Abstract The relationship between chromosomal and morphological variation in mammals is poorly understood. We analyzed the cranial size and shape variation in Ctenomys lami concerning to the geographic variation in their chromosome numbers. This subterranean rodent occurs in a narrow range of sand-dunes in the Coastal Plain of southern Brazil. This species presents a high karyotypic variation with diploid numbers varying from 2n = 54 to 2n = 58, involving the fission and fusion of chromosome pairs 1 and 2. Due to different chromosome rearrangement frequencies along their geographic distribution, four karyotypic blocks were proposed. This study, explored cranium shape and size variation in geographical, chromosomal polymorphism, and chromosome rearrangements contexts to test whether the four karyotypic blocks reflect morphologically distinct units. For this, we measured 89 craniums using geometric morphometrics and used uni and multivariate statistics to discriminate the predicted groups and test for an association among chromosomal and morphological variation. Our results show the size and shape of sexual dimorphism, with males larger than females, and support the existence of four karyotypic blocks for Ctenomys lami based on morphological variation. However, our results do not support a direct relationship between chromosomal and cranial morphological variation in C. lami. understood sanddunes sand dunes Brazil n 5 58 2 distribution proposed study geographical polymorphism units this 8 dimorphism females However C

Resumo: Aqui nós relatamos ampliação de distribuição de três espécies de eretizontídeos amazônicos: Coendou bicolor, C. ichillus e C. nycthemera. Nós registramos pela primeira vez C. ichillus no Brasil, no Rio Japurá, estado do Amazonas. Registramos C. bicolor pela primeira vez no estado Amazonas, o que representa uma ampliação de distribuição de aproximadamente 905 km. Também estendemos a ocorrência de C. nycthemera 620 km ao sul, no estado de Mato Grosso. Todos os registros são baseados em espécimes de museu, enfatizando a importância das coleções científicas como bancos de dados da biodiversidade e a destacando ausência de pesquisas para porcos-espinhos amazônicos.

Abstract: We report range extensions for three species of Amazonian erethizontids, Coendou bicolor, C. ichillus, and C. nycthemera. We record C. ichillus for the first time in Brazil, from Rio Japurá, state of Amazonas. We record C. bicolor for the first time in the state of Amazonas, which represents a range extension of approximately 905 km. We also extend the occurrence of C. nycthemera 620 km to the south into Mato Grosso state. All records are based on museum specimens, highlighting the importance of scientific collections as biodiversity databases and emphasizing the lack of research on Amazonian porcupines.

Abstract Bat ectoparasitic flies are highly specialized hematophagous insects exclusive to Chiroptera. Between November 2014 and August 2016, we surveyed these ectoparasites in urban and protected areas in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. We recorded 15 fly species in 10 genera in the families Streblidae (13) and Nycteribiidae (2). Twelve species and 5 genera represent first records for the state. Basilia anceps and Noctiliostrebla sp., are new records for the northeastern region of Brazil. Fly specimens were collected on 8 species of bats, mainly phyllostomids, and ~87% were monoxenous. Our survey increased the number of known bat ectoparasitic flies in the state from 10 to 22 species, from 5 to 10 genera, and from 31 to 34 known species in the northeastern portion of the Atlantic Forest.

Resumen Las moscas ectoparásitas de murciélagos son hematófagos altamente especializados de quirópteros. Desde noviembre de 2014 hasta agosto de 2016 realizamos un estudio de estos ectoparásitos en áreas urbanas y protegidas en el estado de Paraíba, noreste de Brasil. Se registraron 15 especies de moscas de 10 géneros de las familias Streblidae (13) y Nycteribiidae (2). Doce especies y 5 géneros de moscas representan el primer registro para el estado. Basilia anceps y Noctiliostrebla sp. son nuevos registros para el noreste de Brasil. Las moscas fueron recolectadas en 8 especies de murciélagos, principalmente en filostomídeos, y ~87% eran monoxenas. A través de nuestro estudio, el número de moscas ectoparásitas de murciélagos conocidas en el estado aumentó de 10 a 22 especies, de 5 a 10 géneros y de 31 a 34 especies conocidas en la porción noreste del Bosque Atlántico.

Abstract Plague is a zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis, whose cycle is based on a reservoir system composed of mammals and their fleas. Its transmission cycle presents long enzootic periods with undetected cases, sometimes misleading that the cycle is extinct. While surveillance activities in Brazil are being carried out only in some focal areas, the serologic results confirm the persistence of Y. pestis in all monitored areas. We studied the small mammal assembly and Y. pestis presencein the Borborema Plateau Focus within the state of Paraíba, which staged the last Brazilian plague outbreak (1986-1987), through aninventory and Y. pestis detection survey of small mammals in peridomestic and sylvatic areas from two municipalities in the state of Paraíba.The field sampling captured 45 specimens (27 marsupials, 18 rodents), of 10 species. Only two species (one marsupial, one rodent) were captured in both peridomestic and sylvatic ecotopes. The sylvatic ecotope had higher richness and abundance. No evidence of circulation of the pathogen was detected, however, this result does not discard the necessity of continuous epidemiological surveillance due to the risk of rekindling the foci after long dormant periods, especially given the current epidemiological transition occurring on a Global scale.

Abstract We tested the association between chromosomal polymorphism and skull shape and size variation in two groups of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys. The hypothesis is based on the premise that chromosomal rearrangements in small populations, as it occurs in Ctenomys, produce reproductive isolation and allow the independent diversification of populations. The mendocinus group has species with low chromosomal diploid number variation (2n=46-48), while species from the torquatus group have a higher karyotype variation (2n=42-70). We analyzed the shape and size variation of skull and mandible by a geometric morphometric approach, with univariate and multivariate statistical analysis in 12 species from mendocinus and torquatus groups of the genus Ctenomys. We used 763 adult skulls in dorsal, ventral, and lateral views, and 515 mandibles in lateral view and 93 landmarks in four views. Although we expected more phenotypic variation in the torquatus than the mendocinus group, our results rejected the hypothesis of an association between chromosomal polymorphism and skull shape and size variation. Moreover, the torquatus group did not show more variation than mendocinus. Habitat heterogeneity associated to biomechanical constraints and other factors like geography, phylogeny, and demography, may affect skull morphological evolution in Ctenomys.