Hemiodus bimaculatus,a new species of Hemiodontidae from the Rio Tapajós drainage,Brazil (Ostariophysi: Characiformes)

Hemiodus bimaculatus sp. nov., is described from tributaries of the Rio Juruena and Rio Teles Pires in the upper Rio Tapajós basin. The new species is diagnosed from most congeners, except Hemiodus jatuarana, by having a conspicuous circular or horizontally elongate dark blotch on the caudal peduncle (v. inconspicuous in H. iratapuru and absent in the other species). The new species differs from H. jatuarana by having a round midlateral spot on the flank (v. absent in H. jatuarana), 98–121 perforated scales in the lateral line (v. 66–72 in H. jatuarana), 23–28 scale series above and 14–19 below lateral line (v. 12–13 above and 6–7 below in H. jatuarana). Hemiodus bimaculatus is hypothesised to be related to species of the H. microlepis group, from which it also differs by having 11–25 epibranchial (v. 26–34 in H. argenteus, 29–39 in H. microlepis, 21–42 in H. orthonops and 27–35 in H. parnaguae) and 18–31 ceratobranchial (v. 38–50 in H. argenteus, 43–58 in H. microlepis, 32–52 in H. orthonops and 34–48 in H. parnaguae) gill rakers in the first arch.     

Erythrophyllopsis perlaticosta M.J.Cano & J.A.Jiménez (Pottiaceae) a new species from the Peruvian Andes

Introduction. Over the last years we have been engaged in studies of the South American Pottiaceae. Among the bryophyte specimens collected by us in central and northern Peru, some samples of a puzzling Pottiaceae were found. In this paper, we present our arguments for recognising these plants as a new species and its inclusion in Erythrophyllopsis Broth.

Key Results. It differs most saliently from other species of Erythrophyllopsis by the combination of its oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves, with usually fragile apex, leaf margins papillose-crenulate from apex to lower third, sometimes erose or crenate, lamina unistratose, occasionally bistratose in patches, costa broad, usually ending below the apex, without dorsal stereids near the apex where they are replaced by cells similar to those of the lamina, and short and straight peristome teeth.

Conclusions. A new moss species, Erythrophyllopsis perlaticosta M.J.Cano & J.A.Jiménez, is described and illustrated from the Andean highlands in central and northern Peru. A revised identification key for the species of Erythrophyllopsis is also provided. This species grows in crevices or fissures of calcareous rocks or banks between 3050 and 4700?m. The principal distinctive characters that separate it from the nearest species of Erythrophyllopsis and related genera such as Bryoerythrophyllum P.C.Chen and Mironia R.H.Zander are discussed.     

Phylogenetic relationships among the phyllotini (rodentia: Sigmodontinae) using morphological characters

Thirty-three species representing all 14 genera of the South American rodent tribe Phyllotini and 5 problematic genera are surveyed for 96 multistate and binary dental, cranial, skeletal, external, and male reproductive tract characters. Wagner parsimony analysis confirmsCalomys as the most basal phyllotine genus, and as currently constituted it is likely paraphyletic. The results are consistent with the exclusion ofPseudoryzomys from the phyllotines and the separation ofReithrodon andNeotomys fromHolochilus at the tribal level. Several highly differentiated generic groups that include a radiation of altiplano endemics centered onAuliscomys and the largely southern Andean/PatagonianReithrodon group appear to form a clade. AGraomys generic group that includesAndalgalomys andEligmodontia is also apparent, but its relationships to other phyllotines are obscured by poorly resolved internal nodes in the more species-rich and probably paraphyletic genusPhyllotis. The significance and consequences of more intensive taxonomic sampling are discussed. The taxonomic consequences of the phylogeny are presented.     

A re-appraisal of two members of the genus Notholca from the Andes,with a note on the fine structure of the lorica of N. foliacea (Ehrenberg)

Rotifers described from the Andes by Murray (1913) and De Beauchamp (1939) as Notholca foliacea (Ehrenberg) are reviewed and re-assessed as Notholca walterkostei De Paggi, 1982. They are compared with N. foliacea and details of the lorica of this species seen with the scanning electron microscope are presented.     

A new Veturius (Veturius) of the “cephalotes” group from southern Colombia,Putumayo (Coleoptera: Passalidae)

A new species of Veturius (Veturius) Kaup from southern Colombia, Putumayo, lowland forests, is described and illustrated. V. paya n. sp. belongs to the South American “cephalotes” species group and is sister species of V. cephalotes (Le Peletier & Serville, 1825). Both species are distinguished by few characters of the head and thorax. They seem to be allopatric close to the western distributional limits of V. cephalotes. The endemism of V. paya n. sp. corresponds to a geographic vicariance in the axis of the Amazon Basin. An overview is given on the phylogeny and the chorology of the completed “cephalotes” species group.     

A new species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878 (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Dynastinae) from South America

A second species of Amblyodus Westwood, 1878, Amblyodus castroi sp. n., is described from the northern South America based on 12 specimens from Brazil and Peru (Amazonian subregion). The new species is here compared with the type species of the genus, Amblyodus taurus Westwood, 1878 and both species and their male genitalia are illustrated. Diagnostic characters for the genus are discussed, especially the metatibial teeth. A distribution map including the type species and the new species is provided. The genus Amblyodus is recorded for the first time from Peru and from Brazil states of Pará and Rondônia.