The Effect of Corn and Wheat Glutens Fed to Lambs on Some Microbial and Chemical Properties of Musculus Longismus Dorsi and Determination of Intramuscular and Tail Fatty Acid Profile.

This study examined the effects of wheat and corn gluten added to lamb diets as a unilateral protein source on some microbial and chemical properties of Musculus Longismus dorsi (LD), determination of intramuscular and tail fat profile. It was found that TBARS levels in LD muscle on the days of storage were highest in the wheat gluten-treated groups (p<0.01). It was found that the changes in pH values in LD muscle were different on days (p<0.05). It was found that the change of L*, a ve b values on days differed between groups during the storage period (p<0.05). It was found that the numbers of TMAB, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and TPAB changed significantly (p<0.05) during the storage process. While a significant difference was found between the MUFA levels of dorsal muscle intramuscular adipose tissue of the groups (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that the metabolic differences of the one-way protein sources fed to the lambs in the digestive system and other organs had an effect on the meat quality, intramuscular fat and fatty acid profile of the tail.

Reduced palatability, fast flight, and tails: decoding the defence arsenal of Eudaminae skipper butterflies in a Neotropical locality.

Prey often rely on multiple defences against predators, such as flight speed, attack deflection from vital body parts, or unpleasant taste, but our understanding on how often and why they are co-exhibited remains limited. Eudaminae skipper butterflies use fast flight and mechanical defences (hindwing tails), but whether they use other defences like unpalatability (consumption deterrence) and how these defences interact have not been assessed. We tested the palatability of 12 abundant Eudaminae species in Peru, using training and feeding experiments with domestic chicks. Further, we approximated the difficulty of capture based on flight speed and quantified it by wing loading. We performed phylogenetic regressions to find any association between multiple defences, body size, and habitat preference. We found a broad range of palatability in Eudaminae, within and among species. Contrary to current understanding, palatability was negatively correlated with wing loading, suggesting that faster butterflies tend to have lower palatability. The relative length of hindwing tails did not explain the level of butterfly palatability, showing that attack deflection and consumption deterrence are not mutually exclusive. Habitat preference (open or forested environments) did not explain the level of palatability either, although butterflies with high wing loading tended to occupy semi-closed or closed habitats. Finally, the level of unpalatability in Eudaminae is size dependent. Larger butterflies are less palatable, perhaps because of higher detectability/preference by predators. Altogether, our findings shed light on the contexts favouring the prevalence of single versus multiple defensive strategies in prey.

An extinct north American porcupine with a South American tail.

New World porcupines (Erethizontinae) originated in South America and dispersed into North America as part of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) 3-4 million years ago.1 Extant prehensile-tailed porcupines (Coendou) today live in tropical forests of Central and South America.2,3 In contrast, North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are thought to be ecologically adapted to higher-latitude temperate forests, with a larger body, shorter tail, and diet that includes bark.4,5,6,7 Limited fossils8,9,10,11,12,13 have hindered our understanding of the timing of this ecological differentiation relative to intercontinental dispersal during the GABI and expansion into temperate habitats.14,15,16,17,18 Here, we describe functionally important features of the skeleton of the extinct Erethizon poyeri, the oldest nearly complete porcupine skeleton documented from North America, found in the early Pleistocene of Florida. It differs from extant E. dorsatum in having a long, prehensile tail, grasping foot, and lacking dental specializations for bark gnawing, similar to tropical Coendou. Results from phylogenetic analysis suggest that the more arboreal characteristics found in E. poyeri are ancestral for erethizontines. Only after it expanded into temperate, Nearctic habitats did Erethizon acquire the characteristic features that it is known for today. When combined with molecular estimates of divergence times, results suggest that Erethizon was ecologically similar to a larger species of Coendou when it crossed the Isthmus of Panama by the early Pleistocene. It is likely that the range of this more tropically adapted form was limited to a continuous forested biome that extended from South America through the Gulf Coast.

Agonistic effect of peptides derived from a truncated HMGB1 acidic tail sequence in TLR5 from Salmo salar.

Based on the structural knowledge of TLR5 surface and using blind docking platforms, peptides derived from a truncated HMGB1 acidic tail from Salmo salar was designed as TLR5 agonistic. Additionally, a template peptide with the native N-terminal of the acidic tail sequence as a reference was included (SsOri). Peptide binding poses complexed on TLR5 ectodomain model from each algorithm were filtrated based on docking scoring functions and predicted theoretical binding affinity of the complex. The best peptides, termed 6WK and 5LWK, were selected for chemical synthesis and experimental functional assay. The agonist activity by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry was determined following the NF-κBp65 phosphorylation (p-NF-κBp65) and the nuclear translocation of the NF-κBp65 subunit from the cytosol, respectively. HeLa cells stably expressing a S. salar TLR5 chimeric form (TLR5c7) showed increased p-NF-κBp65 levels regarding extracts from flagellin-treated cells. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in the detected p-NF-κBp65 levels between cellular extracts treated with peptides or flagellin by one-way ANOVA. The image analysis of NF-κBp65 immunolabeled cells obtained by confocal microscopy showed increased nuclear NF-κBp65 co-localization in cells both 5LWK and flagellin stimulated, while 6WK and SsOri showed less effect on p65 nuclear translocation (p < 0.05). Also, an increased transcript expression profile of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα, IL-1ß, and IL-8 in HKL cells isolated from Salmo salar was evidenced in 5LWK - stimulated by RT-PCR analysis. Overall, the result indicates the usefulness of novel peptides as a potential immunostimulant in S. salar.

Comparison between local abdominal and transcutaneous tail vein photobiomodulation in experimental rat model of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic autoimmune disease that impacts the quality of life, but current pharmacological treatments are limited. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a light-based treatment that can be applied either locally or systemically. Here, we compare the effects of local and vascular PBM (VPBM) in an experimental rat model of UC. Male Wistar rats were induced with UC by rectal instillation of acetic acid and treated with either local abdominal PBM or VPBM to the tail vein using a 660-nm LED. The findings indicated that local PBM but not VPBM reduced intestinal histological scores. Both local and VPBM increased mucus production, decreased mast cell degranulation, and modulated TNF-α and IL-1 ß levels in the intestines. Local PBM also affected the expression of the mRNAs for IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. In conclusion, we suggest that local PBM appears to be more promising than VPBM for treating UC. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and to optimize the parameters of PBM for UC treatment.

Feeding behaviour, locomotion rhythms and blood biochemistry of the neotropical red-tail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus).

The study evaluated the feeding behaviour of Phractocephalus hemioliopterus through the animals' ability to adapt to the self-feeding system, their preferred feeding times and locomotor activity, as well as the blood biochemistry of juveniles fed in a light/dark cycle. The study was carried out through two experiments, the first of which contained two phases. In experiment 1 - phase I, 24 juveniles (35.28 ± 0.62 g) were distributed in eight 48 l tanks. The tanks were equipped with a self-feeding system and the experiment consisted of evaluating whether the animals were able to adapt to the self-feeding system, as well as evaluating the preferred feeding times and locomotor activity of these animals. A feeding challenge to the animals was introduced in phase II, based on the results of phase I. The results of the first phase evidenced a nocturnal feeding preference. Thus, the feeding challenge consisted of measuring whether the animal would feed during the day and how long it would take to adapt. When the animals consumed 100% of the amount of feed provided daily, phase II was ended. In experiment 2, 24 juveniles of P. hemioliopterus (182.00 ± 14.03 g) were distributed in eight 96 l tanks. This experiment consisted of two treatments with four repetitions, one with exclusive feeding during the middle of the light cycle and another with exclusive feeding in the middle of the dark cycle. At the end, blood samples were collected from the animals for blood biochemistry evaluations. In experiment 1 - phase I, the results showed that the fish adapted very well to the self-feeding system and had a strictly nocturnal feeding behaviour and locomotor rhythm. When they were submitted to the feeding challenge in phase II, the feed intake was stabilized from the 17th day onwards, proportionally to the nocturnal consumption observed in the first phase, thus demonstrating feeding plasticity. In experiment 2, the feeding times influenced the animals' biochemical parameters. Animals fed during the night had higher values of cholesterol and triglycerides than animals fed during the day. It is concluded that P. hemioliopterus has fast adaptability to a self-feeding system, with strictly nocturnal feeding and locomotor behaviours. However, it has feeding plasticity, adapting its behaviour according to food availability. Blood biochemical parameters are influenced by the light/dark feeding cycle.

Unwrapping broken tails: Biological and environmental correlates of predation pressure in limbless reptiles.

Studying species interactions in nature often requires elaborated logistics and intense fieldwork. The difficulties in such task might hinder our ability to answer questions on how biotic interactions change with the environment. Fortunately, a workaround to this problem lies within scientific collections. For some animals, the inspection of preserved specimens can reveal the scars of past antagonistic encounters, such as predation attempts. A common defensive behaviour that leaves scars on animals is autotomy, the loss of a body appendage to escape predation. By knowing the collection site of preserved specimens, it is possible to assess the influence of organismal biology and the surrounding environment in the occurrence of autotomy. We gathered data on tail loss for 8189 preserved specimens of 33 snake and 11 amphisbaenian species to investigate biological and environmental correlates of autotomy in reptiles. We applied generalized linear mixed effect models to evaluate whether body size, sex, life-stage, habitat use, activity pattern, biome, tropicality, temperature and precipitation affect the probability of tail loss in limbless reptiles. We observed autotomy in 23.6% of examined specimens, with 18.7% of amphisbaenian and 33.4% of snake specimens showing tail loss. The probability of tail loss did not differ between snakes and amphisbaenians, but it was higher among large-sized specimens, particularly in adults and females. Chance of tail loss was higher for diurnal and arboreal species, and among specimens collected in warmer regions, but it was unaffected by biome, precipitation, and tropicality. Autotomy in limbless reptiles was affected by size-dependent factors that interplay with ontogeny and sexual dimorphism, although size-independent effects of life-stage and sex also shaped behavioural responses to predators. The increase in probability of tail loss with verticality and diurnality suggests a risk-balance mechanism between species habitat use and activity pattern. Although autotomy is more likely in warmer regions, it seems unrelated to seasonal differences in snakes and amphisbaenians activity. Our findings reveal several processes related to predator-prey interactions involving limbless reptiles, demonstrating the importance of scientific collections to unveil ecological mechanisms at different spatio-temporal scales.

A new species of Sturisoma Swainson, 1838 (Loricariidae: Loricariinae), from the Madeira River basin, with a discussion of historical biogeography of western Amazonas and Paraguay River basins.

A new loricariin species of Sturisoma is described from the Cautário, Guaporé, Mamoré, Machado and Soteiro rivers, Madeira River basin, in Bolivia and Brazil. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a middorsal longitudinal, thin dark brown stripe on the caudal peduncle, extending from two or three plates posterior to the dorsal-fin base, reaching the origin of the caudal fin, or one or two plates anterior to the origin of the caudal fin; small squarish anteriormost abdominal plates; and a middorsal longitudinal dark-brown stripe from first predorsal plate to near the dorsal-fin origin. Furthermore, the new species is diagnosed from congeners by plate morphology, counts on the median series, coalescent plates and ventrolateral thoracic plates, in addition to measurements related to body and head structures. An analysis of genetic distances using cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene marker of the mitochondrial genome between the new species and several congeners is presented, in addition to a likelihood analysis to illustrate the position of the new taxon within Sturisoma. An identification key for species of the genus currently recorded at the upper Amazonas River basin is provided.

Caudal vena cava thrombosis in cows

Background: Caudal vena cava thrombosis (CVCT) is a serious disease that affects cattle. Due to being commonly a fatal pathology, it causes economic losses for producers and national livestock. Thus, the present study describes the epidemiological, clinical, ultrasonographic imaging and pathological findings in 4 cattle with CVCT attended at the Veterinary Hospital (HV) of the Institute of Veterinary Medicine (IMV) of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). Cases: The animals were crossbreds of the Gir x Holstein and Jersey x Holstein breeds, aged between 4 and 8 years old, raised in semi-extensive and intensive systems. The main clinical signs were pale mucous membranes, reluctance to move, markedly positive venous pulse, engorged jugular with positive stasis test, and serous to mucopurulent nasal exudation. The auscultation of the lung fields revealed tachypnea, silent areas, wheezing, and pleural friction, in addition to coughing, expiratory dyspnea, mouth breathing, and expiratory grunts. One animal had severe hemoptysis. The ultrasound examination performed on a bovine revealed a circular and dilated caudal vena cava in cross-section. Laboratory tests in 3 cattle revealed anemia, leukocytosis with neutrophil left shift, and increased liver enzymes. At necropsy, all cattle had thrombi in the hepatic segment of the caudal vena cava. In the lung, multiple abscesses and areas of parenchymal consolidation, crateriform areas, as well as thrombi in the arteries were observed. Pleural effusion and ascites were seen in all cattle. Clotted blood was seen in the trachea, bronchi, and on rumen contents of an animal. Histopathological alterations seen in the liver were centrilobular hepatocytes with frequent intensely eosinophilic cytoplasm, and pyknotic, karyorrhexic, or absent nuclei and cell borders barely distinguishable. In the lung were nodular and random formations, with a thick wall of mature connective tissue and a central area full of cellular debris, necrotic cells, and intact and degenerated neutrophils (abscesses). Discussion: The set of diagnostic tools that include epidemiology, clinical signs and clinical examinations, ultrasound, necropsy, and histopathology were efficient in the diagnosis of CVCT. The possible causes that led the animals to develop CVCT were diffuse septic pododermatitis in the medial nail of the right pelvic limb associated with traumatic reticuloabomasitis and liver abscesses. In 1 cow, it was not possible to establish the probable cause of CVCT, but for the other cattle in the present study, the probable causes are in agreement with studies that have shown that this disease can occur as a sequel to several septic conditions such as jugular phlebitis, mastitis, hoof rot, enteritis, pneumonia, traumatic reticulopericarditis, acidosis and rumen laminitis, as well as omphalophlebitis in calves. The tachypnea, serous to purulent nasal exudation, pulmonary wheezing, pleural friction, coughing, and expiratory dyspnea, usually with open mouth breathing and expiratory grunts evidenced in the animals of this study, occurred as a result of embolic abscess pneumonia. The presence of multiple lung abscesses, areas of parenchymal consolidation, crateriform foci, and thrombi in the pulmonary arteries and chronic suppurative pneumonia, found at necropsy of the animals in the present study, are related to the development of a thrombus in the caudal vena cava that detaches and embolizes and lodges in the pulmonary arteries. The histopathological findings in 1 cow are compatible with lesions found at necropsy and draw attention to embolic pneumonia and liver lesions, which, are related to thrombi in pulmonary arteries and abscesses formed from CVCT, as well as venous stasis exerted in the return circulation.

Description of a new species of Schizodon (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the upper rio Tapajs basin, Brazil.

A new species of Schizodon with five dark transverse blotches on the body and a large black blotch at the end of the caudal peduncle is described from the rio Arinos, upper rio Tapajs basin, in the Brazilian Amazon. The new species shares a color pattern composed by transverse brown bars and a caudal fin blotch with Schizodon fasciatus and S. trivittatus but possess twelve rows of scales around the caudal peduncle, a unique character among the species of genus.

Four new species of polychromatic spiny-tailed iguanian lizards, genus Stenocercus (Iguania: Tropiduridae), from Peru.

The tropical Andes Mountains exhibit high levels of endemism and spatial turnover in the distribution of species. The lizard genus Stenocercus Dumril Bibron, 1837, contains 76 species and most of them occur in the tropical Andes, reaching elevations up to 4,000 m. We describe four new species of Stenocercus based on the examination of newly collected material from the Amazonian slopes of the Peruvian Andes. Stenocercus asenlignus sp. nov. inhabits the premontane forest of northern and central Peru, departments of Amazonas, San Martn and Hunuco, at elevations between 1,500 and 2,036 m, in the basins of the Mayo, Huayabamba, and Huallaga rivers. Stenocercus leybachi sp. nov. inhabits the premontane forest of the upper Huallaga River, Hunuco department in central Peru, at elevations between 824 and 1,270 m. Stenocercus qalaywasi sp. nov. was collected in a small village at the headwaters of the Mantaro River, Junn department in central Peru, at an elevation of 2,587 m. Finally, S. nigrocaudatus sp. nov. inhabits the montane forest from extreme northern Peru, Cajamarca department, at elevations of 1,700 and 1,892 m. These species are characterized by having granular scales on the posterior surface of the thighs, relatively short tail, caudals spinose, two caudal whorls per autotomic segment, and the ability to change coloration from green to brown or gray; they differ from other species of Stenocercus in scutellation features and color pattern.

Short- and long-term effects of an extreme case of autotomy: does "tail" loss and subsequent constipation decrease the locomotor performance of male and female scorpions?

In many taxa, individuals voluntarily detach a body part as a form to increase their chances of escaping predation. This defense mechanism, known as autotomy, has several consequences, such as changes in locomotor performance that may affect fitness. Scorpions of the genus Ananteris autotomize the "tail", which in fact corresponds to the last abdominal segments. After autotomy, individuals lose nearly 25% of their body mass and the last portion of the digestive tract, including the anus, which prevents defecation and leads to constipation, because regeneration does not occur. Here, we experimentally investigated the short- and long-term effects of tail loss on the locomotor performance of Ananteris balzani. In a short-term experiment, the maximum running speed (MRS) of males and females did not change after autotomy. Moreover, the relative mass of the lost tail did not affect the change in MRS after autotomy. In a long-term experiment, autotomy had a negative effect on the MRS of males, but not of females. Autotomized over-fed individuals suffered from severe constipation but were not slower than autotomized normally fed individuals. In conclusion, tail loss has no immediate effect on the locomotor performance of scorpions. The long-term decrease in the locomotor performance of autotomized males may impair mate searching. However, because death by constipation takes several months, males have a long time to find mates and reproduce. Thus, the prolonged period between autotomy and death by constipation is crucial for understanding the evolution of one of the most extreme cases of autotomy in nature.

Hydrogen peroxide is necessary during tail regeneration in juvenile axolotl.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) is a key reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during appendage regeneration among vertebrates. However, its role during tail regeneration in axolotl as redox signaling molecule is unclear. RESULTS: Treatment with exogenous H2 O2 rescues inhibitory effects of apocynin-induced growth suppression in tail blastema cells leading to cell proliferation. H2 O2 also promotes recruitment of immune cells, regulate the activation of AKT kinase and Agr2 expression during blastema formation. Additionally, ROS/H2 O2 regulates the expression and transcriptional activity of Yap1 and its target genes Ctgf and Areg. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that H2 O2 is necessary and sufficient to promote tail regeneration in axolotls. Additionally, Akt signaling and Agr2 were identified as ROS targets, suggesting that ROS/H2 O2 is likely to regulate epimorphic regeneration through these signaling pathways. In addition, ROS/H2 O2 -dependent-Yap1 activity is required during tail regeneration.

Wnt1 and Wnt2b immunodetection of the regenerating tail and comparative ultrastructure of tail spinal cord in the Scincella tsinlingensis / Inmunodetección Wnt1 y Wnt2b de la cola en regeneración y ultraestructura comparativa de la médula espinal de la cola en Scincella tsinlingensis

SUMMARY: The Wnt pathway is essential for the initiation of lizard tail regeneration. The regenerated lizard tails exhibit obvious morphological differences compared to the original ones. The expression of Wnt1 and Wnt2b proteins in the regenerating tail of Scincella tsinlingensis was detected by immunohistochemistry and then comparatively analyzed for ultrastructural changes in the original and regenerated spinal cord. The ependymal layer of the original spinal cord was pseudostratified with multiciliated cells and primary monociliated cells, while the cells of the ependymal layer of the regenerated spinal cord were organized in a monolayer with a few biciliated cells. Immunolocalization indicated that Wnt1 and Wnt2b were mainly distributed in the dermis near the original tail stump, spinal cord, and clot-positive migratory cells during Stage I, 0-1 days post-amputation (dpa). Wnt1 and Wnt2b were predominantly detected in the epaxial and hypaxial musculature near the original tail stump, wound epithelium, and spinal cord in the original tail during Stage II, 1-7 dpa. Mesenchymal cells and wound epithelium showed immunostaining during Stage III and IV, 7-15 dpa. The ependymal tubes contained these signaling proteins during Stage V and VI, 20- 30 dpa. Labeling was mainly observed in nearby regenerative blood vessels, ependymal cells, epaxial and hypaxial musculature in the apical epithelial layer (AEC) after 45-160 dpa. These findings indicated that Wnt1 and Wnt2b proteins presented primarily in regenerating epidermis and nerve tissues were a critical signal for tail regeneration in S. tsinlingensis.

RESUMEN: La vía Wnt es esencial para el inicio de la regeneración de la cola del lagarto. Las colas de lagarto regeneradas exhiben diferencias morfológicas obvias en comparación con las originales. La expresión de las proteínas Wnt1 y Wnt2b en la cola en regeneración de Scincella tsinlingensis se detectó mediante inmunohistoquímica y luego se analizaron comparativamente los cambios ultraestructurales en la médula espinal original y regenerada. La capa ependimaria de la médula espinal original se pseudoestratificó con células multiciliadas y células monociliadas primarias, mientras que las células de la capa ependimaria de la médula espinal regenerada se organizaron en monocapa con algunas células bicilicadas. La inmunolocalización indicó que Wnt1 y Wnt2b se distribuyeron principalmente en la dermis cerca del muñón de la cola original, la médula espinal y las células migratorias positivas en el coágulo durante la Etapa I, 0-1 días después de la amputación (dpa). Wnt1 y Wnt2b se detectaron predominantemente en la musculatura epaxial e hipaxial cerca del muñón de la cola original, el epitelio de la herida y la médula espinal en la cola original durante la Etapa II, 1-7 dpa. Las células mesenquimales y el epitelio de la herida mostraron inmunomarcaje durante la Etapa III y IV, 7- 15 dpa. Los tubos ependimarios contenían estas proteínas de señalización durante la Etapa V y VI, 20-30 dpa. El marcaje se observó principalmente en vasos sanguíneos regenerativos cercanos, células ependimarias, musculatura epaxial e hipaxial en la capa epitelial apical (AEC) después de 45-160 dpa. Estos hallazgos indicaron que las proteínas Wnt1 y Wnt2b están presentes principalmente en la epidermis en regeneración y en los tejidos nerviosos y eran una señal crítica para la regeneración de la cola en S. tsinlingensis.

Bizarre tail weaponry in a transitional ankylosaur from subantarctic Chile.

Armoured dinosaurs are well known for their evolution of specialized tail weapons-paired tail spikes in stegosaurs and heavy tail clubs in advanced ankylosaurs1. Armoured dinosaurs from southern Gondwana are rare and enigmatic, but probably include the earliest branches of Ankylosauria2-4. Here we describe a mostly complete, semi-articulated skeleton of a small (approximately 2 m) armoured dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period of Magallanes in southernmost Chile, a region that is biogeographically related to West Antarctica5. Stegouros elengassen gen. et sp. nov. evolved a large tail weapon unlike any dinosaur: a flat, frond-like structure formed by seven pairs of laterally projecting osteoderms encasing the distal half of the tail. Stegouros shows ankylosaurian cranial characters, but a largely ancestral postcranial skeleton, with some stegosaur-like characters. Phylogenetic analyses placed Stegouros in Ankylosauria; specifically, it is related to Kunbarrasaurus from Australia6 and Antarctopelta from Antarctica7, forming a clade of Gondwanan ankylosaurs that split earliest from all other ankylosaurs. The large osteoderms and specialized tail vertebrae in Antarctopelta suggest that it had a tail weapon similar to Stegouros. We propose a new clade, the Parankylosauria, to include the first ancestor of Stegouros-but not Ankylosaurus-and all descendants of that ancestor.

Two new species of Enoplolaiminae (Enoplida: Thoracostomopsidae) from Ro Negro and Chubut, Argentina.

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes of the subfamily Enoplolaiminae are described from Ro Negro and Chubut Provinces, Argentina. Enoplolaimus variispiculum sp. n. is characterized by having asymmetric spicules, different in size and distal tips. It is the only species with this characteristic in the whole genus. Mesacanthoides flagellatum sp. n. is characterized by mandibles texture, weakly cuticularized and mottled and mandibular plates with pronounced v shaped incision posterior to the anterior bar. Cephalic capsule wider than long with setae on posterior end, males with long spicules, complex gubernaculum and flagellate tail.

A Rare Case of Urogenital, Pelvic, and Tail Duplication in a Dog.

We describe a case of congenital duplication involving urogenital organs, pelvis and tail in a dog diagnosed by ultrasound scanning, retrograde urethrocystography, and excretory urography. Left nephrectomy, cystectomy, urethral resection, orchidectomy, penectomy, and caudectomy were the treatment options for this case. No spine or intestinal alteration was observed by radiography. After the surgery, the patient condition was assessed for one year. No significant changes were observed in ambulation or in laboratory test results during this period, including normal urination. The patient is currently 6 years old, and is in good condition and with quality of life.

A new species of emThamnodynastes/em Wagler, 1830 from western Amazonia, with notes on morphology for members of the emThamnodynastes/em empallidus/em group (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Tachymenini).

The genus Thamnodynastes is the most diverse within the tribe Tachymenini, with an extensive and complex taxonomic history. The brief descriptions and lack of robust diagnostic characters are the main sources for identification errors and for the difficulty to assess the diversity estimates of the genus. The Thamnodynastes pallidus group was briefly designated to encompass the most arboreal species of the genus, with thinner bodies and longer tails: T. pallidus, T. longicaudus, T. sertanejo, and a fourth undescribed species. After its designation, no other paper addressed this group and its morphological variation, especially for the hemipenis, is still undetermined. After the analysis of all species of Thamnodynastes we were able to corroborate the distinctiveness of the T. pallidus group and to accurately diagnose its fourth species from the western portion of the Amazonia lowlands. The new species is distinguishable from all congeners, except T. sertanejo, by the absence of ventral longitudinal stripes, 17/17/11 dorsal scale rows, and dorsal dark brown blotches on the anterior third of the body. The new species is distinguished from T. sertanejo by the higher number of subcaudals, lower number of ventrals, and smaller body and head sizes. We also provide additional diagnostic features for the Thamnodynastes pallidus group, including new data on hemipenial variation. Finally, we briefly discuss the defensive behavior and morphological characters associated with arboreality in members of the T. pallidus species group.

Evaluation of different skin regions derived from a postmortem jaguar, Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), after vitrification for development of cryobanks from captive animals.

Biological resource banks represent valuable tools for the conservation of species vulnerable to extinction, such as the jaguar. Cryobanks of skins have the potential to safeguard rare genotypes, allowing the potential exploitation of biological samples in animal multiplication technologies and the study of genetic variability. Determination of the most suitable skin regions for tissue conservation can help increase the efficiency of cryobanks and the storage of biological samples. To this end, we evaluated the effects of vitrification of skin tissues from the ear, caudal, and femoral regions of a post-mortem jaguar belonging to a zoo in Brazil. Non-vitrified and vitrified samples were evaluated and compared using quantitative methods, focusing on skin thickness, cell quantification, number of perinuclear halos, collagen and elastic density, and proliferative activity. No differences were observed in skin thickness, number of perinuclear halos, elastic density, and proliferative activity between non-vitrified and vitrified tissues in skin from any region. However, vitrified tissues derived from femoral skin showed a reduction in the number of fibroblasts, epidermal cells and collagen density compared to non-vitrified tissues. In summary, the ear and caudal regions provided the best conservation of somatic tissues derived from jaguars, and skin samples from these regions are therefore the most suitable for the formation of cryobanks.

Congenital short tail in Macaca mulatta.

In a captive Macaca mulatta breeding colony, a single family group with 39 animals showed 19 individuals being born with dramatic tail shortening. Through clinical, genealogical, radiographic, and cytogenetic evaluation, it was related to a probable dominant autosomal inheritance of the reduction in the number of distal caudal vertebrae.