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Federal University of Par? - Campus Castanhal. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Par?, Brazil / Institute of Sustainable Development Mamirau?. Tef?, AM, Brazil. Federal University of Par? - Campus Castanhal. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Par?, Brazil / Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Centro Nacional de Primatas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Centro Nacional de Primatas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil. State University of Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Breeding. Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. Institute of Sustainable Development Mamirau?. Tef?, AM, Brazil. Institute of Sustainable Development Mamirau?. Tef?, AM, Brazil. Federal University of Par? - Campus Castanhal. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Par?, Brazil. Federal University of Par? - Campus Castanhal. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Par?, Brazil. Sperm morphometry can be applied to identify different animal groups and species and to evaluate sperm quality. Furthermore, knowledge on species-specific differences will help to enhance biological information, as well as to develop efficient reproductive technologies. The aims in the present study were to describe sperm morphometry from the recently characterized species S. collinsi and S. vanzolinii, to verify if the morphometric sperm patterns are similar or different between both species, and to determine if the sperm morphometry is affected by the levels of sperm defects using the S. collinsi as a model. Semen was collected from S. collinsi (n = 10) and S. vanzolinii (n = 2) monkeys, and sperm was submitted to morphological analysis. From the 10 samples from S. collinsi, five presented sperm of poor quality and two subgroups were formed for this species, i.e. high and poor quality sperm. Data on sperm motility and vigour were analysed, as well morphometric parameters on sperm head and tail. It was observed the normal morphometry was correlated with high quality sperm. Poor quality sperm presented smaller and 7% more ellipticity in their head, when compared with high quality sperm. Sperm from S. vanzolinii presented larger head than those from S. collinsi, but tail lengths were similar. Sperm morphometry can be used as a complementary tool to predict sperm motility and vigour for the S. collinsi species, and S. collinsi appear as a suitable model for S. vanzolinii.

Ovarian agenesis is an unusual anomaly with traumatic or congenital origin. In the present case report, we describe our findings in a senile S. vanzolinii female. As this neotropical primate species is listed as vulnerable, with limited geographic distribution in the Brazilian Amazonia, ovarian agenesis may be an important finding to be reported.

The squirrel monkey, Saimiri, is a pan-Amazonian Pleistocene radiation. We use statistical phylogeographic methods to create a mitochondrial DNA-based timetree for 118 squirrel monkey samples across 68 localities spanning all Amazonian centers of endemism, with the aim of better understanding (1) the effects of rivers as barriers to dispersal and distribution; (2) the area of origin for modern Saimiri; (3) whether ancestral Saimiri was a lowland lake-affiliated or an upland forest taxa; and (4) the effects of Pleistocene climate fluctuation on speciation. We also use our topology to help resolve current controversies in Saimiri taxonomy and species relationships. The RondÔnia and Inambari centers in the southern Amazon were recovered as the most likely areas of origin for Saimiri. The Amazon River proved a strong barrier to dispersal, and squirrel monkey expansion and diversification was rapid, with all speciation events estimated to occur between 1.4 and 0.6. Ma, predating the last three glacial maxima and eliminating climate extremes as the main driver of squirrel monkey speciation. Saimiri expansion was concentrated first in central and western Amazonia, which according to the "Young Amazon" hypothesis was just becoming available as floodplain habitat with the draining of the Amazon Lake. Squirrel monkeys also expanded and diversified east, both north and south of the Amazon, coincident with the formation of new rivers. This evolutionary history is most consistent with a Young Amazon Flooded Forest Taxa model, suggesting Saimiri has always maintained a lowland wetlands niche and was able to greatly expand its range with the transition from a lacustrine to a riverine system in Amazonia. Saimiri vanzolinii was recovered as the sister group to one clade of Saimiri ustus, discordant with the traditional Gothic vs. Roman morphological division of squirrel monkeys. We also found paraphyly within each of the currently recognized species: S. sciureus, S. ustus, and S. macrodon. We discuss evidence for taxonomic revision within the genus Saimiri, and the need for future work using nuclear markers. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Eleven taxa of primates are found in the floodplains of the western portion of the central Brazilian Amazon, protected in part by the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve. The taxonomy of the squirrel monkeys, the number of taxa, and their geographic distributions are still poorly understood. Here we investigate differentiation among the taxa of this genus in Mamiraua, examining their morphology and geographic distribution. We registered 333 points of occurrence of squirrel monkeys and examined 117 specimens deposited in scientific collections. The results of the morphological analyses were generally in good agreement with field observations. Together they indicate the existence of three taxa: Saimiri vanzolinii, Saimiri sciureus macrodon, and S. s. cassiquiarensis. The restricted range of Saimiri vanzolinii in the southeastern portion of the reserve covers an area of 870 km2, and it is among the smallest of the distribution areas for any Neotropical primate species. Saimiri sciureus cassiquiarensis has a disjunct distribution, crossing the Japura River to the right bank into the reserve in two places, and S. s. macrodon is the squirrel monkey ranging widely in the northwest of Mamiraua. There are three areas of parapatry: one between Saimiri vanzolinii and Saimiri sciureus macrodon and two between S. vanzolinii and S. s. cassiquiarensis. We recommend that anthropogenic changes in the region be monitored, and conservation measures be taken to protect these primates, especially considering the endemism and very restricted range of Saimiri vanzolinii and its consequent vulnerability to extinction.

Summary Morphological information on the reproductive system allows the understanding of ecological and behavioural aspects of different species as well as supports the development of conservational strategies. Unfortunately, for many species, not enough relevant and precise information is available. In the present study, we describe for the first time the macroscopic and histological aspects of female genital organs and external female genitalia of Saimiri macrodon, Saimiri cassiquiarensis and Saimiri vanzolinii. We perform a comparison between these three peripatric species and investigate the possibility of their reproductive morphology to act as a factor of reproductive isolation. We have found that these species share many similarities in most of the analysed organs. Although some important differences were identified that may play an important role in the evolution of the components of the reproductive system of these species, those differences are not enough to compose a mechanism of reproductive isolation for these three species of Saimiri. The results of this study may be used to support the development of biotechnological approaches of reproduction and strategies for conservation programmes and management of threatened species of this genus, particularly S. vanzolinii, considered to be a vulnerable species to extinction.

This study was supported by the Mamirau? Institute for Sustainable Development (IDSM) (EcoVert-1.3.2011) and National Primate Center (CENP) (project 01/2014), Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior, CAPES (Brazil) (fellowship), and Federal University of Par? (UFPA) (project no 482570/2010-5). Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Centro Nacional de Primatas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil / Federal University of Par?. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Brazil. Federal University of Par?. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Brazil / Utrecht University. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Utrecht, The Netherlands. Federal University of Par?. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Brazil. Mamirau? Institute for Sustainable Development. Tef?, AM, Brazil. Minist?rio da Sa?de. Secretaria de Vigil?ncia em Sa?de. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Centro de Inova??es Tecn?logica. Ananindeua, PA, Brazil. Federal University of Par?. Laboratory of Wild Animal Biology and Medicine. Castanhal, PA, Brazil. Differential phenotypic characteristics for taxonomic diagnosis purposes are well determined in the genus Saimiri (squirrel monkey). However, data on its reproductive characteristics are lacking. Our aim was to determine testicular biometry and correlate with seminal analysis in captive (Saimiri collinsi) and free living (Saimiri vanzolinii, Saimiri cassiquiarensis, and Saimiri macrodon) squirrel monkeys. Testicular length, width, height, circumference, and volume were measured. Testicular biometry showed no differences between right and left testicles within the same species, as well as among species. Semen collected by electroejaculation was constituted of a liquid and coagulated fraction, or only one of them. No significant difference was observed between mean volumes of liquid (49.2?68.9 ?L: S. collinsi; 28.3?59.8 ?L: S. vanzolinii; 5?7.1 ?L: S. cassiquiarensis; and 0 ?L: S. macrodon) and coagulated (65.4?142.1 ?L: S. collinsi; 125.8?142.5 ?L: S. vanzolinii; 175?176.8 ?L: S. cassiquiarensis; and 500 ?L: S. macrodon) fractions within species or when each fraction was compared among the studied species. No correlation between testicular volume and seminal volume was observed when liquid (R = 0.31, S. collinsi; R = 0.69, S. vanzolinii) and coagulated (R = 0.32, S. collinsi; R = 0.37, S. vanzolinii) fractions were evaluated. No sufficient data were obtained for the other two species. Seminal quality was similar among species, and the most common defect was coiled tail. The method of electroejaculation yielded satisfactory results on these species, under field conditions.