding and Travelling, showed that the abundance of behavioral events differs between states. This differentiation indicates that some events are associated with specific behavioral states. Almost 40% of the events observed were exclusively performed in one state, which indicates a high specialization for some events. Proper discrimination and contextualization of behavioral events may be efficient tools to better understand dolphin behaviors. Similar studies in other habitats and with other species, will help build a broader scenario to aid our understanding of the functions of dolphin behavioral events.(AU)