Dicephalic Parapagus Conjoined Twins in a Large Fruit-eating Bat, Genus Artibeus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae).

Conjoined twinning is an embryological anomaly rarely reported in wild mammals and with only two previous records in Chiroptera. Here, we report a case of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins in the Neotropical phyllostomid genus Artibeus. These twins are males and present separated heads and necks, but a conjoined trunk with an expanded upper thoracic region. They developed two complete forelimbs and two complete hindlimbs, all laterally to the trunk. There is a volume in the upper midback and between the heads that resembles a third rudimentary medial forelimb, but X-ray images only suggest the presence of medial skeletal elements of the pectoral girdle (clavicle and scapulae) in this region. The X-ray images also show that vertebral columns run separated from head until the base of lumbar region, where they form a single structure. Using ultrasound images, we detected the presence of two similarly sized and apparently separated hearts. The accumulation of study cases like this will help in the understanding of patterns and process behind this phenomena, and collection material plays a key role in this context.

Ectoparasitic flies (Diptera, Streblidae) of bats (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest area, southeastern Brazil / Moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Streblidae) de morcegos (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) numa área de Mata Atlântica, sudeste do Brasil

We studied infestation rates and parasite-host associations between streblid flies and phyllostomid bats in an Atlantic Forest area of Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil. We captured 301 individuals from seven Phyllostomidae bat species. Out of that total, 69 bats had been parasitised by nine Streblidae species; the most frequent species were Trichobius joblingi and Trichobius tiptoni. The species Paraeuctenodes longipes, associated with Anoura geoffroyi, was the most frequent species. The highest mean intensity was observed for Paraeuctenodes longipes, associated with A. geoffroyi, and Paratrichobius longicrus associated with Artibeus lituratus, both ectoparasite species with a mean intensity of five individuals per bat. Trichobius joblingi exhibited the highest mean abundance, which was over three on its host species. Streblid richness in the study area was similar to the richness found in other studies carried out in the Atlantic Forest. We observed that streblid richness in this biome depends more on inherent characteristics of each physiognomy and on the host-species than on the sampling effort.

Estudou-se as taxas de infestação e as associações parasita-hospedeiros de dípteros estreblídeos ectoparasitas de morcegos filostomídeos, em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica, no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foram capturados 301 indivíduos de sete espécies de morcegos da família Phyllostomidae. Desse total, 69 morcegos encontravam-se parasitados com nove espécies de Streblidae, sendo Trichobius joblingi e Trichobius tiptoni as espécies mais freqüentes do total de estreblídeos coletados. Paraeuctenodes longipes, associada à Anoura geoffroyi foi a espécie mais prevalente. A maior intensidade média foi encontrada para Paraeuctenodes longipes, associada à A. geoffroyi e Paratrichobius longicrus associada à Artibeus lituratus, ambos com cinco ectoparasitas em média por morcego infestado. Trichobius joblingi apresentou a maior abundância média de infestação, que foi superior a três nas espécies de hospedeiros em que foi encontrada. A riqueza de estreblídeos da área de estudo é similar àquela obtida em outros estudos realizados na Mata Atlântica, e verificou-se que a riqueza de estreblídeos nesse bioma depende mais de outras características inerentes a cada fitofisionomia e à espécie hospedeira do que do esforço amostral de coleta.

Ectoparasitic flies (Diptera, Streblidae) of bats (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest area, southeastern Brazil.

We studied infestation rates and parasite-host associations between streblid flies and phyllostomid bats in an Atlantic Forest area of Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil. We captured 301 individuals from seven Phyllostomidae bat species. Out of that total, 69 bats had been parasitised by nine Streblidae species; the most frequent species were Trichobius joblingi and Trichobius tiptoni. The species Paraeuctenodes longipes, associated with Anoura geoffroyi, was the most frequent species. The highest mean intensity was observed for Paraeuctenodes longipes, associated with A. geoffroyi, and Paratrichobius longicrus associated with Artibeus lituratus, both ectoparasite species with a mean intensity of five individuals per bat. Trichobius joblingi exhibited the highest mean abundance, which was over three on its host species. Streblid richness in the study area was similar to the richness found in other studies carried out in the Atlantic Forest. We observed that streblid richness in this biome depends more on inherent characteristics of each physiognomy and on the host-species than on the sampling effort.

Sensitivity of populations of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in relation to human development in northern Paraná, southern Brazil.

Most natural forests have been converted for human use, restricting biological life to small forest fragments. Many animals, including some species of bats are disappearing and the list of these species grows every day. It seems that the destruction of the habitat is one of its major causes. This study aimed to analyze how this community of bats was made up in environments with different sizes and quality of habitat. Data from studies conducted in the region of Londrina, Parana, Brazil, from 1982 to 2000 were used. Originally, this area was covered by a semi deciduous forest, especially Aspidosperma polyneuron (Apocynaceae), Ficus insipida (Moraceae), Euterpe edulis (Arecaceae), Croton floribundus (Euforbiaceae), and currently, only small remnants of the original vegetation still exist. The results showed a decline in the number of species caught in smaller areas compared to the largest remnant. In about 18 years of sampling, 42 species of bats were found in the region, representing 67% of the species that occur in Paraná and 24.4% in Brazil. There were two species of Noctilionidae; 21 of Phyllostoma; 11 Vespertilionidae and eight Molossidae. Eight of these were captured only in the largest fragment, Mata dos Godoy State Park (680 ha). Ten species had a low capture rate in the smaller areas with less than three individuals. Of the total sampled, 14 species were found in human buildings, and were able to tolerate modified environments, foraging and even using them as shelter. As the size of the forest area increases, there is a greater variety of ecological opportunities and their physical conditions become more stable, i.e., conditions favorable for growth and survival of a greater number of species. Forest fragmentation limits and creates subpopulations, preserving only long-lived K-strategist animals for some time, where the supporting capacity of the environment is a limiting factor. The reduction of habitats, species and genetic diversity resulting from human activities are endangering the future adaptability in natural ecosystems, which promotes the disappearance of low adaptive potential species.

Metapopulation in bats of Southern Brazil.

The purpose was to show that displacements, promoters of genetic diversity in metapopulations, increase the probability of survival of bat species adapted to medium and long-distance flights. Samples were taken in four forest fragments, distributed in three municipalities in northern Paraná, and the maximum distance between the studied areas is 20 km. A monthly sampling was performed for each fragment, for the period of July 2008 to June 2009. We used eight nets for collection which remained open during the first four hours of the night, totalling 192 hours during a year of study. The marking occurred from October 2008 to March 2009 and was accomplished through the use of anodised metal rings of four different colours. One hundred and fifty individuals were banded and since the first capture, four displacements were recorded. After five months of collecting and marking, one Carollia perspicillata was found three km away. Two Artibeus lituratus were recorded about 20 km from the marking place: the first one after 22 months and the second one after 24 months. Additionally, one Platyrrhinus lineatus was captured at about 20 km, after 26 months. As they moved around over considerable distances and are not monogamous, they mate with females of other fragments, exchanging genes and reducing or even avoiding inbreeding. Thus, populations of bats have the ability to increase genetic diversity in metapopulations, provided by displacements between the forest fragments. Species that behave like this are not vulnerable to isolation.

Immunocytochemical study of gastrintestinal endocrine cells in insectivorous bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera).

The regional distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the stomach and intestine of Phyllostomidae: Lonchorhina aurita and Molossidae: Molossus molossus bats were studied immunohistochemically. Three types of immunoreactive (IR) endocrine cells--to serotonin (5-HT), gastrin (GAS) and enteroglucagon (GLUC)--were found in the gastric mucosa and four types of IR cells were identified in the intestinal mucosa. This study showed an interespecfic difference in the regional distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the Chiropteran alimentary tract.

Immunocytochemical study of gastrintestinal endocrine cells in insectivorous bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) / Estudo imunocitoquímico das células endócrinas gastrintestinais de morcegos insetívoros (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

The regional distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the stomach and intestine of Phyllostomidae: Lonchorhina aurita and Molossidae: Molossus molossus bats were studied immunohistochemically. Three types of immunoreactive (IR) endocrine cells - to serotonin (5-HT), gastrin (GAS) and enteroglucagon (GLUC) - were found in the gastric mucosa and four types of IR cells were identified in the intestinal mucosa. This study showed an interespecfic difference in the regional distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the Chiropteran alimentary tract.

A distribuição regional e a freqüência relativa das células endócrinas no estômago e intestino dos morcegos insetívoros Phyllostomidae: Lonchorhina aurita e Mormoopidae: Molossus molossus foram estudadas pelo método de imunohistoquímica. Três tipos de células endócrinas imunorreativas (IR) à serotonina (5-HT), gastrina (GAS) e enteroglucagon (GLUC) foram localizadas na mucosa gástrica e quatro tipos de células endócrinas IR à 5-HT, GAS, colecistoquinina (CCK) e GLUC foram identificadas na mucosa intestinal. Este estudo mostrou uma diferença interespecífica na distribuição regional e na freqüência relativa das células endócrinas no trato alimentar de Chiropteros.

Chromosomal banding patterns in Akodon arviculoides (2n=14),Akodon sp.(2n=24 and 25), and two male hybrids with 19 chromosomes.

Chromosomal polymorphism resulting from two pericentric inversions in Akodon arviculoides (2n=14) has been described (YONENAGA, 1972a). In this paper the banding patterns are presented and identification of the inverted segments of the autosomal pairs 2 and 3 is made. The karyotype of Akodon sp., which varies in diploid number (2n-24 and 25), is described and shown to be due to the presence of a small submetacentric chromosome in the 2n=25 individuals. The karyotypes of two 2n=19 males studied show that they are hybrids between Akodon arviculoides (2n=14) and Akodon sp. (2n=24).