The occurrence of amphibians in bromeliads from a Southeastern Brazilian restinga habitat, with special reference to Aparasphenodon brunoi (Anura, Hylidae)

Five species of anuran amphibians, all belonging to the family Hylidae, were collected at Praia das Neves, municipality of Presidente Kennedy, southeastern Brazil,. The species were represented by four genera: Scinax, Hyla, Aparasphenodon, and Trachycephalus. Four species (A. brunoi, Hyla albomarginata, Scinax altera, and S. cuspidatus) were found during the dry season (August 1999), and two (A. brunoi and Trachycephalus nigromaculatus) in the rainy season (February 2000). Aparasphenodon brunoi was the most abundant species in Praia das Neves. Some reproductive aspects and feeding habits of this hylid were investigated. Aparasphenodon brunoi was found mainly inside the bromeliad Aechmea lingulata, the largest plant analyzed. Fifteen specimens were collected during the dry season (August 1999) (11 males and 4 females). During the rainy season (February 2000), we collected 14 specimens (3 males, 10 females, and 1 juvenile). Sex-ratio was 1:1. Frogs ranged in snout-vent length from 31.2 to 69.3 mm. Females were larger than males. One female had 1,451 fully developed oocytes in her ovaries. The major groups of prey found in the stomachs were: Insecta, Myriapoda, and Arachnida. Blattodea, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera (only ants) were the main food types in frequency, number, and weight. Aparasphenodon brunoi is a threatened species in many habitats of southeastern Brazil. Only natural vegetation protection may guarantee its survival during the immediate future

Reproduction and food habits of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia

The reproductive and feeding biology of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, was studied in Chesapeake Bay. Seahorses are monogamous, and males incubate the eggs received from females in a closed brood pouch (= marsupium). Females do not play any parental care after mating. Total sex ratio and the operational sex ratio was strongly skewed toward females. Males and females had similar number of eggs/embryos and hydrated oocytes, respectively. The number of eggs/embryos found in the male brood pouch varied from 97 to 1,552 (fish from 80 to 126 mm TL), whereas the number of hydrated oocytes in female varied from 90 to 1,313 (fish from 60 to 123 mm TL). Both, the number of eggs/embryos and hydrated oocytes were better linearly correlated to total weight than to total length. The small snout and mouth size limits the feeding of the lined seahorse to small prey size. Amphypods were the predominant food items found in the guts, especially Ampithoe longimana, Gammarus mucronatus, and Caprella penantis. The lined seahorse is not abundant in Chesapeake Bay, but keeps a breeding population which is probably brought inside the bay by currents on drifting vegetation. Chances to find a partner may be difficult because of its low abundance, due to turbid waters, and its sedentary behavior

Evidence of terrestrial feeding in the arboreal lizard Enyalius bilineatus (Sauria, Polychrotidae) of south-eastern Brazil

The diet of the arboreal lizard E. bilineatus was assessed based on analysis of gut contents of specimens collected in the remnants of the Atlantic rainforest in Espírito Santo State, south-eastern Brazil. Stomachs of the lizards examined (SVL = 57.0-85.0 mm) contained nine arthropod orders. E. bilineatus utilizes a broad range of arthopodan prey type and sizes, and can be considered an arthropod generalist, which uses a sit-and-wait foraging strategy. Orthoptera represented the most important food item, followed by Dictyoptera and Hymenoptera. Hemiptera, Homoptera, Lepidoptera (larvae), Coleoptera, Araneae, and Diplopoda constituted the remainder of food items. The presence of Diplopoda, which are not generally found on tree trunks, provides particularly strong evidence the E. bilineatus forages in leaf litter on the ground

Deflazacort e cicatrizaçao de anastomoses colônicas: estudo experimental em ratos / Deflazacort and colonic anastomotic healing: an experimental study in rats

OBJETIVO: O deflazacort é um novo corticóide com os mesmos efeitos antiinflamatórios dos demais, porém com menos efeitos colaterais. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos do deflazacort na cicatrizaçao de anastomoses colônicas. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: 75 ratos Wistar foram randomizados em três grupos para receberem os seguintes tratamentos por gavagem: grupo controle (N=24)= soluçao fisiológica; grupo deflazacort (N=25)= 0,1 mg/Kg/dia dessa droga e, grupo dexametasona (N=26)= 0,5 mg/Kg/dia substância. Após seis dias de tratamento, os animais foram submetidos à secçao colônica, seguida de anastomose primária em um ponto situado a 2 cm acima da reflexao peritoneal. O tratamento com as soluçoes foi mantido até o sacrifício, que ocorreu no 3o. ou no 6o. dia de PO. Observou-se na necrópsia sinais de peritonite e deiscência de sutura. Realizou-se o teste de pressao de ruptura das anastomoses e dosou-se nessa regiao a concentraçao de hidroxiprolina e proteinas. RESULTADOS: Nao houve diferença em relaçao à ocorrência de deiscência e peritonite. A pressao de ruptura foi semelhante no 3o. dia. No 6o. dia, ela foi maior (p <0.05) no grupo controle (180 [150-230] mmHg) que nos grupos deflazacort (150 [120-180] mmHg) e dexametasona (140 [100-180] mmHg). Nao ocorreu diferença entre os grupos na dosagem de hidroxiprolina. A dosagem de protéinas foi maior no grupo dexametasona que nos controles no 3o. PO. CONCLUSOES: O uso de corticóides determina queda na resistência da anastomose colônica. O deflazacort apresenta os mesmos efeitos deletérios da dexametasona na cicatrizaçao de anastomoses intestinais