Abstract Capuchin monkeys are currently represented by four species of Cebus and eight of Sapajus. This group is taxonomically complex and several questions still need to be clarified. In the current study, using mtDNA markers and a larger sample representation than in previous studies, we seek to understand the phylogenetic relationships among the capuchin lineages and their historical biogeography. All 12 species of capuchins were analyzed for the mitochondrial Control Region and Cytochrome b to test two biogeographical hypotheses: “Reinvasion of the Amazon (ROA)” and “Sympatric Evolution (SEV)”. The phylogenetic relationships among distinct lineages within genera is consistent with an evolutionary diversification pattern probably resulting from an explosive process of diversification and dispersal between 2.0 Ma and 3.0 Ma. Also, the analyses show that the ancestral capuchins were distributed in a wide area encompassing the Amazon and Atlantic Forest. Our results support the SEV hypothesis, showing that the current syntopic distribution of Cebus and Sapajus can be explained by a sympatric speciation event in the Amazon. We also indicate that the recently proposed species taxonomy of Cebus is not supported, and that S. cay and S. macrocephalus are a junior synonym of S. apella.

Nós avaliamos a aplicação da análise fecal como método complementar à observação direta no estudo da Ecologia alimentar de Callithrix jacchus. Nossos resultados indicam que alimentos de origem animal podem ser consumidos com uma frequência maior (com base na análise fecal-FS; 61.48% da dieta) do que previamente pensado (e.g., apenas 22.83% com base na observação direta-OD). Apesar de fornecer melhores dados sobre presas, FS foi menos eficiente que a observação direta no reconhecimento de itens vegetais. Seis Ordens de insetos -incluindo Dermaptera e duas Famílias de Hymenoptera, nunca antes registradas na dieta de saguis- foram identificadas através da FS, que, portanto, se mostrou útil na caracterização da dieta, especialmente para primatas insetívoros.

We evaluated the application of faecal analysis as a complementary approach to direct observation in the study of Callithrix jacchus feeding ecology. Our results indicate that animal foods may be more commonly consumed (based on faecal samples-FS; 61.48% of diet) than previously thought (e.g., only 22.83% based on observational data-OD). Whereas FS provide better data on animal prey, it was less effective than OD in identifying plant items. Six insect orders-including Dermaptera and two hymenopteran families, not previously recorded in marmoset diet-were identified through FS, which is thus shown to be useful in characterizing diet, especially in insectivorous primates.

RESUMO O presente artigo reporta a ocorrência de espécies de morcegos e seus ectoparasitos associados em uma área de manguezal do Estado de Pernambuco. Os morcegos foram capturados por sete meses consecutivos em quatro áreas. As capturas ocorreram por 12 horas em cada noite com auxílio de redes de neblinas. Foram capturados 83 espécimes de morcegos de 14 espécies. Destes, 53 indivíduos da família Phyllostomidae estavam parasitados. Nós identificamos sete espécies de moscas da família Streblidae parasitando morcegos. A diversidade de morcegos foi H’ = 2.19 para todas as áreas amostradas e a prevalência de estrebídeos variou de 8.3 a 66.6. A intensidade média variou de um a cinco ectoparasitos. É reportada pela primeira vez a ocorrência de Lophostoma brasiliense para o ecossistema manguezal, além de duas espécies de estrebídeos para Pernambuco.

ABSTRACT This study reports the occurrence of bat species and their ectoparasites to a mangrove area of the State of Pernambuco. The bats were captured for seven consecutive months in four mangrove areas. Sampling occurred for 12 consecutive hours each night collection where mist-nets were used. Eighty-three bats of 14 species were captured. Of these, only 53 Phyllostomidae family bats found themselves parasited. We identified seven species of flies of the family Streblidae parasitizing bats. The diversity of bats is H’ = 2.19 for all areas sampled and the prevalence of streblid ranged from 8.3 to 66,6. The mean intensity ranged from one and five. It is reported for the first time the occurrence of Lophostoma brasiliense to the mangrove ecosystem, besides two species of streblid to Pernambuco.

Nyctinomops macrotis Gray, 1840 é amplamente distribuído no Novo Mundo, ocorrendo entre o sudoeste dos Estados Unidos e norte da Argentina. No Brasil, no entanto, a maioria dos registros estão concentrados na porção sul da Mata Atlântica, com alguns dados de outras regiões, e nenhum registro nas áreas semi-áridas de Caatinga do Nordeste. Este trabalho apresenta o primeiro registro de N. macrotis para este bioma, e uma grande extensão da distribuição conhecida desta espécie no Brasil.

Nyctinomops macrotis Gray, 1840 is amply distributed in the New World, ranging between the southwestern United States and northern Argentina. In Brazil, however, most records are concentrated in the southern Atlantic Forest, with few data from other regions, and none at all from the semi-arid Caatinga scrublands of the Northeast. This study presents the first record of N. macrotis for this biome, and a major extension of the known range for this species in Brazil.

Nós apresentamos o primeiro registro de Macrophyllum macrophyllum na Caatinga. A estratégia de forrageio desta espécie, principalmente sobre a água, é consistente com a ausência de registros para o bioma semiárido brasileiro. Durante um levantamento no município de Paripiranga, no norte do estado da Bahia, um macho adulto de M. macrophyllum foi capturado em 27 de março de 2012 (estação seca) as margens do rio Vaza-Barris. Considerando sua adaptação ecológica e comportamental parece provável que M. macrophyllum ocorra apenas ao longo dos principais rios perenes da Caatinga. Futuras pesquisas podem confirmar se Macrophyllum possui uma distribuição mais ampla na Caatinga, embora provavelmente restrito a corredores de habitat associados com rios perenes.

We present the first record of Macrophyllum macrophyllum in the Brazilian Caatinga. The foraging strategy of this species, mainly over water, is consistent with the lack of records for the semi-arid Caatinga biome. During a survey in the municipality of Paripiranga, in northern Bahia, an adult male of M. macrophyllum was captured on 27th March 2012 (dry season) on the margin of the Vaza-Barris River. Given its ecological and behavioral adaptations, it seems likely that M. macrophyllum occurs only in association with the principal perennial rivers of the Caatinga. Further research may confirm that Macrophyllum is more widespread in the Caatinga, but likely restricted to local corridors of habitat associated with the region’s perennial rivers.

Micronycteris está dividido em quatro subgêneros, Micronycteris, Leuconycteris, Xenoctenes e Schizonycteris. Este último 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 é amplamente distribuída pelas florestas secas da América do Sul, apesar de ser conhecida de apenas poucas localidades. A escassez de registros de M. sanborni parece está parcialmente relacionado a dificuldade de diferenciar esta espécie de outros membros do subgênero Schizonycteris. Dessa forma, o presente estudo visa identificar as características diagnósticas que distingue esta espécie dos outros Schizonycteris, revisar a distribuição geográfica dessa espécie e apresentar comentários sobre o seu padrão reprodutivo. Seis novas localidades são apresentadas aqui para M. sanborni e, juntas com as outras disponíveis na literatura, foram analisadas fornecendo novas abordagens sobre o padrão ecológico e zoogeográfico dessa espécie. Várias características diagnósticas estabelecidas por Simmones (1996) na descrição de M. sanborni mostraram-se de pouco valor taxonômico, especialmente para a diferenciação entre M. minuta e M. yatesi, das quais mais se assemelha. As principais diferenças externas são a coloração branco pura do ventre e a proporção da base branca (2/3-4/5) do pelo dorsal em M. sanborni, em contraste com a coloração branco sujo ou acinzentado e a base dorsal branca muito mais curta das outras espécies. Outras características cranianas mostraram-se também importantes para a diferenciação. Os dados de distribuição levantados indicam que M. sanborni ocorre principalmente em áreas mésicas e abertas, incluindo ambientes alterados, na Caatinga arbustiva e nas savanas do Cerrado do nordeste do Brasil, especialmente em áreas com afloramentos rochosos. Micronycteris sanborni parece ser monoéstrico, com os nascimentos coincidindo com a estação chuvosa.

Micronycteris is divided into four subgenera, Micronycteris, Leuconycteris, Xenoctenes, and Schizonycteris. The latter includes Micronycteris (Schizonycteris) minuta, Micronycteris (S.) schmidtorum, Micronycteris (S.) sanborni and Micronycteris (S.) yatesi. Little is known of the biology of M. (S.) sanborni, which is widely distributed in the dry forests of South America, but is known from only few sites. The scarcity of records of M. sanborni appears to be at least partly related to the difficulty of differentiating this species from the other members of the subgenus Schizonycteris. The present study identifies the key traits that distinguish this species from other Schizonycteris, reviews the geographic distribution of the species, and presents some notes on breeding patterns. Six new localities are presented for M. sanborni, and are analyzed together with those available in the literature, providing new insights into ecological and zoogeographic patterns. A number of the diagnostic features established by Simmons (1996) in the description of M. sanborni proved to have little taxonomic value, especially for the differentiation of M. minuta and M. yatesi, which it closely resembles. The primary external difference is the pure white color of the ventral pelage and the proportion of the white base (2/3-4/5) of the dorsal hair in M. sanborni, in contrast with dirty white or pale gray and a much shorter white base of the dorsal hair in the other species. A number of cranial traits are also important. The distributional data now indicate that M. sanborni occurs mainly in mesic and open areas, including disturbed habitats, in the Caatinga scrublands and the Cerrado savannas of northeastern Brazil, especially in areas with rocky outcrops. Micronycteris sanborni appears to be monoestrous, with births coinciding with the rainy season.

Dryadonycteris capixaba Nogueira, Lima, Peracchi and Simmons, 2012 was described from 3 specimens originally identified as Choeroniscus minor (Peters, 1868) collected in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. The present study reevaluates the geographic distribution of D. capixaba based on the re-identification of 5 specimens collected at 4 localities in northeastern Brazil, which were catalogued originally as C. minor and Lichonycteris obscura Thomas, 1895. The identification of these new specimens of D. capixaba extends the known distribution of the species northwards by approximately 1200 km, including also cloud forest enclaves within the xeric Caatinga scrub of northeastern Brazil, which may represent isolated populations.

Dryadonycteris capixaba Nogueira, Lima, Peracchi and Simmons, 2012 fue descrita a partir de 3 individuos inicialmente identificados como Choeroniscus minor (Peters, 1868) colectados en el Bosque Atlántico del sudeste de Brasil. Este estudio pretende reevaluar la distribución geográfica de D. capixaba con base en la reidentificación de 5 ejemplares colectados en 4 localidades en el noreste de Brasil, que fueron catalogados originalmente como C. minor y Lichonycteris obscura Thomas, 1895. La identificación de estos nuevos ejemplares de D. capixaba amplía la distribución conocida de la especie hacia el norte aproximadamente 1200 km, incluyendo también enclaves forestales nubosos encontrados en la Caatinga del nordeste de Brasil, que pueden representar poblaciones aisladas.

Medicinal plants are an important source of treatment for many ailments, although little is known of the potential genotoxic effects of most species. In the present study, two species from diverse and medicinally important genera - Maytenus rigida Mart., Celastraceae, and Aristolochia birostris Ducht, Aristolochiaceae - were analyzed to identify potentially significant secondary metabolites and the possible effects of their aqueous and alcoholic extracts on cell division in the onion root stem (genotoxicity test). The phytochemical testing revealed the presence of a number of potentially important secondary compounds in both species, including phenols, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and saponins. In the genotoxicity tests, no chromosomal abnormalities of any kind were observed in either species. In the case of M. rigida, a significant increase in mitotic activity was observed at the highest concentration. No significant tendency was recorded in A. birostris, although a considerable increase in the prophase was observed at all concentrations of the alcoholic extract. The triterpenoid content of both species may be especially important from a medicinal viewpoint, although recent findings on the carcinogenic potential of Aristolochia extracts demands caution in the interpretation of the results, and the need for further research.

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation is a chronic problem throughout the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the present study, four forest fragments of 60-120 ha were surveyed on a rural property in southern Sergipe, where two endangered primate species, Callicebus coimbrai Kobayashi & Langguth, 1999 and Cebus xanthosternos Wied-Neuwied, 1826, are found. Two transects were established in each fragment, and the predominant habitat in 50 m sectors was assigned to one of three categories (mature forest, secondary forest and anthropogenic forest). Standard line transect surveys of the resident primate populations - which included a third species, Callitrhix jacchus Linnaeus, 1758 - were conducted, with a total of 476 km walked transect, resulting in 164 primate sightings. At each sighting of a primate, the habitat class was recorded and the height of the individual above the ground was estimated. The analysis indicated a significant (p < 0.05) preference for mature forest in C. xanthosternos which was also observed more frequently in the larger and better preserved fragments. No clear habitat preference was verified in the other two species, although both were relatively more abundant in the smaller fragments. However, a tendency to avoid anthropogenic forest was observed in C. coimbrai. Callitrhix jacchus used significantly lower (p < 0.05) forest strata than the other species, although other differences were unclear, presumably because of the reduced stature of the forest in the fragments. Overall, the results of the study indicate that C. xanthosternos is tolerant of the effects of habitat fragmentation, and that differential habitat use may play an important role in niche partitioning.

We genotyped 15 microsatellite loci in order to evaluate the effects of habitat fragmentation, caused by flooding of the Tucuruí reservoir, on the genetic structure of Alouatta belzebul in eastern Amazonia. The analysis included two populations sampled in 1984, representing both margins of the Tocantins river, and three populations sampled 18 years later. Minimal differences in the diversity levels between present-day (Ho = 0.62-0.69 and A R = 6.07-7.21) and pre-flooding (Ho = 0.60-0.62 and A R = 6.27-6.77) populations indicated there was no significant loss of genetic variability, possibly because of successful management strategies applied during the flooding. The changes observed were limited to shifts in the composition of alleles, which presumably reflect the admixture of subpopulations during flooding. Given this, there were significant differences in the Rst values (p = 0.05) in all but one between-site comparison. Both present-day and original populations showed a deficit of heterozygotes, which suggests that this may be typical of the species, at least at a local level, perhaps because of specific ecological characteristics. The relatively large number of private alleles recorded in all populations may be a consequence of the Wahlund effect resulting from population admixture or a process of expansion rather than the loss of rare alleles through genetic drift. Additionally, the levels of genetic variability observed in this study were higher than those reported for other species of Neotropical primates, suggesting good fitness levels in these A. belzebul populations. Regular genetic monitoring of remnant populations, especially on islands, should nevertheless be an integral component of long-term management strategies.

Adequate habituation of free-ranging subjects is essential for any field study, but is generally unsystematic. Here, attempts to habituate three titi monkey (Callicebus coimbrai Kobayashi & Langguth, 1999) groups are described, and factors determining the effectiveness of the process are discussed. The "relentless pursuit" approach was aided by playback recordings of vocalizations but only one group was habituated adequately. Average contact in 13 encounters with group 1 was just over one minute, whereas in 32 encounters with group 2, it averaged 3,5 minutes (maximum = 22 minutes). Group 3 was more tolerant of observers, and was considered fully habituated by the seventh encounter. The factors determining this disparity remain unclear, although vegetation density seems important. Whereas group 3 occupied an area of relatively undisturbed forest, with a sparse understory, the other groups occupied a habitat with dense undergrowth and an irregular canopy. The subjects' tolerance may have been affected by reduced visibility and less discreet behavior of the observers. On 10 occasions, the members of group 2 leapt to the ground and fled through the undergrowth. The results indicate the need for a careful evaluation of habitat characteristics prior to the selection of groups for habituation.

Os guaribas, do gênero Alouatta, que são os primatas do Novo Mundo com maior distribuição geográfica, têm sido colocados em três grupos de espécies: o grupo Alouatta palliata da América central, e os grupos sulamericanos Alouatta seniculus e Alouatta caraya. Este último é monotípico, mas o grupo A. seniculus inclui pelo menos três espécies (A. seniculus, A. belzebul e A. fusca). Neste estudo, foram seqüenciados aproximadamente 600 pares de base do pseudogene globina g1 nas quatro espécies brasileiras (A. seniculus, A. belzebul, A. fusca e A. caraya). Os métodos de máxima parcimônia e máxima verossimilhança produziram árvores filogenéticas com o mesmo arranjo: {A. caraya [A. seniculus (A. fusca, A. belzebul)]}. A árvore mais parcimoniosa apresentou valores de bootstrap maiores de 82% para todos os agrupamentos, e valores de força de ligação de pelo menos 2, apoiando o agrupamento irmão de A. fusca e A. belzebul. O estudo também confirmou a presença em A. fusca do elemento de inserção Alu, com 150 pares de base, e uma deleção de 1,8 kb no pseudogene globina g1 já conhecidos nas demais espécies de guaribas. A classificação cladística baseada em dados moleculares é congruente com as de estudos morfológicos, com um isolamento claro do grupo monoespecífico A. caraya em relação ao grupo A. seniculus.

The genus Alouatta (howler monkeys) is the most widely distributed of New World primates, and has been arranged in three species groups: the Central American Alouatta palliata group and the South American Alouatta seniculus and Alouatta caraya groups. While the latter is monotypic, the A. seniculus group encompasses at least three species (A. seniculus, A. belzebul and A. fusca). In the present study, approximately 600 base pairs of the g1-globin pseudogene were sequenced in the four Brazilian species (A. seniculus, A. belzebul, A. fusca and A. caraya). Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods yielded phylogenetic trees with the same arrangement: {A. caraya [A. seniculus (A. fusca, A. belzebul)]}. The most parsimonious tree had bootstrap values greater than 82% for all groupings, and strength of grouping values of at least 2, supporting the sister clade of A. fusca and A. belzebul. The study also confirmed the presence of a 150-base pair Alu insertion element and a 1.8-kb deletion in the g1-globin pseudogene in A. fusca, features found previously in the remaining three species. The cladistic classification based on molecular data agrees with those of morphological studies, with the monospecific A. caraya group being clearly differentiated from the A. seniculus group.

A variabilidade genética de seis taxa de tamarins, gênero Saguinus, foi analisada comparativamente usando-se dados protéicos de onze sistemas codificados por quinze loci. S. fuscicollis weddelli e S. midas midas foram os taxa mais polimórficos, enquanto S. bicolor foi o menos. Os resultados da análise filogenética (UPGMA e neighbor-joining) e as distâncias genéticas entre os taxa foram em geral consistentes com suas relações geográficas e filogenéticas. As análises das populações de S. bicolor e S. midas indicaram que eles podem representar não mais do que três subespécies de uma única espécie, S. midas, com as formas de bicolor pertencendo a uma única subespécie, S. midas bicolor. Se apoiado por estudos adicionais, este fato teria implicações importantes para a conservação da forma de bicolor, que está em perigo de extinção. A similaridade genética de S. fuscicollis e S. mystax foi também consistente com sua proximidade geográfica e morfológica, embora mais dados sobre um número maior de taxa seriam necessários antes de se definirem as relações taxonômicas dentro do gênero.

The genetic variability of six tamarin taxa, genus Saguinus, was analyzed comparatively using protein data from eleven systems coded by 15 loci. S. fuscicollis weddelli and S. midas midas were the most polymorphic taxa, and S. bicolor the least. The results of the phylogenetic analyses (UPGMA and neighbor-joining) and the genetic distances between taxa were generally consistent with their geographic and probable phylogenetic relationships. Analyses of the S. bicolor and S. midas populations suggested that they represent no more than three subspecies of a single species, S. midas, with the bicolor forms belonging to a single subspecies, S. midas bicolor. If supported by additional studies, this would have important implications for the conservation of the bicolor form, which is endangered with extinction. The genetic similarity of S. fuscicollis and S. mystax was also consistent with their geographical and morphological proximity, although more data from a larger number of taxa will be required before the taxonomic relationships within the genus can be defined.