Abstract A molecular cobalt complex, Co(DippF)2 (where DippF is the anion of N,N’-bis[2,6-diisopropylphenyl]-formamidine), (1), is able to electrochemically produce hydrogen gas from the reduction of organic acids in homogeneous solutions. Compound 1 has a distorted square planar structure as evidenced through X-ray crystallography studies, and an effective magnetic moment of 4.13, obtained by the Evans method, that corresponds to three unpaired electrons. Compound 1 shows an irreversible cathodic peak at -1.59 V vs Fc/Fc+ which is assigned to the reduction of CoII to CoI. In the presence of organic acids the onset of catalytic current is observed at -1.2 V, -1.45 V and -1.89 V vs. Fc/Fc+ with p-toluenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid and phenol as the proton source, respectively, in MeCN as the solvent. Detection of hydrogen gas was obtained by GC-MS with Faradaic efficiencies ranging from 85% to 100%. Kinetic studies using foot-of-the-wave analysis (FOWA) reveal a linear dependence of the observed rate constant, k obs, against acid concentration in the range of 0.065 to 10.02 s-1 .

Resumen Un complejo molecular de cobalto, Co(DippF)2 (donde DippF es el anión de la N,N’-bis[2,6-diisopropilfenil]-formamidina), (1), es capaz de producir gas hidrógeno electroquímicamente mediante la reducción de ácidos orgánicos en soluciones homogéneas. El compuesto 1 tiene una estructura cuadrada plana distorsionada como se evidencia por estudios de cristalografía de rayos-X, y un momento magnético efectivo de 4.13, obtenido por el método de Evans, que corresponde a tres electrones no apareados. El compuesto 1 muestra un pico catódico irreversible a -1.59 V contra Fc/Fc+ que es asignado a la reducción de CoII a CoI. En la presencia de ácidos orgánicos el principio de corriente catalítica se observa a -1.2 V, -1.45 V y -1.89 V vs. Fc/Fc+ con ácido p-toluensulfónico, ácido benzoico y fenol como la fuente de protones, respectivamente, en MeCN como el solvente. La detección de gas hidrógeno fue obtenida por GC-MS con eficiencias faradaicas de 85% a 100%. Estudios cinéticos usando análisis de base de onda (FOWA por sus siglas en inglés) revelan una dependencia lineal de la constante de reacción observada, kobs, contra la concentración de ácido en el rango de 0.065 a 10.02 s-1.

We describe a new genus of sigmodontine rodent to allocate a fossil species from Lagoa Santa cave deposits, Habrothrix angustidens Winge, and a living species from southeastern Atlantic Forest described at the start of the past century, Akodon serrensis Thos. Tentatively, both forms are considered as synonyms pending a detailed revision of the genus. The new genus belongs to the Akodon Division of the diverse tribe Akodontini where, based on molecular evidence, it is sister to Thaptomys, another forest-dwelling akodontine. The new genus is characterized by a unique combination of morphological traits including tail shorter than head-and-body; manual and pedal digits with short claws; skull robust with pointed rostrum, broad and somewhat flat interorbital region with frontal borders divergent posteriorly, and enlarged braincase without crests; large incisive foramina with expanded palatal process of premaxillary; broad mesopterygoid fossa with anterior margin rounded; alisphenoid strut present; carotid arterial circulation pattern primitive; molars noticeably large in relation to the skull and moderately hypsodont; main molar cusps arranged in opposite pairs; first upper molar without anteromedian flexus; length of third lower molar subequal to those of second lower molar; mandible without distinct capsular process; gall bladder present; stomach unilocular and hemiglandular; 2n = 46 (FN = 46). The new genus is an Atlantic Forest endemic, indicating that the diversity of Akodontini has been overlooked outside of the Andes.

Describimos un nuevo género de roedor sigmodontino para ubicar una especie fósil de los depósitos de Lagoa Santa, Habrothrix angustidens Winge y una especie viviente del sudeste de la Selva Atlántica descripta en los comienzos de la centuria pasada, Akodon serrensis Thos. Tentativamente, ambas formas son consideradas sinónimos a la espera de una revisión detallada de la diversidad del género. El nuevo género pertenece a la División Akodonde la diversa tribu Akodontini donde, sobre la base de evidencia molecular, resulta hermano de Thaptomys, otro akodontino especialista de selva. El nuevo género se caracteriza por una combinación única de rasgos morfológicos incluyendo una cola más corta que el largo cabeza-cuerpo, garras de los dedos de la mano y el pie cortas, cráneo robusto con rostro puntiagudo, región interorbitaria ancha y algo chata con los bordes frontales divergentes hacia atrás y caja craneana agrandada y sin crestas, forámenes incisivos expandidos con proceso palatal del premaxilar bien desarrollado, fosa mesopterigoidea ancha con el borde anterior redondeado, barra alisfenoidea presente, patrón de circulación carotídea primitivo, molares notablemente grandes en relación a las proporciones del cráneo y moderadamente hipsodontes, principales cúspides de los molares dispuestas en pares opuestos, primer molar superior carente de flexo anteromediano, largo del tercer molar inferior subigual al del segundo molar inferior, mandíbula sin proyección capsular evidente, vesícula biliar presente, estómago unilocular-hemiglandular, 2n = 46 (FN = 46). El nuevo género es endémico de la Selva Atlántica indicando una insospechada diversidad de los Akodontini en regiones extraandinas.

The karyotype of the big-headed Amazon River turtle, Peltocephalus dumerilianus, is characterized based on a sample of seven juveniles from Reserva Biológica do Rio Trombetas, Pará State, Brazil (1°30' S, 56°34' W). Here we present the first results on GTG and CBG-banding patterns, Ag-NOR staining and FISH, with telomeric and 45S rDNA sequences as probes. A cytogenetic comparison with related Podocnemidae is also provided.

Pseudoryzomys simplex, the false rice rat, is a monotypic genus of the Oryzomyini tribe (Sigmodontinae) distributed in part of Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Its diploid number has been described as 56 acrocentric chromosomes decreasing in size and no karyotype figure has been depicted. Herein, we present karyotypic data on P. simplex, including chromosome banding and molecular fluorescent in situ hybridization using telomeric sequences and the whole X-chromosome of its sister clade Holochilus brasiliensis (HBR) as probes. A case of remarkable autosomal heteromorphism due to the presence of a whole heterochromatic arm leading to the variability of FN is reported, as well as the occurrence of regions of homology between the X and Y chromosomes (pseudoautosomal regions) after chromosome painting with the HBR X probe on P. simplex metaphases.

A novel karyotype with 2n = 50, FN = 48, was described for specimens of Thaptomys collected at Una, State of Bahia, Brazil, which are morphologically indistinguishable from Thaptomys nigrita, 2n = 52, FN = 52, found in other localities. It was hence proposed that the 2n = 50 karyotype could belong to a distinct species, cryptic of Thaptomys nigrita, once chromosomal rearrangements observed, along with the geographic distance, might represent a reproductive barrier between both forms. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood based on partial cytochrome b sequences with 1077 bp were performed, attempting to establish the relationships among the individuals with distinct karyotypes along the geographic distribution of the genus; the sample comprised 18 karyotyped specimens of Thaptomys, encompassing 15 haplotypes, from eight different localities of the Atlantic Rainforest. The intra-generic relationships corroborated the distinct diploid numbers, once both phylogenetic reconstructions recovered two monophyletic lineages, a northeastern clade grouping the 2n = 50 and a southeastern clade with three subclades, grouping the 2n = 52 karyotype. The sequence divergence observed between their individuals ranged from 1.9% to 3.5%.

The karyotypes of 23 specimens belonging to 16 species from nine genera of Brazilian marsupials (family Didelphidae) were studied. The animals were collected in eight localities of Cerrado or Atlantic Forest biomes in the states of Goiás, Tocantins and São Paulo. The karyotypes were analyzed after conventional Giemsa staining and silver staining of the nucleolus organizer regions (Ag-NORs). New karyotypic data were obtained for Gracilinanus microtarsus (2n = 14, FN = 24), Marmosops paulensis (2n = 14, FN = 24) , Micoreus paraguayanus (2n = 14, FN = 20) and Monodelphis rubida (2n = 18, FN = 32) and are discussed in detail. The karyotypes of G. microtarsus , M. paulensis and M. paraguayanus include three large pairs of submetacentrics (pairs 1, 2 and 3) and a medium-sized metacentric or submetacentric pair 4. Pairs 5 and 6 are small submetacentrics in G. microtarsus and M. paulensis and acrocentrics in M. paraguayanus . M. paulensis presented a single Ag-NOR in pair 6 (6p6p), while M. paraguayanus exhibited multiple Ag-NORs in pairs 5 and 6 (5pq5pq6p6p). There was variation in size and morphology of the sex chromosomes among these species. Monodelphis rubida presented a karyotype with 2n = 18 and FN = 32 composed of a large submetacentric pair 1, a medium-sized metacentric pair 2 and six pairs of submetacentrics (pairs 3 through 8). The X was a small acrocentric and the Y was dot-like. A single Ag-NOR bearing pair (5p5p) characterized M. rubida. Relevant karyotypic information was obtained for 19 specimens belonging to 12 species collected in areas sampled for the first time [ Caluromys lanatus and C. philander (2n = 14, FN = 20), Gracilinanus emiliae (2n = 14, FN = 24), Marmosa murina , Metachirus nudicaudatus and Micoureus demerarae (2n = 14, FN = 20), Monodelphis americana (2n = 18, FN = 32) and M. domestica (2n = 18, FN = 20), and Didelphis marsupialis, Philander frenata, P. opossum and P. sp (2n = 22, FN = 20)]. Although the karyotypes were relatively conserved with respect to the morphology of the autosomes among species with the same diploid number, some differences regarding FN, sex chromosomes morphology and Ag-NORs patterns were detected.

The genus Callistomys belongs to the rodent family Echimyidae, subfamily Echimyinae, and its only living representative is Callistomys pictus, a rare and vulnerable endemic species of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Callistomys has been previously classified as Nelomys, Loncheres, Isothrix and Echimys. In this paper we present the karyotype of Callistomys pictus, including CBG and GTG-banding patterns and silver staining of the nucleolus organizer regions (Ag-NORs). Comments on Callistomys pictus morphological traits and a compilation of Echimyinae chromosomal data are also included. Our analyses revealed that Callistomys can be recognized both by its distintinctive morphology and by its karyotype.

A study was performed to evaluate the biodiversity and similarity of benthic macroinvertebrates of the Puerto Viejo Lagoons from15 july to 15 october, 2001. Seven samplings (Sa) were conducted in eight spatial stations (St) in their natural and artificial lagoons. The alpha diversity was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener (H´), evenness of Pielou and dominance of Simpson (C) indexes. Beta diversity was determined employing quantitative Sörensen and Morisita-Horn indexes. A total of 5519 specimens belonging to three phyla, six orders, nine families and ten species were collected from macrozoobenthos during all the study. The most abundant taxa were Melanoides tuberculata (Müller) (Mesogastropoda: Thiaridae) with 3276 individuals (59,36 %), Chironomus sp. (Diptera: Chironomidae) with 1281 individuals (23,21 %) and Heleobia cumingii (Orbigny) (Mesogastropoda: Hydrobiidae) with 891 specimens (16,14 %). These three species had a crowded spatial distribution in all the samplings. The values of alpha diversity: the Shannon-Wiener, equableness of Pielou and Simpson indexes did not change significantly among the seven samplings and in the eight surveyed stations. The values of beta diversity (quantitative indexes of Sörensen and Morisita- Horn) were higher between Sa3 and SA4; and also in Sa5, Sa6 and Sa7 between each other. For the eight spatial stations Sörensen and Morisita- Horn cuantitative indexes showed a similarity over 70% between St3- St4; St4- St6 and St5- St7. St2- St6 showed the highest disssimilarity employing both cuantitative indexes.

Se realizó un estudio para evaluar la biodiversidad y similaridad de los macroinvertebrados del bentos de las lagunas de Puerto Viejo del 15 de Julio al 15 de Octubre del 2001. Se realizaron siete muestreos (M) temporales en ocho estaciones (E) espaciales en sus lagunas naturales y artificiales. Se calculó la diversidad alfa usando el Indice de Diversidad de Shannon-Wienner (H´), el de Equidad de Pielou (J´) y el Indice de Dominancia de Simpson (C). Para la determinación de la diversidad beta se empleó los Indices cuantitativos de Sörensen y Morisita-Horn. Un total de 5519 especímenes, tres filas, seis órdenes, nueve familias y 10 especies fueron colectadas en el macrozoobentos durante todo este estudio. Las taxas más dominantes durante este estudio fueron: Melanoides tuberculata (Müller) (Mesogastropoda: Thiaridae) con 3276 individuos (59,36 %), Chironomus sp. (Diptera: Chironomidae) con 1281 individuos (23,21 %) y Heleobia cumingi (Orbigny) (Mesogastropoda: Hydrobiidae) con 891 individuos (16,14 %). Estas tres especies presentaron una distribución espacial amontonada a lo largo de todos los muestreos realizados. Los valores de diversidad alfa mediante los Indices de diversidad de Shannon-Wiener, de Equidad de Pielou y de Simpson no variaron significativamente entre los siete muestreos realizados y entre las ocho estaciones censadas.