Bites by coral snakes (Micrurus spp.) in Campinas, State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

Coral snakes (Micrurus spp.) are the main representatives of the Elapidae in South America. However, bites by these snakes are uncommon. We retrospectively reviewed the data from 11 individuals bitten by coral snakes over a 20-year period; four were confirmed (snake brought for identification) and seven were highly suspected (neuromuscular manifestations) cases of elapid envenoming. The cases were classified as dry-bite (n = 1, caused by M. lemniscatus; did not receive antivenom), mild (n = 2, local manifestations with no acute myasthenic syndrome; M. frontalis and Micrurus spp.), moderate (n = 5, mild myasthenia) or severe (n = 3, important myasthenia; one of them caused by M. frontalis). The main clinical features upon admission were paresthesia (local, n = 9; generalized, n = 2), local pain (n = 8), palpebral ptosis (n = 8), weakness (n = 4) and inability to stand up (n = 3). No patient developed respiratory failure. Antivenom was used in ten cases, with mild early reactions occurring in three. An anticholinesterase drug was administered in the three severe cases, with a good response in two. No deaths were observed. Despite the high toxicity of coral snake venoms, the prognosis following envenoming is good. In serious bites by M. frontalis or M. lemniscatus, the venom of which acts postsynaptically, anticholinesterases may be useful as an ancillary measure if antivenom is unavailable, if there is a delay in obtaining a sufficient amount, or in those patients given the highest recommended doses of antivenom without improvement of the paralysis or with delayed recovery.

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Tree species composition in areas of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil is consistent with a new system for classifying the vegetation of South America

Acta Botanica Brasilica ◽

10.1590/s0102-33062014000200009 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 227-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Pedro Vasconcellos Eisenlohr ◽

Ary Teixeira de Oliveira-Filho

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Species Composition ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Tree Species ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

New System

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Two new species of Ctenitis (Dryopteridaceae) from South America and taxonomic notes on similar species

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.239.1.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 239 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Raquel Stauffer Viveros ◽

Alexandre Salino

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

South America ◽

Identification Key ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Similar Species ◽

New Synonyms ◽

Two New Species

Two new species of Ctenitis (Dryopteridaceae) from South America are described and illustrated: Ctenitis christensenii is endemic to southeastern Brazil and C. glandulosa occurs from southeastern to northeastern Brazil and in Guyana. An identification key and notes about the distribution, habitat and taxonomy of the new species, C. falciculata and allies are provided. Moreover, seven lectotypifications and two new synonyms are proposed.

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Biological and enzymatic activities of Micrurus sp. (Coral) snake venoms

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology ◽

10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.11.012 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 140 (1) ◽

pp. 125-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Alessandra L. Cecchini ◽

Silvana Marcussi ◽

Lucas B. Silveira ◽

Caroline R. Borja-Oliveira ◽

Léa Rodrigues-Simioni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enzymatic Activities ◽

Coral Snake ◽

Snake Venoms

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A new species of the genus Gaucha Mello-Leitão, 1924 from Minas Gerais, Brazil (Solifugae, Mummuciidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.5061.3.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5061 (3) ◽

pp. 559-572

Author(s):

MAYSA F.V.R. SOUZA ◽

RODRIGO L. FERREIRA ◽

LEONARDO S. CARVALHO

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

South America ◽

Species Group ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Spider Species ◽

A New Species

A new sun-spider species of the ibirapemussu species-group of the genus Gaucha is described based on males and a female collected in Southeastern Brazil. The newly described species can be readily distinguished from its congeners by the reduction of the cheliceral fixed finger, distal tooth (FD), closely positioned and smaller than the medial tooth (FM); the presence of cheliceral fixed finger profondal subproximal (PFSP) and retrofondal submedial (RFSM) teeth; and by the cheliceral movable finger, medial tooth (MM) well developed, larger than submedial tooth (MSM) and smaller than proximal tooth (MP). This is the thirteenth described species in the genus Gaucha, all known from South America.

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Low courtship song variation in South and Southeastern Brazilian populations of Drosophila meridionalis (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Revista Brasileira de Biologia ◽

10.1590/s0034-71082000000100008 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 53-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. T. A. COSTA ◽

G. C. S. KUHN ◽

F. M. SENE

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Courtship Song ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Metaphase Chromosomes ◽

Song Variation ◽

Chromosomal Variability ◽

Karyotypic Variation ◽

Brazilian Populations

Drosophila meridionalis is a cactus-breeding species with a wide distribution in South America. Most populations of this species are geographically isolated, what provides a promising scenario for studying evolution. Former studies of this species revealed a remarkable karyotypic variation among its populations. Up to six distinct metaphase chromosomes were described, showing that this species is polymorphic at least at the chromosomal level. In order to elucidate the taxonomic status of populations showing different metaphase chromosomes, we analyzed the courtship song of five populations of D. meridionalis in South and Southeastern Brazil. In addition, we analyzed the metaphase chromossomes of each population. Our results show that, despite the two karyotype observed, most courtship song parameters did not vary among the populations. Altogether, our results suggest that D. meridionalis from South and Southeastern Brazil represents one species with an inter-population chromosomal variability.

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The Brazilian Global Atmospheric Model (BAM): Performance for Tropical Rainfall Forecasting and Sensitivity to Convective Scheme and Horizontal Resolution

Weather and Forecasting ◽

10.1175/waf-d-16-0062.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 1547-1572 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Silvio N. Figueroa ◽

José P. Bonatti ◽

Paulo Y. Kubota ◽

Georg A. Grell ◽

Hugh Morrison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Weather Prediction ◽

Atmospheric Model ◽

Horizontal Resolution ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Rainfall Forecasting ◽

Dynamical Core ◽

Tropical Rainfall ◽

Global Atmospheric Model ◽

Convective Scheme

Abstract This article describes the main features of the Brazilian Global Atmospheric Model (BAM), analyses of its performance for tropical rainfall forecasting, and its sensitivity to convective scheme and horizontal resolution. BAM is the new global atmospheric model of the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Research [Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC)], which includes a new dynamical core and state-of-the-art parameterization schemes. BAM’s dynamical core incorporates a monotonic two-time-level semi-Lagrangian scheme, which is carried out completely on the model grid for the tridimensional transport of moisture, microphysical prognostic variables, and tracers. The performance of the quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) from two convective schemes, the Grell–Dévényi (GD) scheme and its modified version (GDM), and two different horizontal resolutions are evaluated against the daily TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis over different tropical regions. Three main results are 1) the QPF skill was improved substantially with GDM in comparison to GD; 2) the increase in the horizontal resolution without any ad hoc tuning improves the variance of precipitation over continents with complex orography, such as Africa and South America, whereas over oceans there are no significant differences; and 3) the systematic errors (dry or wet biases) remain virtually unchanged for 5-day forecasts. Despite improvements in the tropical precipitation forecasts, especially over southeastern Brazil, dry biases over the Amazon and La Plata remain in BAM. Improving the precipitation forecasts over these regions remains a challenge for the future development of the model to be used not only for numerical weather prediction over South America but also for global climate simulations.

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Reproductive biology of the false coral snake Oxyrhopus guibei (Colubridae) from southeastern Brazil

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685380260462392 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 495-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Otavio Marques ◽

Lígia Pizzatto

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Reproductive Biology ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Reproductive Activity ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Coral Snake ◽

Males And Females ◽

Reproductive Cycles ◽

Number Of Individuals

AbstractThe reproductive biology of the false coral snake, Oxyrhopus guibei, was studied through dissection of 496 specimens, combined with observations on captive individuals. Males mature with smaller body size than females, females attain much larger body size, and male-male combat is not expected. Clutch size ranged from 3 to 20, and was correlated with female length. Reproductive cycles in both males and females seem to be continuous, with vitellogenesis and spermatogenesis occurring throughout the year. Reproductive activity in both sexes decreased at the end of the rainy season possibly due to previous intense reproductive activity in more favorable climatic conditions. The smaller number of individuals collected at the end of the rainy season apparently occurs due to the decrease of reproductive activity of this snake.

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A new species of Deltamys Thomas, 1917 (Rodentia: Cricetidae) endemic to the southern Brazilian Araucaria Forest and notes on the expanded phylogeographic scenario of D. kempi

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4294.1.3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4294 (1) ◽

pp. 71 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

FERNANDO MARQUES QUINTELA ◽

FABRÍCIO BERTUOL ◽

ENRIQUE MANUEL GONZÁLEZ ◽

PEDRO CORDEIRO-ESTRELA ◽

THALES RENATO OCHOTORENA DE FREITAS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

South America ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Posterior Margin ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Patos Lagoon ◽

Araucaria Forest ◽

Phylogeographic Break ◽

Skull Measurements ◽

A New Species

Deltamys is a monotypic sigmodontine rodent from the Pampas of South America. In addition to the formally recognized D. kempi that inhabits lowlands, an undescribed form Deltamys sp. 2n=40 was recently found in the highlands of southeastern Brazil. In the present study, we perform a phylogeographic reassessment of Deltamys and describe a third form of the genus, endemic to the Brazilian Araucaria Forest. We describe this new species based on an integrative analysis, using complete cytochrome b DNA sequences, karyology and morphology. Bayesian tree recovered two allopatric clades (lowlands vs. highlands) and three lineages: (i) the lowland D. kempi, (ii) the highland Deltamys sp. 2n=40, and (iii) Deltamys araucaria sp. n. Deltamys araucaria sp. n. is karyotypically (2n=34) and morphologically distinguishable from D. kempi (2n=37-38), showing a tawnier dorsum/flank pelage, presence of a protostyle, M1 alveolus positioned anteriorly to the posterior margin of the zygomatic plate, and several other distinguishing characteristics. A phylogeographic assessment of D. kempi recovered two haplogroups with significant differences in skull measurements. This phylogeographic break seems to have been shaped by the Patos Lagoon estuarine channel. The diversification in Deltamys might have been triggered by dispersal of older lineages over different altitudinal ranges in the Paraná geological basin.

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