First record of Myocastor coypus (Molina 1782) (Mammalia, Rodentia) for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and its distribution in southern South America

This study presents the first record of Myocastor coypus in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to detailing its distribution within southern South America, highlighting where it is considered native or exotic in Brazil. On April 23, 2018, at approximately 18:00, an adult specimen with a 40 cm BL (body length) was registered after being run over on a side road near wetlands and a dam in a rural area in the municipality of Bataguassu, eastern state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It is not possible to state the origin of the M. coypus reported in the present study; whether it was introduced or dispersed naturally through the flooded areas of the Paraná River, since the species has records on the border of the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná.

Description of larval morphology and phylogenetic relationships of Heterotemna tenuicornis (Silphidae)

Providing clear and detailed morphological descriptions of endemic species in limited areas enables new knowledge of their biology and ecology to be obtained through citizen science. This information can be further used for their protection. Our study presents the first morphological description of the larvae of all three instars of Heterotemna tenuicornis (Brullé, 1836), an endemic species of the Canary Islands that, together with H. britoi García & Pérez, 1996 and H. figurata (Brullé, 1839), belongs to the peculiar genus Heterotemna Wollaston, 1864. Furthermore, we present the first sequences of two mitochondrial genes (COI, 16S) obtained from larval specimens, and cross reference them with sequences from an adult specimen. Phylogenetic analysis of molecular data placed the genus Heterotemna within the genus Silpha Linnaeus, 1758, suggesting paraphyly of Silpha. In our study, we underline the importance of using a combination of morphological description and molecular data, that can be used for barcoding developmental stages which could not otherwise be definitely associated.

Small red scorpionfish Scorpaena notata Rafinesque, 1810 (Actinopterygii: Scorpaenidae) - an unknown species for the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

One adult specimen of small red scorpionfish Scorpaena notata Rafinesque, 1810 was found in the ichthyological collections of the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia, Bulgaria. The specimen has been caught on 12 May 1926 in Black Sea near the town of Burgas and labelled as Scorpaena porcus. This is the first finding of the species along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and the oldest record in the Black Sea.

First stranding record of Kogia sima (Owen, 1866) in the Colombian Caribbean

The dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima, is one of the lesser known Odontoceti species, in spite of its worldwide distribution, and is considered rare due to the difficult identification in the field. Detailed information is scarce and mostly comes from stranding events or bycatch animals, just a few sightings correspond to live specimens. In the Caribbean Basin, the species has been reported in the Lesser Antilles, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and Venezuela. We present the first stranding record of Kogia sima in the Colombian Caribbean coast from a pregnant female in Mendihuaca region, Magdalena Department. The specimen showed no fishing or entanglement lines whatsoever, and the overall condition was good. Morphological measurements were taken and the confirmation of the species was made from the following features: body length, height and position of dorsal fin, position of blowhole, and number of teeth in the lower jaw. The record of the adult specimen is documented in the System of Information of Marine Biodiversity of Colombia –SIBM and the fetus is deposited in the Mammal collection of the Museum of Marine Natural History of Colombia –MAKURIWA under the catalogue number INV-MAM004.

Latest observations on the nesting of the black stork Ciconia nigra Linnaeus, 1758 (Aves Ciconiidae) in valle del Vitravo (Calabria, Italia)

This work contains the latest observations on the Black Stork nesting in the Site of National Importance, Vitravo Valley, in central and eastern Calabria. The data acquired relates to the 2019 breeding season during which a monitoring was conducted on the nesting site and throughout the area of highest frequency of the species. The research allowed to ascertain the couple in the reproductive phase, with the failed hatching of the laid eggs and to record the constant presence of a sub-adult specimen in the nesting area.

First record of Corythucha arcuata in Slovakia – Short Communication

In June 2018, the presence of one adult specimen and one egg cluster of the North-American oak lace bug Corythucha arcuata were recorded near the village of Mužla, close to the Danube River, in southern Slovakia. They were found on leaves of Quercus cerris growing in a mixed stand. In August 2018, other specimens (nymphs and adults) were observed on Quercus robur leaves, near Čičarovce, in eastern Slovakia. This is the first record of C. arcuata in our country. The oak lace bug probably reached us while invading from Hungary, where heavy infestation is reported from several parts of the country.

Primer registro del copépodo Cymbasoma chelemense (Copepoda: Monstrilloida) en el mar Caribe colombiano

As part of monitoring in the estuarine inner Bay of Cartagena, Colombia during the year 2016, a female adult specimen ofCymbasoma chelemense was collected and identified. Originally described for the Gulf of Mexico and sharing the followingmorphological and morphometric characteristics: Cephalothorax of at least 68% of the total length of the body. Oral papilla located at least 20% of the total length of the cephalothorax; Ocelli present; genital complex with ovigerous spines located at the base and with one single post genital somites, the ovigerous spines at least 14% longer than the total length of the body and about 10 times the length of urosome. This is the first record of a copepod of the genus Cymbasoma in Colombia estuarine waters, increasing the range of distribution of this species in the Caribbean Sea.

Systematics of South American snail-eating snakes (Serpentes, Dipsadini), with the description of five new species from Ecuador and Peru

A molecular phylogeny of the Neotropical snail-eating snakes (tribe Dipsadini) is presented including 43 (24 for the first time) of the 77 species, sampled for both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Morphological and phylogenetic support was found for four new species of Dipsas and one of Sibon, which are described here based on their unique combination of molecular, meristic, and color pattern characteristics. Sibynomorphus is designated as a junior subjective synonym of Dipsas. Dipsaslatifrontalis and D.palmeri are resurrected from the synonymy of D.peruana. Dipsaslatifasciata is transferred from the synonymy of D.peruana to the synonymy of D.palmeri. A new name, D.jamespetersi, is erected for the taxon currently known as Sibynomorphuspetersi. Re-descriptions of D.latifrontalis and D.peruana are presented, as well as the first photographic voucher of an adult specimen of D.latifrontalis, along with photographs of all known Ecuadorian Dipsadini species. The first country record of D.variegata in Ecuador is provided and D.oligozonata removed from the list of Peruvian herpetofauna. With these changes, the number of Dipsadini reported in Ecuador increases to 22, 18 species of Dipsas and four of Sibon.