Revisional Notes on the Cloud Forest Butterfly Genus Oxeoschistus Butler in Central America (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

So far, six species of Oxeoschistus Butler, including its junior synonym Dioriste Thieme, were listed from Central America, with five of them from Costa Rica alone, which appears to represent the highest regional diversity of this Neotropical montane butterfly genus. Our research based on field work, morphological studies and barcode analysis proved that one record is a misunderstanding perpetuated in scientific literature for over a century: Oxeoschistus cothonides Grose-Smith is identified here as an individual form of the female of O. cothon Salvin. The presence of Oxeoschistus tauropolis (Westwood) in Costa Rica, subject to some controversy, is confirmed, and a new local subspecies is described from Costa Rica, O. tauropolis mitsuko Pyrcz & Nakamura n. ssp. Specific status of O. euriphyle Butler is reinstated based on morphological and molecular data. A new subspecies O. hilara lempira Pyrcz n. ssp. is described from Honduras. O. puerta submaculatus Butler is reported for the first time from the Darién region on the Panama-Colombia border. Species relationships are preliminarily evaluated based on COI data concluding, among others, that O. hilara and O. euriphyle are less closely related than previously assumed. Altitudinal and distributional data are revised, and ecological and behavioural information of all the species of Central American Oxeoschistus is provided.

Considerations on the Taxonomy of the Genus Arhuaco Adams and Bernard 1977, and its Relationships with the Genus Pronophila Doubleday [1849] (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae).

Arhuaco Adams & Bernard (1977) is one of the least known genera of Neotropical Satyrinae. It comprises two species and presents an unusual disjunct distribution, with A. ica Adams & Bernard (1977), endemic to the isolated Colombian Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and A. dryadina (Schaus 1913) found in the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama. Here, the female of A. dryadina is described, and a new generic diagnosis is presented. Affinities with other genera of the subtribe Pronophilina, in particular the potential closest relatives, such as Pronophila Doubleday (1849), are investigated based on morphological, molecular, ecological, and behavioral data. Results from molecular and morphological sources are incongruent. Molecular data indicate that Arhuaco is paraphyletic, with A. dryadina segregating within the Pronophila clade. Morphological data, by contrast, indicate a closer affinity between the two species currently placed in Arhuaco, favoring the monophyly of the genus, and show no consistent synapomorphies for Arhuaco + Pronophila. A vicariance biogeographical scenario is evaluated.

Description of a New Species of the Andean Butterfly Genus Forsterinaria Gray (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with Considerations on an Apparently New Structure in Male Genitalia.

The butterfly genus Forsterinaria Gray is the only strictly montane representative of the diverse Neotropical subtribe Euptychiina (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae), with 24 described species. Recent research in some of the most isolated and highly diverse Andean regions, such as central Peru, show that its total species richness is still underestimated. An example is the new species described here, Forsterinaria emo n. sp., which is particularly interesting because of an unusual structure discovered in its male genitalia which consists of a bunch of bristle-like processes, composing a fringe-like formation on the dorsum of the tegumen. No similar, homologous structure was found in any congener, nor indeed, in any species of diurnal Lepidoptera. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed that the microstructure of the processes resembles a membrane lining the tegumen. Its function is unknown but two hypotheses are discussed based on a comparative study with other genital structures of butterflies. We argue that it may help stabilizing the partners in the process of mating or it may serve as a 'mating plug', preventing the female from multiple copulations.

Specific creatinine determination in laboratory animals using the new enzymatic test kit "Creatinine-PAP".

The new Creatinine-PAP test kit from Boehringer Mannheim GmbH was evaluated for the determination of creatinine in dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and mice. In comparison with methods based on the reaction with alkaline picrate, the enzymatic method gave the lowest serum creatinine values. The differences are caused by serum substances (non-creatinine chromogens) reacting with picric acid. Noticeable differences between the standard inulin clearance and creatinine clearance (e. g., in rats) arise because the non-creatinine chromogens interfere differently in the picric acid methods, and serum and urine contain different concentrations of interfering substances. The concentrations of non-creatinine chromogens are different in the various laboratory animals. Since these substances cannot be entirely removed (e. g., in rats, dogs) by the adsorption procedure with Fuller's earth, we recommend the peroxidase-coupled enzymatic test as a practical and specific method for routine measurements of creatinine in laboratory animals.

The apoenzyme of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the serum of healthy persons and patients suffering from liver diseases.

In activity determination with addition of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (P-5-P), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity increases by 6.5 U/l and that of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by 2.5 U/l in the serum of healthy persons. This corresponds to a relative stimulation of initial activity by 37% and 15.2%, respectively. ApoAST activity in patients with chronic liver diseases is not changed as compared with that of healthy persons, the relative stimulation rate, however, is significantly smaller. ApoALT activity and corresponding relative stimulation is significantly greater as compared with healthy persons. In the case of acute viral hepatitis, a decrease of AST and ALT activity is followed by a decrease of apoenzyme activity in the course of disease. Diagnostic evidence of determinations of aminotransferase activities could not be improved by addition of P-5-P.