Mauro Teixeira Junior

Anfíbios da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, região do Jalapão, Estados do Tocantins e Bahia

The Northern part of Cerrado is one of the biologically poorest known areas in the domain. Recent studies revealed richness values that are as high as those from other sites in the domain. The Estacao Ecologica Serra Geral do Tocantins is located in a region known as Jalapao, in Northeastern Cerrado, and it is included in the largest set of protected areas in the domain. We describe amphibian richness and species composition in EESGT, and discuss it in a biogeographic context. We also describe breeding sites focusing on phytophysiognomy and types of water bodies. We sampled amphibians through active search and pitfall traps, during the peak of breeding season for most of the anuran species in Cerrado. We registered 36 species, which coupled with former studies results in a regional richness of 39 species known for Jalapao. After applying Jackknife estimator, we suggest a potential richness of 42 species for the EESGT. Most registered species are endemic or strongly associated to Cerrado, followed by species widespread in Brazil or South America, and those associated with Caatinga. Most species breed in temporary ponds located in open areas, although there are some forest specialists, and stream-breeding species.

A new species of Atractus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from Serra do Cipó, Espinhaço Range, Southeastern Brazil, with proposition of a new species group to the genus

Descrevemos uma nova especie de Atractus da Serra do Cipo, na vertente sudeste da Serra do Espinhaco, uma cadeia montanhosa continental aproximadamente paralela a costa Atlântica brasileira. A nova especie e morfologicamente similar a A. paraguayensis e A. potschi com as quais compartilha: 15 series de escamas dorsais; regiao occipital branca em especimes jovens; coloracao dorsal de fundo variando de rosa avermelhado a vermelho (em vida) com pontuacoes, manchas e/ou bandas transversais pretas; sete supralabiais e infralabiais; ventrais e subcaudais creme esbranquicado; hemipenis levemente bilobado, semicapitulado e semicaliculado. A nova especie difere de ambos os taxons principalmente a partir de caracteres exclusivos de coloracao (numero e forma das bandas transversais), da morfologia hemipeniana (face mediana dos lobos sem ornamentacao) alem de diferencas meristicas (numero de escamas ventrais e dentes maxilares) e morfometricas (comprimento rostro-cloacal dos adultos). Apresenta-se uma discussao sobre as possiveis afinidades da nova especie e redefinem-se alguns grupos de especies de Atractus no sentido de acomodar melhor as especies que compartilham combinacoes unicas de caracteres morfologicos.

Reconquering the water: Evolution and systematics of South and Central American aquatic lizards (Gymnophthalmidae)

The Cercosaurini tribe stands out from other Gymnophthalmidae lizards for including several species with morphological adaptations to aquatic lifestyle (“Crocodile‐Like Morphology” – CLM). Recent molecular phylogenies of Cercosaurini demonstrated the paraphyly of CLM species, implicitly suggesting that adaptations to the aquatic life evolved more than once. However, CLM species have remained poorly sampled, and a number of uncertainties persist, such as the monophyly of Neusticurus and the placement of Potamites apodemus within the tribe. Based on a more extensive molecular and morphological data set, we propose a phylogenetic hypothesis for Neusticurus and investigate, for the first time, the phylogenetic position of P. apodemus. We recovered a monophyletic Neusticurus clade; however, Neusticurus rudis as currently understood was recovered as paraphyletic, with two lineages that also show consistent morphological diagnosis; as a result, we resurrect and provide a taxonomic redescription of Neusticurus surinamensis Müller, . Moreover, because P. apodemus was recovered as sister to all other Echinosaura, we propose a new combination for this species (Echinosaura apodema). We also review the distribution of Neusticurus species, offering a comprehensive view of their biogeography. Lastly, our ancestral character reconstruction and dating analyses indicate that the CLM phenotype evolved four times independently during Cercosaurini′s evolutionary history. We hypothesize that the CLM phenotype and subsequent adaptation to aquatic life may be linked to the development of the Pebas Lake in western Amazonia during the Miocene.

Reproductive Biology of Three Sympatric Species of Gymnophthalmid Lizards from the Sand Dunes of the Middle Sao Francisco River, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract. Gymnophthalmidae is a Neotropical family that comprises small- to medium-sized lizards and a huge diversity of morphologies and habitats. Although they have been broadly targeted in several systematics studies, the knowledge of their reproductive biology is still poorly known, especially for fossorial species like Calyptommatus leiolepis, Nothobachia ablephara, and Procellosaurinus tetradactylus, sympatric species from the dune fields at São Francisco River, Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed gonads of 388 specimens of C. leiolepis, 180 of N. ablephara, and 47 of P. tetradactylus from Alagoado sand dunes, Bahia. Females are larger than males in all species and there is no sexual dimorphism in head shape. The three species undergo extended, possibly continuous, reproduction. Variation of testes volume was observed only in C. leiolepis, with lower values between August and December; however, sperm production was detected within this period. Clutch size always comprised two eggs and there was no correlation between egg size and snout—vent length. Only C. leiolepis presented evidence of multiple clutches. The incubation period of the three species is relatively short with early maturation, which probably occurs in the first year of life. Temperature and relative humidity are not restrictive to reproductive activity but are related to the reproductive peaks of females in C. leiolepis and N. ablephara. Resumo. Gymnophthalmidae é uma família Neotropical que compreende lagartos de pequeno e médio porte e apresenta uma ampla diversidade de morfologias e habitats. Embora amplamente incluído em diversos estudos sistemáticos, o conhecimento de sua biologia reprodutiva é ainda bastante limitado, especialmente para espécies fossoriais, como Calyptommatus leiolepis, Nothobachia ablephara e Procellosaurinus tetradactylus espécies simpátricas dos campos de dunas do rio São Francisco, Bahia, Brasil. Foram analisadas gônadas de 388 espécimes de C. leiolepis, 180 espécimes de N. ablephara e 47 espécimes de P. tetradactylus provenientes do campo de dunas de Alagoado, Bahia. As fêmeas são maiores que os machos nas três espécies e não há dimorfismo sexual na forma da cabeça. As três espécies apresentaram reprodução bastante prolongada, possivelmente contínua. Foi observada variação do volume testicular apenas em C. leiolepis com valores mais baixos entre agosto e dezembro, mas a produção de esperma foi detectada dentro deste período. O tamanho da ninhada é fixo em dois ovos e não há correlação entre o tamanho dos ovos com o comprimento rostro cloacal das fêmeas. Apenas C. leiolepis mostrou evidências de múltiplas desovas. O período de incubação das três espécies é relativamente curto e a maturação é precoce, provavelmente ocorrendo no primeiro ano de vida. As condições de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar não são restritivas à atividade reprodutiva, mas estão relacionadas com os picos reprodutivos das fêmeas de C. leiolepis e N. ablephara. As fêmeas são maiores que os machos e não há dimorfismo sexual na forma da cabeça.

On the Discovery of Bisexual Populations of the Parthenogenetic Lizard Leposoma percarinatum (Gymnophthalmidae), with Insights into the Origin of Parthenogenesis in Leposoma

Abstract. Leposoma percarinatum is one of the two recognized parthenogenetic species in the lizard family Gymnophthalmidae, and only females have been reported to date. Here we report and describe the first known males attributed to the species from two localities of northwestern Amazonia. We compare the morphological variation (15 meristic and 10 discrete characters, all relevant to species identification in Leposoma) of males and females from these populations with that of specimens from unisexual populations to test the hypothesis that they belong to the same species. We did not find significant morphological differences between unisexual and bisexual populations, except for those associated with sexual dimorphism. Additionally, we reviewed literature dealing with the origin of parthenogenesis in L. percarinatum and we provide some insights into this subject, in view of the discovery of males in this species.