ABSTRACT Understanding predator–prey relationships is critical in ecology, but relatively challenging when investigating elusive marine megafauna. In this study, we document the presence of shark-inflicted injuries on coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mesoamerican Reef System using photo-identification methods. We analyzed data from a total of 533 photo-identified bottlenose dolphins

ABSTRACT Island-endemic columbid species are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation, extreme climatic events, and interactions with exotic species. The situation might be even more critical in the case of exploited species, where legal hunting and poaching can severely affect population dynamics. Here we document for the first time the genetic structure of the Scaly-naped Pigeon, Patagioenas

ABSTRACT Diet is one of the most important dimensions of the ecological niche. Pseudopaludicola genus comprises 25 species of which four have their diet studied. In this study, we quantify the diet of the recently described Pseudopaludicola restinga, which is found in sandy coastal environments of southeastern Brazil. We obtained a sample of 137 individuals from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba

ABSTRACT Ectophylla alba almost exclusively feeds on the fruits of Ficus colubrinae therefore significantly contributing to dispersal of its seeds. The objective of this research was to quantify the fruit removal of F. colubrinae by E. alba and compare it with that of birds in a F. colubrinae tree at the La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We established seven quadrats randomly at different heights

ABSTRACT Bats and ectoparasites, Streblidae and Nycteribiidae, are good models to study ecological interactions due to their specificity. Knowledge about the interactions between these groups is heterogeneous and fragmented throughout Brazilian territory, mainly in the southern region – influenced by the temperate climate with bat fauna presenting elements from both tropical and temperate areas. We

ABSTRACT Diet is one of the most important dimensions of the ecological niche. Pseudopaludicola genus comprises 25 species of which four have their diet studied. In this study, we quantify the diet of the recently described Pseudopaludicola restinga, which is found in sandy coastal environments of southeastern Brazil. We obtained a sample of 137 individuals from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba

ABSTRACT Ectophylla alba almost exclusively feeds on the fruits of Ficus colubrinae therefore significantly contributing to dispersal of its seeds. The objective of this research was to quantify the fruit removal of F. colubrinae by E. alba and compare it with that of birds in a F. colubrinae tree at the La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We established seven quadrats randomly at different heights

ABSTRACT We analyzed the distribution and ecological relationships in the parasitic infracommunities of four species of the genus Hypostomus: Hypostomus regani, Hypostomus strigaticeps, Hypostomus hermanni, and Hypostomus ancistroides, collected in the Batalha River, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-four parasite taxa were identified among myxozoans, monogeneans, digeneans, nematodes, and hirudineans

ABSTRACT The classic Wallace’s riverine barrier hypothesis (RBH) has been widely invoked to explain species distribution and evolutionary divergence throughout Amazonia. Dispersal and gene flow limited by the inability to cross a river restricts geographic distribution to an interfluvial zone, which causes different assemblage compositions between opposite river banks. In this study, we sampled frogs

ABSTRACT We analyzed the diet of Athene cunicularia cunicularia in order to identify and compare prey items in dune populations in Santa Catarina, Brazil: Interpraias (INT), Praia Brava (BRA), Praia Central (NAV) and Peninsula (BVE). Due to the characteristics of urbanization in these regions, we hypothesized that there would be greater abundance and consumption of urban insect pests in the areas of

ABSTRACT A new species, Dactylodiplosis petibaurum Maia, sp. nov., that induces galls on axillary buds of Ocotea pulchella is described from Brazil (larva, pupa, male, female, and gall), based on material collected at restinga areas of the Atlantic Forest. A key to segregate the known species is presented. urn:lsid:ZooBank.org:pub:0399AC98-6883-4B27-B833-D3DF8F9CA95B

ABSTRACT Epectinaspis canoi new species is described and illustrated, and its similarities with the other species of the genus are discussed. A modification of the taxonomic key of this genus is provided. In addition, Balanogonia constricta Paucar-Cabrera is rediscovered and illustrated with data on its geographical distribution and habits. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:14FF61F5-81AB-408E-A1C0-1030BBA027DC

ABSTRACT Polyclads are marine free-living Platyhelminthes, generally disregarded in marine environmental assessments. Here, Phrikoceros inca (Cotylea, Pseudocerotidae), identified on the basis of external features such as its ear-like, held-erected pseudotentacles, number and position of pseudotentacular eyes, circular-like cerebral eyespot, ruffled-shaped body and coloration patterns, was recorded

ABSTRACT Understanding the diet of tadpoles is fundamental to explain their ecological roles in aquatic food webs, as well as to allow more effective amphibian conservation and management programs. Studies on trophic ecology of tadpoles are scarce compared to other vertebrate groups, a gap that is even more accentuated in the Neotropical region, which harbors the greatest diversity of anuran species

ABSTRACT In this study, a new species of Macrostemum is proposed based on adult males from Pernambuco state, Brazil. The new species can be diagnosed from its congeners mainly by the segment X with apex acuminate in lateral view, having a pronounced, narrow, deep, and U-shaped incision in dorsal view, by the presence of subbasal lateral setal warts, and by the dumbbell-shaped phallotremal sclerite

ABSTRACT We assessed the variation of both composition and functional diversity of mammals along an elevation gradient (1600–3600 masl) at the Tabaconas Namballe National Sanctuary (TNNS) in northern Peru. Using a camera-trap design (85 stations, 8,825 camera days, ~ 317 km2), we recorded a total of 33 mammalian species during the dry season of 2016. Species-specific effects of environmental covariates

ABSTRACT Chiasmocleis is the most species-rich New World microhylid genus. Among Atlantic Forest species in the genus, C. alagoana has the northernmost distribution. The species was described two decades ago; however, little is known about its natural history. Herein, we provide information on its reproductive biology, advertisement call, and external morphology based on specimens from the type locality

ABSTRACT Wildlife–vehicle collisions are a serious conservation issue. In Argentina, wildlife road kill represents a threat to numerous species, especially around protected areas. With the aim of analyzing a possible seasonal and spatial patterns of mammalian death due to road kill, I sampled 97 km of the RP No. 17 in the south of multiple-use natural protected area ‘Bañados del Río Dulce y Laguna

ABSTRACT Much of the roadkill of wild animals is accidental, but some drivers intentionally target animals, especially those that are culturally stigmatized such as reptiles and amphibians. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of intentional snake roadkill on two highways in the Triângulo Mineiro, a Cerrado region in the Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We placed on the roadsides of each highway 40 snakes

ABSTRACT Recent studies have recorded new species of freshwater planarians in caves of the biomes Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga. Herein we contribute to enhancing this knowledge by describing three new cave-dwelling species of Girardia from three different cave systems situated in two biomes (Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) in eastern Brazil. Girardia spelaea sp. n., from a limestone

ABSTRACT In this study, we examined whether the genetic diversity of Didelphis marsupialis is structured or their populations maintain high gene flow as expected in common species. Forty-eight Tomahawk traps were set for four consecutive nights in The Highlands and the Central Depression, State of Chiapas, Mexico. Eight microsatellites were amplified to examine genetic diversity. Genetic structure

ABSTRACT The genus Macrostomum (Platyhelminthes: Macrostomorpha) is a group of cosmopolitan free-living flatworms that occurs in a wide range of habitats. In our study, individuals of Macrostomum velastylum were collected from the Sagastume stream (33°38ʹ34ʺS; 58°49ʹ63ʺW) Entre Ríos Province, Argentina, during 2016. They were kept in laboratory at room temperature in order to study population parameters

ABSTRACT The flowers of Humiria balsamifera var. floribunda were monitored for 1 year in an area of restinga on the Brazilian coast to describe the richness of visiting bees, temporal distribution of visits, and how they transport its pollen in the community. The plant showed continuous flowering and bees were seen foraging nectar throughout the year. A total of 1,231 individuals belonging to 17 bee

ABSTRACT Seasonality significantly affects environmental changes in the Pantanal, especially during wet and dry periods. Inundation and drought impact the onset of flowering and fruiting and the occurrence of insects. Because such resources may vary across seasons, it is expected that avian functional diversity also changes. We examine how functional diversity changed over time, as measured by functional

ABSTRACT Heteropachylus Roewer is the type genus of Heteropachylinae Kury, endemic to the Atlantic forest, Brazil. Heteropachyline males bear free tergites at least partially fused to dorsal scutum, besides other sexually dimorphic features common in gonyleptids as a higher ratio of maximum widths of abdominal scute and carapace and stronger armature of legs IV than females. We newly describe Heteropachylus

ABSTRACT Deinopidae spiders are known mainly for their web-building behavior and prey-capture strategy. However, studies on their population ecology are scarce. Therefore, we evaluated the population fluctuation, phenology, and diet of Deinopis cf. cylindracea. We also investigated how abiotic (precipitation and temperature) and biotic (prey availability) factors influence the abundance of this species

ABSTRACT Studying species with wide geographical distributions allows the evaluation of the effects of environmental variation and phylogenetic constraints on the ecology of these organisms. The snake Tantilla melanocephala is widely distributed across South America in different environments (Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, and Chaco). We compared the morphology, diet, and reproduction

ABSTRACT A new species of Aegisthidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) is described from the upper subtidal of the western coast of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (Chile). Frisia magellanica gen. et sp. nov. is allocated into the subfamily Cerviniinae because of the comparatively short and divergent furcal rami. However, an assignment to any of the six known cerviniin genera is not possible, as Frisia

ABSTRACT Philopatric birds have a number of advantages when breeding in familiar habitats, such as learning the locations of food, efficient movement throughout the breeding area, or effective escape from predators. However, few investigators have examined the possible effect of site familiarity on reproductive success, even less for Neotropical songbirds. We studied a breeding population of Masked

In recent years, the taxonomic knowledge of Pseudopaludicola has increased and it is currently possible to elucidate aspects of the species within this genus such as their geographic distributions. Here we accessed new data on geographic distribution of P. boliviana and three long-legged species of the P. saltica group (P. saltica, P. murundu, and P. jaredi). Based on morphometric, acoustic and genetic

A new Aegidium Westwood species from the East Andes Mountains in Colombia is described and illustrated. A key to the species of Aegidium from Colombia is provided in both English and Spanish. The check list of Aegidium especies of the New World is provided.

The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is one of the rarest canids in Central and South America. Very little is known about its distribution or its ecological behavior. However, there are ongoing scientific efforts to compile updated data on this species. By using line transect surveys, interviews with local people and camera traps, we studied mammals and their association with four palm-tree species (Oenocarpus

Peridroma saucia (Hübner, [1808]) or ‘variegated cutworm’ is a cosmopolitan owlet moth pest resilient and abundant in agroecosystems. However, the morphology of their immatures is only briefly described, and information from distinct life stages is fragmentary. This study describes in detail all immature stages of the species based on a Neotropical population and compares it with populations from other

We analyzed the spatial-seasonal patterns on the abundance, composition, structure (i.e. abundance distribution among species), and diversity of the ground-dwelling spiders belonging to the retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) clade in two pine-oak forest remnants from Mexico. Additionally, a short review to compare the RTA ground-dwelling communities from Mexican habitats was carried out. Spiders were

We provide information on the diversity of anurans from agroforestry systems in the Colombian Amazon. This area is inserted at the tropical rainforest ecosystem and consists mainly of secondary forest remnants surrounded by crops, grasslands, and agroforestry systems. From February to May 2015, we sampled anurans mainly with visual and auditory surveys. We recorded a total of 1096 individuals of 20

The Neotropical amphibian family Centrolenidae currently includes 156 named species of nocturnal anurans commonly known as glassfrogs. With 79 species, Colombia is the country with the highest diversity of centrolenids. However, the number of species known to occur in the country remains uncertain because research often results in names being resurrected or placed in synonymy, the description of new

We describe the larval morphology of the stream-dwelling tadpole of Hyloscirtus antioquia based on specimens from the type locality, Antioquia, Colombia. The larvae of H. antioquia (belong to the suctorial ecomorphological guild) show morphological characters commonly associated with lotic habitats, like a depressed body, low fins, long tail, well-developed tail musculature, and oral disc with many

The Juan Fernández islands (Chile) are a volcanic archipelago, 670 km away from the continent. Arachnids still remain understudied in those islands. We report the first two records of Parabalta reedii (Butler, 1874) (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae) from the Robinson Crusoe Island. One specimen was collected near San Juan Bautista town (in 2011), while a population was documented in 2020, in secondary forests

Understand how environmental factors correlate with the trophic structure of fish communities is a fundamental step to allow designing models for the functioning of stream ecosystems and planning conservation actions. Thus, this study aims to characterize the trophic structure of fish communities of streams of the Contas River basin and evaluate the relationships between local environmental factors

The longtail knifefish Sternopygus macrurus is widely distributed in Neotropical regions, but because of its activity pattern, low recruitment, and ability to hide make it difficult to capture. Records of this species are rarely included in natural history and ecology studies. We studied the influence of both ontogenetic stages and seasonality on the diet of S. macrurus in the São Francisco River,

This study provides for the first time information about the reproductive biology of Mimagoniates lateralis, an endangered species of inseminating Neotropical tetra that occurs in blackwater streams of southeastern Brazil. We analyzed 404 individuals, of which 214 were females, 117 were males, and 73 were immature juveniles. The sex ratio was 1.83 females/males. Males were larger than females. The

The enigmatic, monotypic genus Laciphorus Redtenbacher, 1908 (type species: Laciphorus lobulatus Redtenbacher, 1908) is redescribed and its taxonomic position is explained. It belongs to a subgroup of ‘anareolate’ Phasmatodea currently referred to as Diapheromerinae: Diapheromerini: ‘Bacteria-group’ and now members of a clade termed Occidophasmata (Simon et al., 2019). Globocalynda Zompro, 2001 is

Alluaudinella Giglio-Tos (Diptera, Muscidae) is a small genus with only six known species restricted to the Afrotropical region. Alluaudinella bivittata Macquart, Alluaudinella evanescens Stein, Alluaudinella flavicornis Macquart, Alluaudinella lativentris Stein, Alluaudinella phasiaeformis Stein, and Alluaudinella stuckenbergi Paterson. They are moderate to robust flies and they can be mainly distinguished

The Family Streblidae is represented by 246 species distributed worldwide. In order to contribute to the knowledge of streblid richness in Mexico, we recorded the associations between Streblidae and the New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) collected in different caves in Mexico. For each streblid species their geographical and host spectrum is reported, and diagnostic characters are illustrated

Scarab beetles present a great diversity of life history, in which countless species can act as pollinators, decomposers of organic matter and severe agricultural pests. Different methods have been used to capture adult specimens from different scarab beetle subfamilies in natural or anthropogenic landscapes. Here, we evaluated the preference of scarab beetles for different naturally fermented baits

This study aimed to analyze the accuracy of three currently used methods to quantify the volume of the prey of amphibians using the volumetric displacement method as a comparative parameter. The compared methods were the formula for semi-spherical bodies, which measures the height, length, and width of the prey; the formula for ellipsoid bodies, which estimates the height of the prey; and the parallelepiped

The diet composition and feeding preference of Myiothlypis leucoblephara (White-browed Warbler, Parulidae) were investigated in an area of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil, based on fecal samples and availability of field arthropods. Hymenoptera Formicidae and Coleoptera were the predominant taxa in the diet, corresponding to more than 70% of all items. Myiothlypis leucoblephara exhibited a preference for

The Atacama Myotis is an endangered and poorly studied bat species, endemic from Peru and Chile. Using mist nets and ultrasonic recordings we release new information on activity patterns and roost use by M. atacamensis in Chile. We also report new records for the species, extending its distribution range to Santiago Metropolitan region. Our results suggest a wide distribution and relative abundance

Rock specialists are mainly herbivores with similar morphological and behavioral characteristics such as spatial activity and feeding near rocky outcrops. In mountain areas, they are vulnerable due to restrictions in food searching and many are also sensitive to warm temperatures. The Wolffsohn’s viscacha (Lagidium wolffsohni) is a high-altitude rock specialist whose conservation status IUCN is Data

Some microcrustaceans living in temporary waterbodies produce drought-resistant stages under adverse conditions. These structures accumulate in the sediment, forming an egg bank in which eggs can remain viable for many years. Here, we evaluate the contribution of ostracod resting eggs to the structure of the active ostracod community in a tropical temporary lake located in the Upper Paraná River floodplain

ABSTRACT Travisia Johnston, 1840 is the only genus of the family Travisiidae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971. Travisiid species have body relatively short, papillated, fusiform, often tapered anteriorly and posteriorly, and swollen medially. They are found mainly in deep-sea sediments. Several faunistic accounts from different locations in the Brazilian coast have included records of Travisia species that

The rio Pratinha is a short affluent of the upper course of the rio Paraguaçu basin inserted in the semiarid domain in the northeastern of Brazil. It is a unique water body with remarkably transparent water exiting from a cave and immediately forming a lagoon, which has whitish substrate partially covered by tiny gastropod shells. The local ichthyofauna is known only by a few descriptions of endemic

ABSTRACT Human alteration toward environment modifies the spatial distribution of available resources that influences habitat selection in animals. Thus, it is necessary to identify the resources that determine species occurrence in modified landscapes to provide the basis for future conservation efforts. We evaluated the habitat use and microhabitat selection of two lizard species with different niche

The biology of South American land snails, can be achieved if their eating habits and by extension their distribution in the environment is understood. The present study evaluates the food choices of Megalobulimus paranaguensis. In the laboratory, we tested whether M. paranaguensis prefers fresh or dry Malvaviscus flowers. Our results indicate that the species is herbivorous and that it has a preference

The plateaus surrounding the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul are highly threatened by land-use conversion and are home to Ameerega berohoka and Ameerega picta, two species of poison frogs renowned for their aposematic coloration and toxic skin. The species have diurnal and terrestrial habitats and are often observed among dead tree branches, leaf litter or under rocks. Herein, we investigated the diet

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest is highly heterogeneous, with successional stages inducing shifts in food resources for birds. We investigated fruit and flower availability across two different successional stages in a continuous forest and the implications for bird communities. We sampled three sites in primary forest and three in second-growth forest. We established four plots (10 x 10 m) in each site

Bumble bees of the genus Bombus spp. play a key role as effective pollinators in the biodiversity rich Central Andean region; however, parasites and pathogens may negatively influence their abundance and population numbers. In this study, we aimed at verifying the occurrence of these natural enemies in the Andes regions of Bolivia and Peru. Workers and males of Bombus funebris, Bombus opifex and Bombus

ABSTRACT We describe the larva of the louse fly, Stilbometopa podopostyla (Speiser) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), and make the first ultrastructural analysis of the spiracular plate. We also report the first record of S. podopostyla in the state of Paraná and a new host for the species, Geotrygon montana (Linnaeus) (Aves: Columbidae).

ABSTRACT The large branchiopod crustacean fauna (fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp and clam shrimp) of the Neotropical Bioregion are incompletely known, with scattered records for many taxa, and many new taxa discovered and described regularly. As an aid to furthering our knowledge of the group in this region, we present an assortment of notes and records on various Neotropical taxa. We present our information

ABSTRACT Recently, the availability of cheap and effective survey methods increased the number of forest canopy studies. Several studies have described butterfly communities in the upper forest stratum. However, these studies were all conducted in tall forests (20–60 m canopy height). Here we aim to assess the stratification of fruit-feeding butterfly species in two vertical strata of a semi-deciduous