Museu De Zoologia Da Universidade De São Paulo Research Articles

Illustrated catalogue of type specimens of Megalopodidae (Coleoptera) deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo

The Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) houses an important Megalopodidae collection representing 144 species, especially from Brazil and the Neotropical fauna. The type specimens of some species have never been accessed since their original descriptions, and are thus unknown to a major part of the Megalopodidae researchers. Presented here is an illustrated catalogue of the megalopodid type specimens of 32 species deposited at MZUSP, featuring photos of habitus and labels, and complete label data of all the specimens, which originally belonged to Jacintho Guérin’s personal collection. Conflicting and inconsistent data provided in the literature and in the specimens’ labels are addressed. Taxa originally proposed as species varieties are here reaffirmed as valid, with subspecific rank. Agathomerus varians Monrós, 1945 and Plesioagathomerus vittatus Monrós, 1945, originally described as junior synonyms, are considered unavailable names. The subspecific epithet ngriapex is emended into Agathomerus bifasciatus nigrapex Guérin, 1949. An overview of the MZUSP Megalopodidae collection is presented with a history of the arrival of Guérin’s specimens.

Catalog of medium and large-sized mammals from the state of Pará, Brazil, housed in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP)

The Mammal Collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) is one of the largest collections of Neotropical mammals in Latin America, housing about 50,000 specimens. One of the most representative series in this collection comes from the Brazilian Amazon Biome. Among the Brazilian Amazon states, Pará was target of several scientific expeditions led by MZUSP researchers, becoming one of the most representative in terms of number of specimens and species richness in the collection. Here we present a list of the medium and large-sized mammal specimens from Pará state housed in the MZUSP, with comments about taxonomy, the conservation status of the species and other associated information. We found 1,910 specimens representing 79 species and nine orders of medium and large-sized mammals from Pará. Among these, 24 species are currently classified as threatened in Brazil. Furthermore, we found some areas with higher concentration of collection localities, such as at the banks of the lower Rio Tapajós and in the northeastern region of the state. The present catalog plays an important role in presenting the currently known biodiversity of medium and large-sized mammals of Pará, also acting as a primary source for systematics, ecological, conservation and biogeographic studies

A revision of the Brazilian species of Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Decapoda: Caridea: Lysmatidae), with discussion of the morphological characters used in their identification.

The present study is a taxonomic revision of the species of the shrimp genus Lysmata Risso, 1816 from Brazil, based on literature records and specimens deposited mostly in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP). A total of eleven species are included, these being L. ankeri Rhyne Lin, 2006, L. bahia Rhyne Lin, 2006, L. grabhami (Gordon, 1935), L. intermedia (Kingsley, 1878), L. cf. jundalini Rhyne, Calado Santos, 2012, L. lipkei Okuno Fiedler, 2010, L. moorei (Rathbun, 1901), L. rathbunae Chace, 1970, L. uncicornis Holthuis Maurin, 1952, L. vittata (Stimpson, 1860) and L. wurdemanni (Gibbes, 1850). The material from São Paulo recently reported as L. jundalini by Terossi et al. (2018) is re-identified as L. intermedia, based on a re-analysis of their voucher specimens. On the other hand, a single non-ovigerous specimen from Espírito Santo without a photographic voucher, is tentatively identified as L. cf. jundalini. The importance of some morphological characters often used in the taxonomy of Lysmata is discussed in the light of the present material. Several species are illustrated, some with new locality or state records along the Brazilian coast. Doubtful literature records are commented and an updated taxonomic key for the Brazilian species of Lysmata is provided.

Validation of Xiphopenaeus dincao Carvalho-Batista, Terossi, Zara, Mantelatto & Costa and Xiphopenaeus baueri Carvalho-Batista, Terossi, Zara, Mantelatto & Costa (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from western Atlantic

Two species of Penaeidae shrimp from western Atlantic were described by Carvalho-Batista et al. (2019) as Xiphopenaeus dincao and Xiphopenaeus baueri. The descriptions and figures presented by Carvalho-Batista et al. (2019) and the posterior author's correction (Carvalho-Batista et al., 2020) characterize the species. However, the journal issue in which the description was published is online only, and the article with the new names did not include a Zoobank registration number (LSID), required for validation of new names in electronic-only publications (ICZN 2012). Thus, the names Xiphopenaeus dincao and Xiphopenaeus baueri, as published in Scientific Reports 9: 15281, is not available according the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999, 2012). Therefore, the present note serves to validate the names Xiphopenaeus dincao and Xiphopenaeus baueri by fulfilling ICZN conditions for nomenclatural availability. Type specimens of both species are deposited in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Systematics, bionomy, and metamorphosis of Coleoptera (Insecta): Papers celebrating the 80th birthday of Cleide Costa - Foreword from the editors

We present a brief biography of Dr. Cleide Costa, eminent entomologist from Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP). She has been dedicating the last six decades to the study of adults and immatures of Coleoptera. Dr. Costa is the pioneer in collecting and rearing immature beetles in Brazil, being responsible for establishing the most extensive Latin American collection of reared immatures Coleoptera. We discuss central aspects of her personal history, as well as career landmarks and achievements. A compilation of taxa introduced to science by her, taxa named in her honor, and a full list of her scientific, educational and cultural production are provided in chronological order. More than a biographical account, this publication is an acknowledgment of Dr. Cleide Costa’s legacy to entomology.

Contributions to the knowledge of Canuleius Stål (Phasmatodea: Heteronemiidae): taxonomy, morphology and notes on the biology of two species.

We present new information on the poorly known genus of stick insects, Canuleius Stål, 1875, with redescriptions of two Brazilian species, Canuleius grandis Toledo Piza, 1936 and Canuleius sanguinolentus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov., the latter herein transferred from Bacteria Berthold, 1827. Type material of both species was examined, as well as additional specimens recently collected and deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP). The types of two other species in the genus, Canuleius affinis Toledo Piza, 1936 and Canuleius brevipes Toledo Piza, 1936, were also examined and both species are herein synonymised under C. grandis (syn. nov.). The study includes the first descriptions of the male of C. grandis, the female of C. sanguinolentus and the eggs of both species, which are the first descriptions of eggs of Canuleius. Some notes are presented on the biology of both species, including the first observations of mating and oviposition in Heteronemiidae. Taxonomic aspects of Canuleius are discussed.

Catalogue of Ditomyiidae and Diadocidiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) types housed in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

The Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), São Paulo, Brazil houses the largest and most representative Brazilian collection of Diptera. In the present study, following a recommendation of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, it is presented a catalogue of the type specimens of Diadocidiidae and Ditomyiidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) held in the collection of the MZUSP. Label data and the condition of preservation of 27 type specimens (nine holotypes, two paralectotypes, and 16 paratypes) of 14 Neotropical species are provided.

Description of the male and larva of Schizomyia tuiuiu Urso-Guimarães & Amorim (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), new records and a key to Neotropical species of Schizomyia Kieffer

ABSTRACT Male and larva of Schizomyia tuiuiu Urso-Guimarães & Amorim, 2002 are described, new occurrences of S. tuiuiu and S. maricaensis Sousa & Maia, 2007 are registered and a key to Neotropical species of Schizomyia Kieffer, 1889 are presented. The examined specimens are deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP).

Two new species of crickets Adelosgryllus Mesa Zefa, 2004 (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae) from the Araripe-Apodi National Forest, State of Ceará, Brazil.

In this paper we describe two new sympatric species of phalangopsid crickets Adelosgryllus from the Araripe-Apodi National Forest, State of Ceará, Brazil, highlighting morphological characters, mainly from male genitalia, tegmina and copulatory papilla. We also present a geographical map for the valid species of the genus, as well as photographs of holotypes and paratypes. The type-material is deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP).

A new species of Miogryllus Saussure, 1877 and new record of Miogryllus piracicabensis Piza, 1960 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) from State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with calling song and chromosome complement

In this paper we describe a new species of Miogryllus cricket collected from the grasses at urban area of the municipality of Itaqui, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, highlighting phallic sclerites morphology, calling song parameters and chromosome complement. We also provide a new record for Miogryllus piracicabensis Piza, 1960 to the southern Brazil, improving calling song and karyotype information for this species. The type-material and vouchers are deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP).

New species of Miogryllus Saussure, 1877 and new record of Miogryllus piracicabensis Piza, 1960 (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) from State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with calling song and chromosome complement

In this paper we describe a new species of Miogryllus cricket collected from the grasses at urban area of the municipality of Itaqui, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, highlighting phallic sclerites morphology, calling song parameters and chromosome complement. We also provide a new record for Miogryllus piracicabensis Piza, 1960 to the southern Brazil, improving calling song and karyotype information for this species. The type-material and vouchers are deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP).

Revision of the Neotropical robber fly genus Cnodalomyia Hull (Diptera, Asilidae, Asilinae) with description of two new species from Brazil

The genus Cnodalomyia includes only two Brazilian species: C. obtusa Hull, 1962 and C. catarinensis Lamas and Mellinger, 2008. Studying material deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), the authors found a long series of unidentified specimens of the genus, some of which are specimens of C. obtusa labelled with the same data as the type series as well as other specimens from different localities, representing an enlargement of the known geographic records of the species. This material, together with the types of C. catarinensis, enables this revision. A redescription of the genus and of its type species, C. obtusa, including descriptions and illustrations of its spermathecae and egg, until now never described, the description and illustration of two new species (C. artigasi sp. nov. and C. papaveroi sp. nov.), the diagnosis and egg description of C. catarinensis and an identification key to all included species are presented herein.

Check list of snakes from the Brejos de Altitude of Paraíba and Pernambuco, Brazil

The Atlantic Forest is one of the priority areas for conservation in the world, since exhibits an overwhelming biodiversity of species. Among this biome stands the biogeographic unit located north of San Francisco River, which extends from the state of Alagoas to Rio Grande do Norte. On this portion of Atlantic Forest some isolated fragments of humid forests can be found, inserted in the arid Caatinga, known as Brejos de Altitude or Brejos Nordestinos. There is a total of 43 Brejos distributed in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco and with the exception of some humid enclaves in the state of Ceará, the snake fauna of these areas are poorly known. Thus, our aim is to evaluate the current status of the snakes that inhabited these areas present on Paraíba and Pernambuco states, furnishing a preliminary list of the species housed on two representative collections concerning this region, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) and Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB). As a result, we recorded 27 species of snakes showing that this composition includes species primarily distributed in forest and open areas and also species widely distributed in different kind of biomes. We also stated that due to the present deforestation and the use of these areas for agricultural purposes the knowledge of its biodiversity is imperative, especially to generate information that will enable future management and conservation plans for these areas.

A catalogue of the types of Asiloidea (Diptera) in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (Part 1: Bombyliidae and Mydidae)

A catalogue of the type-specimens of Bombyliidae and Mydidae (Diptera) held in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) is provided, with information on 109 type specimens of 34 Neotropical (mostly Brazilian) species of the families Bombyliidae and Mydidae.

Catalogue of the dry specimens in the carcinological collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

The carcinological Collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) contains more than 400,000 specimens. Among these are 67 lots of dry specimens. This material possesses great historical value, having been collected, identified and studied by eminent researchers. The dry specimens have now been restored by cleaning, dehydration, assembly and sealing. We provide a list of the dry lots, with information on the collection locality, collector and record number. The collection comprises 53 species in 5 infraorders: Brachyura (44 species), Anomura (3), Caridea (1), Palinura (1) and Astacidea (4).