The Quichua porcupine (Coendou quichua) is a neotropical rodent with uncertain taxonomic and conservation status. Two Quichua porcupines with severe hyperkeratosis and alopecia were found in the Magdalena River Basin of Colombia. Sarcoptes scabiei, the mite causing mange, a disease carried mainly by domestic animals, was confirmed via parasitological and molecular methods. This is the first report of mange in neotropical porcupines to date. The population-level impact of mange in Coendou spp., related mammals and predators in Colombia might represent a threat and needs further investigation.
The Amazon has high biodiversity, which has been attributed to different geological events such as the formation of rivers. The Old and Young Amazon hypotheses have been proposed regarding the date of the formation of the Amazon basin. Different studies of historical biogeography support the Young Amazon model, however, most studies use secondary calibrations or are performed at the population level, preventing evaluation of a possible older formation of the Amazon basin. Here, we evaluated the fit of molecular phylogenetic and biogeographic data to previous models regarding the age of formation of the Amazon fluvial system. We reconstructed time-calibrated molecular phylogenies through Bayesian inference for six taxa belonging to Amphibia, Aves, Insecta and Mammalia, using both, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data and fossils as calibration points, and explored priors for both data sources. We detected the most plausible vicariant barriers for each phylogeny and performed an ancestral reconstruction analysis using areas bounded by major Amazonian rivers, and therefore, evaluated the effect of different dispersal rates over time based on geological and biogeographical information. The majority of the genes analyzed fit a relaxed clock model. The log normal distribution fits better and leads to more precise age estimations than the exponential distribution. The data suggested that the first dispersals to the Amazon basin occurred to Western Amazonia from 16.2–10.4 Ma, and the taxa covered most of the areas of the Amazon basin between 12.2–6.2 Ma. Additionally, regardless of the method, we obtained evidence for two rivers: Tocantins and Madeira, acting as vicariant barriers. Given the molecular and biogeographical analyses, we found that some taxa were fitted to the “Old Amazon” model.
External morphology of the glans and baculum are important characters for specific delimitation, especially for rodents (Simson et al. 1995). However, for Erethizontidae there are few descriptive works; in fact, for Neotropical porcupines of the genus Coendou there is just one brief contribution for an indeterminate species by Pocock in 1922. In this work, the morphology of the glans and baculum of Coendou quichua is described. The specimen was collected at the municipality of San Vicente de Chucurí, Santander, Colombia. The penis was dissected and fixed in formaldehyde for one day, and later preserved in ethanol. The baculum was extracted and cleared with potassium hydroxide to be visualized, photographed and measured. The glans and baculum were compared with the description of others porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum and Hystrix brachyura) available in literature, and three additional Neotropical caviomorph rodents (Cuniculus paca, Dasyprocta punctata and Cavia tschudii). The glans length is almost twice the glans head width (Table 1) and comprises the third part of the total penis length. The penis presents a tenuous dark coloration on the head and small tegumentary protuberances formed by 3-4 small spines ( Figure 1A). As in other hystricomorph rodents, the glans exhibits an invagination at its tip (sacculus urethralis) which has corrugated walls and presents two conspicuous spikes at the bottom ( Figure 1C). Furthermore, the baculum is as large as the C. quichua glans, dorsally concave and ventrally convex ( Figure 1B). Although the glans and baculum of C. quichua and E. dorsatum are similar, the latter presents larger glans (Table 1), and the sacculus urethralis lacks of corrugated walls and spiny protuberances. When comparing C. quichua and H. brachyura, the only difference is that the bottom of the sacculus urethralis, near to the spikes is smooth, without spiny protuberances. In contrast, the glans of three other Neotropical caviomorphs are remarkable different from C. quichua, where they present more complex and densely distributed tegumentary protuberances above the glans. Overall, the baculum is the most varying structure for all species, with marked differences in length and width (Table 1) and the shape of the ends. Although the family Erethizontidae is more closed related to the Cavioidea than to Hystricidae, the glans of individuals of the family Erethizontidae are more similar to the glans of the Hystricidae. In addition, for these species, both glans and baculum present important characters that might be used for taxonomic identification. However, the differences of both structures within Coendou are unknown, therefore it is necessary the description of the genitalia of additional species.La morfología externa del glande y báculo son caracteres importantes para la delimitación de especies, en especial para roedores (Simson et al. 1995). Sin embargo, para Erethizontidae existen pocos trabajos descriptivos; de hecho, para los puercoespines neotropicales del género Coendou solo hay una breve contribu...
The Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias), despite having a wide distribution, is poorly studied and with few records in its area of distribution. Updating the distributions of species allows us to understand distributional patterns which are useful in ecology and conservation, especially for rare or threatened species. Given this situation for E. helias and the new records outside its historical range, here we present its updated distribution and a new record in the south of the Middle Magdalena Valley in Colombia. Using occurrences with preserved specimens and photographic records we build an Ecological Niche Model using the algorithm implemented in MaxEnt. The new record was found in the municipality of La Belleza, Santander in northern Colombia. Its range extends approximately 200 km south of its historical distribution. In Venezuela, it could reach the northern part near the foothills of the Cordilleras Central and Oriental. In Bolivia to the south over the Chiquitano Forest. In Central America, it extends to the lowlands near the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Volcánica Central, and in North America to southern Mexico. The model suggests that tropical lowlands are more suitable for the species than cold temperate zones, also, the Middle Magdalena Valley is a suitable area, however, the species prefers forested and preserved areas. Some distribution patterns could be explained by different biogeographical barriers, but phylogeographical analyzes are needed to test this hypothesis.
Rhynchonycteris is a monotypic genus of Embalonurid bats, whose geographic distribution extends from southern Mexico to tropical regions of the South American continent, including Trinidad and Tobago. Although species that have a wide geographic distribution are frequently revealed to be polytypic, to date, no study has evaluated the taxonomic status of populations of Rhynchonycteris naso. Thus, the aim of this study is to address the patterns of phylogeographic structure and taxonomic subdivision of R. naso using molecular phylogenetics, morphometric data and ecological niche modeling. Phylogenetic results recovered using the genes COI, Cytb, Chd1, Dby, and Usp9x, supported the monophyly of the genus Rhynchonycteris, in addition, a deep phylogeographic structure was revealed by the mitochondrial gene COI for the populations of Belize and Panama in comparison to those of South America. The PCA, and the linear morphometry indicated an apparent differentiation between the cis-Andean and trans-Andean populations. Furthermore, according to the skull morphology, at least two morphotypes were identified. Ecological niche modeling projections in the present have shown that the Andean cordillera acts as a climatic barrier between these two populations, with the depression of Yaracuy (Northwest Venezuela) being the only putative climatically suitable path that could communicate these two populations. On the other hand, projections for the last glacial maximum showed a drastic decrease in climatically suitable areas for the species, suggesting that cycles of lower temperatures played an important role in the separation of these populations.
The Northern Andean Block harbors high biodiversity, being one of the most important areas in the Neotropics, but the settlement of several human populations has triggered rapid transformations of the ecosystems, leading to the extinction or endangerment of many species. Phylogenetic diversity indices quantify the distinctness between species and, therefore, they are an adequate tool to evaluate conservation priority areas. Here we present a plausible phylogenetic scenario for conservation in the North Andean Block and the contribution of the protected areas to the phylogenetic diversity. Our results showed that the Average Taxonomic Distinctness index had the lowest correlation with richness and therefore it is the most suitable index. We found the highest index values in the areas of Magdalena, Páramo, and Cauca. Endemic species and protected areas did not contribute significantly to phylogenetic diversity. It is preferable to prioritize areas within adjacent and complementary cells, which belong to the upper quantile of the index value.
The Northern Andean Block harbors high biodiversity, being one of the most important areas in the Neotropics, but the settlement of several human populations has triggered rapid transformations of the ecosystems, leading to the extinction or endangerment of many species. Phylogenetic diversity indices quantify the distinctness between species and, therefore, they are an adequate tool to evaluate conservation priority areas. Here we present a plausible phylogenetic scenario for conservation in the North Andean Block and the contribution of the protected areas to the phylogenetic diversity. Our results showed that the Average Taxonomic Distinctness index had the lowest correlation with richness and therefore it is the most suitable index. We found the highest index values in the areas of Magdalena, Páramo, and Cauca. Endemic species and protected areas did not contribute significantly to phylogenetic diversity. It is preferable to prioritize areas within adjacent and complementary cells, which belong to the upper quantile of the index value.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.