Review
Evolutionary Biology
Paulo R. Melo-Sampaio, Paulo Passos, Ana L. C. Prudente, Pablo J. Venegas, Omar Torres-Carvajal
Summary: This study re-examines the Atractus snethlageae species complex by examining 330 specimens and redefining A. snethlageae with the recognition of four new species. It is found that some Amazonian lowland species have restricted ranges, with the eastern portion of Para and western portion of Maranhao in Brazil being biogeographically important and threatened. Discussions on expected changes in taxonomy of ground snakes are also presented based on well-sampled phylogenies.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Williams Paredes-munguia, Antonio D. Brescovit, Renato A. Teixeira
Summary: The new genus Tropicosa is proposed for some controversial Neotropical lycosid spiders, which have a dark stripe on the sternum, sinuous median apophysis, sclerotized tegular lobe, and an expanded median septum on the epigyne with a parallel, triangular hood. The species Alopecosa moesta, Schizocosa chelifasciata, and Lycosa thorelli are transferred to Tropicosa gen. nov., and a new species, Tropicosa baguala sp. nov., is described. Additionally, Arctosa bogotensis is synonymized with Tropicosa thorelli, and Lycosa langei is synonymized with T. chelifasciata based on type specimens. All four species proposed as members of Tropicosa gen. nov. are found in South America.
Article
Biology
Jenny Munoz, Jill E. Jankowski
Summary: Mixed-species flocks are an important part of bird communities, especially in the Neotropics. The functional aspects of these flocks and their relationship with the larger avian community across different elevations are not well understood. This study uses a trait-based approach to examine the functional characteristics of flocking species and their communities. The results reveal similar ecological strategies among flocking species and the communities they occur in. The trait space occupied by flocking species is only half that of the larger community, and the trait space of flocks is more restricted across elevations compared to non-flocking species.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Kristy Srodawa, Peter A. Cerda, Alison R. Davis Rabosky, Jenna M. Crowe-Riddell
Summary: This study used a transcriptomic approach to analyze the venom expression profiles of four species of Colubrinae snakes from the Neotropics. The results showed evidence of parallel evolution of structural changes in 3FTxs among rear-fanged Colubrinae snakes. Positive selection was found in structural loops or fingers of 3FTxs, indicating their importance in interacting with prey target molecules.
Article
Zoology
Koen Martens, Vitor Gois Ferreira, Nadiny Martins de Almeida, Janet Higuti
Summary: The New Caledonian Archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot with many unique species. This study introduces a new genus and species of ostracod, Caledromus robinsmithi, found on the main island of the archipelago. The new genus is distinct from others in the same subfamily based on several characteristics. It is believed to have affinities with a genus from the Palaearctic region.
Article
Entomology
Hector A. Vargas
Summary: This study describes a new species of flightless female in a South American genus of the tribe Boarmiini of the geometrid moth family, providing a new opportunity to understand the evolution of wing reduction in geometrid moths through DNA sequence analysis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Omar Torres-Carvajal, Claudia Teran
Summary: This study presents the most complete phylogeny of Leptophis to date and evaluates morphology-based species limits within the broadly distributed green parrot snake Leptophis ahaetulla sensu lato. The research suggests the presence of multiple species within Leptophis ahaetulla sensu lato and highlights the role of color evolution and the uplift of the Andes in the diversification of parrot snakes.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Surya Narayanan, Pratyush P. Mohapatra, Amirtha Balan, Sandeep Das, David J. Gower
Summary: A new species of Xylophis, Xylophis deepaki sp. nov., is described based on three specimens from southern India, which is most closely related to X. captaini with a genetic distance of 4.2%. The new species is distinguished by its collar shape, number of ventral scales, and lack of flounces on the body and hemipenis lobes.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ricarda Riina, Benjamin W. Van Ee, Maria Beatriz Rossi Caruzo, Daniela Santos Carneiro-Torres, Rafaela Freitas dos Santos, Paul E. Berry
Summary: A revised assessment of Croton L. sect. Geiseleria is provided, including the description of new species and a taxonomic synopsis of currently accepted species. Four subsections within the section are recognized, and specific species placements have been revised based on morphological and molecular criteria. Several species, including C. tetradenius and C. waltherioides, have been excluded from the section.
ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos E. Gonzalez-Orozco
Summary: This study investigates the evolutionary hotspots of flowering plants in Colombia using null models and species-level phylogeny. The results show a clear elevational segregation of hotspots, with young endemic species predominantly found in the mountainous regions and older endemic species in lowland areas. These findings support the altitude-dependent hypothesis and reveal limited understanding of Colombia's biodiversity distribution and evolutionary history.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Douglas C. Daly, Vera Pankevich
Summary: This article describes and illustrates a newly discovered species of Protium inversum, adding to the growing number of Andean species in this genus.
Review
Plant Sciences
Rowan J. Schley, Alex D. Twyford, R. Toby Pennington
Summary: Hybridization plays a role in the evolution of diversity in the Neotropical flora, with studies showing a spectrum of outcomes across different biomes and taxa. The impacts of hybridization range from short-term effects like ecological amplitude expansion in hybrid progeny to long-term effects such as the generation of new lineages. Certain themes, like pervasive hybridization in species-rich plant radiations from the Andean paramos, suggest a role for hybridization in rapid diversification events.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jose M. Ramirez-Salamanca, Paula Cornejo, Mariana R. Chani-Posse
Summary: Philonthina is the largest subtribe of Staphylinini, with most of its species found in tropical areas. The origin of this diversity is not well understood, but through molecular and geographical studies, it was found that Philonthina originated during the Late Cretaceous and diversified into five main lineages during the Eocene. The Neotropical lineage (NL) of Philonthina originated in northwestern South America and the Andes around 64.2 million years ago and further diversified into different clades during the Miocene.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nelson Buainain, Mateus Ferreira, Jorge E. Avendano, Carlos D. Cadena, Brant C. Faircloth, Robb T. Brumfield, Joel Cracraft, Camila C. Ribas
Summary: This study compares the diversification dynamics of montane and lowland populations of a songbird genus in the Neotropics and finds overall similarities in their evolutionary processes. The current taxonomic arrangement may underestimate species diversity within the genus.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Serena Acha, Alexander Linan, John MacDougal, Christine Edwards
Summary: Through DNA sequencing and ancestral area reconstruction, the study revealed that Section Decaloba consists of two main clades: the Central American clade and the South American clade. Section Decaloba originated in Central America around 10.4 million years ago, then dispersed to South America, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas. The South American clade diversified in the Northern Andes and subsequently spread to other regions of South America and the Lesser Antilles.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danielle Rivera, Ivan Prates, Thomas J. Firneno, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues, Janalee P. Caldwell, Matthew K. Fujita
Summary: Genetic introgression has varied effects on species boundaries and integrity over evolutionary time. By analyzing genomic data of true toads, it was found that there are multiple evolutionary lineages with distinct genetic clusters and evidence of cryptic diversity within taxa. The results also suggest extensive historical gene flow and allele sharing across species boundaries in the evolutionary history of Rhinella.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antoine Fouquet, Josselin Cornuault, Miguel T. Rodrigues, Fernanda P. Werneck, Tomas Hrbek, Andres R. Acosta-Galvis, David Massemin, Philippe J. R. Kok, Raffael Ernst
Summary: The genus Pipa is a species-poor clade of Neotropical frogs that is known for its bizarre-looking anatomy. The diversity and phylogenetic relationships within Pipa are poorly understood, as are their historical biogeography and the evolution of certain striking features. This study used DNA sequencing to identify 15 main lineages within Pipa and found that the genus originated in the early Neogene period in the Amazon region. The different lineages of Pipa further diversified and spread to other regions, following patterns observed in other co-distributed groups. The study also suggests that certain features, such as the absence of teeth, were lost or acquired independently in different lineages.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Juliana Gusson Roscito, Katrin Sameith, Bogdan Mikhailovich Kirilenko, Nikolai Hecker, Sylke Winkler, Andreas Dahl, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues, Michael Hiller
Summary: A comparative genomic analysis of limbless reptiles reveals that shared divergence occurs more often at the level of signaling pathways and patterning mechanisms, rather than in individual limb regulatory elements. Different mechanisms, such as different regulatory elements associated with the same limb genes and/or patterning mechanisms, may contribute to limb loss in reptiles.
Article
Zoology
Hussam Zaher, Dhananjay M. Mohabey, Felipe G. Grazziotin, Jeffrey A. Wilson Mantilla
Summary: Recent phylogenetic analyses provide different interpretations of the origin and interrelationships of snakes. A new Late Cretaceous snake specimen helps resolve the origin of wide-gaped feeding. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that wide-gape condition in mosasaurs and snakes may have evolved independently. Intermediate morphology preserved in the specimen indicates that ingestion of large prey items preceded wide-gaped, unilateral feeding.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chaochao Yan, Meng-Huan Song, Dechun Jiang, Jin-Long Ren, Yunyun Lv, Jiang Chang, Song Huang, Hussam Zaher, Jia-Tang Li
Summary: This study investigates the intraspecific divergence of the endangered hot-spring snake and reveals the relationship between gene flow, fixed loci, and adaptation in this species. It also emphasizes the importance of diversity conservation management in the declining population.
Correction
Evolutionary Biology
Manuela V. V. dos Santos, Ana L. C. Prudente, Miguel T. T. Rodrigues, Marcelo J. J. Sturaro
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Leonardo De Oliveira, Felipe Gobbi Grazziotin, Paola Maria Sanchez-Martinez, Mahmood Sasa, Oscar Flores-Villela, Ana Lucia Da Costa Prudente, Hussam Zaher
Summary: A new study reveals that goo-eating snakes have a unique venom delivery system that relies on their lower jaw instead of upper lip and maxillary glands. This change likely occurred in the ancestor of goo-eating snakes, possibly due to the loss of the embryonic posterior maxillary lamina.
SYSTEMATICS AND BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Roberta Graboski, Juan C. Arredondo, Felipe G. Grazziotin, Ricardo Arturo Guerra-Fuentes, Ariane A. A. Da Silva, Ana L. C. Prudente, Roberta R. Pinto, Miguel T. Rodrigues, Sandro L. Bonatto, Hussam Zaher
Summary: This study used phylogenetic and multivariate analyses to evaluate the cryptic diversity of Amerotyphlops blind snakes. Based on molecular data and morphological variables, four new species of Amerotyphlops were described.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Priscila S. Carvalho, Diego J. Santana, Hussam Zaher, Edward A. Myers
Summary: Using multiple molecular methods, we investigated the phylogeography of two semi-aquatic snake species in South America and examined how environmental and historical factors have impacted their evolutionary history. Both species, Hydrodynastes gigas and H. bicinctus, showed recent divergence and low genetic diversity with no geographic structure. The genetic divergence in H. gigas was influenced by geographic distance, climate, and hydrographic basin. Our findings suggest that the extensive geographic distributions and low genetic variation of these species are due to their high dispersal capabilities and generalist ecologies, allowing for population connectivity.
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. N. D. R. E. L. G. CARVALHO, A. L. E. J. A. N. D. R. O. LASPIUR, J. U. L. I. A. KLACZKO, L. U. I. S. R. O. L. A. N. D. O. RIVAS, M. I. G. U. E. L. T. R. E. F. A. U. T. RODRIGUES, M. A. R. C. O. A. U. R. E. L. I. O. DE SENA, R. I. C. A. R. D. O. CESPEDES
Summary: Only recently have lizard specialists started incorporating phylogenetic information into the classification of leiosaurids, a group of enigmatic South American lizards. To assess their relationships, multiple analyses were conducted using morphological and DNA data, revealing the monophyly of major leiosaurid clades and challenging the classification of certain genera. A new leiosaurid species, Urostrophus chungarae, was also described, emphasizing the need for further systematic investigation.
SYSTEMATICS AND BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Letter
Zoology
Vanessa K. Verdade, Diego Almeida-Silva, Miguel T. Rodrigues
Article
Zoology
Angele Martins, Manuella Folly, Guilherme Nunes Ferreira, Antonio Samuel Garcia da Silva, Claudia Koch, Antoine Fouquet, Alessandra Machado, Ricardo Tadeu Lopes, Roberta Pinto, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues, Paulo Passos
Summary: This article describes a new species and reassigns a known species, which is significant for the taxonomic and evolutionary research of threadsnakes. It also emphasizes the importance of protected areas in maintaining vertebrate populations.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leonardo de Oliveira, Pedro Gabriel Nachtigall, Vincent Louis Vialla, Pollyanna F. Campos, Adriana da Costa-Neves, Hussam Zaher, Nelson Jorge da Silva Jr, Felipe G. Grazziotin, Mark Wilkinson, Inacio L. M. Junqueira-de-Azevedo
Summary: This study investigated the morphology and molecular characterization of the cephalic glands in New World coral snakes, revealing substantial morphological variation and important traits related to toxin production and lipocalin expression.
Article
Zoology
Anna V. Albano de Mello, Renato S. Recoder, Antoine Fouquet, Miguel T. Rodrigues, Pedro M. S. Nunes
Summary: In this study, the taxonomic status of lizards of the Iphisa elegans complex were reevaluated based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analysis, as well as morphological characteristics. The results revealed the presence of nine operational taxonomic units within the genus Iphisa and these units could be distinguished by external and hemipenial morphology. A new taxonomic rearrangement of the genus was proposed, including the elevation of Iphisa elegans soinii to the specific level, and the naming and description of five new species.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Katyuscia Araujo-Vieira, Ana Carolina C. Lourenco, Joao Victor A. Lacerda, Mariana L. Lyra, Boris L. Blotto, Santiago R. Ron, Diego Baldo, Martin O. Pereyra, Angela M. Suarez-Mayorga, Delio Baeta, Rodrigo Barbosa Ferreira, Cesar L. Barrio-Amoros, Claudio Borteiro, Reuber A. Brandao, Cinthia A. Brasileiro, Maureen A. Donnelly, Marcos J. M. Dubeux, Jorn Kohler, Francisco Kolenc, Felipe Sa Fortes Leite, Natan M. Maciel, Ivan Nunes, Victor G. D. Orrico, Pedro Peloso, Tiago L. Pezzuti, Steffen Reichle, Fernando J. M. Rojas-Runjaic, Helio R. Da Silva, Marcelo J. Sturaro, Jose A. Langone, Paulo C. A. Garcia, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues, Darrel R. Frost, Ward C. Wheeler, Taran Grant, Jose P. Pombal, Celio F. B. Haddad, Julian Faivovich
Summary: Scinax is a genus of Neotropical treefrogs with the most species diversity. It consists of 129 recognized species divided into two major clades, the S. catharinae and S. ruber clades. The relationships within and among these clades and their species groups are poorly understood. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted using genetic and phenotypic data, resulting in the partitioning of Scinax into three genera and the recognition of 13 species groups in the S. ruber clade and seven species groups in the S. catharinae clade. The study also identified 57 candidate species, highlighting the incomplete understanding of the diversity of this treefrog clade.
SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2023)
