ABSTRACT This paper consisted of the taxonomic survey of Apocynaceae in the Núcleo Curucutu. For better identification of the species, identification key, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographical distribution and phenological data are provided. The family is represented in the area by eight species: Ditassa gracilis Han.-Mazz., Mandevilla atroviolacea (Stadelm.) Woodson, M. fragrans (Stadelm.) Woodson, M. funiformis (Vell.) K.Schum., Orthosia scoparia (Nutt.) Liede & Meve, Oxypetalum insigne (Decne.) Malme, O. pachyglossum Decne., and Peplonia axillaris (Vell.) Fontella & Rapini. Curucutu species key descriptions illustrations provided Han.Mazz., HanMazz Han. Mazz., Han Mazz Han.-Mazz. Stadelm. Stadelm (Stadelm. Woodson M Vell. Vell (Vell. KSchum K Schum K.Schum. Nutt. Nutt (Nutt. Meve Decne. Decne (Decne. Malme O Rapini Han.Mazz. Mazz. Han.-Mazz (Stadelm (Vell K.Schum (Nutt (Decne Han.Mazz

RESUMO Este trabalho consistiu no levantamento taxonômico de Apocynaceae no Núcleo Curucutu. Para melhor identificação das espécies, são fornecidas chave de identificação, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e dados fenológicos. A família está representada na área por oito espécies: Ditassa gracilis Hand.-Mazz., Mandevilla atroviolacea (Stadelm.) Woodson, M. fragrans (Stadelm.) Woodson, M. funiformis (Vell.) K.Schum., Orthosia scoparia (Nutt.) Liede & Meve, Oxypetalum insigne (Decne.) Malme, O. pachyglossum Decne. e Peplonia axillaris (Vell.) Fontella & Rapini. Curucutu espécies morfológicas ilustrações fenológicos Hand.Mazz., HandMazz Hand. Mazz., Hand Mazz Hand.-Mazz. Stadelm. Stadelm (Stadelm. Woodson M Vell. Vell (Vell. KSchum K Schum K.Schum. Nutt. Nutt (Nutt. Meve Decne (Decne. Malme O Rapini Hand.Mazz. Mazz. Hand.-Mazz (Stadelm (Vell K.Schum (Nutt (Decne Hand.Mazz

This study consisted of the floristic survey and taxonomic study of Onagraceae in Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, São Paulo State, Brazil. In order to better identify the species, analytical key, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographical distribution and phenology data are provided. The family is represented in the area by five species: Fuchsia regia (Vell.) Munz., Ludwigia burchelli (Micheli) H.Hara., L. elegans (Cambess.) H.Hara., L. longifolia (DC.) H.Hara and L. octovalvis  (Jacq.) P.H.Raven.

Este estudo consistiu no levantamento florístico e estudo taxonômico de Onagraceae no Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Para melhor identificação das espécies, são fornecidas chave analítica, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e dados fenológicos. A família está representada na área por cinco espécies: Fuchsia regia (Vell.) Munz., Ludwigia burchellii (Micheli) H.Hara., L. elegans (Cambess.) H.Hara., L. longifolia (DC.) H.Hara e L. octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven.

This work consists in a taxonomic survey. Identification key, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution and phenology are presented. The order is represented in the study area by four species divided into three families: Goeppertia monophylla (Vell.) Borchs. amp; S.Suárez (Marantaceae), Heliconia farinosa Raddi (Heliconiaceae), Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. and Renealmia petasites Gagnep. (Zingiberaceae).

Este trabalho consiste em um levantamento taxonômico. Chave de identificação, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e fenologia são apresentados. A ordem está representada na área de estudo por quatro espécies divididas em três famílias: Goeppertia monophylla (Vell.) Borchs. amp; S.Suárez (Marantaceae), Heliconia farinosa Raddi (Heliconiaceae), Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. e Renealmia petasites Gagnep. (Zingiberaceae).

RESUMO Este trabalho consiste em um levantamento taxonômico. Chave de identificação, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e fenologia são apresentados. A ordem está representada na área de estudo por quatro espécies divididas em três famílias: Goeppertia monophylla (Vell.) Borchs. & S.Suárez (Marantaceae), Heliconia farinosa Raddi (Heliconiaceae), Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. e Renealmia petasites Gagnep. (Zingiberaceae).

ABSTRACT This work consists in a taxonomic survey. Identification key, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution and phenology are presented. The order is represented in the study area by four species divided into three families: Goeppertia monophylla (Vell.) Borchs. & S.Suárez (Marantaceae), Heliconia farinosa Raddi (Heliconiaceae), Hedychium coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm. and Renealmia petasites Gagnep. (Zingiberaceae).

RESUMO Este estudo consistiu no levantamento florístico e estudo taxonômico de Onagraceae no Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Para melhor identificação das espécies, são fornecidas chave analítica, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e dados fenológicos. A família está representada na área por cinco espécies: Fuchsia regia (Vell.) Munz., Ludwigia burchellii (Micheli) H.Hara., L. elegans (Cambess.) H.Hara., L. longifolia (DC.) H.Hara e L. octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven.

ABSTRACT This study consisted of the floristic survey and taxonomic study of Onagraceae in Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, São Paulo State, Brazil. In order to better identify the species, analytical key, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographical distribution and phenology data are provided. The family is represented in the area by five species: Fuchsia regia (Vell.) Munz., Ludwigia burchellii (Micheli) H.Hara., L. elegans (Cambess.) H.Hara., L. longifolia (DC.) H.Hara and L. octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H.Raven.

Abstract Molecular species delimitation methods are efficient tools to identify species, including the discovery of new taxa and cryptic organisms, thus being useful to biodiversity studies. In the present work, 16S mitochondrial sequences and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) were used to evaluate the richness of species in the genus Scinax and Ololygon from a biodiversity hotspot in Atlantic Forest. A total of 109 specimens formally belonging to eight species of Scinax and three species of Ololygon were collected in 13 localities along the state of Bahia (northeastern Brazil) and one site in Espírito Santo (southeastern Brazil). Of the Scinax species collected in this study, three were morphologically differentiated from other described species and identified as putative new species (Scinax sp.1, Scinax sp.2 and Scinax sp.3). The species delimitations were inferred using three different methods: ABGD, PTP and mPTP which allowed recognizing 11 Scinax species and five Ololygon species. Scinax sp. 1, Scinax sp. 2 and Scinax sp. 3, have been confirmed as new putative species and Ololygon argyreornata possibly contains cryptic species. We suggest additional studies, including morphological and bioacoustic data to validate these new putative species.

ABSTRACT Mansoa hirsuta (Bignoniaceae) is a native plant from caatinga in Brazilian semiarid. This plant has been locally used as antimicrobial and hypoglycemiant agents, but their action mechanisms and toxicity remain largely unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the composition and antioxidant, cytoprotective and hypoglycemiant effects of raw extract, fractions and compounds from leaves of M. hirsuta. The cytogenotoxic effects of ursolic and oleanolic acids, the main phytotherapic components of this plant, were assessed. The raw extract and fractions presented steroids, saponins, flavonols, flavanonols, flavanones, xanthones, phenols, tannins, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins and flavonoids. The ethyl acetate fraction inhibited efficiently the cascade of lipid peroxidation while the hydroalcoholic fraction was richer in total phenols and more efficient in capturing 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (·DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS·+) radicals. The isolated fraction of M. hirsuta also inhibited the α-amylase activity. Cytotoxic effects were absent in both raw extract and fractions while ursolic+oleanolic acids were efficient in protecting cells after exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, this mixture of acid shad no significant interference on the mitotic index and frequency of nuclear and/or chromosomal abnormalities in Allium cepa test. Therefore, M. hirsuta represents a potential source of phytochemicals against inflammatory and oxidative pathologies, including diabetes.

RESUMO Este trabalho consiste no levantamento taxonômico e florístico de Ocotea Aubl. no Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Chaves de identificação, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e fenologia são apresentados. O gênero está representado na área por oito espécies: Ocotea curucutuensis J.B. Baitello, Ocotea dispersa (Nees & Mart) Mez, Ocotea laxa (Nees) Mez, Ocotea nutans (Nees) Mez, Ocotea pulchella (Nees & Mart) Mez, Ocotea pulchra Vattimo -Gil, Ocotea serrana Coe-Teix, Ocotea venulosa (Nees) Baitello.

ABSTRACT This paper consists of the taxonomic and floristic survey of the species of Ocotea Aubl. in Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil. Identification keys, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution, and phenology are presented. The genus is represented in the area by eight species: Ocotea curucutuensis J.B. Baitello, Ocotea dispersa (Nees & Mart.) Mez, Ocotea laxa (Nees) Mez, Ocotea nutans (Nees) Mez, Ocotea pulchella (Nees & Mart.) Mez, Ocotea pulchra Vattimo-Gil, Ocotea serrana Coe-Teix, Ocotea venulosa (Nees) Baitello

RESUMO Este trabalho consiste no levantamento de Miconia Ruiz e Pav. (Melastomataceae) no Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram registradas nove espécies de Miconia: M. cabucu Hoehne, M. chartacea Triana, M. cinnamomifolia (DC.) Naud., M. cubatanensisHoehne, M. fasciculata Gardn., M. lymaniiWurdack, M. paniculata (DC.) Naud., M. theizans (Bonpl.) Cogn., M. valtheri Naud. Para o reconhecimento das espécies, são apresentadas chave analítica, descrições, ilustrações, fenologia e distribuição geográfica.

ABSTRACT This paper consists of a survey of the Miconia Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae) in Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo State, Brazil. Nine species of Miconia were recorded:M. cabucu Hoehne, M. chartacea Triana,M. cinnamomifolia (DC.) Naud., M. cubatanensis Hoehne, M. fasciculata Gardn.,M. lymanii Wurdack, M. paniculata (DC.) Naud., M. theizans (Bonpl.) Cogn., M. valtheriNaud. Analytical key, descriptions, illustrations, phenology, and geographic distribution of the species are provided.

Abstract Scinax (Anura: Hylidae) is a species-rich genus of amphibians (113 spp.), divided into five species groups by morphological features. Cladistic analyses however revealed only two monophyletic clades in these groups: Scinax catharinae and Scinax ruber. Most species from the S. catharinae clade are found in Atlantic rainforest, except for Scinax canastrensis,S. centralis, S. luizotavioi, S. machadoi,S. pombali and S. skaios. In the present work, specimens of Scinax collected in Chapada dos Guimarães, central Brazil, were morphologically compatible with species from theS. catharinae group. On the other hand, genetic analysis based on mitochondrial (16S and 12S) and nuclear (rhodopsin) sequences revealed a nucleotide divergence of 6 to 20% between Scinax sp. and other congeners from the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado). Accordingly, Bayesian inference placed Scinax sp. in the S. catharinae clade with high support values. Hence, these findings strongly indicate the presence of a new species in the S. catharinae clade from the southwestern portion of the Brazilian savannah. To be properly validated as a novel species, detailed comparative morphological and bioacustic studies with other taxa from Brazil such asS. canastrensis, S. centralis, S. luizotavioi, S. machadoi, S. pombali and S. skaios are required.

RESUMO Characiformes é o grupo de Actinopterygii de água doce mais estudado citogeneticamente, porém dados cariotípicos de vários taxa permanecem desconhecidos. Este é o caso de Nematocharax , considerado um gênero monotípico e caracterizado pelo acentuado dimorfismo sexual. Em vista disso, nós fornecemos a primeira descrição citogenética de populações alopátricas de Nematocharax venustus , baseada em métodos distintos de bandamento cromossômico e hibridação fluorescente in situ (FISH) com sondas de DNA repetitivo (DNAr 18S e 5S). A macroestrutura cariotípica mostrou-se conservada em todos os espécimes e populações, independentemente do sexo, uma vez que compartilharam um número diploide (2n) de 50 cromossomos dividido em 8m+26sm+14st+2a. A heterocromatina distribuiu-se principalmente nas regiões pericentroméricas e a coloração com fluorocromos base-específicos revelou um único par portador de sítios GC-ricos, coincidentes com as regiões organizadoras de nucléolo (RONs). Por outro lado, foi observada uma variação interpopulacional no número e na posição das sequências repetitivas, especialmente em relação ao DNAr 5S. Aparentemente, ciclos de vida curtos e dispersão restrita dos pequenos caracídeos, tal como N. venustus , podem ter favorecido a divergência do DNA repetitivo entre as populações, indicando que essa espécie pode englobar populações com distintas histórias evolutivas, o que tem implicações importantes para medidas de conservação.

ABSTRACT Characiformes is the most cytogenetically studied group of freshwater Actinopterygii, but karyotypical data of several taxa remain unknown. This is the case of Nematocharax , regarded as a monotypic genus and characterized by marked sexual dimorphism. Therefore, we provide the first cytogenetic report of allopatric populations of Nematocharax venustus based on distinct methods of chromosomal banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with repetitive DNA probes (18S and 5S rDNA). The karyotype macrostructure was conserved in all specimens and populations, independently on sex, since they shared a diploid number (2n) of 50 chromosomes divided into 8m+26sm+14st+2a. The heterochromatin was mainly distributed at pericentromeric regions and base-specific fluorochrome staining revealed a single pair bearing GC-rich sites, coincident with nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). On the other hand, interpopulation variation in both number and position of repetitive sequences was observed, particularly in relation to 5S rDNA. Apparently, the short life cycles and restricted dispersal of small characins, such as N. venustus , might have favored the divergence of repetitive DNA among populations, indicating that this species might encompass populations with distinct evolutionary histories, which has important implications for conservation measures.

Scinax species are still underrepresented in cytogenetic studies, mainly with respect to populations from northeastern and northern Brazil. In this study, we provide new chromosomal information on Scinax boesemani, S. camposseabrai, S. garbei, S. pachycrus, S. trilineatus and S. x-signatus, all belonging to clade S. ruber. They were collected at two locations in the Caatinga biome (northeastern Brazil) and at one in the Amazon (northern Brazil) biomes. Chromosomes were analyzed by conventional staining, C-banding, Ag-NOR staining, and fluorochrome staining. All species shared a modal diploid value of 2n = 24 and fundamental arm number (FN) of 48. Moreover, both chromosomal size and morphology were similar to other species in this Scinax clade. C-banding revealed centromeric heterochromatin in all species, along with terminal species-specific C-bands in some species. Active nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) were identified at 11q in most species, except for S. boesemani and S. garbei (Ag-NORs at interstitial region of 8q). Differing from most anurans, GC-rich regions were not restricted to NORs, but also coincident with some centromeric and terminal C-bands. These data contribute to the cytotaxonomy of Scinax by providing chromosomal markers and demonstrating the occurrence of microstructural rearrangements and inversions on chromosomal evolution of Scinax.

Este estudo consistiu no levantamento florístico e estudo taxonômico de Gesneriaceae Rich. & Juss. no Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. O trabalho consta de chaves de identificação, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações, dados de distribuição geográfica e de fenologia. A família está representada na área por quatro gêneros e sete espécies: Besleria selloana Klotzsch & Hanst., Codonanthe gracilis (Mart.) Hanst., Nematanthus bradei (Handro) Chautems, N. gregarius D.L. Denham, N. maculatus (Fritsch) Wiehler, N. wettsteinii (Fritsch) H.E. Moore e Sinningia elatior (Kunth) Chautems. Nematanthus wettsteinii e N. maculatus foram registradas pela primeira vez na área de estudo.

This work consisted of a floristic survey and taxonomical study of the Gesneriaceae Rich. & Juss. in Núcleo Curucutu, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil. Keys of identification, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution, and phenology are presented. The family is represented in the area by four genera and seven species: Besleria selloana Klotzsch & Hanst., Codonanthe gracilis (Mart.) Hanst., Nematanthus bradei (Handro) Chautems, N. gregarius D.L. Denham, N. maculatus (Fritsch) Wiehler, N. wettsteinii (Fritsch) H.E. Moore, and Sinningia elatior (Kunth) Chautems. Nematanthus wettsteinii and N. maculatus were recorded for the first time in the study area.

Parrotfishes (Labridae, Scarinae) comprise a large marine fish group of difficult identification, particularly during juvenile phase when the typical morphology and coloration of adults are absent. Therefore, the goal of this study was to test cytogenetic markers and DNA barcoding in the identification of bucktooth parrtotfish Sparisoma radians from the northeastern coast of Brazil. Sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) confirmed all studied samples as S. radians, and all showed high similarity (99-100%) with Caribbean populations. The karyotype of this species was divergent from most marine Perciformes, being composed of 2n = 46 chromosomes. These consisted of a large number of metacentric and submetacentric pairs with small amounts of heterochromatin and GC-rich single nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) not syntenic to 5S rDNA clusters. These are the first data about DNA barcoding in parrotfish from the Brazilian province and the first refined chromosomal analysis in Scarinae, providing useful data to a reliable genetic identification of S. radians.

The fish genus Astyanax is widespread throughout the Neotropical region and is one of the most species-rich genera of the Characiformes. Cytogenetic studies of Astyanax have revealed marked intra-and interspecific diversity, with the identification of various species complexes. In this report, we describe the karyotypic structure of two sympatric species of Astyanax (Astyanax sp. and Astyanax aff. fasciatus) from the Middle Contas River basin in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Both species had 2n = 48 but differed in their karyotypic formulae. Small heterochromatic blocks and multiple nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were identified in both species. Terminal CMA3+/DAPI-signals were observed in Astyanax sp. and A. aff. fasciatus, mostly coincident with NORs. These results show that chromosomal markers can be used to identify species in this fish complex. These markers can provide useful information for evolutionary studies and investigations on the mechanisms of chromosomal diversity in Astyanax.