Checklist of mammals from Goiás, central Brazil / Lista de Mamíferos de Goiás, Brasil central

Abstract: The state of Goiás, in central Brazil, is covered mainly by the Cerrado domain, with the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest occupying its central-southern portion. Goiás is one of the 20 Brazilian federative units without a mammal checklist. In this study, we provide the first checklist of mammals from Goiás state. We recorded mammal species based primarily on the analysis of specimens housed in scientific collections as well as on literature with associated voucher material. We listed 191 mammalian species belonging to 125 genera, 31 families and 10 orders, which represents 25.2% of the mammal species occurring in Brazil. The most speciose orders were Chiroptera (90 spp.), followed by Rodentia (43 spp.), Carnivora (19 spp.) and Didelphimorphia (17 spp.). The following orders accounted for a smaller portion of the state diversity: Cetartiodactyla (7 spp.), Cingulata (7 spp.), Primates (4 spp.), Pilosa (2 spp.), Lagomorpha (1 sp.), and Perissodactyla (1 sp.). A total of 28 species (14.7%), mainly represented by medium and large-sized mammals, are nationally threatened while 12 (6.3%) are globally threatened. Our results indicate great portions of the state lacking a proper survey of mammals, especially the northwestern portion. We discuss species richness, distribution and conservation status of the mammals of Goiás state in national and regional scenarios. We highlight the need for mammal inventories based on complementary survey techniques with the collection of vouchers in order to provide karyologic, molecular, morphologic, parasitologic, and ecological data. These informations are the basis for integrative studies that lead to the understanding of current mammalian richness and diversity. Indeed, knowledge on species richness distribution in the state will guide conservation strategies, especially in areas undergoing habitat loss and fragmentation, such as the central-southern portion of Goiás.

Resumo: O estado de Goiás, no Brasil central, é coberto principalmente pelo domínio do Cerrado, com a Mata Atlântica do Alto Paraná ocupando sua porção centro-sul. Goiás é uma das 20 unidades federativas brasileiras que ainda não possui uma lista de espécies de mamíferos. Neste estudo, apresentamos a primeira lista de mamíferos para o estado. Registramos as espécies de mamíferos com base principalmente na análise de espécimes depositados em coleções científicas, bem como na literatura apresentando material testemunho associado. Listamos 191 espécies pertencentes a 125 gêneros, 31 famílias e 10 ordens, as quais representam 25,2% das espécies de mamíferos que ocorrem no Brasil. As ordens mais especiosas foram Chiroptera (90 spp.), seguida pelas ordens Rodentia (43 spp.), Carnivora (19 spp.) e Didelphimorphia (17 spp.), com as demais ordens respondendo por uma porção menor da diversidade: Cetartiodactyla (7 spp.), Cingulata (7 spp.), Primates (4 spp.), Pilosa (2 spp.), Lagomorpha (1 sp.) e Perissodactyla (1 sp.). Um total de 28 espécies (14,7%), principalmente representadas por mamíferos de médio e grande porte, estão ameaçadas nacionalmente e 12 (6,3%) encontram-se globalmente ameaçadas. Nossos resultados indicaram grandes porções do estado ainda não devidamente pesquisadas em relação aos seus mamíferos, com informações escassas e fragmentadas, principalmente no que diz respeito à sua porção noroeste. Discutimos a riqueza de espécies, a distribuição e o estado de conservação dos mamíferos do estado de Goiás nos cenários nacional e regional. Ressaltamos a importância da realização de inventários que utilizem técnicas complementares de amostragem, incluindo a coleta de material testemunho, proporcionando a obtenção de dados cariotípicos, moleculares, morfológicos, parasitológicos e ecológicos. Estas informações são a base de estudos integrativos, os quais aumentam nossa compreensão a respeito da riqueza e diversidade atual dos mamíferos. O conhecimento a respeito da distribuição da riqueza de espécies em Goiás é essencial para embasar estratégias de conservação, tão necessárias em áreas que vem sofrendo com a perda e fragmentação de seus hábitats naturais, como a porção centro-sul do estado.

Detection of cryptic diversity in lizards (Squamata) from two Biosphere Reserves in Mesoamerica.

A combined approach based on karyology and DNA taxonomy allowed us to characterize the taxonomic peculiarities in 10 Mesoamerican lizard species, belonging to six genera and five families, inhabiting two Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico: La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, and Montes Azules Biosphere. The karyotypes of four species, Phyllodactylus sp. 3 (P. tuberculosus species group) (2n = 38), Holcosus festivus (Lichtenstein et von Martens, 1856) (2n = 50), Anolis lemurinus Cope, 1861 (2n = 40), and A. uniformis Cope, 1885 (2n = 29-30) are described for the first time, the last one showing a particular X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y condition. In Aspidoscelis deppii (Wiegmann, 1834) (2n = 50) and Anolis capito Peters, 1863 (2n = 42), we found a different karyotype from the ones previously reported for these species. Moreover, in A. capito, the cytogenetic observation is concurrent with a considerable genetic divergence (9%) at the studied mtDNA marker (MT-ND2), which is indicative of a putative new cryptic species. The skink Scincella cherriei (Cope, 1893), showed high values of genetic divergence (5.2% at 16S gene) between the specimens from Montes Azules and those from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, comparable to the values typical of sister species in skinks. A lower level of genetic divergence, compatible with an intraspecific phylogeographic structure, has been identified in Lepidophyma flavimaculatum Duméril, 1851. These new data identify taxa that urgently require more in-depth taxonomic studies especially in these areas where habitat alteration is proceeding at an alarming rate.

DNA barcoding of the rodent genus Oligoryzomys (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae): mitogenomic-anchored database and identification of nuclear mitochondrial translocations (Numts).

DNA barcoding has become a standard method for species identification in taxonomically complex groups. An important step of the barcoding process is the construction of a library of voucher-based material that was properly identified by independent methods, free of inaccurate identification, and paralogs. We provide here a cytochrome oxidase I (mt-Co1) DNA barcode database for species of the genus Oligoryzomys, based on type material and karyotyped specimens, and anchored on the mitochondrial genome of one species of Oligoryzomys, O. stramineus. To evaluate the taxonomic determination of new COI sequences, we assessed species intra/interspecific genetic distances (barcode gap), performed the General Mixed Yule Coalescent method (GMYC) for lineages' delimitation, and identified diagnostic nucleotides for each species of Oligoryzomys. Phylogenetic analyses of Oligoryzomys were performed on 2 datasets including 14 of the 23 recognized species of this genus: a mt-Co1 only matrix, and a concatenated matrix including mt-Co1, cytochrome b (mt-Cytb), and intron 7 of the nuclear fibrinogen beta chain gene (i7Fgb). We recovered nuclear-mitochondrial translocated (Numts) pseudogenes on our samples and identified several published sequences that are cases of Numts. We analyzed the rate of non-synonymous and synonymous substitution, which were higher in Numts in comparison to mtDNA sequences. GMYC delimitations and DNA barcode gap results highlight the need for further work that integrate molecular, karyotypic, and morphological analyses, as well as additional sampling, to tackle persistent problems in the taxonomy of Oligoryzomys.

Integrative taxonomy of the Amazonian red-sided opossum Monodelphis glirina (J.A. Wagner, 1842) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae).

New records for Monodelphis glirina, a short-tailed opossum distributed throughout the Amazon region, from Humaitá, Amazonas state, and Confresa, Mato Grosso state, prompted new insights into the geographic distribution and genetic diversity of this species. One of the records extends the species range circa 350 km beyond the previous southeastern limit. Voucher specimens had their identification confirmed by morphological comparison with the holotype and corroborated by molecular data (mitochondrial gene Cytochrome b). Our analyses revealed an east-west geographic structure into two clades that could represent distinct species, M. glirina and M. maraxina. Furthermore, examination of the holotype brought to light that it was never formally linked with the voucher specimen collected by Johann Natterer.

New Metacentric Populations and Phylogenetic Hypotheses Involving Whole-Arm Reciprocal Translocation in Mus musculus domesticus from Sicily, Southern Italy.

The house mouse Mus musculus domesticus is characterized by more than 100 metacentric populations, due to the occurrence of Robertsonian (Rb) fusions, together with the standard all-telocentric karyotype (2n = 40). We examined G-banded karyotypes of 18 mice from 10 localities in Sicily and describe 3 new metacentric populations: 'Ragusa Ibla' (IRAG), 2n = 33-36, Rb(2.4), Rb(5.6), Rb(9.16), Rb(13.17); 'Piana degli Albanesi' (IPIA), 2n = 23, Rb(1.18), Rb(2.15), Rb(3.5), Rb(4.12), Rb(6.11), Rb(7.8), Rb(9.16), Rb(10.14), Rb(13.17); 'Trapani' (ITRA), 2n = 22, Rb(1.18), Rb(2.15), Rb(3.7), Rb(4.12), Rb(5.9), Rb(6.11), Rb(8.16), Rb(10.14), Rb(13.17). Three mice belonged to the previously reported 'Castelbuono' race (ICAS), 2n = 24, which is very similar to the nearby 'Palermo' (IPAL) race, 2n = 26. Three Rb fusions not yet observed in wild mouse populations were identified: Rb(3.5), Rb(3.7) and Rb(5.9). Rb fusions shared among 4 races (IPIA, IRAG, ICAS, and IPAL) allowed us to describe their potential phylogenetic relationships. We obtained 2 alternative phylogenetic trees. The differences between them are mainly due to various modes of formation of IPIA and ITRA. In the first hypothesis, the specific Rb fusions occurred independently. In the second, those of IRAG originated from those of IPIA via whole-arm reciprocal translocations.

A new karyotype for the spiny rat Clyomys laticeps (Thomas, 1909) (Rodentia, Echimyidae) from Central Brazil.

Clyomys Thomas, 1916 is a semifossorial rodent genus of spiny rats represented by only one species, Clyomys laticeps, which inhabits the tropical savannas and grasslands of central Brazil and eastern Paraguay. Here we describe a new karyotype of Clyomys laticeps found in populations of Emas National Park, Goiás state, Brazil. The four analyzed specimens had a diploid number (2n) of 32 and a fundamental autosome number (FN) of 54. Cytogenetic data include conventional staining, CBG and GTG-banding. The karyotype presents 12 meta/submetacentric pairs (1 to 12) and 3 pairs of acrocentrics (13 to 15) with gradual decrease in size. The X chromosome is a medium submetacentric and the Y is a medium acrocentric. The semifossorial habits together with habitat specificity could have contributed to the karyological variations found on this genus.

Colonization process of the Brazilian common vesper mouse, Calomys expulsus (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae): a biogeographic hypothesis.

Riverine barriers have been associated to genetic diversification and speciation of several taxa. The Rio São Francisco is one of the largest rivers in South America, representing the third largest river basin in Brazil and operating as a geographic barrier to gene flow of different taxa. To evaluate the influence of the Rio São Francisco in the speciation of small rodents, we investigated the genetic structure of Calomys expulsus with phylogenetic and network analyses of cytochrome b DNA. Our results suggested that C. expulsus can be divided into 3 subpopulations, 2 on the left and another one on the right bank of this river. The time of divergence of these subpopulations, using a Bayesian framework, suggested colonization from the south to the north/northeast. Spatial analysis using a clustering method and the Monmonier's algorithm suggested that the Rio São Francisco is a biogeographic barrier to gene flow and indicated that this river may play a role in the incipient speciation process of these subpopulations.

Comparative chromosome mapping of the rRNA genes and telomeric repeats in three Italian pine voles of the Microtus savii s.l. complex (Rodentia, Cricetidae).

The Microtus (Terricola) savii s. l. complex is a group of five species/subspecies of the Italian pine voles, which diverged at different times either with or without chromosomal differentiation. The evidence of chromosomal diversification has so far concerned the shape of the sex chromosomes, especially the X chromosome. Three taxa of the group, Microtus savii savii, Microtus savii nebrodensis, and Microtus savii tolfetanus have identical karyotypes with metacentric X chromosomes. The X chromosomes of Microtus brachycercus and Microtus brachycercus niethammericus are, respectively, subtelocentric and acrocentric in shape. The Microtus savii complex has been long an object of conventional karyological studies, but comparative molecular cytogenetic data were completely missing. Therefore, we conducted a comparative chromosomal mapping of rRNA genes (rDNA) and telomeric repeats in three of the five taxa of the group: Microtus savii savii, Microtus savii nebrodensis, and Microtus brachycercus niethammericus, each of which belongs to a distinct mitochondrial clade.The survey revealed that differentiation of the clades was accompanied by remarkable changes with regard to the number and locations of the rDNA sites. Thus, Microtus savii savii and Microtus savii nebrodensis have especially high numbers of rDNA sites, which are located in the centromeric regions of, correspondingly, 18 and 13 chromosome pairs, whereas Microtus brachycercus niethammericus shows variable (8-10) and heteromorphic rDNA sites on both centromeric and telomeric regions. Interstitial telomeric sites (ITS), which are believed to indicate possible breakpoints of recurring chromosomal rearrangements, are present on the largest biarmed chromosomes and on the metacentric X chromosomes in Microtus savii savii and Microtus savii nebrodensis. These preliminary results are discussed in the context of recent advances in phylogeny of the group, as well as the rDNA genomic organization and X chromosome rearrangements in the genus Microtus.