Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

The Genome of Anopheles darlingi, the main neotropical malaria vector

Anopheles darlingi is the principal neotropical malaria vector, responsible for more than a million cases of malaria per year on the American continent. Anopheles darlingi diverged from the African and Asian malaria vectors ∼100 million years ago (mya) and successfully adapted to the New World environment. Here we present an annotated reference A. darlingi genome, sequenced from a wild population of males and females collected in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 10 481 predicted protein-coding genes were annotated, 72% of which have their closest counterpart in Anopheles gambiae and 21% have highest similarity with other mosquito species. In spite of a long period of divergent evolution, conserved gene synteny was observed between A. darlingi and A. gambiae. More than 10 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels with potential use as genetic markers were identified. Transposable elements correspond to 2.3% of the A. darlingi genome. Genes associated with hematophagy, immunity and insecticide resistance, directly involved in vectorhuman and vectorparasite interactions, were identified and discussed. This study represents the first effort to sequence the genome of a neotropical malaria vector, and opens a new window through which we can contemplate the evolutionary history of anopheline mosquitoes. It also provides valuable information that may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The A. darlingi genome is accessible at www.labinfo.lncc.br/index.php/anopheles- darlingi. © 2013 The Author(s)

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Biological activities of extracts from aerial parts from Almeidea coerulea (Nees & Mart.) A.St.-Hil. and Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus subsp. bahiensis Kallunki (Rutaceae)

Extratos brutos obtidos com solventes orgânicos de polaridades crescentes, obtidos das partes aéreas de Almeidea coerulea e Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus subsp. bahiensis foram avaliadas a atividade moluscicida, determinda a concentração mínima inibitória (CMI) e a concentração mínima inibitória (CMI) antimicrobiana e antifúngica pelo método de bioautografia. Dos oito extratos testados o obtido em diclorometano das folhas Almeidea coerulea demonstraram atividade moluscicida frente ao caramujo Biomphalaria glabrata na concentração de 100 ppm. Os extratos com atividade antimicrobiana foram metanólico das folhas de Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus, extrato metanólico e hexânico dos caules de Almeidea coerulea sobre a bactéria Bacillus subtilis com CMI e CMB de 500 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml e 250 µg/ml respectivamente. Na bioautorafia frente ao fungo Aspergillus niger o extrato em dicolorometano do caule de Almeidea coerulea apresentou uma moderada inibição e das folhas apresentou uma inibição superior ao da nistatinaExtracts from aerial parts of Almeidea coerulea and Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus subsp. bahiensis, obtained with organic solvents of increasing polarities, were evaluated concerning the molluscicidal activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) and antifungal activity were determined by using the bioautography method. From the eight extracts assessed, the dichloromethane extract from Almeidea coerulea leaves showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata at 100 ppm. The methanol extract from the Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus leaves, as well as the methanol and the hexane exracts from Almeidea coerulea stems exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with MIC and MBC of 500 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml, respectively. The bioautography method showed that the dichloromethane extract from Almeidea coerulea stems has a strong activity against Aspergillus niger, with a inhibition degree superior to that exhibited by nistatinColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Biological activities of extracts from aerial parts from Almeidea coerulea (Nees & Mart.) A.St.-Hil. and Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus subsp. bahiensis Kallunki (Rutaceae)

Extratos brutos obtidos com solventes orgânicos de polaridades crescentes, obtidos das partes aéreas de Almeidea coerulea e Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus subsp. bahiensis foram avaliadas a atividade moluscicida, determinda a concentração mínima inibitória (CMI) e a concentração mínima inibitória (CMI) antimicrobiana e antifúngica pelo método de bioautografia. Dos oito extratos testados o obtido em diclorometano das folhas Almeidea coerulea demonstraram atividade moluscicida frente ao caramujo Biomphalaria glabrata na concentração de 100 ppm. Os extratos com atividade antimicrobiana foram metanólico das folhas de Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus, extrato metanólico e hexânico dos caules de Almeidea coerulea sobre a bactéria Bacillus subtilis com CMI e CMB de 500 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml e 250 µg/ml respectivamente. Na bioautorafia frente ao fungo Aspergillus niger o extrato em dicolorometano do caule de Almeidea coerulea apresentou uma moderada inibição e das folhas apresentou uma inibição superior ao da nistatinaExtracts from aerial parts of Almeidea coerulea and Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus subsp. bahiensis, obtained with organic solvents of increasing polarities, were evaluated concerning the molluscicidal activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) and antifungal activity were determined by using the bioautography method. From the eight extracts assessed, the dichloromethane extract from Almeidea coerulea leaves showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata at 100 ppm. The methanol extract from the Conchocarpus gaudichaudianus leaves, as well as the methanol and the hexane exracts from Almeidea coerulea stems exhibited antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with MIC and MBC of 500 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml, respectively. The bioautography method showed that the dichloromethane extract from Almeidea coerulea stems has a strong activity against Aspergillus niger, with a inhibition degree superior to that exhibited by nistatinColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire