The genus of Streblidae (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) with highest number of species is Trichobius Gervais. This genus is considered non-monophyletic. Here a new genus is erected to harbor the species of Trichobius phyllostomae group. Five new combinations are done, Bianconiia phyllostomae (Kessel) comb. nov., B. brennani (Wenzel) comb. nov., B. vampyropis (Wenzel) comb. nov., B. hispida (Wenzel) comb. nov., and B. petersoni (Wenzel) comb. nov. and one new species is named. Diagnoses, list of host species, maps of distribution and a key for specific identification are provided.
Family Epiphragmophoridae is endemic to South America, albeit known in Brazil from only three species: two belonging to the genus Epiphragmophora Doering, 1875 and the monotypic genus Minaselates Cuezzo & Pena, 2017. Here, we investigate material from natural history collections and newly collected specimens from Rio Grande do Sul state to revise the endemic and poorly known Epiphragmophora semiclausa (Martens, 1868). We provide a redescription of the species, including shell morphology, external soft-body morphology, jaw and radula, as well as the first detailed study of this species’ reproductive anatomy and genetic data. Furthermore, we revise the species’ historical and current distribution and provide observational behavioural data in the wild. Epiphragmophora semiclausa is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Rio Grande do Sul state and historical data show that the species’ range has contracted in the past decades. Field observations show that the species is arboreous, contrary to most congeners. Finally, we also provide an initial molecular phylogenetic framework for the family, showing that, so far, the Brazilian species form a monophyletic group and that the monotypic Minaselates renders Epiphragmophora non-monophyletic.
Coatis (Nasua nasua) form extensive social groups and utilize acoustic signals as one of their means of communication. The contact call, chirp, plays an important role in maintaining cohesion and exchanging information. Our objective was to evaluate possible regional differences in chirp parameters in the Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes from southern Brazil and Uruguay, and investigate the relationship between environmental variables and this signal, testing the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis (AAH). We obtained audios from 184 videos of camera traps distributed in the two biomes. Temporal and spectral parameters were extracted from the chirps and organized with the respective environmental variables and location. We found significant differences for all chirps’ parameters at biome and locality levels. The environmental predictors most consistently associated with vocal variation were NDVI, latitude and wind speed, although NDVI and latitude likely reflect the same environmental gradient. Animals in environments with dense vegetation tend to vocalize at lower frequencies, probably due to attenuation generated by vegetation, whereas calls emitted in open environments tended to exhibit higher frequencies, consistent with the predictions of the AAH. These findings are consistent with the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis and suggest that environmental conditions may contribute to acoustic variation in coati contact calls.
This paper aims to describe a new skipper species from Brazil: Cornuphallus rio sp. nov., based on a male holotype and a female allotype from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, Brazil. This new species represents the first record of the genus in the Atlantic Forest Biome. Also, it is the first time that the female genitalia of a species of the genus is illustrated and described.
Despite advances in the inventory of the ant fauna of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, the North mesoregion still shows limited species records, particularly in its coastal areas, suggesting that its diversity is underestimated. Thus, the present study aimed to expand knowledge of ant diversity of the northern region of the state. The sampling was conducted over one year in an area of herbaceous-shrubby restinga and another of lowland dense rainforest, both in the municipality of Balneario Barra do Sul. To sample the ants, hand-collecting, pitfall traps, and mini-Winkler extractors were used. We sampled 74 species, belonging to 29 genera and seven subfamilies. Three new records for the state of Santa Catarina were made (Camponotus (Myrmocladecus) sanctaefidei Dalla Torre 1892, Pheidole obscurithorax Naves, 1985 and Solenopsis bicolor (Emery, 1906)). The most collected subfamilies were Myrmicinae and Formicinae, while the most collected genera were Pheidole, Camponotus and Crematogaster. More surveys are needed in northern Santa Catarina State to ascertain the diversity of species in its different phytophysiognomies and better fill the gap regarding ant species knowledge of southern Brazil.
