Uma nova espécie de Epiperipatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae) da região nordeste do Brasil

This article aims to describe and illustrate Epiperipatus cratensis sp. nov. from Crato (coordinates 07°16’S,39°26’W), Ceara State, Brazil. Specimens of onychophorans were collected under stones and decomposing tree barks during the rainy season. E. cratensis differs from all of the species of the genus by having: (i) many pairs of legs, even though it is the second smallest species in size to the genus in Brazil; (ii) fewer rings of antennas than the other Brazilian species. Furthermore, E. cratensis is similar to E. tucupi, especially because females have 34 pairs of legs, and differs morphologically only by being shorter in size. In addition, this two species are located in different biomes: E. tucupi is endemic to the Amazon region, while E. cratensis is derived from Chapada do Araripe mountains, within Atlantic Forest biome of the Brejos de Altitude complex of northeastern Brazil. Key words: high land humid forest, Epiperipatus, peripatidae, onychophora.O presente artigo visa descrever e ilustrar Epiperipatus cratensis sp. nov. proveniente de Crato (coordenadas 07°16’S, 39°26’W), Estado do Ceara, Brasil. Para tanto, os espécimes foram coletados sob pedras e cascas de arvores em decomposição durante a estação chuvosa. E. cratensis difere de todas as espécies do gênero por possuir: (i) um grande número de pares de pernas, mesmo sendo a segunda menor espécie em tamanho para o gênero no Brasil; (ii) menos anéis de antenas que as demais espécies brasileiras. Epiperipatus cratensis é semelhante a E. tucupi, principalmente porque as fêmeas apresentam 34 pares de pernas, diferindo morfologicamente apenas por serem de tamanho menor. Além disso, essas duas espécies estão inseridas em biomas distintos: a E. tucupi endêmica da região amazônica, enquanto a E. cratensis encontra-se na Chapada do Araripe, inserida no complexo dos brejos de altitude nordestinos na Mata Atlântica. Palavras-chave: brejos de altitude, E. cratensis, Onychophora, Peripatidae

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of the Decoction of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825) Used by the Traditional Medicine

Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus are two lizard species utilized in traditional medicine in Northeast Brazil. Their medicinal use includes diseases related with bacterial infections such as tonsillitis and pharyngitis. They are used in the form of teas (decoctions) for the treatment of illnesses. In this work, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the decoctions of T. hispidus (DTH) and T. semitaeniatus (DTS) against bacterial strains, namely, standard and multiresistant Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus, and Pseudomonas aureuginosa, alone and in combination with aminoglycoside antibiotics. The decoctions were prepared using the whole body of the dried lizards, and the filtrate was frozen and lyophilized. When tested alone, the samples did not demonstrate any substantial inhibition of bacterial growth. However, in combination with antibiotics as aminoglycosides, decoctions reduced the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the assayed antibiotics against multiresistant strains of S. aureus and P. aureuginosa. Chemical prospecting tests revealed the presence of alkaloids in DTS. This is the first study evaluating the medicinal efficacy of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus and contributes to the list of new sources of medicines from natural products of animal origin

Ecology of the Skink, Mabuya arajara Reboucas-Spieker, 1981, in the Araripe Plateau, Northeastern Brazil

We studied diet, reproduction, and sexual dimorphism in Mabuya arajara (Arajara Skink; Scincidae) in a rainforest on the slopes of the Araripe Plateau, northeastern Brazil. Diet was composed mainly of arthropods, mostly termites, when considering both number (93.5%, n = 58) and volume (58.5%, n = 58). Mabuya arajara can be classified as a forager that uses intermediate foraging techniques, as do most of its congeners. Brood size of M. arajara ranged from two to nine neonates (4.8 +/- 1.7), and larger females tended to produce larger broods. The period of parturition occurs between October and December. Adult females of M. arajara were larger and heavier than adult males. There was no significant difference between the body size of males and females, but there was a significant difference in body shape between sexes. The positive relationship between brood size and female size can be considered an important correlate of the sexual selection of bigger females in Mabuya and other South American lizards in general.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Spatial-temporal variation of parasites in Cnemidophorus ocellifer (Teiidae) and Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Tropiduridae) from Caatinga areas in northeastern Brazil

Parasites are natural regulators of their host populations. Despite this, little is known about variations in parasite composition (spatially or temporally) in environments subjected to water-related periodic stress such as the arid and semiarid regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial-temporal variation in endoparasite species' abundance and richness in populations of Neotropical Cnemidophorus ocellifer, Tropidurus hispidus, and Tropidurus semitaeniatus lizards in the semiarid northeast of Brazil. The location influenced the abundance of parasites in all analyzed lizard species, while season (dry and rainy) only influenced the total abundance for T. hispidus. In all seasons, males significantly showed more endoparasites than females in all lizard species, although for T. hispidus, this difference was only found in the dry season. Seasonal variations affect the abundance patterns of parasites. Likely, variables include environmental variations such as humidity and temperature, which influence the development of endoparasite eggs when outside of the host. Further, the activity of the intermediate hosts and the parasites of heteroxenous life cycles could be affected by an environmental condition. The variation in the abundance of parasites between the sampling areas could be a reflection of variations in climate and physiochemical conditions. Also, it could be due to differences in the quality of the environment in which each host population lives.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq