Bone histology is an important tool for the interpretation of life patterns in animals of the past and extant fauna. The crocodylians have been studied as important inferential models for morphophysiological characteristics. We aimed to characterize the osteohistology of captive Caiman latirostris, identifying its microanatomy related to growth rates, ontogeny, and environmental conditions. We analyzed five pairs of humeri (proximal elements of the appendicular skeleton) and ribs (axial skeleton) of females’ caiman. Ribs showed, in general, woven-fibered tissues, with low vascularization and parallel-fibered bone and many resorption and erosion cavities. It presented lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in three individuals, without skeletochronological compatibility. Humeri showed a gradient of woven-fibered to parallel-fibered and lamellar-zonal bone as the individuals aging. We observed compacted coarse cancellous bone (CCCB) and a higher number of LAGs in older specimens. Ribs remodel faster than humerus, showing an intra-individual histovariability. The humeri indicated an evident growth pattern with different ontogeny stages and growth rates in different ages. Fast-growing tissues are uncommon in crocodylians, but basal metabolism and optimal growth conditions can lead to this. Bone histology of C. latirostris shows patterns that can be used as inferential models for extant and extinct groups, but we encourage further studies for a better understanding, under different environmental conditions, such as temperature and food availability.
Crocodilian-human conflicts, caused especially by urban expansion and habitat destruction, have been considered one of the main threats to the conservation of these species worldwide. In Brazil, such conflicts have been documented with crocodilian species all over the country. This study identified 400 conflict events in on-line journalistic news between humans and caimans within Brazilian cities between 2016 and 2021. Caiman latirostris (57.3%) was the most common species found in large urban centers in the Northeastern and Southeastern regions. Most encounters in which the date was informed were registered in the wet season (64.5%), and the rescues were mainly carried out by the environmental military police and fire brigades. We outlined management protocols to be undertaken by environmental agencies during crocodilian rescues to minimize animal stress and risk of accidents. The increasingly common interaction between humans and caimans in urban environments is an important alert to envisage best conducts for the coexistence between people and caimans in Brazil and shows the need to invest in public policies to mitigate the negative effects of urbanization on wildlife.
O tráfico de animais, a introdução de espécies exóticas e a destruição de hábitats são fatores que levam à distrurbios na biodiversidade, principalmente em grupos sinantrópicos, como vários répteis e anfíbios. Diante disto, este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um diagnóstico da herpetofauna resgatada, apreendida, recebida e destinada pelos órgãos de fauna responsáveis em Pernambuco entre os anos de 2010 e 2014. Foram analisados 1369 boletins de ocorrência (B.O.), com um total de 1793 indivíduos, divididos em 24 taxóns (21,3% testudines, 16,2% crocodilianos, 11,6% lagartos, 50,6% serpentes e 0,1% anfisbenas). As principais espécies registradas foram a Boa constrictor (n=429), Caiman latirostris (n=295), Chelonoidis sp. (n=184), Iguana iguana (n=154) e Amphisbaena sp. (n=2). Entre as espécies consideradas com maior grau de ameaça, foram recebidos Eretmochelys imbricata e Podocdemis unifilis (espécie exótica para fauna da região). A maioria dos registros veio do município de Recife (24,1%). Foi observado um maior número de resgates na época chuvosa, principalmente para os crocodilianos e as serpentes. Testudines foi o grupo com maior número de apreensões e entregas voluntárias (n= 33 e 90, respectivamente), possivelmente por ser o mais associado a pets. De maneira geral, o tráfico de animais é um problema para os órgãos ambientais no estado de Pernambuco e as políticas publicas precisam ser mais eficientes. Há também necessidade de melhor aparato estrutural e de pessoal para tornar mais eficiente a identificação e o manejo (captura e sotura) dos animais resgatados, bem como o incentivo a ações educativas com a população.
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.