Lochkovian (earliest Devonian) miospores from the Solimões Basin,northwestern Brazil

Eighteen core samples from PETROBRAS well 1-JD-1-AM (Jandiatuba area, Solimões Basin, northwestern Brazil) have been studied for miospores. Fifty-three species are identified. This assemblage is tentatively correlated with the Z Phylozone of the BZ Oppel Zone (Steemans, P., 1989. Palynostratigraphie de l'Eodévonien dans l'ouest de l'Europe. Professional Paper. Mémoires Explicatifs pour les Cartes Géologiques and Minéralogiques de la Belgique, 27, pp. 453.), dated late Lochkovian. This is in accordance with previous age determinations based on chitinozoans and acritarchs. Numerous representatives of the miospore genus Dictyotriletes are observed. These enable recognition of the Dictyotriletes emsiensis morphon, an informal classification unit which includes Dictyotriletes granulatus, D. emsiensis, Dictyotriletes cf. subgranifer, specimens previously misassigned to D. subgranifer and some Dictyotriletes spp. provisionally left in open nomenclature. Since all intermediate forms from typical D. granulatus to typical D. emsiensis coexist, it is currently difficult to determine the base of “E” Interval Biozone in South America as originally defined in Western Europe. It is suggested, therefore, that the base of the “Ems” Biozone defined in Brazil cannot be correlated with the base of the “E” Biozone. Instead, it should be included in an interval of uncertainty ranging from the European “Si” to “E” Biozones. Indeed, the underlying “NsZ” Biozone from South America contains species not known below the “Si” Biozone. Here, the D. emsiensis morphon Assemblage Zone is erected, which may be coeval with the “N” through “E” Biozones of Western Europe. The PISA palynoflora from the Paraná Basin is also attributed to this new biozone. However, in the absence of species observed in the “BZ” Biozone (and also in the Solimões Basin), the PISA assemblage could be somewhat older than that of well 1-JD-1-AM.     

Microbial diversity of soils on the banks of the Solimões and Negro rivers, state of Amazonas, Brazil

Analysis of bacterial diversity in soils along the banks of the Solimões and Negro rivers, state of Amazonas, Brazil, was by partial sequencing of the genes codifying the rDNA16S region. Diversity of operational taxonomic units (OTU) and of the divergent sequences obtained were applied in comparative analysis of microbiological diversity in the two environments, based on richness estimators and OTU diversity indices. The higher OTU diversity in the Solimões was based on the higher number of parameters that evoke this. The interaction between the nucleotide sequences of bacteria inhabiting the two riverine environments indicated that the two microrganism communities are similar in composition.     

Paracoccidioidomycosis in wild monkeys from Paraná State, Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection in wild New World monkeys (Cebus sp. and Alouatta caraya). A total of 93 animals (Cebus sp., n = 68 and Alouatta caraya, n = 25) were captured in the Paraná River basin, Paraná State, Brazil and the serum samples were analyzed by ELISA and immunodiffusion using P. brasiliensis gp43 and exoantigen as antigens, respectively. The seropositivity observed by ELISA was 44.1% and 60% for Cebus sp. and A. caraya, respectively, while by immunodiffusion test Cebus sp. showed positivity of 2.9% only. No significant difference was observed in relation to age and sex. This is the first report of paracoccidioidomycosis in wild capuchin monkeys and in wild-black and golden-howler monkeys. The high positivity to P. brasiliensis infection in both species evaluated in our study and the positivity by immunodiffusion test in Cebus sp. suggest that natural disease may be occurring in wild monkeys living in paracoccidioidomycosis endemic areas.     

First porcupine fossils (Mammalia,Rodentia) from the late Miocene of NW Iran,with notes on late Miocene–Pliocene dispersal of porcupines

This paper describes the first fossil porcupine remains from Iran. Four upper cheek teeth and two fragmentary lower incisors present sufficient characters for identification as Hystrix aryanensis, a species previously known from the late Miocene locality of Molayan (Afghanistan) estimated at ca. 7–8 Ma. The dental features of porcupines are discussed to show their systematic value and highlight evolutionary trends in late Miocene and Pliocene porcupines. This study also discusses the dispersal history of fossil porcupines in relation to paleobiogeographic provinces and environmental changes during late Miocene to late Pliocene time.     

Neotropical Monogenoidea 64. Cosmetocleithrum falsunilatum sp. n. (Monogenoidea,Dactylogyridae) parasite of the gills of Megalodoras uranoscopus (Siluriformes,Doradidae) from the Solimões river,near Iquitos,Peru

Systematic Parasitology - Megalodoras uranoscopus (Eigenmann & Eigenmann) (Siluriformes, Doradidae) (the giant-talking catfish or the giant-raphael catfish), from the...     

The late Miocene mammals from the Konservat-Lagerstätte of Saint-Bauzile (Ardèche,France)

Diatomite deposits of Saint-Bauzile near Privas (Ardèche) in southern France have been known since more than two centuries for abundant and extremely well-preserved fossils of plants and animals. The radiometric dating brackets fossil-bearing horizons between 7.2 and 7.6 Ma, which is consistent with the biochronologic age given by fossil mammals, which are characteristics of the late MN11 zone, i.e. the second part of the late Miocene. The main interest of this site for mammals is that they are preserved almost “in the flesh”, as entire skeletons with bones in their anatomical connection, and often with skin and fur charred and forming a halo around the body. In this work, we studied the remains of a lagomorph, two rodents, an equid, a suid, a bovid and a rhino. The mode of preservation of mammals as entire bodies suggests sudden death and rapid burial of individuals.     

New data on the Cricetidae from the Miocene “Terre Rosse” of Gargano (Apulia,Italy)

The Gargano “Terre Rosse” deposits are paleokarst fissure fillings found in the Mesozoic limestone of the Apricena-Poggio Imperiale area. They are an important source of information for evolutionary and paleobiogeographic studies. The Late Miocene-Early Pliocene assemblages found in the Terre Rosse attest the complex history of endemic faunal distribution in a paleoarchipelago. Based on the cricetid samples from six distinct fissures (F15, F21a, F21b, F21c, F1, F9, NBS) stored in the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Florence, three species of endemic cricetids are described: the small-sized Hattomys beetsi, the middle-sized Hattomys nazarii, and the large-sized Hattomys gargantua. The specimens from fissure F15 are attributed to H. beetsi, those from F21a-b to the transitional form Hattomys beetsi-nazarii, those belonging to NBS are ascribed to H. nazarii, whereas those from F1 and F9 are classified as H. gargantua. F21c is considered contaminated with material from different fissures. In line with previously published results, the analysis confirms that the endemic cricetids underwent a remarkable increase in size through time. The morphological variations show a marked trend towards increasing enamel thickness, but also the tendency of the cusps to assume a carved-in aspect. The variations of the morphological characters confirm that the three species likely belong to the same lineage.     

Karyotypic variability in Iheringichthys labrosus (Teleostei, Pimelodidae) from the Tibagi River basin (Paraná State, Brazil)

Cytogenetic analyses were carried out in a populational sample of Iheringichthys labrosus from the Guaraúna River (Upper Tibagi River; Paraná State, Brazil) in order to provide a karyotypic comparison with another previously studied population from the Lower Tibagi River, characterized by the presence of 32m + 8sm + 6st + 10a (2n = 56, FN = 102) and occurrence of supernumerary chromosomes (80% of individuals). The 17 specimens of I. labrosus (6 females, 10 males and 1 of unknown sex) from the Upper Tibagi River showed 2n = 56 chromosomes, a karyotype formula of 14m + 32sm + 4st + 6a (FN = 106), without evidence of sex chromosome heteromorphism or supernumerary chromosomes. The heterochromatin was detected at telomeric and centromeric positions in several chromosomal pairs. The Ag-nucleolar organizer regions were heteromorphic and located at terminal position on short arms of the 16th chromosomal pair, suggesting a positive association with heterochromatic regions. The inter-populational karyotypic differentiation reported indicates distinct evolutionary pathways within I. labrosus in the Tibagi River basin.     

New records of rhodolith-forming species (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from deep water in Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Little is known about the diversity of non-geniculate coralline red algae (Rhodophyta, Corallinophycidae) from deep waters in Brazil. Most surveys undertaken in this country have been carried out in shallow waters. In 1994, however, the REVIZEE program surveyed the sustainable living resources potential of the Brazilian exclusive economic zone to depths of 500?m. In the present study, the rhodolith-forming coralline algae from the continental shelf of Espírito Santo State were identified. Samples were taken from 54 to 60?m depth by dredging during ship cruises in 1997. Three rhodolith-forming species were found: Spongites yendoi (Foslie) Chamberlain, Lithothamnion muelleri Lenormand ex Rosanoff and Lithothamnion glaciale Kjellman. These records extend the distribution ranges of these species into Brazilian waters and extend the depth distribution of non-geniculate coralline red algae into Brazilian water to 58?m.     

On a theropod scapula (Upper Cretaceous) from the Marília Formation, Bauru Group, Brazil

The record of theropod dinosaurs in Brazil is very scarce. One of the most promising lithostratigraphic units for those reptiles is the Bauru Group. The dinosaur remains found in this unit are mainly those of sauropods, while theropods are represented mostly by teeth. Here we describe a right scapula (housed at the Earth Science Museum of the Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral/Rio de Janeiro) that is the first theropod scapula reported from the Cretaceous of Brazil and only the second osteological evidence of the Tetanurae from the Bauru Group. The specimen was recovered from the outskirts of Peirópolis, in Minas Gerais State. Comparisons with other theropod dinosaurs are limited, but the overall morphology of the new specimen indicates that it is neither a member of the Abelisauridae nor a member of the Avialae. It also differs from more basal members of the Theropoda, but its overall shape is consistent with several derived members of the Tetanurae, likely a non-avialan maniraptoran. Despite the lack of precision in its taxonomic position, the new specimen confirms the presence of non-avialan Maniraptora in the Bauru Group.     

Diversity of hipparionines (Perissodactyla: Equidae) from the late Miocene–Pliocene Siwalik deposits at Haritalyangar,India

The present work is focused on the hipparionine remains from the late Miocene to early Pliocene deposits of the Haritalyangar areas, Himachal Pardesh, India. These remains are taxonomically ranked to five genera (Plesiohipparion, Proboscidipparion, Cormohipparion, Sivalhippus, and Eurygnathohippus) and seven species. The described taxa are predominantly known from China, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Among these, Proboscidipparion is reported for the first time from the Siwaliks; the material assigned to Plesiohipparion sp. is a potential candidate for a new species. Hipparionines from this area have long been poorly known and are helpful to understand the palaeontological context of the Indian Siwalik mammalian fauna. The hipparionines suggest a wide variety of environmental conditions ranging from grasslands to forests.     

New anhingid (Aves,Suliformes) from the middle Miocene of Río Negro province,Patagonia, Argentina

During the Miocene in South America, the family Anhingidae constitutes one of the most conspicuous faunal elements. However, the anhingid record from Patagonia is still sparse. The aim of the present contribution is to describe a new species of Macranhinga coming from Colloncuran levels (early middle Miocene) in Río Negro province, north-central Patagonia (Argentina). The new species is represented by an incomplete proximal end of a tarsometatarsus, distal end of a tibiotarsus, and distal end of a humerus. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species within Macranhinga remains unresolved. South American Neogene anhingids share a number of features that suggest they may belong to a monophyletic clade within this family. Anhingid records from the Miocene of Patagonia indicate that the diversity of this family was far more diverse (at least 4 different species) than currently understood, and was possible comparable to that shown by Miocene beds of Mesopotamian in Argentina and Acre in Brazil.

http://www.zoobang.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FC228E8-4E2C-4DFD-AB91-79F32269CA98     

Mandibular remains of Procardiomys martinoi Pascual, 1961 (Hystricognathi,Cavioidea) from the Arroyo Chasicó Formation (early late Miocene) of Argentina: anatomy and the phylogenetic position of the genus within Caviidae

Hydrochoerinae is a clade of caviomorph rodents broadly distributed in South America, which includes the maximum body size recorded among extant rodent taxa. The most basal forms of this group are an assemblage of small to medium body size extinct taxa with a plesiomorphic dentition, traditionally clustered in the group cardiomyines. One of the oldest known cardiomyine is Procardiomys martinoi (Chasicoan South American Land Mammal Age SALMA; early late Miocene), which was known only from the holotype, a fragmentary palate with the left and right molar series. New mandibular remains from the Arroyo Chasicó Formation (Chasicoan SALMA) are described and identified here as belonging to P. martinoi because they share a unique combination of characters (as well matching in size) with the upper dentition of the holotype. These materials help in critically reviewing the taxonomic identification of the mandibular remains previously assigned to Procardiomys and allow testing the phylogenetic affinities of this taxon within Caviidae. P. martinoi is depicted as one of the most basal forms of Hydrochoerinae, placed basally on the lineage leading to extant capybaras after the split between the common ancestor of Kerodon and Hydrochoerus.

http://zoobank.org/F60356E0-CB8E-48C2-BF86-429E347A9579     

Additions to the knowledge ofUrumaquia robusta (Xenarthra, Phyllophaga, Megatheriidae) from the Urumaco Formation (Late Miocene), Estado Falcön, Venezuela

We describe new remains ofUrumaquia robusta Carlini, Brandoni &; Sänchez, 2006, which significantly improve the knowledge of the species and allow a more precise discussion about the relationships with the rest of the South American Megatheriinae. The new remains (ulna, phalanx, femora, patella, tibia, astragalus, navicular, metatarsals IV–V) described here suggest close affinities of this taxon with the species ofPyramiodontherium and withMegatheriops rectidens, based on morphological similarities of the ulna (length, gracility), femur (general morphology, shape of the medial margin), and astragalus (angle between the discoidal and odontoid facets). In fact, the shape of femoral medial margin is a shared derived character amongUrumaquia, Pyramiodontherium andMegatheriops. However, and despite the increasing information concerning Tertiary species, their phylogenetic relationships are only partially understood.     

New Glyptodont from the Codore Formation (Pliocene), Falcón State, Venezuela, its relationship with theAsterostemma problem, and the paleobiogeography of the Glyptodontinae

One of the basal Glyptodontidae groups is represented by the Propalaehoplophorinae (late Oligocene — middle Miocene), whose genera (Propalaehoplophorus, Eucinepeltus, Metopotoxus, Cochlops, andAsterostemma) were initially recognized in Argentinian Patagonia. Among these,Asterostemma was characterized by its wide latitudinal distribution, ranging from southernmost (Patagonia) to northernmost (Colombia, Venezuela) South America. However, the generic assignation of the Miocene species from Colombia and Venezuela (A.? acostae, A. gigantea, andA. venezolensis) was contested by some authors, who explicitly accepted the possibility that these species could correspond to a new genus, different from those recognized in southern areas. A new comparative study of taxa from Argentinian Patagonia, Colombia and Venezuela (together with the recognition of a new genus and species for the Pliocene of the latter country) indicates that the species in northern South America are not Propalaehoplophorinae, but represent the first stages in the cladogenesis of the Glyptodontinae glyptodontids, the history of which was heretofore restricted to the late Miocene — early Holocene of southernmost South America. Accordingly, we propose the recognition of the new genusBoreostemma for the species from northern South America and the restriction ofAsterostemma to the Miocene of Patagonia. Thus, the available data indicate that the Glyptodontinae would in fact have arisen in the northernmost regions of this continent. Their arrival to more southerly areas coincides with the acme of the “Age of Southern Plains”. The Propalaehoplophorinae are geographically restricted to Patagonia.     

Chronological implications of the nothrotheriid ‘Xyophorus’ (Mammalia,Xenarthra) from the Collón Curá Formation (Miocene of Patagonia,Argentina)

The specimen described herein and assigned to ‘Xyophorus’ sp. (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Tardigrada) was collected in the locality Cerro Zeballos, northwestern Chubut Province, Argentina. The fossiliferous sediments bearing the specimen are correlated with Collón Curá Formation. The specimen has the features described for other members of ‘Xyophorus’ (e.g. shape and size of the molariforms, relationship between diastema length, m1 and m2 length) and has a Diastema Length/Tooth Row Length index (DL/TRL index) of ca. 14, between that of ‘X.’ villarroeli (12.07) from the Mauri Formation, Bolivia (ca. 10.3 Ma) and that of ‘X.’ bondesioi (16.45) from Arroyo Chasicó Formation, Argentina (ca. 10–8.7 Ma). The relationship between DL/TRL index and age of the bearing sediments, would suggest a Tortonian age (late Miocene) for the deposits of Collón Curá Formation at Cerro Zeballos, which results in a ‘younger age’ compared to the middle Miocene age traditionally accepted for the Collón Curá Formation bearing the Colloncuran fauna sensu stricto. Although no absolute ages for Cerro Zeballos are available yet, the geographic proximity of Cerro Zeballos to Cushamen River (with levels dated at ca. 11.2 Ma) supports the tentative Tortonian age indicated by the presence of ‘Xyophorus’ sp.     

Ecology,Systematics and Biogeographical Relationships of Dinosaurs,Including a New Theropod,from the Santana Formation (?Albian,Early Cretaceous) of Brazil

Although rare, dinosaurs are well preserved in calcareous nodules of the Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous, ?Albian) of the Araripe Basin, in northeastern Brazil. So far, including only a spinosauroid and three coelurosaurs, the dinosaur fauna appears depauperate. High theropod diversity in assemblages where other dinosaurs are rare or absent is not unique to the Santana Formation. It is seen also in several other assemblages, including Solnhofen and the Maevarano Formation of Madagascar. We consider several factors, including the occurrence of intraguild predation, the possibility that small theropods could subsist in marginal environments, and reliance on coastal resources, that may have been responsible for this apparent ecological imbalance. A new coelurosaur from the Santana Formation, here formally named Mirischia asymmetrica, is shown to be distinct from Santanaraptor placidus [Kellner, A.W.A. () “Short note on a new dinosaur (Theropoda, Coelurosauria) from the Santana Formation (Romualdo Member, Albian) northeastern Brazil”, Boletim do Museu Nacional, Nova Serie, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil 49, 1–8]. Other theropods from the Santana Formation are briefly reviewed. Mirischia is a compsognathid, more similar to the European Compsognathus than to the Asian Sinosauropteryx.     

Isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from São Paulo State, Brazil

The capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is a large rodent used for human consumption in certain areas of South America. In the present study, viable Toxoplasma gondii was isolated for the first time from this host. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed in the sera of 64 capybaras from 6 counties of S?o Paulo State, Brazil, using the modified agglutination test (MAT, > or =1:25 dilution) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, > or =1:16 dilution), and antibodies were found in 48 (75%) by MAT, and 49 (76.6%) by IFAT. Samples of brain, heart, and tongue of 40 seropositive capybaras were pooled, digested in pepsin, and bioassayed in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissue homogenates of 36 capybaras, and the isolates were designated TgCyBrl-36. Most isolates were lethal to mice; 17 of the 36 isolates killed 100% of infected mice, 11 isolates caused mortality in 25-90% of infected mice, and 8 isolates were nonpathogenic to mice. Results indicate that asymptomatic capybaras can harbor mouse-virulent T. gondii, and hence they can serve as a source of infection for humans.     

New Culicoides Latreille of the subgenus Mataemyia Vargas from Pará, Brazil (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Two new species of Culicoides Latreille of the Neotropical subgenus Mataemyia Vargas are described and illustrated based on female specimens from Juruti, Pará, Brazil and compared with their similar congeners. This paper also presents a diagnosis of the subgenus Mataemyia and a systematic key for the identification of the 19 species of the subgenus.