Hematological and genotoxic biomarkers in a natural population of freshwater turtles Trachemys dorbigni (Duméril & Bibron, 1835) (Testudines: Emydidae) living in an urban area in Southern Brazil.

The present study aimed to report the morphometric and hematological indices and genotoxicity of a free-life population of D'Orbigny's slider turtles (Trachemys dorbigni) living in an urban area in Southern Brazil. For that, 16 specimens were randomly captured in an urban canal that receives irregular releases of wastewater. Biometrics and external visual changes were analyzed, such as turtle shell deformities, and the presence of parasites. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the hematological profile and the presence of micronuclei and other erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities as potential mutagenic and genotoxic effects. Water physicochemical parameters were also measured. Organisms with ectoparasites (31.25%) and small carapace deformations (56.25%) were observed, but maximum carapace length and weight were considered normal for the species according to the literature. The blood profile indicated low hemoglobin and hematocrit and a high number of total leukocytes, particularly eosinophils which characterize parasitic infections. A frequency of 0.12% for the micronucleus was considered basal, but the frequency of other erythrocyte abnormalities was evident, mainly of blebbed nuclei (63.79%), indicating chromosomal damage in the early stage. The results of this study suggest that natural populations of chelonian inhabiting urbanized areas are impacted by anthropogenic activities in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it provides comprehensive data which can serve as a comparative model for environmental monitoring studies involving turtles.

A new species of Pristimantis Jimnez de la Espada, 1870 (Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Brejos de Altitude in Northeast Brazil.

Pristimantis is the most diverse Neotropical genus of terrestrial vertebrates and is distributed from Central America to Argentina. The last few years have seen the description of several new species of the genus, suggesting that its diversity is still underestimated. After decades of uncertainties about the taxonomic status of populations of Pristimantis from the Brejos de Altitude of the state of Cear, Northeast Brazil, we finally found morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence confirming their distinctiveness from other Atlantic Forest species. The new species is characterized by the following: shagreen dorsal skin with small-scattered tubercles, absence of dorsolateral fold, presence of tarsal fold, advertisement call composed of 18 pulsed notes, (25 pulses per note), and dominant frequency located in the second energy band, ranging from 36174220 Hz. Phylogenetic analysis placed the new species in the Pristimantis conspicillatus species group and the sister lineage of the Atlantic Forest clade comprising P. ramagii, P. paulodutrai and the P. vinhai species complex.

The phylogeny of Dendropsophini (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae).

The relationships of the hyline tribe Dendropsophini remain poorly studied, with most published analyses dealing with few of the species groups of Dendropsophus. In order to test the monophyly of Dendropsophini, its genera, and the species groups currently recognized in Dendropsophus, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic analysis. The molecular dataset included sequences of three mitochondrial and five nuclear genes from 210 terminals, including 12 outgroup species, the two species of Xenohyla, and 93 of the 108 recognized species of Dendropsophus. The phenomic dataset includes 46 terminals, one per species (34 Dendropsophus, one Xenohyla, and 11 outgroup species). Our results corroborate the monophyly of Dendropsophini and the reciprocal monophyly of Dendropsophus and Xenohyla. Some species groups of Dendropsophus are paraphyletic (the D. microcephalus, D. minimus, and D. parviceps groups, and the D. rubicundulus clade). On the basis of our results, we recognize nine species groups; for three of them (D. leucophyllatus, D. microcephalus, and D. parviceps groups) we recognize some nominal clades to highlight specific morphology or relationships and facilitate species taxonomy. We further discuss the evolution of oviposition site selection, where our results show multiple instances of independent evolution of terrestrial egg clutches during the evolutionary history of Dendropsophus.

A new species of Scinax Wagler (Hylidae: Scinaxini) from the tropical forests of Northeastern Brazil.

We describe a new species of the Scinax ruber clade from Northeastern Brazil that occurs in widely separated geographic areas in the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia state and the Highland Humid Forest of Serra de Baturité, northeast Ceará state. Scinax tropicalia sp. nov. (holotype coordinates: -14.795694°, -39.172645°) is diagnosed from all 75 currently recognize species of the S. ruber clade by bioacoustical and morphological adult traits, such as duration (0.11-0.31 s) and dominant frequency (1.59-1.85 kHz) of the advertisement call, snout shape rounded, nearly rounded, or semi-circular in dorsal view and rounded to slightly protruding in profile, bilobate vocal sac, absence of pectoral glands and spicule-shaped papillary epidermal projections on nuptial pads, and color pattern on the dorsum of body and hidden surfaces of hindlimbs.

A new species of Erythrolamprus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontini) from the savannas of northern South America

Erythrolamprus Boie, 1826 is a highly diverse dipsadid snake genus, ranging from Central America south to Argentina and Uruguay. In this work, we reassess the taxonomic status of specimens previously identified as Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus schotti (Schlegel, 1837) from the savannah habitats of Roraima state, northern Brazil, Guyana, and Bolívarstate, Venezuela. Based on novel molecular and morphological evidence, we conclude that these specimens represent a distinct, diagnosable and reciprocally monophyletic taxon. We here describe it as a new species. Furthermore, we comment on the taxonomy of other Erythrolamprus spp

Reproductive biology of Erythrolamprus jaegeri coralliventris (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in the Brazilian Coastal Pampa.

We analyzed reproductive biology of Erythrolamprus jaegeri coralliventris, a snake from the Brazilian Pampa. Females presented larger snout-vent length than males, while no significant differences were found in tail length/snout-vent length ratios between sexes. Females attain sexual maturity in larger sizes than males. The reproductive cycle of females presented a seasonal pattern, with advanced vitellogenesis occurring from middle winter to middle spring and oviductal eggs occurring from middle winter to middle summer. The real fecundity ranged from two to eigth eggs and the expected fecundity varied from one to 12 secondary follicles. No significant correlation was found between females body size and the following parameters: real fecundity, length of the largest egg and potential fecundity. Therefore, E. j. coralliventris presents a seasonal reproductive pattern, which seems to follow the rainfall profile observed for the studied region. This may represent a strategy of energy gain associated to the reproductive cycle, considering that the food resources most explored by this species are anurans that present higher activity during rainy periods.

Arsenic, lead and cadmium concentrations in caudal crests of the yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) from Brazilian Pantanal.

Wetlands are environments of extreme importance due to their high biodiversity and invaluable ecosystem services. Nevertheless, wetlands worldwide are under the increasing threat of the effects of contaminants, which put at risk the biota and the ecosystems. Herein the concentrations of non-essential and toxic elements arsenic (As), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in caudal crests of the yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) from the Brazilian Pantanal, one of the largest wetlands in the world, were investigated aiming to compare concentrations in individuals from a large pristine area (Southern Pantanal) to animals from an area close to potential sources of anthropogenic emissions (Northern Pantanal). Levels above the limit of detection were found for all the elements in the majority of the analysed samples. The highest mean concentration was detected for As in samples from both sites, followed by Pb and Cd in samples from Southern Pantanal, and Cd and Pb in samples from Northern Pantanal. Significant negative correlations were found between As and Cd concentrations and the size of the individuals from the Southern Pantanal. Surprisingly, concentrations of all three elements were higher in pristine Southern Pantanal, but with significant differences only for Cd. This result suggests that natural sources and processes may be acting for the mobilisation and availability of As, Pb and Cd for Southern Pantanal biota, which reflected in the contamination of C. yacare. Data from the literature showed higher levels of As, Pb and Cd in abiotic compartments in Southern Pantanal and adjacent plateaus in comparison to Northern Pantanal, corroborating the higher concentrations detected in biotic samples from the south. Thus, natural sources seem to play a relevant role in the contamination of biota by As, Pb and Cd in Southern Pantanal, characterising an intriguing pattern that could be tested for other species.

Taxonomic revision of Chironius bicarinatus (Wied 1820) (Serpentes: Colubridae), with description of a new species

Chironius bicarinatus is a conspicuous colubrid snake species, widely distributed in northeastern, southeastern, central-western, and southern Brazil, as well as Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. On the basis of new morphological data of individuals from previously unsampled regions and deoxyribonucleic acid sequences, we reviewed the taxonomy of populations previously referred to as C. bicarinatus, revisiting the species definition with an updated diagnosis, inferring its phylogenetic relationships with closely related lineages in southern Brazil, herein described as a new species restricted to Pampa forests or grasslands and Atlantic Forest semidecidual forests in southern Brazil. The new species can be readily diagnosed from C. bicarinatus and all other congeners on the basis of internal (hemipenis unilobed, unicalyculate, cylindrical, apex with smooth calyces, with spinules restricted to proximal portion, near the medial area; lacrimal foramen with small projection on the anteroventral margin) and external morphology (ventrals 153–165 [153–165 in males, 155–164 in females]; subcaudals 103–146 pairs [129–142 in males, 103–146 in females]; adult dorsal pattern with dark green background, scales sometimes with light blue margin, two conspicuous black dorsal stripes with light green vertebral stripe between them that gradually dissipates to the tail, ventrals with black margin on its edges) and molecular evidence.

Taxonomic status of Apostolepisbarrioi Lema, 1978, with comments on the taxonomic instability of Apostolepis Cope, 1862 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae).

Apostolepis is a diverse neotropical snake genus, which has been historically subjected to poor taxonomic descriptions, largely based on either a small type series or subjective diagnoses. We evaluate the case of Apostolepisbarrioi Lema, 1978 and its intricate taxonomic history, suggesting its synonymization with Apostolepisdimidiata (Jan, 1862), and providing brief commentary on the taxonomic instability that has been plaguing the genus.

Diet, sexual dimorphism and reproduction of sympatric racers Philodryas aestiva and Philodryas patagoniensis from the coastal Brazilian Pampa.

Herein we investigated diet, sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology of two sympatric congeneric species at the coastal Brazilian Pampa, Philodryas aestiva and P. patagoniensis. Analysis of the stomach content of the scansorial Philodryas aestiva revealed that it feeds mainly on Anura and small mammals, while it occasionally consumes Insecta, Squamata and Aves. The more terrestrial Philodryas patagoniensis presented a broader diet, composed mainly of Anura, Squamata and small mammals. Insecta and Actinopterygii were found in lower frequencies. In females of both species, snout-vent length was significantly larger than in males, while tail length/snout-vent length ratio was significantly higher in males. Males reach sexual maturity at smaller sizes than females in both species. Fecundity was higher in P. patagoniensis (3 to 24 eggs; 15 ± 8.15) than in P. aestiva (10 to 20 eggs; X = 14.50 ± 3.53). Females of P. aestiva showed secondary follicles in all seasons while eggs occurred from middle-winter to early-summer. Secondary follicles occurred throughout the year in P. patagoniensis, but concentrated in spring. Eggs occurred in late-summer, middle-autumn and spring. Both species presented positive correlations between SVL and clutch size. Differences in analyzed traits seem to reflect divergences in species morphology and use of habitat/microhabitat.

High arsenic and low lead concentrations in fish and reptiles from Taim wetlands, a Ramsar site in southern Brazil.

The pollution caused by heavy metals and metalloids represent an emerging threat to wetlands worldwide. Herein we examined the concentrations of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in fish and aquatic/semi-aquatic reptiles from Taim wetlands, a Ramsar site located at the southernmost Brazilian coastal plain. A total of 82 individuals from six fish and three reptile species from varied trophic levels were analysed through furnace graphite atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mean As concentrations (µg·g-1 dry weight) were markedly high, ranging from 13.06 ±â€¯3.18 to 19.4 ±â€¯4.04 in fish and 3.51 ±â€¯2.36 to 19.00 ±â€¯10.45 in reptiles. Mean Pb concentrations were low, ranging from 0.00067 ±â€¯0.00060 to 0.0040 ±â€¯0.00045 in fishes and 0.00103 ±â€¯0.0011 to 0.0271 ±â€¯0.0353 in reptiles. The highest As mean level was detected in the herbivore-insectivore fish Astyanax aff. fasciatus, a species of low trophic level among the analysed taxa. The highest Pb mean level was found in the broad-snouted caiman Caiman latirostris, the highest trophic level species analysed. The present study warns for the contamination of As especially in edible fish, which constitute a threat to the communities that use this resource in systems connected to Taim wetlands. As concentrations in reptiles were also higher than those reported in previous studies concerning the groups herein addressed. It is possible that the high As burdens found in the analysed species could be attributed to the use of fertilizers and pesticides in extensive irrigated rice areas located in Taim wetlands surroundings, but natural sources cannot be dismissed.

New records of the rare Troschel's Pampas Snake, Phimophis guianensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Brazil.

The Troschel's Pampas Snake, Phimophis guianensis (Troschel, 1848), is widely distributed in Amazonian Savannas at northern South America and a small portion of southern Central America, being recorded to Brazil based on three historical records, that ranged from 1997 to 2002, in Amapá and Pará states. In this study, we revise all known records of P. guianensis, providing an updated distribution map, and the first record to Roraima state.

New records of the rare Troschel’s Pampas snake, Phimophis guianensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Brazil

The Troschel’s Pampas Snake, Phimophis guianensis (Troschel, 1848), is widely distributed in Amazonian Savannas at northern South America and a small portion of southern Central America, being recorded to Brazil based on three historical records, that ranged from 1997 to 2002, in Amapá and Pará states. In this study, we revise all known records of P. guianensis, providing an updated distribution map, and the first record to Roraima state.

New records of the rare Troschel’s Pampas Snake, Phimophis guianensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Brazil

The Troschel’s Pampas Snake, Phimophis guianensis (Troschel, 1848), is widely distributed in Amazonian Savannas at northern South America and a small portion of southern Central America, being recorded to Brazil based on three historical records, that ranged from 1997 to 2002, in Amapá and Pará states. In this study, we revise all known records of P. guianensis, providing an updated distribution map, and the first record to Roraima state.

Ichthyofauna of Marinheiros Island, Patos Lagoon estuary, southern Brazil / Ictiofauna da Ilha dos Marinheiros, estuário da Lagoa do Patos, sul do Brasil

Abstract Marinheiros is the largest island of the estuarine archipelago of Patos lagoon and is considered an area of biological relevance in the coastal region of the extreme south of Brazil. Aiming to contribute to the knowledge on the biodiversity of this important area, we conducted an ichthyofaunistic inventory in the limnic environments of the island. Twenty-seven field trips were performed between April 2015 and May 2017. A total of 12 sites representative of habitats of an intermittent shallow lagoon, intermittent pools and a perennial artificial channel were sampled. Sampling of 2,436 specimens revealed the occurrence of 30 species, including the non-native piscivorous Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro. Characiformes was the most diverse order (18 species), followed by Cichliformes (four species) and Cyprinodontiformes (three species). Characiformes was also the most numerically abundant order (77%) followed by Cichliformes (17.6%) and Cyprinodontiformes (5.1%). The species richness recorded in Marinheiros Island is is comparable to the richness observed for lotic systems of southernmost Brazilian coastal plain. The fish assemblage is composed mainly of species of limnic habits whereas few taxa of estuarine-marine-limnic and estuarine-limnic habits were recorded. In view of the presence of allochtonous A. pantaneiro and its potential to impact native species, monitoring is recommended to the ichthyofauna of Marinheiros Island and the other estuarine islands, as well as peninsular systems connected to Patos lagoon estuary.

Resumo Marinheiros é a maior ilha do arquipélago estuarino da Lagoa dos Patos e é considerada uma área de relevância biológica na região costeira do extremo sul do Brasil. Com o objetivo de contribuir para o conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade desta importante área, realizamos um inventário ictiofaunístico nos ambientes limnicos da ilha. Vinte e sete visitas foram realizadas entre abril de 2015 e maio de 2017. Um total de 12 locais representativos dos habitats de uma lagoa rasa intermitente, poções intermitentes e um canal artificial perene foram amostrados. A amostragem de 2.436 espécimes revelou a ocorrência de 30 espécies, incluindo o piscívoro não-nativo Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro. Characiformes foi a ordem mais diversa (18 espécies), seguido por Cichliformes (quatro espécies) e Cyprinodontiformes (três espécies). Characiformes foi também a ordem mais numericamente abundante (77%), seguida po Cichliformes (17,6%) e Cyprinodontiformes (5,1%). A riqueza de espécies registrada na Ilha dos Marinheiros é comparável à riqueza observada para sistemas lóticos da planície costeira do extremo sul do Brasil. A assembleia de peixes é composta principalmente por espécies de hábitos límnicos, enquanto que poucos taxa de hábitos estuarino-marinho-límnico e estuarino-límnico foram registrados. Em vista da presença do alóctono A. pantaneiro e seu potencial para impactar espécies nativas, é recomendado o monitoramento da ictiofauna da Ilha dos Marinheiros e de outras ilhas estuarinas, bem como dos sistemas peninsulares conectados ao estuário da Lagoa dos Patos.

Reproductive biology of the Green Ground Snake Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Subtropical Brazil.

We investigated reproductive features of the dipsadid snake Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus in the southernmost Brazilian coast, a subtropical region characterized by well-marked seasons. Females are significantly smaller than males, have a shorter tail, and reach sexual maturity at later times along their development. In contrast to tropical subspecies, E. p. sublineatus females presented a seasonal pattern, with secondary follicles occurring from late winter to early autumn and egg production restricted to the whole spring and early summer. Males presented seasonal variation in testes volume (increase in autumn and decrease in winter) while no significant seasonal variation was found in ductus deferens width. The number of oviductal eggs varied from two to nine, thus, real fecundity is also inferior than that observed in tropical E. poecilogyrus forms. Considering the thermal requirements for reproduction, it is possible that the colder climatic conditions of the southern Brazilian coast have shaped the seasonal reproductive pattern in E. p. sublineatus. The shorter body size of this subspecies may also represent a conditioning factor of low fecundity.