<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agave manantlanicola</Emphasis> (Agavaceae), a new species from western Mexico

Agave manantlanicola, a new endemic species from the high altitude mountains of the Sierra de Manantlán in western Mexico, is described and illustrated. The species belongs to the subgenus Littaea and Gentry’s Amolae group. The new species is compared to other morphologically similar species from western Mexico, including Agave attenuata subsp. attenuata, A. attenuata subsp. dentata, A. bakeri, A. chazaroi, and A. vazquezgarciae. Information about its distribution, habitat, and conservation status is included.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonchocarpus</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Papilionoideae, Millettieae) from Brazil

Two new species of Lonchocarpus from Brazil, assigned to sect. Laxiflori Benth., are described and illustrated and their affinities, geographical distribution and conservation status are discussed. Lonchocarpus laticiferus from arboreal caatinga vegetation of Bahia State, and deciduous forest of Minas Gerais State is related to L. montanus A. M. G. Azevedo ex M. J. Silva & A. M. G. Azevedo. Lonchocarpus graciliflorus, known only from the rain forest of Paraná, is morphologically similar to L. longiunguiculatus M. J. Silva & A. M. G. Azevedo.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthurium</Emphasis> (Araceae) from Serra do Teimoso,Bahia, Brazil

Two new species of Anthurium from Bahia, eastern Brazil, are described and illustrated. Both species belong to sect. Urospadix Engl. and are so far only known from the type locality, Serra do Teimoso, although they are common locally. Anthurium teimosoanum E. G. Gon?. & J. G. Jardim is known from the lowermost altitudinal zone of this upland area, whereas A. molle E. G. Gon?. & J. G. Jardim was only collected near the summit.     

Validation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoraputia</Emphasis> (Galipeae,Rutaceae) and description of two new species from Eastern Brazil

The name Neoraputia was published without citation of the type, making it and the names of the four species transferred to it invalid. The genus name and combinations are validated here. Lectotypes are chosen for the basionyms, Aruba alba, Raputia magnifica, R. paraensis, and Raputia trifoliata. Two new species, Neoraputia micrantha and N. calliantha, from forests of eastern Bahia, Brazil, are described.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microlicia</Emphasis> D. Don (Melastomataceae) from Bahia,NE Brazil

Two new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae), M. flavovirens and M. contasensis, from the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil are described and illustrated and their diagnostic characters discussed. Conservation assessments based on IUCN criteria are given for both species.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocotea</Emphasis> (Lauraceae) from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">campos rupestres</Emphasis> of Brazil

Three new hermaphrodite species of Ocotea (Lauraceae) from the campos rupestres of Brazil are described and illustrated: Ocotea pumila, which is known from Bahia state; and Ocotea colophanthera and Ocotea rupestris both from Minas Gerais state. Their diagnostic features are pointed out, and a discussion of their relationships to other species of Ocotea is provided.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriotheca</Emphasis> (Malvaceae,Bombacoideae) from Bahia,Brazil

A new species of Eriotheca (Bombacoideae, Malvaceae) is described and illustrated. The species, Eriotheca bahiensis, is known only from Bahia, Brazil in southern Bahian forest (floresta pluvial dos tabuleiros) and is probably restricted to that habitat. A key including the new and morphologically similar species is also presented.     

Evidence for a widespread involvement of NO in control of photogenesis in bioluminescent fish

Krönström, J. and Mallefet, J. 2009. Evidence for a widespread involvement of NO in control of photogenesis in bioluminescent fish. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91 : 474–483. The presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and nerve fibres in the photophores of seven bioluminescent fish species (Hygophum benoiti, Myctophum punctatum, Electrona risso, Cyclothone braueri, Vinciguerria attenuata, Maurolicus muelleri and Porichthys notatus) with endogenous photocytes, were investigated. Antibodies directed against neuronal and inducible NOS (n and iNOS respectively) and NADPH‐diaphorase activity were used to reveal the locations of NOS, while antibodies directed against acetylated tubulin were used to visualize nerve fibres. The nNOS antibody labelled structures in all investigated photophores except in the organs from P. notatus. The photocytes of P. notatus showed NADPH‐diaphorase activity. In the myctophid species, NOS‐like immunoreactivity was found in small intracellular structures of the photocytes and in nerve fibres reaching the photocytes. nNOS‐positive fibres were also found among lens/filter cells in V. attenuata, and in M. muelleri the cytoplasm of lens/filter cells contained NOS‐like material. In C. braueri, a cell type located at a collecting chamber for luminous products in the photophore contained NOS‐like material. All photophores received an innervation reaching the photocytes, as well as other components including lens/filter areas. The results of this study comply with an involvement of nitric oxide in the control of bioluminescence in several fish species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrianthus carvalhoi</Emphasis> (Compositae: Eupatorieae: Gyptidinae), a new species from Bahia State,Brazil

Summary  A new species of Agrianthus, A. carvalhoi, (Compositae: Eupatorieae: Gyptidinae) is described and illustrated from Bahia State, Brazil, and is compared and contrasted with A. luetzelburgii.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Habenaria</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orchidaceae</Emphasis>) from the Brazilian cerrado and campo rupestre

Summary  Two new species, Habenaria ciliatisepala and H. egleriana (Orchidaceae, Orchideae), from the cerrado of central Brazil and campo rupestre of the Espinha?o mountain range in Minas Gerais and Bahia, are described and illustrated.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carapichea lucida</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubiaceae: Psychotrieae</Emphasis>), a new species from Eastern Bahia,Brazil

A new species of Carapichea was discovered in the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, Brazil. Carapichea lucida J. G. Jardim &; Zappi is described, illustrated, and its phenology, habitat and conservation status are discussed.     

Two new species of Huberia (Melastomataceae: Merianieae) from Brazil

Two new Brazilian species of the genusHuberia,H. carvalhoi andH. consimilis, are described, discussed, and illustrated.Huberia carvalhoi is endemic to Bahia;H. consimilis has a wider distribution, with disjunct populations in Pernambuco, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro. A key is provided to the three Bahia taxa with some comments on the taxonomic affinities of the two new species.     

Two new species of Mendoncia (Acanthaceae) from Bahia, Brazil

Two new species, Mendoncia bahiensis and Mendoncia blanchetiana, of the subgenus Bremekampia are described and illustrated. A key to four species represented in Bahia and commentary on their taxonomic affinities are provided.     

Shade cacao plantations (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Theobroma cacao</Emphasis>) and bat conservation in southern Bahia,Brazil

Nearly 40% of the remaining Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia state, Brazil, is a rustic agroforest of cacao (Theobroma cacao). These traditional shade plantations, locally known as ‘cabrucas’, are habitats for forest dwelling species. Here we investigated the potential role of this traditional crop as a support for bat assemblages in southern Bahia, establishing the extent to which the bat community structure found in this agricultural system is influenced by the proximity of forest tracts. We compared the bat community attributes (richness, diversity and dominance) and species-level response (capture frequency) between native forest tracts and shade cacao plantations located in two distinct landscapes, which varied in total amount of forest (patch sizes and total forested area) and in their proximity to forest tracts. The cabrucas contiguous to forest tracts showed a rich and abundant bat community, with samples showing capture rates, species richness, diversity and evenness significantly higher than those reported for forest tracts. This situation changes, however, when shade plantations are located at some distance from forest tracts ( > 1000 m). Bat communities in these isolated cabrucas are less diverse than those found in forests and nearby cabrucas, but in both cases, species usually associated with pristine habitats were found. These findings suggest that cabrucas per se are not forest surrogates, and their potential to harbor forest dwelling bat species is closely linked with the existence of nearby forest tracts that may act as a source for species populations. Therefore, the entire landscape should be considered for management, taking into account that maintenance of cabrucas together with the preservation and restoration of forest patches is probably direly needed if one wishes to conserve the bat diversity in southern Bahia for the long term.     

Mitochondrial DNA of Hydra attenuata (Cnidaria): A Sequence That Includes an End of One Linear Molecule and the Genes for l-rRNA, tRNAf-Met, tRNATrp, COII, and ATPase8

The 3231-nucleotide-pair (ntp) sequence of one end of one of the two linear mitochondrial (mt) DNA molecules of Hydra attenuata (phylum Cnidaria, class Hydrozoa, order Anthomedusae) has been determined. This segment contains complete genes for tRNA^f-Met, l-rRNA, tRNA^Trp, subunit 2 of cytochrome c oxidase (COII), subunit 8 of ATP synthetase (ATPase8), and the 5′ 136 ntp of ATPase6. These genes are arranged in the order given and are transcribed from the same strand of the molecule. As in two other cnidarians, the hexacorallian anthozoan Metridium senile and the octocorallian anthozoan Sarcophyton glaucum, the mt-genetic code of H. attenuata is near standard. The only modification appears to be that TGA specifies tryptophan rather than termination. Also as in M. senile and S. glaucum, the encoded H. attenuata mt-tRNA^f-Met has primary and secondary structural features resembling those of Escherichia coli initiator tRNA^t-Met. As the encoded mt-tRNA^Trp cannot be folded into a totally orthodox secondary structure, two alternative forms are suggested. The encoded H. attenuata mt-l-rRNA is 1738 nt, which is 451 nt shorter than the M. senile mt-l-rRNA. Comparisons of secondary structure models of these two mt-l-rRNAs indicate that most of the size difference results from loss of nucleotides in the H. attenuata molecule at a minimum of 46 locations, which includes elimination of six distinct helical elements. Received: 9 March 2000 / Accepted: 24 July 2000     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macroptilium</Emphasis> (Benth.) Urb. (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leguminosae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papilionoideae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolinae</Emphasis>) from North-Eastern Brazil

Summary  A new species of Macroptilium sect. Microcochle (Benth.) J. A. Lackey is herein described from the states of Piauí and Bahia, Brazil. Macroptilium cochleatum is characterized by few-flowered inflorescences, calyx teeth longer than the tube, a tightly four-coiled keel, and linear, patent fruits. The discovery of this unique Macroptilium species, with its distally coiled keel, expands the diagnostic features of the genus. A key to the Brazilian species of sect. Microcochle is provided.     

A new species of Acanthosyris (Santalaceae) from Bolivia and a key to the woody South American Santalaceae

Acanthosyris asipapote, a new species from the vicinity of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is described and illustrated. It is most similar to A. paulo-alvinii Barroso, known only from the state of Bahia, Brazil, but differs by leaf characters, pilose filaments, and smaller seeds. A key to the five woody genera and nine species of Santalaceae in South America is provided. Cervantesia, Jodina, and Myoschilos are probably monotypic; Santalum (in South America) has a single species, and Acanthosyris has five species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prescottia mucugensis</Emphasis>: a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prescottia</Emphasis> (Orchidaceae: Cranichidinae) from Bahia,Brazil

Prescottia mucugensis C. O. Azevedo & van den Berg, a new orchid species from the district of Guiné, municipality of Mucugê, Bahia, Brazil, is described and illustrated and a key for the related species is presented.     

Cranial morphology and taxonomic resolution of some dolphin taxa (Delphinidae) in Australian waters,with a focus on the genus Tursiops

Phylogenetic relationships in the family Delphinidae have been widely debated. We examined 347 skulls of Tursiops, Stenella, Delphinus, Steno, Lagenodelphis, and Sousa in order to resolve the phylogenetic position of Australian species of Tursiops. Five Tursiops type specimens were included. Cranial morphology was described using 2‐dimensional (2‐D) and 3‐dimensional geometric morphometrics (3‐GM), counts and categorical data. Analyses showed a clear morphological separation of Tursiops, including type specimens, from other genera. The three Stenella species did not cluster together. Stenella attenuata clustered with Delphinus delphis, and Stenella coeruleoalba with Lagenodelphis hosei. Length and width of the skull and rostrum were important discriminators in both methods. For 3‐D data, round vs. angular posterior skull shape distinguished some genera. Taxa that overlapped in the multivariate analyses had different mean tooth counts. Our study challenges genetic studies that identified Tursiops as polyphyletic, with T. aduncus closer to S. attenuata.     

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) from Reserva Ecológica Michelin,Bahia, Brazil

New records and distributional notes are provided for Reserva Ecológica Michelin, an Atlantic Forest fragment near the southern coast of Bahia State, Brazil. Two families, four genera and five species are recorded for the first time in Bahia State. Additionally, one family, two genera and three species are also recorded for the first time in the Northeast Region of Brazil, resulting in nine families, 48 genera and 96 species recorded to this region. Amongst the recorded species, Hermanella mazama (Nascimento, Mariano, and Salles, 2012) has been classified as an endangered species on the official Brazilian red list.