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Abstract The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) and the Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex) are two migratory waterbirds that breed simultaneously on many river beaches in South America. Both are polytypic taxa with little information about the distribution and nonbreeding (“wintering”) areas. Based on data from the literature, citizen science websites, fieldwork, and specimens housed in natural history museums, we revised the distribution of some of the main breeding colonies in South America, comparing it with continental rainy cycles to identify generalities about the role of precipitation seasonality on the defining intratropical migration routes of these species. Our data suggest that the seasonal precipitation cycle of South America directly influences the reproductive timing and distribution of both species, which is largely circumscribed by South America’s rivers. After breeding on sandy beaches during the dry season, both species disperse in small groups or even individually - not in large flocks as seen in breeding areas - making it difficult to find general migration patterns during the rainy season. Nonetheless, individuals of both species tend to follow the course of the largest rivers of the continent and even alternative routes to disperse into several areas throughout South America during the nonbreeding season.

We present records of chewing lice collected from bird skins of the families Anhimidae, Threskiornithidae, and Aramidae deposited at the Museum of Zoology of University of São Paulo (MZUSP). Twenty-one chewing lice species from the suborders Amblycera and Ischnocera were identified, seven of which are new records for Brazil. These species belong to the genera Ardeicola (1), Colpocephalum (3), Ibidoecus (1), and Plegadiphilus (2). Furthermore, ten species were recorded from new localities in Brazil, and Colpocephalum cayennensisPrice & Emerson, 1967 is for the first time recorded with precise locality in the country. Lastly, the bird host subspecies Phimosus infuscatus nudifrons (Spix, 1825) (Threskiornithidae) was for the first time found to harbor lice species.

Abstract The northeast Brazilian state of Alagoas harbors a rather diverse, and one of the world’s most threatened, avifauna. However, the knowledge about its avifauna is currently scattered on several publications and the state’s birds have never been comprehensively assembled into a checklist. To fill this shortfall, we present here the first critical review of all available bird records for the state of Alagoas. We present a list of 520 bird species recorded in the state, of which 503 are supported by documentary evidence. We also comment on the distribution, migratory movements, taxonomy and conservation of the region’s avifauna and correct previous misidentified or invalid records for the state.

Abstract The Little Chachalaca (Ortalis motmot) is a widely distributed species in the Amazon basin, typically found in riverine habitats. There are two disjunct populations: the northern O. m. motmot and the southern O. m. ruficeps (known as Chestnut-headed Chachalaca). Here we performed a vocal, morphological and plumage comparison between these two taxa. Birds present differences in tail coloration but are otherwise undiagnosable in terms of plumage. Ortalis m. ruficeps is, however, markedly smaller and lighter than O. m. motmot, with no overlap in size or weight. We also found vocal differences between O. m. motmot and O. m. ruficeps, no overlap in geographic distributions and no signs of hybridization across its range. Based on the available data, Ortalis m. ruficeps thus must be considered a valid species, endemic to Brazil.

Abstract The Belem Curassow (Crax fasciolata pinima) is one of the most endangered birds in South America, without sightings of birds in the wild for 40 years. This subspecies is nationally and internationally classified as critically endangered and close to extinction, suffering from poaching and deforestation in its range. Here we present new records of free-living individuals made on three indigenous lands in Pará and Maranhão states: in part of Terra Indígena Mãe Maria, Bom Jesus do Tocantins, Pará; in locations within the Reserva Biológica do Gurupi/Terra Indígena Alto Turiaçu, Centro Novo do Maranhão, Maranhão; and around the Terra Indígena Rio Pindaré, Alto Alegre do Pindaré, Maranhão. We also provide recommendations to protect this bird via a dedicated conservation program which includes finding new individuals in non-sampled areas (north of BR-222), estimating population size, enhancing taxonomic and natural history knowledge, capturing wild animals in order to start urgent ex situ conservation programs, and developing environmental awareness programs with the local and indigenous populations.

Abstract Montane and submontane forest patches in the state of Bahia, Brazil, are among the few large and preserved Atlantic Forests remnants. They are strongholds of an almost complete elevational gradient, which harbor both lowland and highland bird taxa. Despite being considered a biodiversity hotspot, few ornithologists have surveyed these forests, especially along elevational gradients. Here we compile bird records acquired from systematic surveys and random observations carried out since the 1980s in a 7,500 ha private protected area: Serra Bonita private reserve. We recorded 368 species, of which 143 are Atlantic Forest endemic taxa. Some 16 and 13 species are threatened at the global and national levels, respectively. If one accounts for subspecies, the number of Brazilian threatened taxa raises to 21. Species composition differs between lower and higher elevations, in which case lowlands harbor Amazonia-related taxa, whereas highlands are the home of Atlantic Forest-related taxa.

Abstract We reviewed the occurrences and distributional patterns of migratory species of birds in Brazil. A species was classified as migratory when at least part of its population performs cyclical, seasonal movements with high fidelity to its breeding grounds. Of the 1,919 species of birds recorded in Brazil, 198 (10.3%) are migratory. Of these, 127 (64%) were classified as Migratory and 71 (36%) as Partially Migratory. A few species (83; 4.3%) were classified as Vagrant and eight (0,4%) species could not be defined due to limited information available, or due to conflicting data.

Lepidocolaptes angustirostris is a South American woodcreeper that inhabits predominantly open lowlands such as the Cerrado, Chaco and Caatinga. Eight subspecies are currently recognized based on plumage patterns and geographical distribution. However, a more detailed morphological analysis and taxonomic revision have not been done in this species. The objective of this study was to conduct a taxonomic revision of L. angustirostris using morphometrical and plumage character, and a Generalized Linear Models analyzes (GLM) were elaborated to identify environmental variables that could account for this variation. We found a high level of intergradation among all named populations. The principal component analyzes show certain levels of morphological differentiation among the taxa, with a first component formed by bill characters (bill length, exposed and total culmen), and a second one that includes the bill width and the tarsus-metatarsus length. In the GLM analyzes, two climatic variables explain the geographical variation in the taxon, temperature seasonality and precipitation of warmest quarter. The ecogeographic rules of Bergmann and Gloger can be applied to this variation, and, more narrowly, the Allen's rule. Thus, the populations of the Narrow-billed Woodcreeper tend to be larger to the south of the distribution. We propose here that L. angustirostris is a single species, with no subordinate taxa. Any evidence analyzed here did not support the taxonomic validity of the proposed subspecies in the taxon. Despite colour-polymorphism identified in the plumage patterns, the high level of intergradation and the poor resolution of geographical boundaries did not support the splitting of this species.

The Atlantic Forest of northeast Brazil hosts a unique biota which is among the most threatened in the Neotropics. Near-total conversion of forest habitat to sugar cane monocultures has left the region's endemic forest-dependent avifauna marooned in a few highly-fragmented and degraded forest remnants. Here we summarise the current status of 16 globally threatened species based on surveys conducted over the last 11 years. We found a bleak situation for most of these species and consider that three endemics: Glaucidium mooreorum (Pernambuco Pygmy-owl), Cichlocolaptes mazarbarnetti (Cryptic Treehunter) and Philydor novaesi (Alagoas Foliage-gleaner) are most likely globally extinct. Some positive news can, however, be reported for both Leptodon forbesi (White-collared Kite) and Synallaxis infuscata (Pinto's Spinetail) which may warrant re-evaluation of their respective red list statuses. We outline a road map to prioritise conservation interventions in the region directed at preventing the extinction of this suite of threatened bird species and their companion biota.

After the description in the 19th century of two hummingbird species currently allocated to the genus Stephanoxis, Peters (1945) merged both taxa into a single species without providing any rationale. Here we re-evaluate the taxonomy and species limits of the representatives of this genus based on an extensive number of specimens. We demonstrate these taxa are better treated as full species under both the Biological and Phylogenetic Species Concepts due to their well-defined range and plumage patterns and reciprocally diagnosability. They have distinct, allopatric distributions segregated by a 160 km gap between the Serra do Mar, to the east, and Serra de Paranapiacaba, to the west, in the state of São Paulo. Stephanoxis species have ranges which are congruent with other montane bird species’ suggesting shared vicariance events during preterit interglacial periods.

Despite their wide use in ornithological surveys, point counts and mist nets follow protocols developed in temperate regions, with little attention to possible modifications for tropical systems. Using these methods on a 3-month basis from December 2009-January 2011 in two forest fragments in southeastern Brazil, we wished to evaluate how long these locations needed to be surveyed with point counts for a relatively complete avifaunal inventory (at least 90% of all species and contacts), and if mist net hourly captures can equally detect numbers of species and individuals. Daily counting with four 20-min points during five consecutive days in a rain forest (MC) detected 90% of the estimated species richness after 20 h (60 20-min point counts), while 17 h (51 20-min point counts) did not detect 90% of the estimated species richness in a semideciduous forest (IT). The first 5 min of point counting in MC (63% of all species) and in IT (65%) detected significantly more species than the remaining minutes, but it took 15 min to accumulate 86% of all contacts in both forests. Consecutive 5-day mist netting (~ 9 h/day) resulted in 70.5 net-h/m² (MC) and 74.8 net-h/m² (IT) of sample effort, but 80-85% of the estimated number of species was obtained. Although accumulation curves showed no tendency towards stabilization of the number of observed species, the estimated number of species began to stabilize after the first 20 h in both forests. There was no significant difference in capture rates for both species richness and abundance among hourly net checks, but a trend in which these parameters were highest between the second and fourth checks of the day was observed. A 3-day (43.8 and 63.3 net-h/m²) mist netting section was enough to record 90% of the species captured during five days in MC and IT, respectively, while precise enough not to jeopardize species richness estimation. The number of individuals, however, decreased order 34% in MC and 38% in IT under the same conditions. Considering the number of net checks, 90% of the estimated species richness was captured until the 1100 h check in both remnants, while 67% of all individuals were captured until this same hour. Our results demonstrate that surveying the avifauna in these locations will require unique approaches, which must be tested before the beginning of point counting or net opening.

In the northern hemisphere, bird counts have been fundamental in gathering data to understand population trends. Due to the seasonality of the northern hemisphere, counts take place during two clearly defined moments in time: the breeding season (resident birds) and winter (after migration). Depending on location, Neotropical birds may breed at any time of year, may or may not migrate, and those patterns are not necessarily synchronous among species. Also in contrast to the northern hemisphere, population trends and the impact of rapid urbanization and deforestation are unknown and unmonitored. Throughout one year, we used point counts to better understand temporal patterns of bird species richness and relative abundance in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, to examine how to implement similar bird counts in tropical America. We counted birds twice each day on 10 point transects (20 points day‑1), separated by 200 m, with a 100 m limited detection radius in a semideciduous tropical forest. Both species richness and bird abundance were greater in the morning, but accumulation curves suggest that longer-duration afternoon counts would reach the same total species as in morning counts. Species richness and bird abundance did not vary seasonally and unique species were counted every month; relatively few species (20%) were present in all months. Most (84%) known forest species in the area were encountered. We suggest that point counts can work here as they do in the northern hemisphere. We recommend that transects include at least 20 points and that the simplest timing of bird counts would also be seasonal, using timing of migration of austral migrants (and six months later) to coordinate counts. We propose that bird counts in Brazil, and elsewhere in Latin America, would provide data to help understand population trends, but would require greater effort than in temperate latitudes due to greater species richness and different dynamics of reproduction and migration. With collaboration among ornithologists and coordinated bird surveys, we may develop a technique for the tropics that would yield information for population trends and conservation of birds, similar to counts in temperate latitudes.

Due to rapid and continuous deforestation, recent bird surveys in the Atlantic Forest are following rapid assessment programs to accumulate significant amounts of data during short periods of time. During this study, two surveying methods were used to evaluate which technique rapidly accumulated most species (> 90% of the estimated empirical value) at lowland Atlantic Forests in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Birds were counted during the 2008-2010 breeding seasons using 10-minute point counts and 10-species lists. Overall, point counting detected as many species as lists (79 vs. 83, respectively), and 88 points (14.7 h) detected 90% of the estimated species richness. Forty-one lists were insufficient to detect 90% of all species. However, lists accumulated species faster in a shorter time period, probably due to the nature of the point count method in which species detected while moving between points are not considered. Rapid assessment programs in these forests will rapidly detect more species using 10-species lists. Both methods shared 63% of all forest species, but this may be due to spatial and temporal mismatch between samplings of each method.

Boracéia Biological Station, near the city of Salesópolis, SP, is located in one of the most well-defined centers of endemism in eastern Brazil - the Serra do Mar Center. While the station was established only in 1954 under the auspices of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, the avifauna of this locality had already attracted the attention of ornithologists by the 1940s, when the first specimens were collected. Here we describe the ornithological history of the Boracéia Biological Station with a review of all the bird species recorded during more than 68 years, including recent transect and mist-netting records. Boracéia's records were found in museums, literature and unpublished reports that totaled 323 bird species when recent data is also considered. Of these, 117 are endemic to the Atlantic forest and 28 are threatened in the state. Although there are a few doubtful records that need to be checked, some species are the only sightings in the state. Boracéia includes a recently discovered species near the station site and is extremely important for the conservation of Atlantic forest birds.A Estação Biológica de Boracéia, localizada em Salesópolis, SP, situa-se na Serra do Mar, importante região biogeográfica e um dos centros de endemismo mais bem definidos do Brasil. Apesar de instituída em 1954, quando passou a pertencer ao Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, a avifauna desta localidade já era objeto de pesquisas desde a década de 1940, época em que foram realizadas as primeiras coletas de aves. Aqui é apresentada pela primeira vez uma revisão de todos os registros avifaunísticos realizados nessa localidade ao longo de mais de 68 anos assim como a adição de novos registros com base em dados coletados recentemente com transectos lineares e redes de neblina. Os registros para Boracéia estiveram representados em museus, na literatura e em dados não publicados que, somados aos registros recentes, acumularam 323 espécies de aves para a localidade. Destas, 117 são endêmicas da Mata Atlântica e 28 estão sob diferentes graus de ameaça no Estado. Embora alguns registros possam ser duvidosos e necessitem de confirmação, algumas espécies representam os únicos registros para o Estado. Boracéia inclui ainda uma espécie recém descoberta em áreas próximas, sendo de grande importância para a conservação das aves de Mata Atlântica.

Many species in the genus Sporophila are migratory. Migration patterns, while poorly studied, may be influenced by seed production which can be very seasonal in some regions. The distribution of S. bouvreuil extends from the Amazon and Suriname south through a large part of the open regions of Brazil. Sporophila pileata, on the other hand, is found in southeastern and southern Brazil as well as Argentina and Paraguay. Both of these species migrate, but their movement patterns are poorly known. To better understand the geographical and the seasonal distributions of S. bouvreuil and S. pileata, we grouped the records into two categories: the breeding season (September to March) and the putative migration season (April to August). We found two areas of sympatry between S. bouvreuil and S. pileata in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. For S. bouvreuil we suggest that populations that breed in the Amazon migrate to the Cerrado or Caatinga, where they will encounter resident populations of the same species. These resident populations may take part in short distance migrations. Sporophila pileata, on the other hand, occur in the Cerrado and open areas within the Atlantic Forest and it is not yet possible to determine migratory tendencies or destinations in the non-breeding season.Muitos representantes do gênero Sporophila são migratórios. Estes movimentos são pouco estudados e podem ser determinados por fatores como a produção de gramíneas, que podem ser altamente sazonais em algumas regiões. A distribuição de Sporophila bouvreuil se estende desde a região amazônica e Suriname passando pelas áreas abertas de boa parte do Brasil, enquanto que S. pileata distribui-se pelo sul e sudeste do Brasil, além da Argentina e Paraguai. Os movimentos migratórios destas duas espécies são pouco conhecidos e h�� evidências de que algumas populações podem ser residentes durante todo o ano. Com o objetivo de definir a distribuição geográfica e sazonal de S. bouvreuil e S. pileata, os registros foram agrupados em dois tipos, um durante o período reprodutivo (setembro a março) e outro durante os meses de abril a agosto, quando supostamente estas espécies podem migrar. Foram identificadas duas áreas de simpatria entre S. bouvreuil e S. pileata, nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Para S. bouvreuil sugere-se que as populações que reproduzem na Amazônia se deslocam para o Cerrado ou a Caatinga, onde se encontram com as populações residentes nestes biomas. As populações desta diagonal seca se reproduzem nestes domínios e provavelmente realizam apenas migrações de curta distância. Na Mata Atlântica parte das populações são residentes, permanecendo neste bioma durante todo o ano. As populações de S. pileata que ocorrem no Cerrado e nas áreas abertas da Mata Atlântica se reproduzem nos seus respectivos biomas, mas não foi possível identificar as possíveis áreas de invernagem para esta espécie.

Inventários de fauna acessam diretamente a diversidade de uma localidade, em um determinado espaço e tempo. Os dados primários gerados pelos inventários compõem uma das ferramentas mais importantes na tomada de decisões a respeito do manejo de áreas naturais. Entretanto, vários problemas têm sido observados em diversos níveis relacionados aos inventários de fauna no Brasil e vão desde a formação de recursos humanos até a ausência de padronização, de desenho experimental e de seleção de métodos inadequados. São apresentados estudos de caso com mamíferos, répteis, anfíbios e peixes, nos quais são discutidos problemas como variabilidade temporal e métodos para detecção de fauna terrestre, sugerindo que tanto os inventários quanto os programas de monitoramento devam se estender por prazos maiores e que os inventários devem incluir diferentes metodologias para que os seus objetivos sejam plenamente alcançados.Inventories of fauna directly access the diversity of a locality in a certain period of time. The primary data generated by these inventories comprise one of the most important steps in decisions making regarding the management of natural areas. However, several problems have been observed at different levels related to inventories of fauna in Brazil, and range from the training of humans to the lack of standardization of experimental design and selection of inappropriate methods. We present case studies of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, where they discussed issues such temporal variability and methods for detection of terrestrial fauna, suggesting that both inventories and monitoring programs should be extended for longer terms and that inventories should include different methodologies to ensure that their goals are fully achieved.

The Dark-winged Trumpeter, Psophia viridis (Gruiformes, Psophiidae) is a Brazilian endemic species and includes three subspecies: Psophia viridis viridis Spix, 1825; Psophia v. dextralis Conover, 1934, and Psophia v. obscura Pelzeln, 1857, as well as P. v. interjecta Griscom & Greenway, 1937, whose validity has been questioned by several authors. These taxa are allopatric in distribution along the south of the Amazon River, although the precise limits of their distribution still remain unknown. This complex has never been taxonomically reviewed and this work aims to test the validity of its taxa based on the Phylogenetic Species Concept. Morphometrical characters and plumage colour patterns were analyzed, and the distribution of the taxa was also revised. In this study, 108 specimens from 41 localities were examined (all types included), with each reliable literature-based locality being included in order to delimit the geographical distribution of the complex. Morphometrical data did not point out significant differences between the taxa, also showing no sexual dimorphism among them. Meanwhile, plumage characters showed consistent and distinct patterns for each of the taxa, except for P. v. interjecta, whose features indicated by authors as diagnosable are the result of individual variation. No clinal variation or intergradation were observed, even at regions close to the rivers headwaters, where supposedly populations could be in contact. It is suggested that the currently accepted subspecies be elevated to the species level, such as: Psophia viridis Spix, 1825, distributed in the Madeira-Tapajós interfluvium, P. dextralis, found in the Tapajós-Tocantins interfluvium, and P. obscura, which occurs from the right bank of the Tocantins River to the west of the State of Maranhão.Os jacamins-de-costas-verdes, Psophia viridis (Gruiformes, Psophiidae) são endêmicos da Amazônia brasileira e contam, atualmente, com três subespécies reconhecidas: Psophia viridis viridis Spix, 1825; Psophia v. dextralis Conover, 1934, e Psophia v. obscura Pelzeln, 1857, além de P. v. interjecta Griscom & Greenway, 1937, cuja validade tem sido questionada por diversos autores. Estes táxons distribuem-se alopatricamente ao sul do rio Amazonas, embora os limites precisos de suas distribuições sejam ainda pouco conhecidos. Os táxons deste complexo nunca passaram por uma revisão taxonômica, e o presente trabalho teve como objetivos testar a validade dos mesmos. Com base no Conceito Filogenético de Espécie, os caracteres morfométricos e de colorido da plumagem foram analisados, além de refinar a distribuição geográfica dos táxons do complexo. Foram examinados 108 espécimes procedentes de 41 localidades, incluindo todos os tipos, e foram considerados também os registros confiáveis de literatura para delimitar-se a distribuição geográfica. Os dados morfométricos não indicaram diferenças significativas entre os táxons, não apontando também qualquer dimorfismo sexual. Entretanto, a análise dos caracteres de plumagem evidenciou padrões consistentes e distintos para cada um dos táxons, exceto para P. v. interjecta, cujos caracteres indicados pelos autores como diagnósticos são resultado de variação individual. Não foi observada variação clinal ou sinal de intergradação entre estes táxons, mesmo nas regiões próximas às cabeceiras dos grandes rios amazônicos, onde supostamente as populações poderiam entrar em contato. Sugere-se que as subespécies correntemente aceitas sejam elevadas ao nível de espécie, a saber: Psophia viridis Spix, 1825, que ocorre no interflúvio Madeira-Tapajós; P. dextralis Conover, 1934, encontrado no interflúvio Tapajós-Tocantins, e P. obscura Pelzeln, 1857, que distribui-se da margem direita do rio Tocantins até o oeste do Estado do Maranhão.

The cranial osteology of Nothura maculosa is described and compared with species belonging to other seven genera of tinamous (Tinamidae). Dried, spirit preserved and stained specimens were used for the description and comparison. Young birds showing open sutures proved to be useful in determining the structural contribution of each bone. Results allow recognition of characters common to all genera, such as the presence of an articular surface in the dorsal portion of the otic process of the quadrate, the incomplete fusion of the caudal portion of the vomer and the presence of only one articular surface between the quadrate bone and the skull. We also recognize two groups in the family: one containing the birds belonging to the genera Tinamus and Crypturellus, which have a chain of supraorbital ossicles, a small choanal pit and a well-developed pseudotemporal tubercle, among other characters. A second group, including the birds belonging to the genera Nothura, Rhynchotus, Nothoprocta, Taoniscus, Eudromia and Tinamotis, can be distinguished by a discrete postorbital process, a large choanal pit and a discrete pseudotemporal tubercle. Besides, this group does not possess a chain of supraorbital ossicles as in the first group.

A osteologia craniana de Nothura maculosa é descrita e comparada com representantes de outros sete gêneros de tinamídeos (Tinamidae). Foram utilizados crânios preparados em via seca e úmida, bem como exemplares diafanizados, para a descrição e para as comparações. O uso de aves jovens, que ainda apresentam as suturas cranianas visíveis, mostrou-se útil para determinar a contribuição de cada osso na formação da estrutura. Os resultados obtidos permitem reconhecer alguns caracteres comuns a todos os gêneros estudados, como a presença de uma única superfície articular para a porção dorsal do processo ótico do quadrado, a fusão incompleta da porção caudal do vômer e a presença de apenas uma superfície articular entre o quadrado e a caixa craniana. Foi possível reconhecer, também, dois grupos dentro da família: um formado pelos representantes dos gêneros Tinamus e Crypturellus, que pode ser caracterizado pela presença de ossículos supra-orbitais, por uma reduzida fossa coanal e pela presença de um desenvolvido tubérculo pseudotemporal, entre outros caracteres. O outro grupo, composto por representantes dos gêneros Nothura, Rhynchotus, Nothoprocta, Taoniscus, Eudromia e Tinamotis, pode ser distinguido por possuir, entre outros caracteres, um discreto processo pós-orbital, uma ampla fossa coanal e um tubérculo pseudotemporal discreto, além de não possuir ossículo supra-orbital.

The currently accepted albatross taxonomy, based on characters of external morphology, plumage patterns, tail shape, bill size and coloration, organization of the plates of the bill, and, more recently, molecular data such as cytochrome-b gene sequences, resulted in a division of the family Diomedeidae into four genera: Diomedea, comprising the great albatrosses; Phoebastria, the North Pacific albatrosses; Thalassarche, the mollymawks; and Phoebetria, the sooty mollymawks. However, there are only a few, old studies on albatross osteology, which focused mostly on supra-generic relationships. Research on the group's taxonomy and anatomy is important in order to establish a secure basis for the identification of each species, including the differences between males, females and specimens of different ages, and also to verify anatomic characters which might be found useful for phylogenetic analysis based on morphological markers. In the present study, 63 skulls of Diomedea and Thalassarche albatrosses were analyzed and compared, thus establishing topographic correspondences and determining primary homologies, these resulting in: (a) the finding of no pattern of anatomical variation related to sex and age for both T. melanophris and for T. chlororhynchos; (b) the assessment of eight cranial landmarks separating the genera Diomedea and Thalassarche; (c) the recognition of 13 cranial landmarks differing among T. melanophris, T. chlororhynchos and T. cauta; (d) the re-identification of several specimens based on skull characters. The characters here presented for the genera and species, along with further anatomical research on the skull of the Diomedeidae, including the genera Phoebetria and Phoebastria, may help to enlighten relationships within the family.A atual taxonomia dos albatrozes consiste na divisão da família Diomedeidae em quatro gêneros: Diomedea, que inclui os grandes albatrozes; Phoebastria, formado pelos albatrozes do norte do Pacífico; Thalassarche, para os chamados "mollymawks" e Phoebetria, para os "mollymawks fuliginosos" e foi baseada em caracteres da morfologia externa, padrões de plumagem, forma da cauda, tamanho e coloração do bico e a organização das placas da ranfoteca e, mais recentemente, seqüências do citocromo-b. Entretanto, existem poucos e antigos estudos sobre a osteologia dos albatrozes que estudaram apenas as relações supra-genéricas. A pesquisa na taxonomia e na anatomia do grupo é importante para se criar uma base segura para a identificação das espécies, incluindo aí as diferenças existentes entre machos, fêmeas e de exemplares em diferentes idades, além de se verificar caracteres anatômicos cranianos que podem revelar-se úteis para análises filogenéticas com base em marcadores morfológicos. No presente trabalho, 63 crânios de representantes dos gêneros Diomedea e Thalassarche foram analisados e comparados, estabelecendo correspondências topográficas e determinando homologias primárias, o que resultou em: (a) a descoberta da ausência de padrões de distinção anatômica relacionados ao sexo e à idade para T. melanophris e para T. chlororhynchos; (b) levantamento de oito caracteres do crânio que separam os gêneros Diomedea e Thalassarche; (c) reconhecimento de 13 caracteres cranianos que diferem entre T. melanophris, T. chlororhynchos e T. cauta; (d) re-identificação de vários espécimes baseados em caracteres cranianos. Os caracteres aqui apresentados para os gêneros e espécies, juntamente com futuras pesquisas na anatomia do crânio de Diomedeidae, incluindo os gêneros Phoebetria e Phoebastria, podem ajudar na elucidação das relações de parentesco dentro da família.

A avifauna da região de Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade (incluindo aí o município de Pontes e Lacerda), Mato Grosso, foi amostrada no final do mês de julho de 1997. Para este levantamento foram utilizados diferentes métodos, que resultaram num total de 312 espécies de aves. Os resultados desta campanha foram comparados com aqueles obtidos por Johann Natterer e Willis e Oniki, que passaram por esta mesma região no século XIX (década de 1820) e na década de 1980, respectivamente. Para a região do Vale do Guaporé temos, quando somados os resultados de todos os autores, um mínimo de 472 espécies de aves, e extinções locais não são reportadas, demonstrando um considerável grau de conservação para esta área. A maioria das espécies registradas nesta região está ligada à Floresta Amazônica, e os cerrados de Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade provavelmente abrigam a maior população de uma espécie considerada como globalmente ameaçada de extinção, o caboclinho-do-sertão, Sporophila nigrorufa, e outros endemismos do cerrado, sendo justificável a tomada de medidas de proteção a estas áreas.We inventoried the avifauna of the region of Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade (including the municipality of Pontes e Lacerda), in Mato Grosso State, in the end of July of 1997. Our results were compared with those of Natterer and of Willis and Oniki, who covered the same region in the 1820's and 1980's respectively. We used different sampling methods, recording a total of 312 species of birds. Most of species recorded are related with Amazon region. A total of 472 bird species were recorded in Guaporé Valley when the results of the others authors were summed with ours results, and many of the species recorded by them were also recorded in our study. The cerrados of Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade probably guards the largest population of a globally threatened species, the Black-and-tawny Seedeater, Sporophila nigrorufa, as many other cerrado specialists and deserve immediate conservation measures.

Reflexões sobre coleções zoológicas, sua curadoria e a inserção dos Museus na estrutura universitária brasileira

Abstract The White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi) is an endemic and threatened raptor of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Here we present the known records of the species, describe the vegetation types where it was found and show Ecological Niche Models generated using Maxent algorithm. Most of the presence data were recorded in open ombrophilous forest and seasonal semideciduous forest in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco. Maxent model had a good performance (AUC = 0.982 ± 0.004 SD), showing higher suitability for the species from Paraíba to Alagoas states. Maxent average model revealed a distribution range of 20,344 km² and an area of occupancy of 1,636.89 km². The most suitable areas for the species are those near watercourses and streams. We suggest the creation of protected areas, including private ones, and possible restoration actions to connect the most suitable forest fragments, along with the captive breeding, as the most appropriate strategies for the conservation of the White-collared Kite.