Patrício A. da Rocha

Distributions of the endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of nectarivorous and sanguivorous bats: A comparative immunocytochemical study

The present study was conducted to clarify the influence of feeding habits on regional distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells secreting cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin (GAS), serotonin (5-HT) and enteroglucagon (GLUC) in the nectarivorous Anoura geoffroyi and Glossophaga soricina and the sanguivorous Desmodus rotundus bats of the Phyllostomidae family, by specific immunohistochemical methods. The regional distribution and frequency of the different types of endocrine cells varied according to their location in the GIT. 5-HT immunoreactive cells (IR), detected throughout the GIT of three bats, were the most predominant gastrointestinal endocrine cells. GAS-IR cells in A. geoffroyi were found at the base of the pyloric gland, while in G. soricina they could also be observed in the middle to basal portions of the gland. GLUC-IR cells were located in the fundic region of A. geoffroyi, G. soricina and D. rotundus. These endocrine cells were more abundant in the sanguivorous bat. In nectarivorous bats were compared to sanguivorous bat, which differ in dietary habits, difference in the distribution and relative frequency of gut endocrine cells would be predicted. The absence of some, and decrease in frequency of other, gastrointestinal endocrine cells may reflect, in part, its interspecies differences or dietary habits.

First records of mormoopid bats (Chiroptera, Mormoopidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

No abstract available

Distribution of Tolypeutes Illiger, 1811 (Xenarthra: Cingulata) with Comments on Its Biogeography and Conservation

This study reviews the data available on the distribution of three-banded armadillos of the genus Tolypeutes, identifying potential geographic barriers and evaluating possible biogeographic processes that may account for the present-day distribution of the species and its conservation status. The database was derived from published records, interviews, and voucher specimens, over a timescale ranging from the fossil record to specimens collected in 2013. A total of 236 localities were recorded, with 68 attributed to Tolypeutes matacus and 168 to Tolypeutes tricinctus. The vegetation within the range of the genus is predominantly a xerophytic mosaic of grassland, savannas, open woodland, and xeric thorn forest. The marine transgressions of the Miocene and the uplifting of the Brazilian Shield may have contributed to the vicariant separation of the ancestral populations of T. matacus, to the west and south, and T. tricinctus, to the north and east. The three-banded armadillo is possibly one of the most threatened of Brazilian mammals, considering the low number of recent records and the fact that it is hunted intensively throughout its range.

Birds of the Grota do Angico Natural Monument in the semi-arid Caatinga scrublands of northeastern Brazil

No inventario da avifauna do Monumento Natural Grota de Angico na Caatinga ao norte de Sergipe, Brasil, revelou a presenca de pelo menos 140 especies, incluindo nove endemicas da Caatinga e florestas sazonais adjacentes. Apesar do alcance limitado do estudo (duas expedicoes em Julho e Agosto, 2008), a riqueza de especies registrada no sitio aparentemente pode ser tipica da regiao e do Bioma Caatinga.

Diet and seed dispersal potential of the white-lined bat, Platyrrhinus lineatus (E. Geoffroy, 1810), at a site in northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT This study provides insights into the dispersal potential of Platyrrhinus lineatus and its role in habitat regeneration. The study site was an urbanized area in northeastern Brazil. Fecal samples were collected at the roost of a colony during 13 months. Seven species were present in the samples, three of which were exotic. Cecropia glaziovii, Solanum stipulaceum and Coccothrinax barbadensis predominated in the diet of the colony. The large numbers of seeds of pioneer species, and the exotic species present in the diet of the colony emphasize the role of P. lineatus in the regeneration of habitats, and its ecological flexibility.

HOW DO WE IDENTIFY MICRONYCTERIS (SCHIZONYCETRIS) SANBORNI SIMMONS, 1996 (CHIROPTERA, PHYLLOSTOMIDAE) RELIABLY AND WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS SPECIES IN BRAZIL?

Micronycteris esta dividido em quatro subgeneros, Micronycteris, Leuconycteris, Xenoctenes e Schizonycteris. Este ultimo inclui Micronycteris (Schizonycteris) minuta, Micronycteris (S.) schmidtorum, Micronycteris (S.) sanborni e Micronycteris (S.) yatesi. Atualmente pouco se sabe sobre a biologia de M. (S.) sanborni, a qual e amplamente distribuida pelas florestas secas da America do Sul, apesar de ser conhecida de apenas poucas localidades. A escassez de registros de M. sanborni parece esta parcialmente relacionado a dificuldade de diferenciar esta especie de outros membros do subgenero Schizonycteris. Dessa forma, o presente estudo visa identificar as caracteristicas diagnosticas que distingue esta especie dos outros Schizonycteris, revisar a distribuicao geografica dessa especie e apresentar comentarios sobre o seu padrao reprodutivo. Seis novas localidades sao apresentadas aqui para M. sanborni e, juntas com as outras disponiveis na literatura, foram analisadas fornecendo novas abordagens sobre o padrao ecologico e zoogeografico dessa especie. Varias caracteristicas diagnosticas estabelecidas por Simmones (1996) na descricao de M. sanborni mostraram-se de pouco valor taxonomico, especialmente para a diferenciacao entre M. minuta e M. yatesi, das quais mais se assemelha. As principais diferencas externas sao a coloracao branco pura do ventre e a proporcao da base branca (2/3-4/5) do pelo dorsal em M. sanborni, em contraste com a coloracao branco sujo ou acinzentado e a base dorsal branca muito mais curta das outras especies. Outras caracteristicas cranianas mostraram-se tambem importantes para a diferenciacao. Os dados de distribuicao levantados indicam que M. sanborni ocorre principalmente em areas mesicas e abertas, incluindo ambientes alterados, na Caatinga arbustiva e nas savanas do Cerrado do nordeste do Brasil, especialmente em areas com afloramentos rochosos. Micronycteris sanborni parece ser monoestrico, com os nascimentos coincidindo com a estacao chuvosa.

An update on the distribution of the Brazilian Funnel-eared Bat, Natalus macrourus (Gervais, 1856) (Mammalia, Chiroptera), with new records from the Brazilian Northeastern

We present data on the geographic distribution, morphology, and biology of the Brazilian funnel-eared bat, Natalus (Gervais, 1856), with new records for the Brazilian state of Sergipe, filling a gap of approximately 800 km in the distribution of the species in Brazilian Northeast.

Mammalia, Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae Rhogeessa hussoni Genoways and Baker, 1996: first record for the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil

The occurrence of Rhogeessa hussoni Genoways and Baker, 1996 in the state of Sergipe is reported here based on an adult female collected in mist nets during a chiropteran survey of the Refugio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco (RVS-Mata do Junco), a 894 ha fragment of lowland Atlantic Forest. Measurements and taxonomic comments about this species are given. Despite the variability found in coloration of the ventral pelage, qualitative and quantitative characters allowed the identification of the specimen as R. hussoni . The present record increases to twenty-eight the number of bat species recorded for Sergipe and confirms the presence of R. hussoni in the Atlantic Forest biome.

Update on the distribution of Peropteryx leucoptera Peters, 1867 (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Emballonuridae): First record for the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil

Three female specimens of Peropteryx leucoptera were collected in the Refugio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco, a fragment of Atlantic Forest located in the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil. These specimens represent the first record of the species for Sergipe, increasing to 44 the number of bat species recorded in this state. A summary of locality records for P. leucoptera indicates a disjunct distributional pattern for this species, with the majority of the records concentrated in the northern South America and a separate population in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil.

Update on the distribution of Trinycteris nicefori Sanborn, 1949 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): new record for the Amazonia of Brazil

We present herein the first record of the small phyllostomine Trinycteris nicefori for the Brazilian state of Rondonia. The specimens were mist netted near the banks of Rio Madeira, in the municipality of Porto Velho. The capture area can be classified as dense ombrophilous forest of the Amazonian biome. Morphometric and qualitative data are presented, along with a table comparing Triniycteris to the two other similar genera, Glyphonycteris and Lampronycteris. The disjunct distribution of T. nicefori is briefly discussed.