Drausio Honorio Morais

Nematodes of Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) from Caatinga Biome, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract Thirty-one specimens from 7 lizard species (Cnemidophorus ocellifer, Hemidactylus brasilianus, Hemidactylus mabouia, Iguana iguana, Tropidurus hispidus, Tropidurus semitaeniatus, and Phyllopezus pollicaris) captured in 4 localities at the Caatinga biomes from the states of Ceará and Piauí, northeastern Brazil, were surveyed for endoparasites. Eight nematode species (Parapharyngodon sceleratus, Parapharyngodon sp., Physaloptera lutzi, Physaloptera retusa, Physalopteroides venancioi, Rhabdias sp., Spauligodon oxkutzcabiensis, and Strongyluris oscari) were recovered. We report 6 new host records and 7 new locality records.

Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae, Cochranella adenocheira : distribution and range extension, Brazil

Cochranella adenocheira Harvey and Nooan 2005 was described based on two specimens collected in the Amazon region of Bolivia, in the Serranía de Huanchaca, Departamento de Santa Cruz (Harvey and Nooan 2005). It is included in the Family Centrolenidae, but as Incertae sedis in regard to its genera (see Guayasmin et al. 2009). Caldwell (2009) reported the second known locality of this species and the first for Brazil, from the state of Mato Grosso (Figure 1). However, Cochranella adenocheira is not included in the Brazilian official list of species (SBH 2009; see also Frost 2009). During recent field expeditions, we collected centrolenid specimens in the southern Brazilian Amazon basin that we identified as Cochranella adenocheira (Figure 2).

Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenidae, Anops bilabialatus : distribution extension, meristic data, and conservation

Stimson 1972 (review in Vanzolini 1999; Gans 2005). Contrasting with the former species that is known from more than one hundred specimens from Argentina, South Brazil, and Uruguay (Vanzolini 1999), the later is rare, until now known only from eight individuals, all from two localities on the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Here we report on 35 additional specimens of

Squamata, Elapidae, Micrurus surinamensis (Cuvier, 1817): new records and distribution map in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, with notes on diet and activity period

Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociencias, Departamento de Parasitologia, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Biologicas, Distrito de Rubiao Junior s/n, CEP 186818-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

A New Species of Milk Frog of the Genus Trachycephalus tschudi (Anura, Hylidae) from the Amazonian Rainforest

Abstract:   We describe a new species of Trachycephalus from the Amazon Rain Forest, which is morphologically similar to T. resinifictrix (Goeldi). This new species is characterized by a medium body size for species in the genus (males snout–vent length [SVL] 57.9–74.3 mm, females SVL 74.4–84.9 mm); skin of the head not co-ossified with underlying dermal bones; dorsal skin texture, including that of the head, densely glandulous with several tubercles; paired vocal sac that protrudes at a posterior angle to the jaw when inflated; iris coloration pinkish-beige with a horizontal black bar and a vertical thin black line below the pupil; dorsal color pattern consisting of a wide interocular whitish-beige and a dark blotch on the middle of the dorsum joining the crossbar at the top of the dorsum, forming a “T” shape; rounded snout in dorsal view, and rounded or acuminate in profile; well-developed supratympanic fold; ulnar tubercles present, sometimes associated with ulnar fold; well-developed axillary membrane; well-developed tarsal fold; males with nonhypertrophied forearm; minimum frequencies of the advertisement call lower than 0.38 kHz; pulse rate 126.7–146.6 pulses/s; tadpole external coloration with brown reticulated blotches in the superior portion of the fin; tooth row formulae 2(2)/4. The new species, which is widely distributed in the Amazonian Forest, has been confused with the parapatric T. resinifictrix. It is a canopy treefrog that breeds in tree-holes that have accumulated rainwater.

A NEW SNAKE OF THE GENUS HELICOPS WAGLER, 1830 (DIPSADIDAE, XENODONTINAE) FROM BRAZIL

Abstract: We describe a new species of Helicops from the southern Amazon Basin in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. It differs from all congeners by having dorsal scales in 21/21/19 rows in males and 23/21/19 rows in females, subcaudal keels, a banded dorsal color pattern, and 14–19 ventral blotches. Besides presenting information on the lepidosis and morphometric variation, we also describe the hemipenis and discuss the known distribution of the new species.

Amphibia, Anura, Centrolenidae, Hyalinobatrachium crurifasciatum Myers and Donnelly, 1997: first record from Brazil and geographic distribution map

The current note reports the presence of Hyalinobatrachium crurifasciatum at municipality of Cotriguacu, state of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. This is the first occurrence of this species in Brazil.

On Rhinella gildae Vaz-Silva, Maciel, Bastos & Pombal 2015 (Anura: Bufonidae): Phylogenetic relationship, morphological variation, advertisement and release calls and geographic distribution

Anurans in the Rhinella margaritifera group have a long history of taxonomic confusion, mainly by morphological similarity between species and lack of acoustic and genetic data for many of the 19 described species. Herein, we presented data for Rhinella gildae based on recently collected specimens from its type locality. We provide patterns of morphological variation, measurements, advertisement and release calls and infer the phylogenetic position of R. gildae. The species geographical distribution was updated, occurring in two Amazonian localities in Maranhão state, and Cerrado areas in Maranhão and Tocantins states and also in a rainforest enclave inside Caatinga domain in Ceará state.

Diversity in the genus Rhabdias (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae): Evidence for cryptic speciation

Lungworms from the genus Rhabdias are common parasites of amphibians and reptiles distributed worldwide. To assess the diversity of Rhabdias spp., we performed molecular analyses of 35 specimens sampled in different regions of Brazil. Molecular analyses were based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (28S) ribosomal and the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial genes. DNA sequence divergence was compared among ribosomal and mitochondrial genes, analyses using the general mixed Yule‐coalescent (GMYC) method based on the COI gene were used to identify possible cryptic diversity, and phylogenetic analyses using concatenated ITS and 28S ribosomal genes were used to test the monophyly of Rhabdiasidae. We revealed five morphospecies: R. cf. stenocephala, R. breviensis, R. pseudosphaerocephala and two new species, Rhabdias sp.4 and Rhabdias sp.5. DNA sequence levels of divergence among genes ITS, 28S and COI were compared, and the efficiency of the molecular markers to identify species (ITS and COI) and lineages (COI) was tested. GMYC was assigned to 17 well‐supported clades (i.e., 17 species), and cryptic diversity was detected in the Neotropical region as evidenced by the multiple lineages in R. breviensis and R. pseudosphaerocephala. In addition, our results suggest evidence for host–parasite cophylogeny in the R. pseudosphaerocephala complex and dispersal events among their populations. Phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of Rhabdiasidae and improved the resolution of main clades. Rhabdias breviensis is closely related to Rhabdias cf. africanus, Rhabdias cf. stenocephala, R. pseudosphaerocephala, Rhabdias sp.4 and Rhabdias sp.5 grouping together in a main clade with Neotropical‐related species. The large geographical distribution appeared to be a phylogenetic pattern among the species of Rhabdias from the neotropics.

Molecular phylogenetic position of Haplometroides intercaecalis (Digenea, Plagiorchiidae)

Three valid species of Haplometroides Odhner, 1910 parasitise snakes and amphisbaenians from South America. This study provides additional data on morphometric and molecular phylogenetic position inferred from the nuclear ribosomal gene 28S (partial). DNA sequences were isolated from Haplometroides intercaecalis Silva, Ferreira and Strüssmann, 2007 found in one specimen of Phalotris matogrossensis Lema, D’Agostini and Cappellari, 2005. Five digenean specimens were recovered from the esophagus of this snake, and four specimens were used for morphometrical studies and one specimen for molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods was conducted with sequences available for the order Plagiorchiida and its phylogenetic position places H. intercaecalis among the brachycoeliids Brachycoelium (Dujardin, 1845) Stiles and Hassall, 1898 and Parabrachycoelium Pérez-Ponce de Léon, Mendoza-Garfias, Razo-Mendivil and Parra-Olea, 2011, and the mesocoeliid Mesocoelium Odhner, 1910, not closely related to plagiorchids as expected. Due to morphological differences among these families, it may be necessary to create a new family to accommodate Haplometroides spp. However, more genera/taxa as well as other molecular markers should be added in future studies to confirm our results and resolve this matter. This is the first phylogenetic positioning of digeneans of the genus Haplometroides, contributing to the systematic analysis of the helminthological biodiversity of Neotropical snakes.