Rubén M. Barquez

The phylogenetic relationships of the Andean swamp rat genus Neotomys (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers

The aim of this study was to assess the phylogenetic position of the South American cricetid genus Neotomys using two molecular markers: one nuclear (Irbp) and one mitochondrial (mt-cyb). This genus is currently considered as incertae sedis in the Sigmodontinae radiation. The phylogenetic relationships were estimated using three approaches: Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and parsimony. We found the genus Neotomys closely related to the genera Euneomys and Irenomys, which are also considered incertae sedis. Our results suggest a common origin for this group of genera; this fact should be reflected in the taxonomy as a supra generic group with a tribal level. However, further and deeper analysis of both molecular and morphological data are needed to diagnose and formalize the proposed tribe. The relationships of this clade to the other members of Sigmodontinae were not clear as assessed by these data sets. The three genera are distributed around the Central and Southern Andes in South America evidencing that the Andes have played an important role in the diversification of several tribes of sigmodontine rodents.

The Chacoan bat fauna identity: Patterns of distributional congruence and conservation implications

El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar a la provincia biogeografica Chaquena como una unidad, definida biologicamente por medio de su identificacion como un patron regional de congruencia distribucional, mediante la evaluacion de la utilidad de los ensambles de murcielagos como indicadores biogeograficos del Chaco a escala regional, y luego evaluar esta caracterizacion en terminos del valor de conservacion de este habitat. Se considero el area completa de Paraguay y Bolivia y el norte de Argentina; es decir, toda la provincia biogeografica del Chaco, y parte de las provincias biogeograficas que la rodean. Se realizo una busqueda exhaustiva y se construyo una base de datos consistente en 9509 registros geo-referenciados mostrando que la fauna de murcielagos del Chaco es mas rica de lo que se habia reportado previamente. Se utilizo un criterio de optimalidad para identificar los patrones de congruencia distribucional determinados por la distribucion de los murcielagos. Se recuperaron varias areas que se corresponden con el Chaco. Las areas que son coincidentes con el Chaco estuvieron soportadas por ocho especies: Eptesicus brasiliensis, E. diminutus, Eumops dabbenei, Histiotus velatus, Promops centralis, P. nasutus, Pygoderma bilabiatum, and Tonatia bidens. Estos resultados muestran que los ensambles de murcielagos son utiles como caracterizadores de patrones regionales de congruencia distribucional. Estos patrones proporcionan como primer paso hipotesis de areas de endemismo que se pueden poner a prueba en analisis futuros de regiones vecinas o analisis a escalas mas inclusivas. Los ensambles de murcielagos pueden ser utilizados para caracterizar el Chaco a pesar de que se pensaba que este habitat carecia de identidad en relacion con su fauna de murcielagos. La naturaleza del Chaco como una unidad natural biologicamente distintiva es clara ahora tambien en terminos de patrones regionales de congruencia distribucional de especies de murcielagos, lo que provee de evidencia adicional para intensificar los esfuerzos para proteger este habitat en peligro.

Anatomy and histology of the prostate and glands of Cowper in three species of neotropical bats

The reproductive accessory glands (RAG) are essential components in reproduction because their secretion products ensure survival, viability, and sperm motility. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the morphological and histological structure of the RAG in three species of bats of the genus Sturnira (S. erythromos, S. lilium, and S. oporaphilum). The RAG complex comprise a compact gland (prostate), which surrounds the urethra, and a pair of Glands of Cowper at the base of penis. Anatomical and histologically, the prostate are differentiated in two regions, ventral and dorsal. The dorsal region has tubuloalveolar glands with secretions fine granular or accumulations of a gel‐like substance with bubbles and the ventral region, has alveolar glands with secretory cells form a single‐layer of small cells. The seminal vesicles are absent. The prostatic morphology of the three species is similar to that of other studied Stenodermatinae and Desmodontinae, but differs from other subfamilies of Phyllostomidae (Carollinae, Glossophaginae, and Phyllostominae) as that of Molossidae and Vespertilionidae. The RAG complex has no annual variation in relation to functionality or size, but it is variable depending on age (subadults and adults). This agrees with the annual reproductive pattern described for these species in these latitudes, where adult males are reproductively active throughout the year.

New records of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) for a southern locality of the Argentine Yungas

The forests of northwestern Argentina represent one of the most diverse areas of the country, but also one of the most affected by human activities. The southern border of this region is a transition area with the Dry Chaco Ecoregion and represents a poorly studied zone. The aim of this study was to assess the diversity of bats at the village of Escaba, southern Tucuman. Seven field surveys were conducted at five different sites. A total of 120 specimens in three families and 14 species were recorded, 12 of them representing new records for the study area, increasing the species richness of Escaba from four to 16 species. The area will be recommended as an AICOM, a status given by the RELCOM, thereby promoting actions to preserve the species of bat in the area.

First record of Neotomys ebriosus Thomas, 1894 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) from Tucuman province, northwestern Argentina

Neotomys ebriosus Thomas, 1894 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) is a monotypic genus of sigmodontine rodent restricted to the Central Andes of South America. Its distribution is inferred from a few localities; although some maps include Tucuman province, in northwestern Argentina, within the range of this species, previous records are not known. Here, we report from Cerro Munoz (Tafi de Valle Department) the first documented record for the province.

New records of bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) from Argentina

We provide new distributional records for five species of bats from Argentina, of the families Vespertilionidae and Molossidae, representing new records for Catamarca, Chaco, La Rioja, Misiones, and San Juan provinces, as well as unpublished data for several phytogeographic regions of the country. This information adds important extensions to the distribution of Eumops glaucinus (Wagner, 1843) in Argentina .