Of the Neotropical Guiana Highlands

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Of the Neotropical Guiana Highlands BIODIVERSITY OF PANTEPUI The Pristine “Lost World” of the Neotropical Guiana Highlands Edited by VALENTI´ RULL Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain TERESA VEGAS-VILARRU´ BIA Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain OTTO HUBER Botanical Institute of Venezuela Foundation, Caracas, Venezuela CELSA SEN˜ ARIS Center of Ecology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom 525 B Street, Suite 1650, San Diego, CA 92101, United States 50 Hampshire Street, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, United Kingdom Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Details on how to seek permission, further information about the Publisher’s permissions policies and our arrangements with organizations such as the Copyright Clearance Center and the Copyright Licensing Agency, can be found at our website: www.elsevier.com/permissions. This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Publisher (other than as may be noted herein). Notices Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary. Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility. To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress ISBN: 978-0-12-815591-2 For Information on all Academic Press publications visit our website at https://www.elsevier.com/books-and-journals Publisher: Charlotte Cockle Acquisition Editor: Anna Valutkevich Editorial Project Manager: Ruby Smith Production Project Manager: Kiruthika Govindaraju Cover Designer: Limbert Matthew Typeset by MPS Limited, Chennai, India Contents List of contributors ix 3. Pantepui as a dynamic Foreword xi biogeographical concept Acknowledgments xiii VALENTI´ RULL AND TERESA VEGAS-VILARRU´ BIA Introduction xv Introduction 55 Hypotheses and approaches 56 The Pantepui components 57 Part I The Pantepui oscillator 62 The future 64 GENERAL ASPECTS Conclusions and further research 65 1. Definition and characterization Acknowledgments 66 of the Pantepui biogeographical References 66 province 4. Origin and evolution of the Pantepui VALENTI´ RULL, OTTO HUBER, TERESA VEGAS- biota VILARRU´ BIA AND CELSA SEN˜ ARIS VALENTI´ RULL Introduction 3 History of the Pantepui biogeographical Introduction 69 concept 21 Evolutionary inferences from biogeography 71 Phytogeographical Pantepui 24 Paleoecological contributions and geological Pantepui floristic subdivisions 26 insights 76 Zoogeographical insights 29 Molecular phylogenetics and phylogeography 81 Conclusions and final remarks 30 General conclusions 86 Acknowledgments 31 Further research 88 References 31 Acknowledgments 89 References 89 2. Climatic and ecological history of Part II Pantepui and surrounding areas VALENTI´ RULL, ENCARNI MONTOYA, THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC SANDRA NOGUE´, ELISABET SAFONT AND TERESA VEGAS-VILARRU´ BIA WORLD 5. Algae Introduction 33 ´ ´ ´ ´ Regional paleoclimatic trends 37 JAN KAsTOVSKYˇ , KAROLINA FUcIˇ KOVA, JANA VESELA, CHARLES BREWER CARI´AS Paleoecology of Pantepui and adjacent areas 39 AND TERESA VEGAS-VILARRU´ BIA Final remarks 50 Acknowledgments 51 Introduction 95 References 51 Phycological studies on Pantepui 98 v vi CONTENTS Tepuis and algal endemics 115 Recommendations for conservation of the aquatic Acknowledgements 117 insects of Pantepui and ideas for future References 118 research 186 6. Vascular plants and bryophytes Acknowledgments 187 References 187 RICARDA RIINA, PAUL E. BERRY, OTTO HUBER ´ AND FABIAN A. MICHELANGELI 9. Butterflies Introduction 121 A´ NGEL L. VILORIA AND MAURO COSTA Main patterns of diversity in vascular plants 124 Pantepui bryophytes 133 Introduction 193 Current phylogenetic knowledge and biogeographic The biogeographic Pantepui 194 implications 134 Exploration, discovery, and taxonomic studies of Future perspectives on phylogeography 141 butterflies in the tepuis 197 Acknowledgments 141 Endemic butterflies of Pantepui 201 References 141 Biogeographic significance and conclusions 214 Acknowledgments 217 7. Plant communities References 217 OTTO HUBER AND VALENTI´ RULL 10. Scorpions Introduction 149 JOSE´ A. OCHOA The table-mountain landscape of the Guiana AND FERNANDO J.M. ROJAS-RUNJAIC Shield 150 Vegetation types 152 Introduction 223 Endemic vegetation types in Pantepui 160 First explorations 226 Phytosociological studies 162 Gonzalez-Sponga’s contributions 228 Final remarks 162 Expeditions in the Guiana region 231 Acknowledgments 163 Recent years 232 References 163 Pattern of diversity and endemism of scorpions 232 Endemism 234 Part III Distribution patterns 237 Acknowledgments 238 ANIMAL DIVERSITY References 238 8. Aquatic insects Appendix 242 TOMA´ sˇ DERKA, CARMEN ZAMORA-MUN˜ OZ AND JOSE´ MANUEL TIERNO DE FIGUEROA 11. Land snails ABRAHAM S.H. BREURE Introduction 167 Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) 171 Introduction 247 Stoneflies (Plecoptera) 176 Material and methods 249 Caddisflies (Trichoptera) 177 Systematics 249 Orthopterans (Orthoptera) 181 Species of Pantepui sensu stricto Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) 181 ($1500 m) 250 Dobsonflies (Megaloptera) 182 Species of the uplands and lowlands Beetles (Coleoptera) 182 (below 1500 m) 256 True bugs (Heteroptera) 183 Ecology 257 True flies (Diptera) 183 Biogeography 259 Origin and evolution of Pantepui aquatic Further avenues for research 260 insects 184 References 261 CONTENTS vii 12. Amphibians and reptiles 15. Vertebrate parasites CELSA SEN˜ ARIS AND FERNANDO J.M. ROJAS-RUNJAIC RICARDO GUERRERO Introduction 263 Introduction 373 Defining Pantepui for amphibians and Historical expeditions 373 reptiles 264 Recent collections 374 Amphibians and reptiles of the Guiana Preliminary conclusions 380 Highlands 265 Acknowledgements 384 Insights on the origin and evolution of the Pantepui References 384 herpetofauna 280 Final remarks 283 Acknowledgments 284 Part IV References 284 BIODIVERSITY Appendix 291 CONSERVATION 13. Birds 16. Conservation of Pantepui: between JORGE L. PE´REZ-EMA´ N, MIGUEL LENTINO complex emergency and climate change AND ELISA BONACCORSO MARIAPIA BEVILACQUA, CELSA SEN˜ ARIS AND OTTO HUBER Introduction 299 A definition of Pantepui 300 Introduction 389 Patterns of diversity and Antecedents in the conservation of endemism 302 Pantepui 390 Historical explanations for diversity and endemism Failure of natural resource management in Pantepui 310 institutions 393 Future prospects and Complex crisis 395 conservation 317 Climate change 397 Acknowledgments 318 Final reflection 398 References 318 References 399 Appendix I 323 17. Pantepui and global warming Appendix II 329 ´ ´ Appendix III 331 VALENTI RULL, SANDRA NOGUE, ELISABET SAFONT AND TERESA VEGAS-VILARRU´ BIA 14. Mammals Introduction 403 DANIEL LEW AND BURTON K. LIM Current extinction estimates 404 Conservation insights 406 Introduction 333 Weaknesses and future research 411 Mammalian richness of the Bureaucratic constraints 413 Guianas 335 Conclusions and recommendations 414 Elevational occurrence 339 Acknowledgments 414 Pantepui mammals 340 References 415 Biogeography 351 References 353 Taxonomic Index 419 Appendix 357 Subject Index 445 List of contributors Paul E. Berry University of Michigan Daniel Lew Biodiversity Unit, Venezuelan Herbarium, Department of Ecology and Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC), Evolutionary Biology, Ann Arbor, MI, Caracas, Venezuela United States Fabia´n A. Michelangeli The New York Mariapia Bevilacqua Venezuelan Association Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, United States for the Conservation of Natural Areas - Encarni Montoya Institute of Earth Sciences ACOANA, Caracas, Venezuela Jaume Almera (ICTJA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain Elisa Bonaccorso Institute BIOSFERA and Sandra Nogue´ Department of Geography and Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, University Environment, University of Southampton, San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador Southampton, United Kingdom Abraham S.H. Breure Naturalis Biodiversity Jose´ A. Ochoa Faculty of Sciences, Department Center, RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Royal of Biology, National University of San Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Peru Belgium Jorge L. Pe´rez-Ema´n
Recommended publications
  • Catalogue of the Amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and Annotated Species List, Distribution, and Conservation 1,2César L
    Mannophryne vulcano, Male carrying tadpoles. El Ávila (Parque Nacional Guairarepano), Distrito Federal. Photo: Jose Vieira. We want to dedicate this work to some outstanding individuals who encouraged us, directly or indirectly, and are no longer with us. They were colleagues and close friends, and their friendship will remain for years to come. César Molina Rodríguez (1960–2015) Erik Arrieta Márquez (1978–2008) Jose Ayarzagüena Sanz (1952–2011) Saúl Gutiérrez Eljuri (1960–2012) Juan Rivero (1923–2014) Luis Scott (1948–2011) Marco Natera Mumaw (1972–2010) Official journal website: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation amphibian-reptile-conservation.org 13(1) [Special Section]: 1–198 (e180). Catalogue of the amphibians of Venezuela: Illustrated and annotated species list, distribution, and conservation 1,2César L. Barrio-Amorós, 3,4Fernando J. M. Rojas-Runjaic, and 5J. Celsa Señaris 1Fundación AndígenA, Apartado Postal 210, Mérida, VENEZUELA 2Current address: Doc Frog Expeditions, Uvita de Osa, COSTA RICA 3Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales, Museo de Historia Natural La Salle, Apartado Postal 1930, Caracas 1010-A, VENEZUELA 4Current address: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Río Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Laboratório de Sistemática de Vertebrados, Av. Ipiranga 6681, Porto Alegre, RS 90619–900, BRAZIL 5Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Altos de Pipe, apartado 20632, Caracas 1020, VENEZUELA Abstract.—Presented is an annotated checklist of the amphibians of Venezuela, current as of December 2018. The last comprehensive list (Barrio-Amorós 2009c) included a total of 333 species, while the current catalogue lists 387 species (370 anurans, 10 caecilians, and seven salamanders), including 28 species not yet described or properly identified. Fifty species and four genera are added to the previous list, 25 species are deleted, and 47 experienced nomenclatural changes.
    [Show full text]
  • The State of Venezuela's Forests
    ArtePortada 25/06/2002 09:20 pm Page 1 GLOBAL FOREST WATCH (GFW) WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE (WRI) The State of Venezuela’s Forests ACOANA UNEG A Case Study of the Guayana Region PROVITA FUDENA FUNDACIÓN POLAR GLOBAL FOREST WATCH GLOBAL FOREST WATCH • A Case Study of the Guayana Region The State of Venezuela’s Forests. Forests. The State of Venezuela’s Págs i-xvi 25/06/2002 02:09 pm Page i The State of Venezuela’s Forests A Case Study of the Guayana Region A Global Forest Watch Report prepared by: Mariapía Bevilacqua, Lya Cárdenas, Ana Liz Flores, Lionel Hernández, Erick Lares B., Alexander Mansutti R., Marta Miranda, José Ochoa G., Militza Rodríguez, and Elizabeth Selig Págs i-xvi 25/06/2002 02:09 pm Page ii AUTHORS: Presentation Forest Cover and Protected Areas: Each World Resources Institute Mariapía Bevilacqua (ACOANA) report represents a timely, scholarly and Marta Miranda (WRI) treatment of a subject of public con- Wildlife: cern. WRI takes responsibility for José Ochoa G. (ACOANA/WCS) choosing the study topics and guar- anteeing its authors and researchers Man has become increasingly aware of the absolute need to preserve nature, and to respect biodiver- Non-Timber Forest Products: freedom of inquiry. It also solicits Lya Cárdenas and responds to the guidance of sity as the only way to assure permanence of life on Earth. Thus, it is urgent not only to study animal Logging: advisory panels and expert review- and plant species, and ecosystems, but also the inner harmony by which they are linked. Lionel Hernández (UNEG) ers.
    [Show full text]
  • Canaima National Park and Angel Falls
    Venezuela Tours • Canaima National Park & Angel Falls Canaima National Park & Angel Falls 6 nights / 7 days DAY 1: CARACAS A guide will greet you upon arrival and will transfer you to your hotel for two nights’ accommodation. DAY 2: CARACAS Today you will join a full day city tour of Venezuela with a shared guide and transportation included as well as all entrance fees required. The morning starts with a well-planned tour to the city’s major historical sites including Simon Bolivar’s birth place and museum, the cathedral and Sacro Museum, the Consejo Municipal and the Avila Hills for a panoramic view of the city. After lunch you will visit the Quinta Anauco museum, one of the best in the city. DAY 3: CARACAS – PUERTO ORDAZ – CANAIMA NATIONAL PARK A guide will transfer you to the airport in time to check in for and to board your flight to Puerto Ordaz connecting with your flight to Canaima National Park. Upon arrival a guide will greet you and will transfer your Canaima lodge for three nights’ accommodation. After lunch you will embark on a guided excursion to Yuri Falls. Yuri Falls are located some 10km from the Canaima Lagoon by boat. En route the group will stop for a number of fantastic photo opportunities in the unique landscape. Your guide will point out interesting rock formations and other peculiarities found in Canaima. After a short 20 minute navigation you will arrive at a pier where the group will disembark and prepare for a short walk through the jungle. At the falls where you will have some free time for swimming and relaxing before returning to camp for dinner and overnight accommodations.
    [Show full text]
  • Ficha Catalográfica Online
    UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE CAMPINAS INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA – IB SUZANA MARIA DOS SANTOS COSTA SYSTEMATIC STUDIES IN CRYPTANGIEAE (CYPERACEAE) ESTUDOS FILOGENÉTICOS E SISTEMÁTICOS EM CRYPTANGIEAE CAMPINAS, SÃO PAULO 2018 SUZANA MARIA DOS SANTOS COSTA SYSTEMATIC STUDIES IN CRYPTANGIEAE (CYPERACEAE) ESTUDOS FILOGENÉTICOS E SISTEMÁTICOS EM CRYPTANGIEAE Thesis presented to the Institute of Biology of the University of Campinas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD in Plant Biology Tese apresentada ao Instituto de Biologia da Universidade Estadual de Campinas como parte dos requisitos exigidos para a obtenção do Título de Doutora em Biologia Vegetal ESTE ARQUIVO DIGITAL CORRESPONDE À VERSÃO FINAL DA TESE DEFENDIDA PELA ALUNA Suzana Maria dos Santos Costa E ORIENTADA PELA Profa. Maria do Carmo Estanislau do Amaral (UNICAMP) E CO- ORIENTADA pelo Prof. William Wayt Thomas (NYBG). Orientadora: Maria do Carmo Estanislau do Amaral Co-Orientador: William Wayt Thomas CAMPINAS, SÃO PAULO 2018 Agência(s) de fomento e nº(s) de processo(s): CNPq, 142322/2015-6; CAPES Ficha catalográfica Universidade Estadual de Campinas Biblioteca do Instituto de Biologia Mara Janaina de Oliveira - CRB 8/6972 Costa, Suzana Maria dos Santos, 1987- C823s CosSystematic studies in Cryptangieae (Cyperaceae) / Suzana Maria dos Santos Costa. – Campinas, SP : [s.n.], 2018. CosOrientador: Maria do Carmo Estanislau do Amaral. CosCoorientador: William Wayt Thomas. CosTese (doutorado) – Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia. Cos1. Savanas. 2. Campinarana. 3. Campos rupestres. 4. Filogenia - Aspectos moleculares. 5. Cyperaceae. I. Amaral, Maria do Carmo Estanislau do, 1958-. II. Thomas, William Wayt, 1951-. III. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biologia. IV. Título.
    [Show full text]
  • Why the World's Tallest Waterfall Is Named Angel Falls
    terrae incognitae, Vol. 44 No. 1, April, 2012, 16–42 Why the World’s Tallest Waterfall is Named Angel Falls Karen Angel Eureka, California, USA Jimmie Angel (1899–1956) was an aviator and adventurer in the early years of air exploration. This article discusses his discovery of Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall, which bears his name, and the impact of that discovery — and his reputation and dogged determination — on later expeditions into the Venezuelan interior. The author, Angel’s niece, pieces together this fascinating story using a blend of dedicated archival research and painstakingly acquired family history and the reminiscences of friends and acquaintances of Jimmie and his wife Marie. The result is a tale of modern-day exploration and geographic discovery. keywords Jimmie Angel, Angel Falls, Auyántepui, E. Thomas Gilliard, Anne Roe Simpson, George Gaylord Simpson, Venezuela When I began researching the life of American aviator James “Jimmie” Crawford Angel (1899–1956), there were many stories about him in books, newspapers, magazines, and more recently on websites and blogs. Some stories can be verified by the Angel family or other sources; some stories are plausible, but remain unverified; other stories are fabrications. The result is a tangle of true stories and unverified stories. Finding the truth about Jimmie Angel is also complicated because he himself repeated the various unverified stories that became legends about his life.1 As the daughter of Jimmie Angel’s youngest brother Clyde Marshall Angel (1917– 97), I had heard stories about my uncle since childhood, but the family had few documents to support the stories.
    [Show full text]
  • Propuesta De Zonificación De Uso Del Sector Occidental Parque Nacional Canaima 77
    CH •X ANG DF E P w Click to buy NOW! w m o w c .d k. ocu•trac Propuesta de zonificación de uso del sector occidental Parque Nacional Canaima 77 Terra. Vol. XXII, No. 32, 2006, pp. 77•122 PROPUESTA DE ZONIFICACIÓN DE USO DEL SECTOR OCCIDENTAL DEL PARQUE NACIONAL CANAIMA. ESTADO BOLÍVAR* Zoning Proposal use of the Canaima National Park West Sector. Bolívar State Roberto J. Rivera•Lombardi, Jorge L. Padrón, Otto Huber, Iván Linares RESUMEN En el presente trabajo se establece una propuesta de zonificación del sector occidental del Parque Nacional Canaima, adecuada a las potencialidades y limitaciones de los recursos naturales, los usos y actividades desarrolladas por la población residente, considerando la materia previamente reglamentada en la normativa ambiental venezolana; documento que pretende coadyuvar con el plan de ordenamiento y reglamento de uso del referido sector. Esta propuesta se realiza con orientación geográfica integradora, a fin de constituir las bases de la zonificación de uso oficial de un instrumento reglamentario que se requiere para la gestión, conservación y manejo adecuado de esta área protegida. En este trabajo se resaltan los aspectos metodológicos, teniendo como herramienta la superposición y análisis de mapas temáticos. El resultado permitió identificar usos y actividades económicas distintas a las permitidas en la normativa legal vigente, tales como actividades de minería y turismo no controlado; así como aquellas no acordes con las potencialidades y * Recibido: junio 2006. Aceptado: diciembre 2006. CH •X ANG DF E P w Click to buy NOW! w m o w c .d k. ocu•trac 78 Roberto J.
    [Show full text]
  • Anura: Dendrobatidae: Anomaloglossus) from the Orinoquian Rainforest, Southern Venezuela
    TERMS OF USE This pdf is provided by Magnolia Press for private/research use. Commercial sale or deposition in a public library or website is prohibited. Zootaxa 2413: 37–50 (2010) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2010 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A new dendrobatid frog (Anura: Dendrobatidae: Anomaloglossus) from the Orinoquian rainforest, southern Venezuela CÉSAR L. BARRIO-AMORÓS1,4, JUAN CARLOS SANTOS2 & OLGA JOVANOVIC3 1,4 Fundación AndígenA, Apartado postal 210, 5101-A Mérida, Venezuela 2University of Texas at Austin, Integrative Biology, 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78705, USA 3Division of Evolutionary Biology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstr 8, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany 4Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract A new species of Anomaloglossus is described from the Venezuelan Guayana; it is the 21st described species of Anomaloglossus from the Guiana Shield, and the 15th from Venezuela. This species inhabits rainforest on granitic substrate on the northwestern edge of the Guiana Shield (Estado Amazonas, Venezuela). The new species is distinguished from congeners by sexual dimorphism, its unique male color pattern (including two bright orange parotoid marks and two orange paracloacal spots on dark brown background), call characteristics and other morphological features. Though to the new species is known only from the northwestern edge of the Guiana Shield, its distribution may be more extensive, as there are no significant biogeographic barriers isolating the type locality from the granitic lowlands of Venezuela. Key words: Amphibia, Dendrobatidae, Anomaloglossus, Venezuela, Guiana Shield Resumen Se describe una nueva especie de Anomaloglossus de la Guayana venezolana, que es la vigesimoprimera descrita del Escudo Guayanés, y la decimoquinta para Venezuela.
    [Show full text]
  • LAS ESPECIES DEL GÉNERO Axonopus (POACEAE: PANICOIDEAE: PASPALEAE) EN VENEZUELA1 the Species of the Genus Axonopus (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paspaleae) in Venezuela
    Pittieria 37 (2013): 53-114 LAS ESPECIES DEL GÉNERO Axonopus (POACEAE: PANICOIDEAE: PASPALEAE) EN VENEZUELA1 The species of the genus Axonopus (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paspaleae) in Venezuela Diego Giraldo-Cañas Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7495, Bogotá D. C., Colombia. Correo electrónico: [email protected] 1Contribución derivada del proyecto “Estudios morfológicos, anatómicos y taxonómicos en gramíneas neotropicales”, de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá D. C. Resumen Axonopus es un género americano con ca. 71 especies, principalmente concentradas en el norte de Sudamérica, con algunos representantes aparentemente introducidos en el Viejo Mundo. Se presenta el estudio taxonómico sinóptico de las especies venezolanas, sus sinónimos, su distribución geográfica y ecológica, se comentan algunas particularidades morfológicas, así como relaciones morfológicas de las especies. Se discuten las afinidades con Digitaria, Paspalum y Spheneria. Axonopus laxus Luces se reduce a la sinonimia de Axonopus capillaris (Lam.) Chase. Se restablece a Axonopus gracilis G. A. Black como especie válida. Axonopus polydactylus (Steud.) Dedecca, Axonopus pubivaginatus Henrard y Axonopus ramosus Swallen, se excluyen de la flora venezolana. Así,Axonopus queda representado en Venezuela por 29 especies, de las cuales seis son endémicas. Palabras clave: Axonopus, Digitaria, Paspalum, Spheneria, flora de Venezuela, gramíneas neotropicales. Abstract Axonopus is an American genus with ca. 71 species, mainly distributed in northern South America, with some species apparently introduced to the Old World. A synopsis of the Venezuelan species is provided, including synonyms, ecological and geographic distribution, comments on particular morphological features, and morphological relationships of the species. The morphological relationships with Digitaria, Paspalum, and Spheneria are discussed.
    [Show full text]
  • Anura: Dendrobatidae: Colostethus) from Aprada Tepui, Southern Venezuela
    Zootaxa 1110: 59–68 (2006) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ ZOOTAXA 1110 Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) A new dendrobatid frog (Anura: Dendrobatidae: Colostethus) from Aprada tepui, southern Venezuela CÉSAR L. BARRIO-AMORÓS Fundación AndígenA., Apartado postal 210, 5101-A Mérida, Venezuela; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract A new species of Colostethus is described from Venezuelan Guayana. It inhabits the slopes of Aprada tepui, a sandstone table mountain in southern Venezuela. The new species is distinguished from close relatives by its particular pattern, absence of fringes on fingers, presence of a lingual process, and yellow and orange ventral coloration. It is the 18th described species of Colostethus from Venezuelan Guayana. Key words: Amphibia, Dendrobatidae, Colostethus breweri sp. nov., Venezuelan Guayana Introduction In recent years, knowledge of the dendrobatid fauna of the Venezuelan Guayana has increased remarkably. While La Marca (1992) referred four species, Barrio-Amorós et al. (2004) reported 17 species; one more species will appear soon (Barrio-Amorós & Brewer- Carías in press). The discovery of new species has coincided with progressive exploration of the Guiana Shield, one of the most inaccessible and unknown areas in the world. Barrio- Amorós et al. (2004) reviewed the taxonomic history of Colostethus from Venezuelan Guayana. Here, I provide the description of an additional new species from Aprada tepui, situated west of Chimantá massif and Apacara river. This species was collected by Charles Brewer-Carías and colleagues, during ongoing exploration of Venezuelan Guayana. The only known amphibian from the Aprada tepui is Stefania satelles, from 2500 m (Señaris et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Perfil Del MN Cerro Autana
    Estado de Conservación del Monumento Natural Cerro Autana Rodolfo Castillo Viviana Salas 2007 Citar como: Castillo R. y V. Salas. 2007. Estado de Conservación del Monumento Natural Cerro Autana. En: BioParques: Asociación Civil para la Conservación de los Parques Nacionales. Programa Observadores de Parques (www.bioparques.org / www.parkswatch.org) BioParques BioParques Monumento Natural Cerro Autana Índice Índice ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Resumen ..................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1. Descripción ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Biodiversidad ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3. Amenazas ............................................................................................................................. 3 2. Descripción ................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1. Geografía .............................................................................................................................. 4 2.2. Biodiversidad ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Anew Species of the Genus Oreophrynella
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Cadernos Espinosanos (E-Journal) Volume 45(6):61-67, 2005 A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS OREOPHRYNELLA (ANURA; BUFONIDAE) FROM THE GUIANA HIGHLANDS JOSEFA CELSA SEÑARIS1,2 CARLOS DONASCIMIENTO1,3 OSVALDO VILLARREAL1,4 ABSTRACT Oreophrynella weiassipuensis sp. nov. is described from Wei-Assipu-tepui on the Guyana-Brazil border. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus by the presence of well developed post-orbital crests, toe webbing, dorsal skin minutely granular with scattered large tubercles, and reddish brown dorsal and ventral coloration. KEYWORDS: Anura, Bufonidae, Oreophrynella, new species, Pantepui, Guiana Shield, Guyana, Brazil. INTRODUCTION was described from the summit of Cerro El Sol (Diego-Aransay and Gorzula, 1987), a tepui which is The bufonids of the genus Oreophrynella are a not part of the Roraima formation. Señaris et al. group of noteworthy small toads, endemic to the (1994) reviewed the Guiana highland bufonids and highlands of the Guiana Region in northeastern South described two additional species, O. nigra from America. Members of this genus are frogs of small Kukenán and Yuruaní tepuis, and O. vasquezi from Ilú- size (< 26 mm SVL), characterized by opposable digits tepui. Finally Señaris (1995) described O. cryptica from of the foot, tuberculate dorsal skin, and direct Auyán-tepui. development (McDiarmid, 1971; McDiarmid and On July 2000 a speleological expedition to Wei- Gorzula, 1989; Señaris et al., 1994). Assipu-tepui, conducted by members of the Italian and The genus was created by Boulenger (1895a, b) Venezuelan speleological societies (Carreño et al., 2002; for the newly described species O.
    [Show full text]
  • Science Snap (#26): Angel Falls, Venezuela
    Science Snap (#26): Angel Falls, Venezuela Sorcha McMahon is a third year PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. Sorcha is investigating how strange igneous rocks called carbonatites may have formed, using both natural samples and high-pressure experiments. Canaima National Park. Photo credit: Sorcha McMahon Angel Falls is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall in the Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gran Sabana region of Bolívar State, in Venezuela. The waterfall drops from the summit of the largest tepui (table-top mountain) of the Guiana Highlands of South America, Auyantepui, from a height of 979 m. Angel Falls is said to have inspired the setting of the Disney animated film Up(2009) where the location is called Paradise Falls. The nearby Mount Roraima inspired the Scottish author Arthur Conan Doyle to write his novel The Lost World about the discovery of a living prehistoric world full of dinosaurs and primeval plants. The borders of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana meet on the top of this tepui, which translates to “house of the gods” in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana. Tepuis host a unique array of endemic plant and animal species, with ~1/3 of the plants found nowhere else on the planet. Angel Falls, Venezuela. It is also known as “Kerepakupai Vená” in the original indigenous Pemon language, meaning “waterfall of the deepest place”. Photo credit: Sorcha McMahon The extraordinary topography is part of the Guiana Shield, and began as the Great Plains; an igneous-metamorphic basement formed during the Precambrian as part of the supercontinent Gondwanaland (approx.
    [Show full text]