Répteis Squamata de remanescentes florestais do campus da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brasil

Inventários faunísticos são fundamentais para o conhecimento da biodiversidade e, conseqüentemente, para o planejamento e tomada de decisões sobre estratégias de conservação. Para conhecer a diversidade e composição dos répteis Squamata, assim como a distribuição das espécies por microhábitat em três fragmentos florestais na área do Campus da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), efetuaramse excursões quinzenais diurnas, de março a junho de 2008. As buscas ativas foram realizadas ao longo de transecções percorridas aleatoriamente, efetuando-se os registros das espécies, dos microhábitats e do horário de observação. Um total de 92 espécimes, correspondentes a 10 espécies, foi coletados nas três áreas estudadas. A consulta da Coleção Herpetológica da UFRN possibilitou adicionar outras oito espécies, totalizando 18 espécies para o Campus da UFRN. As espécies mais abundantes foram Mabuya heathi, Hemidactylus mabouia e Tropidurus hispidus. O coeficiente de similaridade faunística binário de Sorensen mostrou 59 % de similaridade com os Squamata do Parque Estadual das Dunas do Natal (PEDN), área de conservação contígua com a área estudada. Apesar do grande adensamento urbano, os fragmentos florestais do Campus Central da UFRN abrigam espécies de formações abertas e de áreas florestadas, com destaque para os primeiros registros de Coleodactylus natalensis e de Amphisbaena heathi nessa vegetação relictual, fatos que justificam a preservação desses fragmentos em prol da manutenção destas espécies endêmicas do Rio Grande do Norte.Fauna inventories are crucial for increasing knowledge of biodiversity as well as for planning and conservation strategies. To assess the taxonomic composition and microhabitat distribution of squamate reptiles in three forest fragments on the campus of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), field collections were carried out quarterly from March through July 2008. Active search for specimens was conducted randomly along transects. Both time of capture and microhabitat were recorded for each specimen. A total of 92 specimens belonging to 10 species were documented in the study area. Further examination of material deposited in the herpetological collection of UFRN uncovered eight additional species recorded for the area, totaling 18 species of squamate reptiles on the UFRN campus. The most abundant species recorded in the study area were Mabuya heathi, Hemidactylus mabouia and Tropidurus hispidus. According to the Sorensen Similarity index, squamate fauna from the UFRN campus showed 59% similarity with those recorded in the Natal Dune State Park (Parque Estadual das Dunas do Natal), a conservation area bordering the campus. In spite of heavy urban encroachment, the forest fragments on the UFRN campus harbor species typical of open and forested areas. The records of Coleodactylus natalensis and Amphisbaena heathi, both in relictual forest fragments, further justify efforts to preserve these fragments for the maintenance of these endemic species in the campus area.Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Ecology and diversity of a lizard community in the semiarid region of Brazil

Composition, species diversity and resource usage in terms of space and time were evaluated for the lizard community of the Ecological Station of the Seridó (ESEC Seridó), Rio Grande do Norte. An observation area of 150 m × 150 m (2.25 ha) was delimited and surveyed monthly in alternate turns (morning, afternoon and night) for three consecutive days from April to October 2011, covering dry and rainy seasons. Fourteen species belonging to eight families were recorded, being Tropidurus semitaeniatus the most abundant. Seasonality influenced species richness and abundance. Regarding habitat usage, Lygodactylus klugei was the most generalist species, while Phyllopezus periosus, P. pollicaris and T. semitaeniatus were specialists, showing affinity for rocky formations. About microhabitat usage, the most generalist species was T. hispidus and the most specialized was L. klugei . Ten of the recorded species have diurnal habits and four are nocturnal. The space and time usage profiles of the dominant species corroborated data obtained in previous autoecological studies conducted in the same area and suggest a pattern of resource usage by these species in the ESEC Seridó

On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil

Sobre a história natural do Sapo-de-chifre da Caatinga, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratophryidae), uma espécie pouco conhecida do nordeste do Brasil. Apresentamos aqui dados sobre a reprodução, dimorfismo sexual e dieta de Ceratophrys joazeirensis, a única espécie do gênero que ocorre no Bioma brasileiro semiárido Caatinga. Os anuros foram observados e coletados no Município de Santa Maria, estado do Rio Grande do Norte, nordeste do Brasil. O trabalho de campo foi realizado à noite, durante ou após as chuvas ao longo da estação chuvosa no período 2010–2013. Foram realizadas buscas perto de locais onde os machos estavam vocalizando, geralmente em torno de corpos d’água. A reprodução é explosiva, com atividade reprodutiva ocorrendo quando as chuvas se intensificaram durante as estações chuvosas de 2011–2013. No entanto, em 2010, nem machos vocalizando nem fêmeas ativas foram encontrados, mesmo depois de dias chuvosos. Embora os machos vocalizem em poças temporárias e permanentes, a maioria dos indivíduos vocalizou na vegetação marginal de poças temporárias. As fêmeas de C. joazeirensis são significativamente maiores que os machos. O tamanho médio da desova é de 2555.0 ± 1551.1 ovos; o tamanho da ninhada não está significativamente correlacionado com o tamanho do corpo das fêmeas. Em ordem decrescente de volume, as categorias de presas mais importantes na dieta de C. joazeirensis foram anuros, seguidos por coleópteros e material vegetal. A aparente importância dos anuros na dieta provavelmente está relacionada com o número de espécies de anuros que co-ocorrem com C. joazeirensis e do comportamento alimentar voraz dos Ceratophryidae.On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratrophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil. Data on reproduction, sexual dimorphism, and the diet of Ceratophrys joazeirensis, the only species of the genus that occurs in the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga Biome, are presented. Anurans were observed and collected in Santa Maria Municipality, state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil. Fieldwork was conducted at night either after or during rains throughout the rainy season in 2010–2013. Searches were conducted near places where males were calling, usually around the perimeters of bodies of water. Reproduction is explosive in the population, with breeding activity occurring as the rain intensified during the rainy seasons of 2011–2013. However, in 2010, neither calling males nor active females were found, even after rainy days. Although males call in temporary and permanent ponds, most males call in the marginal vegetation of temporary ponds. Females C. joazeirensis are significantly larger than males. The average clutch size is 2555.0 ± 1551.1 eggs; clutch size is not significantly correlated with female body size. In decreasing order of volume, the most important prey categories in the diet of C. joazeirensis are anurans, followed by coleopterans and plant material. The apparent importance of anurans in the diet probably is related to the number of anuran species that co-occur with C. joazeirensis and the voracious feeding behavior of ceratophryids

Mating behavior and female accompaniment in the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus ocellifer (Squamata, Teiidae) in the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil

We report here a set of observations on mating behavior and female accompaniment by the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus ocellifer in an area of Caatinga (xerophilous open forests) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. We observed a stationary male lizard performing repeated vibratory movements of the pelvis and tail base upon the sandy soil. Since that male was in front of a burrow in which a female of the same species was sheltered, we hypothesize that this behavior may be part of a courtship display. We continued the observation and later, when the female emerged from the burrow, the male climbed on her and the copulation occurred. The incident of accompaniment observed was characterized by one male continuously accompanying a female during foraging. Plausible functional explanations for a male accompany a female include mating guarding, post-copulatory courtship, and sperm loading. By accompanying females, males would be guaranteeing insemination by multiple copulation and stimulation of the female, and protecting their paternity by chasing away other males, diminishing the chances of extra-pair copulations

On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil

On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratrophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil. Data on reproduction, sexual dimorphism, and the diet of Ceratophrys joazeirensis, the only species of the genus that occurs in the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga Biome, are presented. Anurans were observed and collected in Santa Maria Municipality, state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil. Fieldwork was conducted at night either after or during rains throughout the rainy season in 2010–2013. Searches were conducted near places where males were calling, usually around the perimeters of bodies of water. Reproduction is explosive in the population, with breeding activity occurring as the rain intensified during the rainy seasons of 2011–2013. However, in 2010, neither calling males nor active females were found, even after rainy days. Although males call in temporary and permanent ponds, most males call in the marginal vegetation of temporary ponds. Females C. joazeirensis are significantly larger than males. The average clutch size is 2555.0 ± 1551.1 eggs; clutch size is not significantly correlated with female body size. In decreasing order of volume, the most important prey categories in the diet of C. joazeirensis are anurans, followed by coleopterans and plant material. The apparent importance of anurans in the diet probably is related to the number of anuran species that co-occur with C. joazeirensis and the voracious feeding behavior of ceratophryids.Sobre a história natural do Sapo-de-chifre da Caatinga, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratophryidae), uma espécie pouco conhecida do nordeste do Brasil. Apresentamos aqui dados sobre a reprodução, dimorfismo sexual e dieta de Ceratophrys joazeirensis, a única espécie do gênero que ocorre no Bioma brasileiro semiárido Caatinga. Os anuros foram observados e coletados no Município de Santa Maria, estado do Rio Grande do Norte, nordeste do Brasil. O trabalho de campo foi realizado à noite, durante ou após as chuvas ao longo da estação chuvosa no período 2010–2013. Foram realizadas buscas perto de locais onde os machos estavam vocalizando, geralmente em torno de corpos d’água. A reprodução é explosiva, com atividade reprodutiva ocorrendo quando as chuvas se intensificaram durante as estações chuvosas de 2011–2013. No entanto, em 2010, nem machos vocalizando nem fêmeas ativas foram encontrados, mesmo depois de dias chuvosos. Embora os machos vocalizem em poças temporárias e permanentes, a maioria dos indivíduos vocalizou na vegetação marginal de poças temporárias. As fêmeas de C. joazeirensis são significativamente maiores que os machos. O tamanho médio da desova é de 2555.0 ± 1551.1 ovos; o tamanho da ninhada não está significativamente correlacionado com o tamanho do corpo das fêmeas. Em ordem decrescente de volume, as categorias de presas mais importantes na dieta de C. joazeirensis foram anuros, seguidos por coleópteros e material vegetal. A aparente importância dos anuros na dieta provavelmente está relacionada com o número de espécies de anuros que co-ocorrem com C. joazeirensis e do comportamento alimentar voraz dos Ceratophryidae

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