Buteogallus Urubitinga Research Articles

Integrative taxonomy reveals two new species of Maritrema Nicoll, 1907 (Digenea: Microphallidae Ward, 1901), parasitizing birds in the Gulf of Mexico.

Members of the genus Maritrema Nicoll, 1907 include endoparasites of aquatic birds and mammals, distributed worldwide. Adult specimens were collected from the intestines of three bird species (the great black hawks, Buteogallus urubitinga Gmelin; laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla Linnaeus; and the willet, Tringa semipalmata Gmelin) in three localities along the Gulf of Mexico. Photogenophores were sequenced for the large subunit (LSU) from nuclear rDNA, and the new sequences were aligned with other microphalloid sequences available in GenBank. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses revealed three independent lineages, one corresponding to a previously described species, Maritrema corai Hernández-Orts, Pinacho-Pinacho, García-Varela & Kostadinova, 2016, and two representing two undescribed species. These two new species are described in the current study. Maritrema itzamnai n. sp. can be morphologically differentiated from its four congeneric species occurring in coastal areas of Mexico by having smaller oral (20-29 × 20-38 μm) and ventral (20-39 × 19-33 μm) suckers. In addition, Maritrema itzamnai n. sp. possess annular vitellarium instead of a horseshoe-shaped vitellarium. Maritrema kukulkanni n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeneric species reported from Mexico by possessing a larger oesophagus (44-117μm) and by having a vitellarium distributed in both the hindbody and forebody. Maritrema corai is the third species recorded in this study parasitizing the great black hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga); this represents a new host and locality record, expanding its distribution range from the Mexican Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

Linking metacercariae and adults of Microphallus basodactylophallus (Digenea: Microphallidae), based on larval stages from ctenophores and adult parasites from aquatic birds found in Mexico

Members of the genus Microphallus Ward, 1901, are endoparasites mainly of birds and mammals distributed worldwide. Unencysted metacercariae of Microphallus sp., were collected from the mesoglea of ctenophores of the genus Pleurobrachia Fleming; adult digeneans were recovered from the intestines of Eudocimus albus Linnaeus (Threskiornithidae) and Buteogallus urubitinga Gmelin (Accipitridae), in four locations from southeastern Mexico. Adult specimens were identified as M. basodactylophallus (Bridgman, 1969) based on the following features: body pyriform entirely covered by minute spines, prepharynx short, oesophagus very long, caeca short and widely divergent, testes slightly symmetrical and excretory vesicle short and V-shaped. Sequences from D1–D3 domain of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA (LSU) were generated, aligned, and compared with those of congeneric species available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the metacercariae and adults formed a clade together with an isolate identified as M. basodactylophallus from Florida, USA (GenBank: AY220628). The intraspecific genetic divergence among isolates was low ranged from 0.0% to 0.6%, allowing the link between the two stages of the life cycle. We observed phenotypic plasticity in the morphological traits of M. basodactylophallus adults in definitive hosts (mammals and birds) throughout the distribution, which ranged from the USA to southeastern Mexico. Finally, the unencysted metacercariae identified as M. basodactylophallus represent the first report of a microphallid in ctenophores.

RECORDS OF MOBBING BEHAVIOR IN VENEZUELAN WILD BIRDS

Mobbing is a survival strategy in which birds attack enemies to drive them from the vicinity. This paper reports mobbing behavior events among wild bird species of Venezuela. A total of 31 species from 15 families were recorded in 130 mobbing events. Individual mobbing was the widespread strategy, recorded in 24 species (77%) and 82 mobbing events (63%). Birds tended to mob individually when the enemy was flying but they inclined to do so in groups when the enemy was perched (χ2 =18.191, p<0.05). However, 16 species (52%) required additional assistance of conspecifics, and only three species (10%) were assisted by non-conspecific allies. Anti-predatory was the widespread function, recorded in 27 species (87%) and 106 mobbing events (82%). 22 species (71%) mobbed one bird of prey at least, and 79 mobbing events (61%) were against typical raptor-shaped birds. But mobbing also was performed for other purposes: six species (19%) mobbed for food resource protection in 17 mobbing events (13%) while other four species (13%) mobbed for site defense in five events (4%). Mobbing behavior was recorded at breeding time in 16 species (53%), and 75 mobbing events (58%) occurred at that period. Seven mobber species (23%) were also mobbed. Most mobbing events (98%) were initiated by the weaker species. Highly significant differences were found in body size (W: 4471.0; p>0.01) and body mass (W: 4452.5; p>0.01) between the mobber and mobbed species. In general, a mobber bird engaged in mobbing with other birds of same body size and body mass up to 5.6 times larger and 117.5 heavier. Only the Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris and the Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholichus were exposed to true danger when they mobbed the Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus. Recorded information improves the repository of available knowledge in Venezuela and the Neotropical region.

Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular and morphological data reveal a new species of Strigea Abildgaard, 1790 (Digenea: Strigeidae) and taxonomic changes in strigeids infecting Neotropical birds of prey.

Members of the genus Strigea Abildgaard, 1790 are endoparasites of birds distributed worldwide. Adults of an undescribed species of the genus Strigea were collected from the intestines of two hawk species (Rupornis magnirostris and Accipiter coperii). Other species identified as Parastrigea macrobursa that were described in Argentina were also recovered from two hawk species (Buteogallus urubitinga and Buteogallus anthracinus) in three localities along the coasts of Mexico. Specimens of the two species were sequenced for three molecular markers, the internal transcribed spacers locus (ITS1-5.8S rDNA- ITS2) and the domains D1-D3 from the large subunit from nuclear ribosomal DNA and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 from mitochondrial DNA. The newly sequenced specimens were aligned with other strigeids sequences downloaded from GenBank. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses inferred with each molecular marker revealed that our specimens of Strigea sp. formed an independent lineage, which is recognized herein as a new species, Strigea magnirostris n. sp., representing the first species in Mexico and the 16th in the Neotropical region. Morphologically, the new species is distinguished from other congeneric species from the Americas by having an oral sucker with several papillae around it, well-developed pseudosuckers (118-248 μm), a tegument covered with tiny spines, a larger cone genital (193-361 × 296-637) and a larger copulatory bursa (247-531 × 468-784). Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. macrobursa is not closely related to other members of the genus Parastrigea and is nested within Strigea, suggesting that P. macrobursa should be transferred to Strigea to form Strigea macrobursa n. comb., expanding its distribution range from Mexico to Argentina. Finally, the analyses also revealed that the taxonomy and systematics of Strigea should be re-evaluated, combining morphological and molecular characteristics.

The identity of Azara’s description No. 18 “Gavilán mixto pintado” is a juvenile Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Abstract The classic ornithological work by Félix de Azara “Apuntamientos para la historia natural de los páxaros del Paraguay y Rio de la Plata” was one of the first descriptive texts dealing with the avifauna of the Southern Cone of South America. Azarays No. 18 vGavilán mixto pintadow has long been misidentified as a juvenile great black hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga ((Gmelin, 1788)). However, there are clear inconsistencies in the description of the plumage coloration, shape and measurements which make that identification erroneous, and Azarays No. 18 can in fact be convincingly identified as the juvenile plumage of the Harrisys hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus (Temminck, 1824)). The description by Azara contains numerous diagnostic characteristics for that species, and the measurements provided by him are inconsistent with those of the great black hawk, yet remarkably similar to those provided by the same author for the description of the adult No. 19 vGavilán mixto obscuro y canelaw. No scientific names have apparently ever been based on Azara No. 18.

Record of an alleged Solitary Eagle in Oaxaca is a Great Black Hawk

In a recent article in this journal (García-Grajales et al., 2018), an adult Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga) was mistakenly identified as an adult of the Solitary Eagle (Buteogallus solitarius). The Solitary Eagle differs from the Greater Black Eagle in having the longest and widest wings, and the shortest tail. These characteristics give it a more triangular shape in flight. These differences are easy to see in Figures 1–3. The same authors also cite a case of the nesting of the Solitary Eagle in Mexico (Smith, 1982). However, after reviewing photos of the young, we consider that this record is probably the Common Black Hawk (B. anthracinus). The illustrations of the Solitary Eagle in field guides of Mexico and Central America (Howell & Webb, 1995; Van Perlo, 2006) demonstrate greater similarity with the Great Black Hawk, contributing to the frequent confusion of the two species if used without consulting the text. The new features published here and in Clark et al. (2006) and Clark and Schmitt (2017) should help with correct identification of Buteogallus species in the future.

First record of common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) consumption by Great Black Hawk (Urubitinga urubitinga)

Although raptors are known to be among the predators of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri spp.), there is little specific information concerning this interaction. In this short communication, we report the use of a common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) as a food resource by a Great Black Hawk (Urubitinga urubitinga). Beyond aggregating useful information on the natural history and ecology of both the squirrel monkey and the Great Black Hawk, we also highlight that squirrel monkeys are, on average, heavier than the mammals most commonly consumed by Great Black Hawks.

Yeasts and filamentous fungi in psittacidae and birds of prey droppings in midwest region of Brazil: a potential hazard to human health.

Birds of prey and from Psittacidae family are host to fungal microbiota and play an important role in the epidemiology of zoonoses. Few studies in the literature have characterized mycelial and yeast fungi in the droppings of these birds and correlated the isolates with the zoonotic potential of the microorganisms. Droppings from 149 birds were evaluated and divided into two groups: captive: Rhea americana araneipes, Primolius maracana, Ara ararauna, Ara chloropterus, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Amazona aestiva, Ara macao macao, Ramphastos toco, Sarcoramphus papa, Busarellus nigricollis, Bubo virginianus nacurutu, Buteogallus coronatus, Buteogallus urubitinga urubitinga, Spizaetus melanoleucus, Spizaetus ornatus ornatus, Buteo albonotatus, Geranoaetus albicaudatus albicaudatus, Rupornis magnirostris magnirostris and Harpia harpyja, and quarantined birds: Amazona aestiva and Eupsitulla aurea. The fungal isolates were identified according to macroscopic (gross colony appearance), micromorphological and biochemical characteristics. Among birds displayed in enclosures, Aspergillus niger (41.1%) and Candida kefyr (63.8%) were the fungi most frequently isolated in Harpia harpyja and Ramphastos toco, respectively. For quarantined birds, the following percentages were observed in Eupsittula aurea , (76.6%) C. krusei, (84.4%) C. kefyr and (15.2%) C. famata, while in Amazona aestiva, (76.2%) C. krusei was observed. These findings indicate potentially pathogenic species in the bird droppings assessed, which constitute a risk of exposure for keepers and individuals who visit the zoo. Birds of the Cerrado and Pantanal of Mato Grosso (Central Western region of Brazil) could act in the epidemiological chain of important zoonoses.

A new species of Microtetrameres (Nematoda, Tetrameridae) parasitizing Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from northeastern Argentina.

A new tetramerid nematode, Microtetrameres urubitinga n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the proventriculus of the great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves: Accipitridae), from Formosa Province, Argentina. The males of the new species are characterized by having spicules unequal (length ratio of spicules 1:3.8-5.9) and dissimilar in shape (right spicule with a simple tip, left spicule with a symmetrical bifurcated tip), caudal papillae arranged asymmetrically (two pairs precloacal and two pairs postcloacal) and cloacal lips highly protruded forming a tube. The gravid females are permanently coiled clockwise or counterclockwise in a spiral and having a tail tapering gradually to a sharp point, with a cuticular fold. This is the first nominal species of Microtetrameres (Travassos, 1915) described parasitizing birds from Argentina. The relationship between the diet of B. urubitinga and the low prevalence of M. urubitinga n. sp. is discussed.

Habitat Associations Within a Raptor Community in a Protected Area in Northwest Peru

Knowledge of the habitat characteristics that influence the distribution of raptors in the neotropics is vital for their conservation. I used logistic regressions (General Linear Models; GLM) to model habitat distribution for eleven raptor species occurring in the Cerros de Amotape National Park, the Tumbes National Reserve, and surrounding areas in northwestern Peru. Between May and December 2008 and 2009, raptors were surveyed along transects, and associated habitat data collected in 70 randomly allocated 1-km2 plots. Ten habitat variables were selected for modelling. Spatial autocorrelation in the distribution of species was measured through Moran's I and later habitat models were ranked using Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sample sizes (AICc). The most important variables that influenced the presence of species included the percentage of vegetation cover at different strata and elevation. The presence of the tree species, ceibo (Ceiba trichistrandra) and guasima (Guazuma ulmifolia), were also important. The percentage of vegetation cover from 5–15 m appeared in all models for Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens), Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga), and Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus). These findings suggest that vertical structure of forested areas is of particular importance for raptors at the study site, including those of conservation concern. I recommend that forested areas north of the Cerros de Amotape National Park and close to Ecuador should be protected.

Digenean fauna in raptors from northeastern Argentina, with the description of a new species of Strigea (Digenea: Strigeidae).

The digenean fauna of six species of falconiform birds from northeastern Argentina is reported and a new species and several new hosts and geographical records are presented. Strigea proteolytica n. sp. (Strigeidae) is described from Buteogallus urubitinga and distinguished from their congeners by the combination of the following characters: plump body, conspicuous proteolytic gland, forebody with scarce vitelline glands, copulatory bursa with a well developed muscular ring (Ringnapf), and absence of true neck region in hindbody. Six previously known species are breifly described: Strigea falconis brasiliana Szidat, 1929 (Strigeidae) from Milvago chimachima and Caracara plancus; Neodiplostomum travassosi Dubois, 1937 from Buteogallus meridionalis; Tylodelphys brevis Drago & Lunaschi, 2008 and Posthodiplostomum macrocotyle Dubois, 1937 (Diplostomidae) from Busarellus nigricollis; Spaniometra variolaris (Fuhrmann, 1904) (Cyclocoelidae) and Megalophallus deblocki Kostadinova, Vaucher & Gibson, 2006 (Microphallidae) from Rostrhamus sociabilis. Literature records and information on distribution and host-parasite relationships is presented.

A new species of Parastrigea (Digenea, Strigeidae) endoparasite of Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from Argentina

Abstract A new strigeid digenean, Parastrigea macrobursa n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the small intestine of the great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves: Accipitridae), from Formosa Province, Argentina. The new species is characterized by having a tulip-shaped forebody, a hindbody without neck region, a large, well delimited copulatory bursa, and a very deep genital atrium. Three species of Parastrigea share the shape of the copulatory bursa namely P. faini, P. astridae and P. tulipoides. Parastrigea faini and P. astridae differ mainly from the new species by having the forebody strongly divided in two regions and very developed lateral expansions, and Parastrigea tulipoides by having a long neck region and a longer body size. This new species represents the first record of a member of the genus Parastrigea Szidat, 1928 parasitizing birds from Argentina. A key is presented for the species currently recognized as valid in the genus.

Tropical and western influences in vertebrate faunas from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Florida

Extralimital and extinct species of birds and mammals with either tropical or western affinities are characteristic of numerous Florida Pliocene and Pleistocene vertebrate faunas. These sites document nonanalog or disharmonious faunas, recording the association of certain genera or species that are no longer sympatric, in particular taxa now restricted to drier habitats in western North America or tropical habitats in Middle America occurring together with species still found in Florida and the southeastern United States. Extralimital or extinct taxa of western origin in Florida Plio-Pleistocene nonanalog faunas include: the mammals Antrozous, Lepus, Spermophilus, Thomomys, and Baiomys; and the birds Gymnogyps californianus, Teratornis merriami, Aquila chrysaetos, Tympanuchus cupido, two species of Glaucidium, and Pica pica. A large influx of tropical species occurred in Florida late Blancan and early Irvingtonian sites, primarily consisting of taxa of South American origin involved in the Great American Biotic Interchange. Besides large Interchange mammals, other mammals with tropical affinities now extinct or extralimital to Florida include: the bats Desmodus archaeodaptes, Desmodus stocki, Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus pristinus, and Eumops underwoodi, the carnivores Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Panthera onca, two species of Conepatus, and Tremarctos floridanus, and the peccary Pecari. Tropical birds in Florida Plio-Pleistocene faunas include the extralimital Tachybaptus dominicus, Laterallus exilis, Jacana spinosa, Buteogallus urubitinga, Milvago chimachima, Vanellus chilensis, and Ceryle torquata; as well as several extinct species including Titanis walleri, a chachalaca (Family Cracidae), Amplibuteo concordatus, Spizaetus grinnelli, and Cremaster tytthus. These tropical and western taxa indicate the presence of biogeographic corridors during Plio-Pleistocene glacial intervals that connected the Florida peninsula to both the arid western United States and tropical Middle America. A mosaic of desert grassland and savanna habitats intermixed with wetlands apparently extended eastward from the arid Southwest through Texas and along a southeastern corridor to the Florida peninsula. A Gulf Coast savanna corridor supporting savanna and thorn scrub habitats probably existed during glacial low sea level stands on the exposed continental shelf and coastal plain along the northern margin of the Gulf of Mexico, connecting the Florida peninsula with Mexico and Central America. The occurrence of both tropical and western taxa in some of the same faunas strongly indicates that these distributional patterns were contemporaneous and corresponded to climatic conditions and vegetational associations that no longer exist in Florida.

THE CUBAN FOSSIL EAGLE AQUILA BORRASI ARREDONDO: A SCALED-UP VERSION OF THE GREAT BLACK-HAWK BUTEOGALLUS URUBITINGA (GMELIN)

ABSTRACT The fossil eagle Aquila borrasi Arredondo from the Quaternary of Cuba is redescribed and transferred to the genus Buteogallus Lesson, in which it represents a gigantic version (ca. 33% larger) of the morphology present in the living Great Black-Hawk B. urubitinga (Gmelin). Buteogallus borrasi differs from the other large fossil accipitrids recorded in the West Indies, Amplibuteo woodwardi, Gigantohierax suarezi, and Titanohierax gloveralleni, in being smaller, less robust, and with proportionately slender hindlimb elements, especially the tarsometatarsus. Although now known with certainty only from Cuba, B. borrasi may have had a wider distribution in the West Indies and perhaps even mainland North America.

Polyphyly of the hawk genera Leucopternis and Buteogallus (Aves, Accipitridae): multiple habitat shifts during the Neotropical buteonine diversification

BackgroundThe family Accipitridae (hawks, eagles and Old World vultures) represents a large radiation of predatory birds with an almost global distribution, although most species of this family occur in the Neotropics. Despite great morphological and ecological diversity, the evolutionary relationships in the family have been poorly explored at all taxonomic levels. Using sequences from four mitochondrial genes (12S, ATP8, ATP6, and ND6), we reconstructed the phylogeny of the Neotropical forest hawk genus Leucopternis and most of the allied genera of Neotropical buteonines. Our goals were to infer the evolutionary relationships among species of Leucopternis, estimate their relationships to other buteonine genera, evaluate the phylogenetic significance of the white and black plumage patterns common to most Leucopternis species, and assess general patterns of diversification of the group with respect to species' affiliations with Neotropical regions and habitats.ResultsOur molecular phylogeny for the genus Leucopternis and its allies disagrees sharply with traditional taxonomic arrangements for the group, and we present new hypotheses of relationships for a number of species. The mtDNA phylogenetic trees derived from analysis of the combined data posit a polyphyletic relationship among species of Leucopternis, Buteogallus and Buteo. Three highly supported clades containing Leucopternis species were recovered in our phylogenetic reconstructions. The first clade consisted of the sister pairs L. lacernulatus and Buteogallus meridionalis, and Buteogallus urubitinga and Harpyhaliaetus coronatus, in addition to L. schistaceus and L. plumbeus. The second clade included the sister pair Leucopternis albicollis and L. occidentalis as well as L. polionotus. The third lineage comprised the sister pair L. melanops and L. kuhli, in addition to L. semiplumbeus and Buteo buteo. According to our results, the white and black plumage patterns have evolved at least twice in the group. Furthermore, species found to the east and west of the Andes (cis-Andean and trans-Andean, respectively) are not reciprocally monophyletic, nor are forest and non-forest species.ConclusionThe polyphyly of Leucopternis, Buteogallus and Buteo establishes a lack of concordance of current Accipitridae taxonomy with the mtDNA phylogeny for the group, and points to the need for further phylogenetic analysis at all taxonomic levels in the family as also suggested by other recent analyses. Habitat shifts, as well as cis- and trans-Andean disjunctions, took place more than once during buteonine diversification in the Neotropical region. Overemphasis of the black and white plumage patterns has led to questionable conclusions regarding the relationships of Leucopternis species, and suggests more generally that plumage characters should be used with considerable caution in the taxonomic evaluation of the Accipitridae.

The need for continued scientific collecting; a geographic analysis of Mexican bird specimens

The geographic and spatial distribution of more than 221,000 bird specimens collected in Mexico was analyzed on a grid of 1d̀ blocks to assess adequacy of representation of the country's avifauna in world systematic collections. Frequency distributions of specimens per block, specimens per species expected in blocks and total specimens per species were all severely right‐skewed, with a few blocks well sampled but most represented by very few specimens. Overall, seven scattered blocks out of about 240 were considered well sampled. The best sampled species in the country (House FinchCarpodacus mexicanus) and the best sampled Mexican endemic species (Russet Nightingale‐thrushCatharus occidentalis) were characterized by uneven and inadequate spatiotemporal sampling, especially in autumn, when plumages are generally fresh and most useful for studies of geographic variation; sampling for a species close to the median of the distribution (Great Black‐hawkButeogallus urubitinga) was scattered and inappropriate for statistical analysis. Results suggest strongly that sampling of Mexican birds is incomplete, that continued scientific collecting is needed to complete knowledge of the country's avifauna and that similar collecting efforts will be necessary throughout much of the tropics

Comparison of Fossil and Recent Species: Some Difficulties

are lengthened and overhang the white ones below like a cape. (3) The feathers of the nape are somewhat lengthened and pointed. The color pattern is unusual. The black chest is sharply marked off from the rest of the underparts which are white and narrowly barred, in one of the two subspecies, with gray. Dorsally there is a sharply defined central area of black on head, scapulars, midback and tail which is set off from the gray shoulders. This color pattern is not particularly buteo-like; rather there is some resemblance to such a species as the Barred Hawk (Leucopternis princeps). The immature plumage of the Eagle-buzzard is also rather variegated for a Buteo and recalls rather that of such a species as the Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga ).