Redescription, geographic distribution and ecological niche modeling of Elapomorphus wuchereri (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)

The original description of Elapomorphus wuchereri Günther, 1861 included a drawing and brief comments about the morphology of three specimens; two of the latter belong to another species and the holotype is lost. Based on the discovery of new specimens, we redescribe Elapomorphus wuchereri and designate a neotype. We discuss the variation and the taxonomic history of the species, and based on the results of a species distribution model analysis (SDM), we describe the distribution, extent of occurrence, and conservation status.A descrição original de Elapomorphus wuchereri Günther, 1861 continha um desenho e comentários breves acerca da morfologia de três espécimes; dois destes pertencem a outra espécie e o holótipo está perdido. Com base na descoberta de novos espécimes, redescrevemos Elapomorphus wuchereri e designamos um neótipo. Discutimos a variação e o histórico taxonômico da espécie e, com base nos resultados de uma modelagem de nicho ecológico (SDM), descrevemos sua distribuição, extensão de ocorrência e status de conservação

Casos de enmiendas injustificadas de nombres científicos dedicados a las personas en las tarántulas (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae).

Se analizaron los casos de enmiendas injustificadas en los nombres científicos dedicados a la gente, publicados por el sexo o el número de dedicatarios, en la familia Theraphosidae. Se encontraron tres casos, que son analizados de acuerdo con las reglas de nomenclatura zoológica. Las enmiendas injustificadas se consideran disponibles, pero permanentente inválidas como sinónimo junior de los nombres originales

Inclusão, exclusão e reinclusão: Chironius brazili (Serpentes, Colubridae) no Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil

Although Chironius brazili Hamdan and Fernandes, 2015, was recently described, its occurrence in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, has been discussed for at least three decades. In this work, we evaluate the occurrence of C. brazili in Rio Grande do Sul, presenting three new records, a distribution extension and comments in its available literature records. In the Pampa biome, all records are near areas of Atlantic Forest, in grassywoody steppes with gallery forest, in western Rio Grande do Sul. Our records suggest that C. brazili might occur in the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay and adjacent areas to the Western portion of Rio Grande do Sul.Keywords: geographical distribution, gallery forest, Pampa, Southern Brazil.Embora Chironius brazili Hamdan and Fernandes, 2015, tenha sido recentemente descrita, sua ocorrência no Rio Grande do Sul tem sido discutida há, pelo menos, três décadas. Neste trabalho, avaliamos a ocorrência de C. brazili no Rio Grande do Sul, apresentando três novos registros, uma extensão de distribuição e comentários sobre seus registros disponíveis em literatura. No bioma Pampa, todos os registros estão perto de áreas de Mata Atlântica, em estepes gramíneo-lenhosas com mata ciliar, no oeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Nossos registros indicam que C. brazili pode ocorrer na Depressão Central do Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguai e áreas adjacentes à porção ocidental do Rio Grande do Sul.Palavras-chave: distribuição geográfica, floresta de galeria, Pampa, Sul do Brasil

New record and occurrence map of Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

The Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus is recorded for the first time in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, thus filling a gap of 567 km in its distribution. A specimen of the scorpion was collected in the urban area of the municipality of Santa Maria (29°43′51.31″ S, 053°48′5.74″ W) on 31 June 2014. A map was generated with the points of occurrence of the species in the state

Escarabeídeos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) de campo e floresta da Reserva Biológica de São Donato, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2014v27n4p63The objective of this work was to compare the species richness, abundance and diversity of Scarabaeidae beetles in two types of habitats (field and forest), and to assess whether their seasonal variation is related to climatic variables. This study was conducted in the São Donato Biological Reserve, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil (Pampa biome). Beetles were collected using pitfall traps between January 2012 and January 2013. A total of 125 individuals were collected, of which six genera and 11 species from four subfamilies of Scarabaeidae were identified. 54 individuals of five species were collected from the field, and 71 individuals of eight species were collected from the forest. The most abundant species were Ataenius picinus Harold, 1868, Canthon lividus Blanchard, 1845 and Leucothyreus flavipes Eschscholtz, 1822, which together accounted for 86.4% of all individuals captured. The highest total number of individuals was collected in summer (78), and the highest number of species was collected in spring (9). Differences in environmental structure (and associated climate) and food resource availability may be decisive and limiting factors for beetle occurrence in forest versus field areas, as various species were restricted to a specific habitat type or season.http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2014v27n4p63O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a riqueza, abundância e diversidade das espécies de Scarabaeidae em duas fitofisionomias (campo e floresta) e verificar se variação sazonal ao longo do ano está relacionada com variáveis climáticas. O estudo foi desenvolvido na Reserva Biológica de São Donato, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil (bioma Pampa). As coletas foram realizadas através de armadilhas de queda, entre janeiro de 2012 e janeiro de 2013. Foram coletados 125 indivíduos e identificados seis gêneros e 11 espécies de quatro subfamílias, sendo 54 indivíduos de cinco espécies encontradas no campo e 71 indivíduos de oito espécies na floresta. As espécies mais abundantes foram Ataenius picinus Harold, 1868, Canthon lividus Blanchard, 1845 e Leucothyreus flavipes Eschscholtz, 1822, que representaram juntas 86,4% do total de indivíduos capturados. O verão apresentou o maior número de indivíduos (78) e a primavera o maior número de espécies (nove). A diferença na estrutura do ambiente (e clima associado) e provavelmente a disponibilidade diferenciada de recurso alimentar entre as duas fitofisionomias devem ser fatores limitantes e decisivos para a ocorrência de cada subfamília em determinado habitat, uma vez que várias espécies foram restritas a determinada fitofisionomia ou época do ano

Cases of unjustified emendations of scientific names dedicated to people in tarantulas (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae)

Se analizaron los casos de enmiendas injustificadas en los nombres científicos dedicados a la gente, publicados por el sexo o el número de dedicatarios, en la familia Theraphosidae. Se encontraron tres casos, que son analizados de acuerdo con las reglas de nomenclatura zoológica. Las enmiendas injustificadas se consideran disponibles, pero permanentente inválidas como sinónimo junior de los nombres originales.The cases of unjustified emendations in scientific names dedicated to people, published because of sex or the number of dedicatees, in the family Theraphosidae were analyzed. There were found three cases, which are discussed according to the rules of zoological nomenclature. The unjustified emendations are considered available but permanently invalid as junior synonyms of the original names

Theia: Faint objects in motion or the new astrometry frontier

In the context of the ESA M5 (medium mission) call we proposed a new satellite mission, Theia, based on relative astrometry and extreme precision to study the motion of very faint objects in the Universe. Theia is primarily designed to study the local dark matter properties, the existence of Earth-like exoplanets in our nearest star systems and the physics of compact objects. Furthermore, about 15 $\%$ of the mission time was dedicated to an open observatory for the wider community to propose complementary science cases. With its unique metrology system and "point and stare" strategy, Theia's precision would have reached the sub micro-arcsecond level. This is about 1000 times better than ESA/Gaia's accuracy for the brightest objects and represents a factor 10-30 improvement for the faintest stars (depending on the exact observational program). In the version submitted to ESA, we proposed an optical (350-1000nm) on-axis TMA telescope. Due to ESA Technology readiness level, the camera's focal plane would have been made of CCD detectors but we anticipated an upgrade with CMOS detectors. Photometric measurements would have been performed during slew time and stabilisation phases needed for reaching the required astrometric precision