A consolidated phylogeny of snail-eating snakes (Serpentes, Dipsadini), with the description of five new species from Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.

A molecular phylogeny of the Neotropical snail-eating snakes (tribe Dipsadini Bonaparte, 1838) is presented that includes 60 of the 133 species currently recognized. There is morphological and phylogenetic support for four new species of Sibon Fitzinger, 1826 and one of Dipsas Laurenti, 1768, which are described here based on their unique combination of molecular, meristic, and color pattern characteristics. PlesiodipsasHarvey et al., 2008 is designated as a junior synonym of Dipsas and additional evidence is presented to support the transfer of the genus Geophis Wagler, 1830 to the tribe Dipsadini. Two of the subspecies of S.nebulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) are elevated to full species status. Insight into additional undescribed cryptic diversity within the S.nebulatus species complex is provided. Evidence that supports the existence of an undescribed species previously confused with D.temporalis is provided, as well as the first country record of S.ayerbeorum Vera-Pérez, 2019 in Ecuador with a comment on the ontogenetic variation of the latter. Finally, photographs of Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Panamanian snail-eating snakes are provided.

A new species of Dipsas (Serpentes, Dipsadidae) from central Panama.

A new species of Dipsas Laurenti, 1768, from Central Panama is described based on molecular analyses, hemipenial morphology, and external characters. This is the sixth species of Dipsas to be described for the country; the snake has been suspected to exist since 1977 and has not been thoroughly studied until now. Additionally, morphological comparations including scale counts are done with other species within the genus, and the current geographic distribution of Dipsastemporalis (Werner, 1909), the sister species, is updated. Finally, a key to the species of Dipsas currently known from Middle America is presented.

ResumenDescribimos una nueva especies de Dipsas Laurenti, 1768 de la región central de Panamá en base a análisis moleculares, morfología hemipenial y caracteres de morfología externa. Esta es la sexta especie del género Dipsas descrita para el país. Se sospechaba su existencia desde 1977 pero no había sido estudiada exhaustivamente hasta ahora. Adicionalmente, presentamos comparaciones morfológicas (incluyendo lepidosis) con otras especies del género y actualizamos la distribución geográfica de su especie hermana Dipsastemporalis (Werner, 1909). Finalmente, presentamos una clave para las especies de Dipsas distribuidas en Centroamérica.

A new salamander of the genus Bolitoglossa (Caudata: Plethodontidae) from the highlands of western Panama.

We describe a new species of salamander of the genus Bolitoglossa from the Cordillera de Talamanca in western Panama. The new species is distinct from its congeners by its dorsal and ventral coloration, finger and toe webbing, and a comparatively high maxillary teeth count in relation to SVL. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed an isolated phylogenetic position of the new species which is related to the B. robinsoni, B. subpalmata and B. epimela species groups, all four of which form a subclade within the subgenus Eladinea.

A new rainfrog of the genus Pristimantis (Anura, Brachycephaloidea) from central and eastern Panama.

Substantial molecular and morphological character differences lead us to the description of a new species of the genus Pristimantis from the cloud forest of Cerro Chucantí, Maje Mountains, Darien Province, as well as from several other mountain ranges in eastern and central Panama. Pristimantisgretathunbergae sp. nov. is a sister species to the allopatric P.erythropleura-penelopus group from northern Colombia with a mtDNA sequence divergence of > 4.4% at 16S and > 14.6% at COI. Its closest congener in sympatry is P.cruentus that differs by a large sequence divergence of > 9.6% in 16S mtDNA and 19.0% at COI, and from which it differs also by ventral and groin coloration, unusually prominent black eyes, a contrasting light upper lip, commonly a single conical to spine-like tubercle on the upper eyelid, and a larger head. While the habitat continuity at most sites in eastern Panama is moderate, habitats in central Panama are severely fragmented. Cerro Chucantí and the surrounding Maje Mountains are highly threatened by rapid deforestation and replaced by plantations and cattle pastures. Thus, investigations on the ecology of the new species and its population status, especially at the type locality, are highly recommended. As a flagship species, this new frog can help to preserve the Chucantí cloud forest including several recently described species known only from this isolated area in eastern Panama.

A new species of Atelopus (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from eastern Panama.

A new species of the genus Atelopus, Atelopus fronterizo sp. nov., from eastern Panama is described herein based on molecular, morphological, and bioacoustic evidence. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners occurring in the region by a combination of the following characters: (1) phalangeal reduction in thumb; (2) SVL (females only) (35.1-50.1; n=13), HW/SVL (0.23-0.34; n=59), EYND/HW (0.27-0.39; n=60), TIBL/SVL (0.41-0.56; n=58), and HAL/SVL (0.22-0.28; n=49); (3) dorsal color pattern with green or yellow background and extensive dark olive blotches forming transversal bands or mottling; (4) advertisement call duration 176-235 ms with 19-34 pulses, average pulse rate 131.69 pulses/s, and dominant frequency 2 422.50-2 606.50 Hz. The new species is nested within the Central American clade of Atelopus. The minimum Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) genetic divergence between Atelopus fronterizo sp. nov. and its most phylogenetically similar congeners ( A. certus and A. glyphus) is >2.6% for 16S and >4.9% for COI (Table 1). The phylogenetic relationship is strongly supported by ultrafast bootstrap values for the maximum-likelihood trees of both genetic markers (16S, 96; COI, 100, Figure 1A). Bayesian analysis of the concatenated sequences resulted in a tree with similar topology and high posterior probability support (0.99; Supplementary Figure S1). In addition, haplotype networks inferred from COI and 16S (Supplementary Figure S2) showed a well-separated clade containing the new species (two for COI, four for 16S). The number of mutational steps between haplotypes for the new species samples is very low (1-4 in 16S; one in COI), and the minimum number of mutational steps from the nearest species is nine for 16S (distance to A. certus) and 28 for COI (distance to A. glyphus).

A new species of Dactyloa from eastern Panama, with comments on other Dactyloa species present in the region.

Giant anoles of the genus Dactyloa have been considered to be represented in eastern Panama by six species. In this contribution, we describe a seventh species that is restricted to the Majé, San Blas, Darién, and Piedras-Pacora mountain ranges. The new species resembles D. ibanezi, D. limon, and D. purpurescens in external morphology but differs from these species in dewlap coloration, dorsal color pattern, morphometrics, and scalation. The recognition of the new species is further supported by DNA barcoding (genetic distances >2.7% in 16S and >7.8% in COI between the new species and all other species of Dactyloa). We discuss the taxonomic identity of D. purpurescens, and, based on morphological evidence, we place D. chocorum in the synonymy of the former species. An identification key for all 11 Dactyloa species occurring in Panama is provided.

Revision of the genus Lepidoblepharis (Reptilia: Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in Central America, with the description of three new species.

Based on morphological and molecular data, we describe three new species of the genus Lepidoblepharis with granular dorsals from Panama (Lepidoblepharis emberawoundule sp. nov., Lepidoblepharis rufigularis sp. nov., and Lepidoblepharis victormartinezi sp. nov.). The results of our molecular analyses confirm the existence of five deeply differentiated genealogical lineages among Panamanian Lepidoblepharis. We present detailed descriptions of their morphology, including some new valuable scalation characters (ventral and subfemoral escutcheon) and hemipenes, as well as comparisons with the other two species of the genus known to occur in Panama (L. sanctaemartae and L. xanthostigma) and their South American congeners. Last, we provide an updated identification key for the genus Lepidoblepharis in Central America.

A new species of Andinobates (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatidae) from west central Panama.

Dendrobatid frogs are among the best known anurans in the world, mainly due to their toxicity and associated bright colors. A recently described dendrobatid genus, Andinobates, comprises frogs distributed among the Colombian Andes and Panama. During field work in the Distrito de Donoso, Colón province, Panama, we found a poison frog that we here describe as a new species. The new species belongs to the A. minutus species group and is described herein as Andinobates geminisae sp. nov. This new species differs from all other members of the group by having uniformly orange smooth skin over the entire body and a distinctive male advertisement call. The new species is smaller than other colorful dendrobatids present in the area, such as Oophaga pumilio and O. vicentei. We also provide molecular phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences of dendrobatids and summarize genetic distances among Andinobates species. Andinobates geminisae occurs in Caribbean versant rainforest on the westernmost edge of the known distribution of A. minutus, and represents the fourth species within this genus in Panama. This is vulnerable to habitat loss and excessive harvesting and requires immediate conservation plans to preserve this species with a restricted geographic range.

Two new fringe-limbed frogs of the genus Ecnomiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Panama.

Forest canopy-dwelling frogs are usually among the rarest anuran species observed in the neotropical forest, mainly because they fall outside of the scope of the standard search methods used by herpetologists. During field explorations undertaken in western and eastern Panama in recent years, we discovered two species belonging to the genus Ecnomiohyla, which showed significant differences in genetic distances (16S mtDNA gene) and morphological characteristics different from any known Ecnomiohyla species. The first specimen originates from the Serranía de Jingurudó, Darién province, southeastern Panamá, and is described herein as E. bailarina sp. nov., and the second specimen was found at Santa Fe National Park, Veraguas province, central-western Panama, and is described as E. veraguensis sp. nov. We provide a detailed description of both new species, including comparisons of morphological and molecular characters of almost all members of the genus in lower Central America, as well as an identification key for the entire genus.

Influências do processamento das resinas acrílicas termicamente ativadas para bases de próteses totais / Influences of the processing of thermo-activated complete denture base acrylic resins

A adaptaçäo das bases de dentadura é um dos fatores mais importantes na confecçäo de próteses totais. Esta adaptaçäo pode ser comprometida por alteraçöes dimensionais, que säo inerentes aos materiais de resinas acrílicas. Os autores ressaltam a importância dos diversos ciclos de polimerizaçäo e dos vários tipos de resinas acrílicas. Estes métodos têm sido tentativas de melhorar a precisäo da adaptaçäo da base de dentadura, mas também de tentar criar uma técnica laboratorial mais rápida

Manifestaçöes da diabete na cavidade bucal em pacientes portadores de próteses / Manifestations of diabetes in the mouth cavity of prosthesis patients

O objetivo desta revisäo é fazer uma breve síntese, referente a pacientes diabéticos e a açäo de drogas que alteram a oferta de saliva na cavidade bucal em pacientes portadores de próteses, como também suas manifestaçöes causadas pela xerostomia, pelos traumas, riscos de infecçöes, cicatrizaçöes, problemas ao falar, comer, beber e com a retençäo das próteses