Novel sex-related characteristics of the longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933

This paper presents novel sex-related characteristics in Hippocampus reidi, expressed as a prominent and pigmented keel (males only), and by a row of dorsolateral spots mostly (97.4 percent) found in males. While the keel was found even in the smallest males sampled, the dorsolateral spots appear to be associated with body size. Ex situ observations revealed that during courtship males highlighted both characters by turning pale their background body colour. Understanding such colour and behavioural patterns is relevant to increase our knowledge about sexual selection in a morphologically and biologically unique group of fishes.

O presente trabalho descreve novos caracteres sexuais em Hippocampus reidi, expressos como uma quilha proeminente e pigmentada (machos apenas), e uma série de máculas dorsolaterais, encontradas principalmente (97,4 por cento) em machos. Enquanto a ocorrência da quilha foi observada mesmo nos menores machos, a presença de máculas dorsolaterais parece estar associada ao tamanho do corpo. Observações ex situ mostraram que os machos realçam ambos os caracteres durante o comportamento de corte, ao tornar pálida a cor de base do corpo. Destaca-se a relevância da compreensão de tais padrões de colorido para o avanço no conhecimento relativo à seleção sexual em um grupo de peixes de morfologia e biologia singulares.

Zootherapy goes to town: the use of animal-based remedies in urban areas of NE and N Brazil.

This paper examines the therapeutic possibilities offered by animal-based remedies in five Brazilian cities. Information was obtained through semi-structured questionnaires applied to 79 traders of medicinal animals at São Luís, Teresina, João Pessoa and Campina Grande (Northeastern) and Belém (Northern) Brazil. We recorded the use of 97 animal species as medicines, whose products were recommended for the treatment of 82 illnesses. The most frequently quoted treatments concerned the respiratory system (58 species; 407 use-citations), the osteomuscular system and conjunctive tissue (46 species; 384 use-citations), and the circulatory system (34 species; 124 use-citations). Mammals (27 species), followed by reptiles (24) and fishes (16) represented the bulk of medicinal species. In relation to users, 53% of the interviewees informed that zootherapeuticals resources were sought after by people from all social classes, while 47% stated that low income people were the main buyers. The notable use and commercialization of medicinal animals to alleviate and cure health problems and ailments in cities highlights the resilience of that resource in the folk medicine. Most remedies quoted by interviewees depend on wild-caught animals, including some species under official protection. Among other aspects, the harvesting of threatened species confers zootherapy a role in the discussions about biodiversity conservation in Brazil.

Zootherapeutic practices among fishing communities in North and Northeast Brazil: a comparison.

This paper compares the medicinal uses of animals in fishing communities located in the North and Northeastern regions of Brazil. Data were obtained through field surveys conducted in the Northern state of Pará and in the NE states of Paraíba, Piauí and Maranhão. We interviewed 137 people (67 men and 70 women), who provided information on animal species used as remedies, body parts used to prepare the remedies, and illnesses to which the remedies were prescribed. Comparisons were made using cluster analysis. Interviewees quoted 138 animal taxa, 11 of which are listed in the Brazilian list of threatened species. Animals were used to treat 100 illnesses. Results suggest that similarities in the repertoire of medicinal resources chosen by the surveyed communities reflects both a geographic/cultural continuum and the local accessibility/availability of the resources.

From cnidarians to mammals: the use of animals as remedies in fishing communities in NE Brazil.

This work documents zootherapeutic practices in Northeast Brazil. It is primarily based on field surveys carried out in fishing villages located in the states of Maranhão and Paraíba, where 60 respondents (38 men and 22 women) provided information on animal species used as medicine, body parts used to prepare the remedies and illnesses to which the remedies were prescribed. A total of 100 animal species (72 families), distributed in 12 taxonomic categories, was used as medicine. Zootherapeutic resources were used to treat 62 different diseases. The local medicinal fauna is largely based on wild animals, including some endangered species. Threatened species, such as the seahorse (Hippocampus reidi, Ginsburg, 1933) (Syngnathidae) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas, Linnaeus, 1758) (Cheloniidae) represented important medicinal resources for the studied communities. This shows the need to integrate traditional knowledge into strategies to conserve and manage faunistic resources in Brazil.

Why study the use of animal products in traditional medicines?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that as many as 80% of the world's more than six billion people rely primarily on animal and plant-based medicines. The healing of human ailments by using therapeutics based on medicines obtained from animals or ultimately derived from them is known as zootherapy. The phenomenon of zootherapy is marked both by a broad geographical distribution and very deep historical origins. Despite their importance, studies on the therapeutic use of animals and animal parts have been neglected, when compared to plants. This paper discusses some related aspects of the use of animals or parts thereof as medicines, and their implications for ecology, culture (the traditional knowledge), economy, and public health.