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First Record O Mesoclemmys Vanderhaegei (Bour, 1973)

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Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 709-712 (2019) (published online on 04 July 2019) First record� o Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Bour, 1973) (Testud�ines, Chelid�ae) or the North-Northeast Atlantic Basin Elizângela Silva Brito1,*, Tainá Figueras Dorado-Rodrigues2, and Rafael Martins Valadão3 Brazil is home to 20 of the 58 extant Chelidae species al., 2013; Maffei et al., 2016) and Tocantins (Villaça et (Rhodin et al., 2017; Costa and Bérnils, 2018). Chelidae al., 1999). Tocantins, located 2000 km northeast from is distributed across Oceania and South America (van Asunción, is this species’ type locality and northern Dijk et al., 2014), and its most species-rich genus limit (Vinke et al., 2013). is Mesoclemmys, with eight species: M. gibba, M. Here, we extend the distribution of M. vanderhaegei heliostemma, M. hogei, M. nasuta, M. perplexa, to a new river basin in Maranhão State, Northeastern M. raniceps, M. tuberculata and M. vanderhaegei. Brazil. In addition to these new records, we have Mesoclemmys species occur widely across Brazil, but compiled every known distribution record of this their distributions may still be underestimated. species. Our mapping was based on a thorough review of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei is a medium-sized the literature (comprising journal articles, dissertations, freshwater turtle, measuring up to 285 mm of carapace theses and herpetological meetings publications) length (CL) (Marques et al., 2014). It inhabits freshwater herpetological collections, SpeciesLink, GBIF, systems such as rivers, small oligotrophic streams and EMYSystem and Portal da Biodiversidade databases. In densely vegetated open lagoons (Rueda-Almonacid et order to minimize problems caused by georeferencing al., 2007; Vinke et al., 2013; Marques et al., 2014), and is errors, we excluded records that were clearly misplaced currently considered Near Threatened by the IUCN Red or dubious. We used Ernst and Barbour (1989) and List (Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Rueda-Almonacid et al. (2007) identification keys to 1996). This species is distributed across Argentina, identify captured specimens. Every individual was Paraguay and Brazil (Marques et al., 2014), and has released after biometrical measurements, sexing and been recorded in the Amazon, Tocantins, Paraguay, species identification. Paraná and Uruguay basins (Souza, 2005; Marques et We captured two individuals of M. vanderhaegei in al., 2014). In Brazil, the species occurs at the Federal Balsas river, Balsas Municipality, State of Maranhão District, and in the states of Goiás (Brandão et al., 2002), (8°39’S, 46°27’W; WGS84; Figure 1), in 2012. Both Mato Grosso (Brito et al., 2009; Brito et al., 2012), individuals were caught in funnel traps baited with Mato Grosso do Sul (Strüssmann et al., 2000; Ávila et fish, and were released after marking and measuring al., 2006), Minas Gerais (Silveira et al., 2009; Maffei procedures. One female (CL of 200 mm; Head width, et al., 2016), São Paulo (Souza et al., 2000; Marques et HW, of 4.6 mm; Figure 2A) and one male (CL of 207 mm; HW of 5.1 mm) were captured in February 26 and July 17, respectively. Our records extend the known distribution of M. vanderhaegei to a new North- Northeast hydrographic basin, the Parnaíba sub-basin. 1 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas do Pantanal, campus avançado The area is located 241 km northeast of the species’ do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, CEP 78060-900, Cuiabá, closest known locality in Serra do Lajeado, Tocantins Mato Grosso, Brazil. State (Brandão et al., 2002). The Balsas River is a major 2 Laboratório de Herpetologia, Instituto de Biociências, affluent of the Parnaíba, and it is surrounded by Cerrado Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, CEP 78060-900, vegetation in southern Maranhão (Figure 2B). Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The captured individuals were sympatric with six 3 Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis e Anfíbios, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da individuals of Phrynops geoffroanus complex in the Biodiversidade, CEP 74605-090, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Balsas river. The latter is distributed across the Parnaíba * Corresponding author: Email: [email protected] river basin (Silva et al., 2016), where another species 710 Elizângela Silva Brito et al. Figure 1. Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei distribution. Species Link, GBIF, EMYSystem, Portal da biodiversidade, scientific literature (black circles) and new records (red star). Figure 2. Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei and Balsas river, Balsas municipality, Maranhão state, Brazil. (A) Captured female; (B) River section where M. vanderhaegei individuals were captured. of Mesoclemmys, M. gibba, has already been recorded occurs only peripherally (Rueda-Almonacid et al., (Barreto et al., 2007). Mesoclemmys gibba is similar in 2007; Ferrara et al., 2017). The main characteristics size to M. vanderhaegei, but it is primarily distributed separating the two species are the darker colors of the throughout the Amazon basin, where M. vanderhaegei mandible and plastron of M. gibba, contrasting with First record��� of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei for the North-Northeast Atlantic Basin 711 the paler hues of M. vanderhaegei (Figure 2A), and the Quelônios Amazônicos: Guia de identificação e distribuição. wider head of M. vanderhaegei (larger than 20% HW Manaus, Brasil, Wildlife Conservation Society. in relation to CL) when compared to M. gibba (max of GBIF. (2018): Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Available at: http://www.gbif.org/. Accessed on 18 December 2018. 20% HW in relation to CL) (Ernst and Barbour, 1989; Maffei, F., Nascimento, B.T.M., Moya, G.M., Donatelli, R.J. Rueda-Almonacid et al., 2007; Ferrara et al., 2017). (2016): New distribution records of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei The presence of M. vanderhaegei outside the Prata (Testudines: Chelidae) from southeastern Brazil, inlcuding river basin was previously reported (e.g., Villaça et observations on reproduction. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8: al., 1999; Silveira, 2009; Brito et al., 2012), and might 9322–9326. be related to biological characteristics of semi-aquatic Marques, T.S., Lara, N.R.F., Bassetti, L.A.B., Ferronato, B.O., Malvásio, A., Verdade, L.M. (2013): Population structure turtles, which can disperse across terrestrial landscapes. of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Testudines, Chelidae) in a Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei has been observed walking silvicultural system in southeastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes on land, especially in areas where barriers such as 6: 179–182. waterfalls can limit its aquatic movement (Brito et al., Marques, T.S., Böhm, S., Brito, E.S., Cabrera, M.R., Verdade, 2012; Marques et al., 2014). This capacity allows the L.M. (2014): Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Bour 1973) species to occur in different basins. – Vanderhaege’s Toad-headed Turtle, Karumbé-hy. In: Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Acknowled�gements. We thank the Secretaria de Estado do Meio Turtle Specialist Group. Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., Ambiente e Recursos Naturais of Maranhão State for granting van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Iverson, J.B., o o us the licence n 001/2012, environmental licensing process n Mittermeier, R.A., Eds. Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 3080/2012. We also thank Bernardo Araujo for the translation of 083.1–8, doi:10.3854/crm.5.083.vanderhaegei. this manuscript and Fabio Maffei for the revision of the text. ESB Portal da Biodiversidade. (2018): Available at: http://www. was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento portaldabiodiversidade.icmbio.gov.br. Accessed on 18 Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) throught the Programa de December 2018. Capacitação Institucional (PCI) of Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., Bour, R., Fritz, U., Georges, A., (MPEG; process number 300658/2019-2). Shaffer, H.B., Dijk, P.P. (2017): Turtles of the world: annotated checklist of atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and Re erences conservation status (8th Ed.). In: Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the Ávila, R.W., Souza, F.L., Landgref-Filho, P., Campo, A.L.C. IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. (2006): Notes on geographic distribution, errata. Check List 2: Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., 35–37. Buhlmann, K.A., Pritchard, P.C.H., Mittermeier. R.A., Eds., Barreto, L.; Arzabe, C.; Lima, Y.C.C. (2007): Herpetofauna da Chelonian Research Monographs 7: 1–292. Região de Balsas. In: Cerrado Norte do Brasil, p. 213–229. Rueda-Almonacid, J.V., Carr, J.L., Mittermeier, R. A., Rodríguez- Barreto, L. Org. Pelotas. Brasil. Mahecha, J.V., Mast, R.B., Vogt, R.C., Rhodin, A.G.J., Ossa- Brandão, R.A., Zerbini, G.J., Sebben, A., Molina, F.B. (2002): Velásquez, J., Rueda, J.N., Mittermeier, C.G. (2007): Las Notes on distribution and habitats of Acanthochelys spixii and tortugas y los cocodrilianos de los países andinos del Trópico. Phrynops vanderhaegei (Testudines, Chelidae) in central Brazil. Bogotá, Colombia: Conservatión Internacional Andes CBC. Boletín de la Asociación Herpetologica Española 13: 11–15. Silva, M.B., Rocha, W.A., Nogueira-Paranhos, J.D. (2016). Brito, E.S., Strüssmann, C., Penha, J.M.F. (2009): Population Checklist of reptiles of the Amazonia-Caatinga-Cerrado ecotonal structure of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Bour, 1973) zone in eastern Maranhão, Brazil. Herpetology Notes 9: 7���� (Testudines: Chelidae) in the Cerrado of Chapada dos Silveira, A.L. (2009): Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei: Brasil: Minas Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Biota Neotropica 9: 245–248. Gerais. Herpetological Review 40: 235–236. Brito, E.S, Strüssmann, C., Kawashita-Ribeiro, R.A., Morais, Souza, F.L. (2005): Geographical distribution patterns of South D.H., Ávila, R.W., Campos, V.A. (2012): New records and American side-necked turtles (Chelidae), with emphasis on distribution extensions of three species of Mesoclemmys Gray, Brazilian species. Revista Española de Herpetologia 19: 33–46. 1863 (Testudines: Chelidae) in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, with Souza, F.L., Martins, M., Sawaya, R.J. (2000): A new record and observations on terrestrial movements. Check List 8: 294–297.
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  • Hatchling Morphology of the Tuberculate Toadhead Turtle (Mesoclemmys Tuberculata [Lüederwaldt, 1926]) from Northeastern Brazil (Testudines: Chelidae)

    Hatchling Morphology of the Tuberculate Toadhead Turtle (Mesoclemmys Tuberculata [Lüederwaldt, 1926]) from Northeastern Brazil (Testudines: Chelidae)

    Herpetology Notes, volume 8: 407-410 (2015) (published online on 12 August 2015) Hatchling morphology of the Tuberculate Toadhead Turtle (Mesoclemmys tuberculata [Lüederwaldt, 1926]) from northeastern Brazil (Testudines: Chelidae) Daniel Oliveira Santana1,*, Thiago Simon Marques2, Gustavo Henrique Calazans Vieira1, Renato Gomes Faria3 and Daniel Oliveira Mesquita1 The tuberculate toad-headed turtle, Mesoclemmys and Molina, 2004), but there are no descriptions of the tuberculata (Lüederwaldt, 1926), is a Neotropical hatchlings in the literature. Therefore, the objective of freshwater turtle endemic to Brazil (Bérnils and Costa, this study was to describe the morphology and color 2012) which is widely distributed in the Northeast region, pattern of a wild hatchling of M. tuberculata from the ranging from the inland northeastern semi-arid region in Atlantic Forest Region in northeastern Brazil. the Parnaíba river to the Atlantic-Northeastern Orient During an investigation about the ecology of freshwater and São Francisco basin (Souza, 2005). This species has turtles in northeastern Brazil, we hand-captured one been recorded in areas of Caatinga and Atlantic Forest hatchling of M. tuberculata on 30 July 2014, close to (Souza, 2005; Batistella et al., 2008; Santos et al., 2008; a pond (Figure 1) in the buffer zone of the Serra de Loebmann and Haddad, 2010; Morato et al., 2011; Itabaiana National Park, Itabaiana municipality, Sergipe Loebmann et al., 2006), and recently was also recorded State, Brazil (S 10º44.287’, W 037º23.189’, 250 m in the Cerrado biome, in the north of Minas Gerais State, a.s.l.). We used a digital caliper (precision of 0.01 mm) Brazil (Silveira and Valinhas, 2010).
  • Gibba Turtle) Family: Chelidae (Snake-Necked Turtles) Order: Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises) Class: Reptilia (Reptiles)

    Gibba Turtle) Family: Chelidae (Snake-Necked Turtles) Order: Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises) Class: Reptilia (Reptiles)

    UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour Mesoclemmys gibba (Gibba Turtle) Family: Chelidae (Snake-necked Turtles) Order: Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises) Class: Reptilia (Reptiles) Fig. 1. Gibba turtle, Mesoclemmys gibba. [http://www.chelonia.org/Phrynopsgibbus1.JPG, downloaded 25 October 2012] TRAITS. Mesoclemmys gibba, commonly known as the gibba turtle, was previously known as Phrynops gibbus (McCord et al., 2001). The upper region of the shell is known as the carapace which varies in colour from black to chestnut brown or dark grey (Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 2010). The carapace does not have a pattern. The length of an adult Mesoclymmys gibba measures from 23-30cm. The carapace length in males however does not exceed 17cm (Murphy, 2014) and the size of hatchlings range from 43 to 48mm (Mittermeier et al., 1978). The ellipsoidal carapace can be slightly bowed with a shallow supracaudal notch (above the tail). Small posterior projections or low keels may be present on the 3rd to 5th broad vertebrals. Therefore the surface can either be slightly roughened, due to the uneven medial keel, or smooth (Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 2010). “Neural bones vary from none to five, but, if present, they are rudimentary and never contact the nuchal” (Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984). The bottom region of the shell is known as the plastron which varies in colour from yellow to red brown. It is wide and long, well-developed, somewhat inverted anteriorly with a deep anal notch posteriorly. On each scute there is a brown patch with a possible narrow yellow border occurring anteriorly and UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour posteriorly (Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 2010).
  • Artisanal Fisheries Interactions and Bycatch of Freshwater Turtles at the Tapacurá Reservoir, Northeast Brazil

    Artisanal Fisheries Interactions and Bycatch of Freshwater Turtles at the Tapacurá Reservoir, Northeast Brazil

    Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 249-252 (2020) (published online on 14 March 2020) Artisanal fisheries interactions and bycatch of freshwater turtles at the Tapacurá reservoir, Northeast Brazil Rayssa L. Santos¹,²,*, Thaís L. Bezerra², Jozélia M. Sousa Correia², and Ednilza M. dos Santos² Interactions between freshwater turtles and artisanal mortality rates of two species of freshwater turtles P. are well described in the literature (Brito et al., 2015). geoffroanus and M. tuberculata were recorded. A total Environmental pressure from fisheries, coupled with of 23 carcasses were observed in various states of habitat loss, pollution and climate change, have been decomposition, both on the banks of the reservoir and cited as the main causes for the decline of these aquatic trapped in gillnets arranged vertically within the water reptile populations, which are listed in the IUCN body (Figure 1). Endangered Species List (IUCN, 2018). Biometric parameters were obtained and sexing was The term bycatch is defined as the capture of specimens performed when possible, by observing the anal plate that are not the intentional target of a given fishing opening and tail size, following the methodology activity, i.e. the action occurred in a causal, unexpected proposed by Balestra et al. (2016). Necropsies were way (FAO, 1990). Several studies report that the use performed at the Veterinary Hospital belonging to the of different types of fishing gears, especially gillnets, Pernambuco Federal Rural University. contribute to the decline of several aquatic marine M. tuberculata (n=3) had a mean Maximum Straight species (Reeves et al., 2013) and reiterate the limited Carapace Length (MSCL) of 25.3 ± 1.2 cm, and all three amount of information on bycatch species.