We report a new distributional record of Allobates goianus in Niquelândia (Goiás State, Central Brazil), and its rediscovery in Minaçu since the creation of the Serra da Mesa dam lake in 1997. Moreover, we describe the species... more
We report a new distributional record of Allobates goianus in Niquelândia (Goiás State, Central Brazil), and its rediscovery in Minaçu since the creation of the Serra da Mesa dam lake in 1997. Moreover, we describe the species advertisement call from Niquelândia, reporting on a new calling emission pattern for the species, plus we provide the first comprehensive definition, diagnosis, and interspecific comparisons of A. goianus based on our two newly collected additional specimens since its original description in the mid-1970s. Allobates goianus is compared with the 22 Allobates species known to occur in Brazil due to geographic proximity. Morphological, color, and acoustic traits diagnose A. goianus from all analyzed congeners, except A. brunneus and A. olfersioides. Our study draws attention to the importance of rediscovering A. goianus at the type locality (Chapada dos Veadeiros) aiming to properly address the species limits of the three Brazilian Allobates species (A. brunneus, A. goianus, and A. olfersioides) that are indistinguishable with regard to phenotypic traits. The conservation status of A. goianus, endemic to the Cerrado of Central Brazil, is discussed as its natural habitats are under increased pressure due to habitat fragmentation in the Cerrado.
The Neotropical genus Scleronema is revised based on the re-examination of the type specimens and 1,713 newly collected specimens. Scleronema is diagnosed from other trichomycterids by the following unambiguous derived characters: fleshy... more
The Neotropical genus Scleronema is revised based on the re-examination of the type specimens and 1,713 newly collected specimens. Scleronema is diagnosed from other trichomycterids by the following unambiguous derived characters: fleshy flap at the base of the maxillary barbell; skin flap in the posterior margin of the opercle; articulation between the autopalatine and the vomer ventrally located, with the medial margins of the autopalatines very close to each other; and autopalatine with an interrupted or not interrupted ossified arch-shaped process on its dorsal surface forming a canal. Scleronema minutum and S. operculatum are redescribed, S. angustirostre is considered a junior synonym of S. minutum, and six new species are described. A lectotype is designated for Trichomycterus minutus. The type localities of S. angustirostre, S. minutum, and S. operculatum are reviewed in order to correct erroneous information cited in articles and catalogs subsequent to the original descriptions. Species of Scleronema are geographically distributed in the La Plata basin and Atlantic coastal drainages from Southern Brazil, Southern Paraguay, Northeastern Argentina and Uruguay. They inhabit rivers or streams with sand-or gravel-bottoms across the Pampa grasslands. We provide evidences to recognize two putative monophyletic units within the genus, namely the S. minutum species group and the S. operculatum species group, and discuss the distribution patterns of their species.
The history of the description of the name Semnopithecus femoralis (currently Presbytis femoralis) is revisited to highlight the nomenclatural issues relating to the authorship, date, and type locality of this taxon. The author is Martin... more
The history of the description of the name Semnopithecus femoralis (currently Presbytis femoralis) is revisited to highlight the nomenclatural issues relating to the authorship, date, and type locality of this taxon. The author is Martin and the year of publication is 1838, hence, Presbytis femoralis (Martin, 1838). Although the species was originally described from several localities, the type locality has been determined to be restricted to Singapore