The southernmost records of Brotula barbata (Bloch & Schneider 1801) (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) in the western Atlantic Ocean.

The present study reports the occurrence of the bearded brotula, Brotula barbata, in four different localities off southern Brazil. These records extend the species' known distribution limit southwards, beyond Rio de Janeiro, to the state of Rio Grande do Sul (30° 50' S). Morphometric and meristic data for the specimens reported herein are provided and discussed.

Stranding Events of Kogia Whales along the Brazilian Coast.

The genus Kogia, which comprises only two extant species, Kogia sima and Kogia breviceps, represents one of the least known groups of cetaceans in the global ocean. In some coastal regions, however, stranding events of these species have been relatively common over the last decades. Stranding provides the opportunity to investigate the biology of these cetaceans and to explore the epidemiological aspects associated with the mortality of the organisms found on the beach. A number of disturbances (including pelagic fisheries, chemical pollution, boat strikes, and noise pollution) have been confirmed to pose a particular threat to the Kogia species. However, no study has yet investigated potential relationships between environmental conditions and stranding events. Here we analyse how a collection of environmental, physical, and biological variables, such as wind, sea surface temperature (SST), water depth, and chlorophyll-a, correlate to Kogia stranding events along the Brazilian coast. The results of our statistical analyses suggest that K. sima is more likely found in warm tropical waters, which provide an explanation for the high frequency of stranding in northeastern Brazilian coast. In contrast, K. breviceps appears to have a preference for temperate and productive waters. Wind speed results to be also an important factor for predicting Kogia strandings in Brazilian coast. Additionally, literature information in combination with our own data and analyses of stomach contents confirms that oceanic cephalopods constitute the primary nutritional source of both Kogia species. By using the available information as a qualitative proxy for habitat preference and feeding ecology, our study provides a novel and comprehensive assessment of Kogia stranding data in relation to environmental conditions along the Brazilian coast.

A importância da avaliaçäo de incapacidades em membros superiores de pacientes portadores de Hanseníase atendidos em nível ambulatorial / The importance of evaluation of deficiency forelimbs patients with leprosy in ambulatory care facilities

As incapacidades neuro-músculo-esqueléticas ocorrem com frequencia em pacientes portadores de hanseníase. A manifestaçäo clínica caracteriza-se por distúrbios neurovasculares dérmicos e viscerais. As alteraçöes neurais de membros superiores estäo mais presentes no nervo ulnar, acometendo também os nervos mediano e radial, podendo apresentar neurite, silenciosa ou näo. Avaliar as incapacidades nos membros superiores é de suma importância a fim de monitorar o dano neural no paciente portador dehanseníase