New records for helminths of hystricognath rodents from the middle and high Rio Negro microregion, State of Amazonas, Brazil Novos registros para helmintos de roedores histricognatos da microrregião do médio e alto Rio Negro, Estado do Amazonas, Brasil

Four nematodes and one cestode species from three Brazilian agoutis - two Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 and one Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) - and six pacas - Agouti paca (Linnaeus, 1766) - captured in tributaries rivers in the middle and high Rio Negro microregion, State of Amazonas, Brazil, were studied. The nematodes Physaloptera torresi (Travassos, 1920) Ortlepp, 1922, Physocephalus mediospiralis (Molin, 1859) Hall, 1916 and the cestode Raillietina (R.) trinitatae (Cameron & Reesal, 1951) Baer & Sandars, 1956 are reported from the State of Amazonas for the first time. The studied helminths (the nematodes P. torresi, P. mediospiralis, Trichuris gracilis (Rud., 1819) Hall, 1916, Helminthoxys urichi (Cameron & Reesal, 1951) Hugot, 1986 and the cestode R. (R.) trinitatae) represent new host record for Dasyprocta fuliginosa. New morphometric data and remarks about each species are provided.<br>Foram estudadas quatro espécies de nematóides e uma de cestóide coletados de três cutias - duas Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 e uma Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) - e seis pacas - Agouti paca (Linnaeus, 1766) - capturadas em rios afluentes na microrregião do médio e alto Rio Negro, Estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Os nematóides Physaloptera torresi (Travassos, 1920) Ortlepp, 1922, Physocephalus mediospiralis (Molin, 1859) Hall, 1916 e o cestóide Raillietina (R.) trinitatae (Cameron & Reesal, 1951) Baer & Sandars, 1956 são registrados pela primeira vez no Estado do Amazonas. Os helmintos estudados (os nematóides P. torresi, P. mediospiralis, Trichuris gracilis (Rud., 1819) Hall, 1916, Helminthoxys urichi (Cameron & Reesal, 1951) Hugot, 1986 e o cestóide R. (R.) trinitatae) representam novos registros para Dasyprocta fuliginosa. Novos dados morfométricos e observações sobre cada espécie são fornecidos

Trichostrongylina (Nematoda, Heligmosomoidea) coparasites in Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae) from Brazil, with the re-establishment of the genus Avellaria Freitas & Lent and the description of two new species Trichostrongylina (Nematoda, Heligmosomoidea) co-parasitos em Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae) do Brasil, com o restabelecimento do gênero Avellaria Freitas & Lent e a descrição de duas novas espécies

Two new tichostrongylid nematodes of the family Viannaiidae Durette-Desset & Chabaud, 1981 coparasites in Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 from the State of Amazonas, Brazil, are described: Viannella trichospicula sp. nov. is differentiated from the other species of the genus by the extreme slenderness of its spicules. Avellaria intermedia sp. nov. is distinguished from the single type species Avellaria avellari Freitas & Lent, 1934, by a smaller number of cuticular ridges (17 versus 27), a higher ratio of spicule length/ body length (8% versus 5.6%) and spicules with a single tip. This genus, synonymized with the genus Viannella Travassos, 1918, by Durette-Desset (1968) is re-established, the female being didelphic. It is the first record of a nematode of the family Viannaiidae in a host of the family Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838.<br>Dois novos nematóides tricostrongilídeos da família Viannaiidae Durette-Desset & Chabaud, 1981 co-parasitos em um espécime de Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 do Estado do Amazonas, Brasil, são descritos: Viannella trichospicula sp. nov. distingue-se das espécies do gênero, pelos espículos extremamente delgados. Avellaria intermedia sp. nov. diferencia-se da espécie tipo e única do gênero Avellaria avellari Freitas & Lent, 1934, pelo menor número de arestas cuticulares (17 comparado a 27), pela maior relação entre o tamanho do espículo e o comprimento do corpo (8% comparado a 5,6%) e espículos com extremidade única. Este gênero, que havia sido considerado sinônimo de Viannella Travassos, 1918, por Durette-Desset (1968), é restabelecido; as fêmeas são didelfas. Este é o primeiro registro de um nematóide da família Viannaiidae em um hospedeiro da família Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora