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Although the major Squamata lineages are primarily oriented by chemical or visual sensory systems, many lizards are able to use acoustic information and several species produce sounds. However, while gekkotans are renowned by their complex vocal repertoires, sounds of other lizards are much less known. Herein we characterize the sounds emitted by individuals of Tropidurus catalanensis (Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil in response to threat stimuli. Our results revealed that the acoustic display was consistently emitted by adult individuals. The typical sound emission consisted of a single click, very short in duration, and without frequency modulation. This is the first report of sound emission by Tropidurus lizards, expanding the knowledge on the behavioural repertoire of the genus, and contributing to understanding the extension of sound emission in lizards.

Proportions between pairs of digits are linked to fitness in tetrapods and they can be influenced by sex hormones through individuals’ ontogenies. Therefore, in many species, the proportions amongst finger length ratios (referred as digit ratio, i.e. 2D second and 4D fourth digits) can differ between males and females. We investigated whether the three most commonly used forelimb digit ratios are sexually dimorphic in three tropidurid species. In one of the three lizard species, Eurolophosaurus nanuzae, males and females differ for only 2D:4D digit ratio. Otherwise, our results on the studied Tropidurus species conform to previous studies showing no differences in digit ratios between males and females. Hence, it might be the case of local selective forces shaping interpopulation variation in the expression of sexual dimorphism for digit ratio.

Isolation-by-distance is a widespread pattern in nature that describes the reduction of genetic correlation between subpopulations with increased geographic distance. In the population ancestral to modern sister species, this pattern may hypothetically inflate population divergence time estimation due to allele frequency differences in subpopulations at the ends of the ancestral population. In this study, we analyze the relationship between the time to the most recent common ancestor and the population divergence time when the ancestral population model is a linear stepping-stone. Using coalescent simulations, we compare the coalescent time to the population divergence time for various ratios of the divergence time over the population size. Next, we simulate whole genomes to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and use the Bayesian coalescent program SNAPP to estimate divergence times. We find that as the rate of migration between neighboring demes decreases, the coalescent time becomes significantly greater than the population divergence time when sampled from end demes. Divergence-time overestimation in SNAPP becomes severe when the divergence-to-population size ratio < 10 and migration is low. Finally, we demonstrate the impact of ancestral isolation-by-distance on divergence-time estimation using an empirical dataset of squamates (Tropidurus) endemic to Brazil. We conclude that studies estimating divergence times should be cognizant of the potential ancestral population structure in an explicitly spatial context or risk dramatically overestimating the timing of population splits.

Signals that are used in animal communication may have multiple sensorial channels and functions. Animal communication integrates very distinct mechanisms such as behaviour, morphology and physiological secretions. Chemical signals occur in several contexts and are known to have a role in sexual selection. In many lizards, pheromones secreted through femoral pores are used to attract females and demark territory dominance. In lizard species without femoral pores, however, study of chemical signalling is negligible. Lizards of the genus Tropidurus have no ventral pores, but express melanic patches in their ventral thighs and cloacae (body regions linked to chemical communication in other lizards), which may play a role in both visual signalling and chemical signalling. Here, we describe the occurrence of pelvic rubbing—a chemical signalling behaviour—in two Tropidurus species, displayed in intraspecific agonistic intrasexual staged encounters. In addition, we compile a list of currently reported species that display this behaviour, checking for its social contexts and presence/absence of secretion pores. We analysed behaviours in conspecific trials between males of Tropidurus semitaeniatus and of T. hispidus during their breeding season. In T. semitaeniatus, displays of pelvic rubbing elicited aggressive responses from the opponents. Tropidurus hispidus, however, did not react to these conspecific displays. Pelvic rubbings were also partially linked to defecation in both species, which is likely due to secretions from internal urodeal glands expelled during defecation. Also, high rates of tongue flick behaviours during the encounters support the hypothesis that these lizards make use of chemical communication. Our observations corroborate previous suggestions that glandular scales—scales covered by generation glands produced at the epidermis across the lizards’ shedding cycles—are present in their melanic ventral patches. Our work also highlights the potential of characterizing such ventral patches as multimodal signalling badges. Further, we investigated the contexts in which pelvic rubbing is displayed adding to our understanding of the role played by chemical signalling in lizards without femoral pores.

The effect of removal of the parietal eye (parietalectomy) was studied in free- living lava lizards at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands, and the results were compared with those obtained with parietalectomized temperate zone iguanids. Behavior, activity, body temperature, and Iodine-131 uptake by the thyroid gland were studied from Jan. 23 to Feb. 27, 1964. Parietalectomy had no detectable effect on any of the parame- ters investigated. Home ranges of adult male and female lizards were measured, and defensive and antagonistic behavior was noted. The home ranges of males often encompassed those of several females. Most adults arose and retired with the sun, and sharply reduced exposure to sunlight at midday. At night, lizards buried themselves in soil and leaf-litter, and the same bed sites were often regularly used. Individuals injected with Iodine-131 were located at night with a scintillation counter. Active lizards had body temperatures averaging 34 to 350C (range 22.6 to 39.00C), which showed a bi-modal distribution. Cloud cover was a significant factor in body temperature fluctuations. Sexual dimorphism, both in color and in size of adults, was marked. Females had red "cheek" patches and were smaller than males. Most males had sperm in their sperm ducts and some females contained large-shelled oviducal eggs. Mating males seized females with their jaws, and sometimes carried them some distance before attempting copulation. Posturing and perhaps the odor of refractory females discouraged males. The lizards were found to be insectivorous, but some plant material was also eaten. One small gecko (Phyllodactylus galapagoensis) was recovered from stomach contents.

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, 2021. Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). A intensa atividade agrícola vem causando uma mudança significativa no uso do solo e alterando a cobertura terrestre natural. O Brasil possui uma área considerável destinada à agricultura, principalmente para o plantio de grãos, importante fonte exportadora. Com o objetivo de melhorar a produtividade, muitos agricultores utilizam agrotóxicos a fim de evitar pragas indesejadas, e compostos que tem como base o princípio ativo glifosato são os mais vendidos. Apesar de ser aprovado pelas agências sanitárias, o composto pode ser perigoso para os organismos não-alvos, principalmente se usado em excesso e/ou misturado com outros químicos. Sendo assim, nosso objetivo foi investigar como esse composto afeta embriões e filhotes de Tropidurus torquatus, uma espécie de lagarto com ampla distribuição no cerrado, bem como um alto grau de sinantropia, que o torna ideal para estudos de desenvolvimento anormal. Para isso, os ovos foram incubados em condições experimentais de contaminação. Posteriormente, analisamos as taxas de mortalidade, anomalias e presença de assimetria flutuante, pois vários estudos sugerem que essa é uma forma de medir o estresse ambiental, sendo um indicador de perturbação. Em comparação aos dados de experimento controle (sem agrotóxico), observamos maior taxa de mortalidade dos ovos submetidos ao contaminante, assim como presença de anomalias, perda de membros e níveis elevados de assimetria flutuante. Nossos achados sugerem que essas mudanças na morfologia podem afetar populações naturais, além disso, lagartos podem ser utilizados como indicadores da qualidade ambiental, estimulando a evolução de mais estudos que envolvam o tema. The intense agricultural activity has been causing a significant land use and land cover change. Brazil has a considerable area destined to agriculture, the most of part is for the planting of grains. To improve productivity, many farmers use pesticides to prevent agricultural pests, solutions with glyphosate are the best sellers. Although glyphosate has been approved by health agencies, the pesticide can be dangerous to non-target organisms, especially if used in excess and/or mixed with other chemicals. Thus, we investigate how glyphosate affects embryos and offsprings of Tropidurus torquatus, a species of lizard with wide distribution in the Cerrado, as well as a high degree of synanthropy, which makes it ideal for embryology and abnormal development studies. The eggs were incubate in contaminated substrate containing pesticide. We analyzed mortality rates, anomalies and fluctuating asymmetry, as several studies suggest that this is a make to measure environmental stress, being an indicator of disturbance. We observed a higher mortality rate of eggs placed to the contaminant, as well as the presence of anomalies, loss of limbs and high levels of fluctuating asymmetry. Our findings suggest that these changes in morphology can affect natural populations, in addition, lizards can be used as indicators of environmental quality, promotion more studies involving the subject.

Studies in Evo-Devo benefit from the use of a variety of organisms, as comparative approaches provide a better understanding of Biodiversity and Evolution. Standardized protocols to incubate eggs and manipulate embryo development enable postulation of additional species as suitable biological systems for research in the field. In the past decades, vertebrate lineages such as Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) emerged as crucial study systems for addressing topics as diverse as phenotypic evolution and climate change. However, protocols for maintaining gravid females and incubating eggs in the lab under experimental conditions are available to only a few squamate species. This resource article presents a simple incubation guide that standardizes conditions to maintain embryos of Tropidurus catalanensis (Squamata: Tropiduridae) under different experimental conditions, manipulating relevant environmental factors like temperature and humidity. We identified associated effects relating the egg incubation condition to developmental stage, incubation time, hatching success, and resulting morphotypes. Temperature and humidity play a key role in development and require attention when establishing the experimental design. Current literature comprises information for Tropidurus lizards that ponders how general in Squamata are the ecomorphs originally described for Anolis. Studies evaluating phenotypic effects of developmental environments suggest plasticity in some of the traits that characterize the ecomorphological associations described for this family. We expect that this incubation guide encourages future studies using Tropidurus lizards to address Evo-Devo questions.

Animal colouration plays a key role in inter and intraspecific interactions, pre-eminently in mate signalling. When multiple types of colouration occur within sexes it is possible that they show alternative reproductive strategies. In lizards, most colouration studies do not incorporate how colour is perceived by conspecifics. Here, we used unbiased colour analysis methods (spectrophotometry and visual modelling) to test for sexual dimorphism and within male dichromatism in the Striped Lava Lizard. We found that males express two distinct colourations that are different from females in several dorsal and ventral body regions. Our results showed UV reflection at the throat, an important body region for signalling. Ventral patches, the coloured badge seen in adult males of Tropidurus spp., have two distinct colour classes within males (Y and B males). Morphs are best discriminated by blue and yellow chroma, and brightness. Body size had little influence on colouration, suggesting that colour may be linked to inheritance rather than growth. Our study clearly shows sexual dichromatism and the existence of colour morphs in this species. Moreover, morph differences in colouration are perceptible by conspecifics. These differences are not only between ventral patches, but also in other body parts such as the dorsum, previously considered as cryptic by human observers. We suggest that colouration at the ventral patches and throat might play a role in intraspecific interactions. Patches increase colour intensity during breeding season and are likely to be costly by pigment-based expression, whereas throat’s UV reflection might have a cost infringed by conspicuousness.

Understanding how different environmental factors influence species occurrence is a key issue to address the study of natural populations. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how local traits influence the microhabitat use of tropical arboreal lizards. Here, we investigated the microhabitat selection of the poorly known lizard Tropidurus lagunablanca (Squamata: Tropiduridae) and evaluated how environmental microhabitat features influence animal’s presence. We used a Resource Selection Function approach, in a case/control design where we analyzed the effect of substrate temperature and tree’s diameter at breast height (DBH) in the probability of presence of lizards using mixed Conditional Logistic Regression. We found that T. lagunablanca uses trees with DBH from 0.40 m to 4 m and substrate temperatures ranging from 25.9℃ to 42℃. Moreover, we showed that thickness of the trees and substrate temperatures significantly increased the probability of presence of T. lagunablanca individuals, being the probability of presence higher than 50% for trees up to 1.5 m DBH and temperature of substrate up to 37.5℃. Our study probed that T. lagunablanca individuals choose trees non-randomly, selecting thicker and warmer tree trunks. This information advances the knowledge of the spatial ecology of Neotropical arboreal lizards and is relevant for conservation, putting an emphasis on preserving native vegetation in the Pantanal.

The taxonomic history of Steironotus arenariusTschudi, 1845 is one of the most problematic among all tropidurids. The species was originally described supposedly based on four specimens collected in Peru and deposited by J.J. von Tschudi at the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel, Switzerland. However, the syntypes were not re-examined until Roux (1907: Rev. Suisse Zool. 15:293–303) performed a revision of Tschudi's Peruvian collection. Fritts (1974: Mem. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 7:1–89) revised the taxonomy of Stenocercus and endorsed Roux's allocation of Steironotus arenarius in TropidurusWied, 1825, although he never analyzed Tschudi's types. Ortiz (1989: Bull. Soc. Neuchâtel. Sci. Nat. 112:47–64) was the first contemporary systematist to re-analyze Tschudi's specimens for his catalogue of the lizard types of the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel. His compilation attempted to clarify the number, location, and identity of the types of Steironotus arenarius found at the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle de Neuchâtel and Naturhistorisches Museum Basel. Subsequent authors overlooked or opted for not following Ortiz and endorsed the allocation of Steironotus arenarius in Tropidurus. Although Ortiz was the only one to re-analyze the types of Steironotus arenarius after Roux, he never provided full morphological descriptions or detailed comparative notes to support his taxonomic conclusions. Herein, I clarify the taxonomic history of Steironotus arenariusTschudi, 1845 and Tropidurus tschudiiRoux, 1907, and confirm that Tschudi's syntypic series is a composite of two genera, i.e., MicrolophusDumeril and Bibron, 1837 and StenocercusDumeril and Bibron, 1837. I ultimately designate a new lectotype for Steironotus arenariusTschudi, 1845 and provide recommendations for correcting uncorroborated taxonomic arrangements, bringing stability to tropidurid taxonomy.

Only few published studies that describe the neuroanatomy of lizards. Here, we describe the neuroanatomy of several Iguanian species belonging to three families (species of Liolaemus and Phymaturus belonging to Liolaemidae, Tropidurus and Stenocercus as representatives of Tropiduridae, and Diplolaemus as a representative of Leiosauridae). Based on Sudan Black B staining and conventional dissections, the neuroanatomy of the lumbosacral region is described. Among the most outstanding results is the existence of a neuronal pattern of the lumbosacral plexus characteristic of Liolaemidae. In addition, it was found that in the genus Liolaemus the lumbosacral plexus is composed of five pairs of spinal nerves while in Phymaturus, Tropidurus, Stenocercus and Diplolaemus is composed from five to six pairs of spinal nerves (from pre-sacral, sacral, and caudal vertebrae). We find differences in the origin of the spinal nerves that constitute the plexus. In some cases, the pattern of nerves involved includes even the caudal vertebrae. Variation among taxa related to the zeugopodial innervation is described, and the homology of these nervous branches is discussed. Sexual differences were found in some species studied. Based on our results and available literature, we found three different patterns of innervation of the zeugopodium. The major contribution of this study is to provide a detailed description of lumbosacral plexus nerves pathways from their origins at the vertebral column to the muscles that they innervate.

The identification of bloodmeal sources in triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is important in understanding vector-host associations and in measuring the risk for Chagas' disease transmission. The bloodmeal sources of triatomines infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) caught in houses in central Brazil (Goias State and the Federal District) were investigated during 2012-2014. Mitochondrial cytochrome b amplicons were used to identify bloodmeals through high-resolution melting and DNA sequencing. Most bugs were found to have fed on either humans (45.7%) or chickens (43.1%). Human blood was detected in Triatoma sordida (n = 22/50 bugs), Triatoma pseudomaculata (n = 7/11 bugs), Panstrongylus megistus (n = 10/24 bugs), Panstrongylus geniculatus (n = 1/3 bugs) and Rhodnius neglectus (n = 18/28 bugs) (all: Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Sequencing identified Necromys (Rodentia: Cricetidae) mouse blood in P. geniculatus and Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) lizard blood in T. pseudomaculata and T. sordida. These findings reveal new vector-host associations. The present results suggest frequent contact between humans and T. cruzi-infected triatomines in central Brazil and indicate that Chagas' disease transmission by native vectors is an ongoing threat.

In this study, we describe the intra-and interspecific anatomical variations of cloacal and related muscles of male and female genitalia in species of five iguanian genera (three liolemid: Ctenoblepharys, Liolaemus, and Phymaturus plus Diplolaemus leopardinus and Tropidurus melanopleurus as outgroups). We found variations (seventeen characters) in topology, origin and insertion areas, tendon morphology and size of the musculature of this region. We also describe the variations of hemipeneal morphology, which is especially notable for the hemipenis of C. adspersa, D. leopardinus, and T. melanopleurus, as this is first time they are described in the literature. Among the most significant findings are the identification of three new muscles, two of them inserted on the roof of the cloacal chamber (anterior and posterior cloacal retractor) and the third inserted superficially in the floor of the cloaca, just before anterior to the precloacal glands row (superficialis cloacalis retractor). We report sexual dimorphism in seven muscle characters. Musculature related to hemiclitoris is reduced in proportion to its size in comparison to the degree of development of male genitalia and associated musculature. The evolution of characters was traced on the known phylogenetic hypotheses of relationships among families. Characters taken from the cloacal/genital myology bring similar support to the liolaemid tree even rooting the analysis using different outgroups. In addition, a phylogenetic study using only myological characters was performed. In this case, C. adspersa was found to be more related to Liolaemus species instead of being basal to Liolaemus plus Phymaturus. Fil: Quipildor, Angel Matías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; Argentina Fil: Abdala, Virginia Sara Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina Fil: Santa Cruz Farfán, Roy. Universidad Nacional de San Agustin; Perú Fil: Lobo, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; Argentina

The recognition of cryptic diversity within geographically widespread species is gradually becoming a trend in the highly speciose Neotropical biomes. The statistical methods to recognise such cryptic lineages are rapidly advancing, but have rarely been applied to genomic-scale datasets. Herein, we used phylogenomic data to investigate phylogenetic history and cryptic diversity within Tropidurus itambere, a lizard endemic to the Cerrado biodiversity hotspot. We applied a series of phylogenetic methods to reconstruct evolutionary relationships and a coalescent Bayesian species delimitation approach (BPP) to clarify species limits. The BPP results suggest that the widespread nominal taxon comprises a complex of 5 highly supported and geographically structured cryptic species. We highlight and discuss the different topological patterns recovered by concatenated and coalescent species tree methods for these closely related lineages. Finally, we suggest that the existence of cryptic lineages in the Cerrado is much more common than traditionally thought, highlighting the value of using NGS data and coalescent techniques to investigate patterns of species diversity.

Male genitalia show considerable morphological variation among animals with internal fertilization and exhibit a high level of evolvability in lizards. Studies have suggested that sexual selection may be driving hemipenial evolution against natural selection and pleiotropy. Given the direct interaction of male and female genitals, coevolution of the aforementioned is posited by several hypotheses of genital evolution. However, there are only a few studies on female genitalia morphology, resulting in a lack of coevolution description and understanding. Studies of allometric patterns have filled some gaps by answering questions about male genital evolution and could prove a powerful tool in clarifying coevolution between male and female genitals. Here, we studied the genital morphology of Tropidurus torquatus. This Tropidurus lizard species is an emerging Neotropical lizard model organism notable for having enlarged hemipenial lobes in contrast with other tropidurid species. In this study, we analyzed hemipenial development in early and late stages, describing both morphological variation and ontogenetic allometric pattern. We used quantitative traits to describe male and female genital morphology, examining their static allometric patterns and correspondence. Our study provides a quantitative discussion on the evolution of lizard genitals, suggesting that sexual selection plays an important role in genital evolution in Tropidurus lizards.

Hemosporidians are a monophyletic group of protozoan parasites infecting all terrestrial vertebrate orders. Although Plasmodium is the most studied genus within the Haemosporidia, this research effort is heavily biased toward mammal and bird hosts. We screened 205 specimens of at least 18 reptile species from Brazil using a partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene marker. Positive samples were sequenced and included in a phylogenetic assessment. Four positive PCR products matched others identified as Plasmodium using BLAST from 3 different host species, Ameiva ameiva, Tropidurus hispidus, and Hemidactylus mabouia. Recovery of similar haplotypes in the native T. hispidus and exotic H. mabouia (99.9%) indicate potential host-switching.

This study analyzed sun exposure, substrate type selected, and various behaviors exhibited by the lizard Tropidurus during thermoregulation. Observation entailed thirty days in an urbanized area of Centro de Biociencias/ Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Their behavior was recorded using a scan sampling route and an instantaneous record method at three different time intervals (9am to 10am, 12am to 1pm, and 3pm to 4pm). Significant differences were seen with sun exposure (p = 0.027), with most lizards remaining in shadowed areas, where the animals preferentially remained standing (p < 0.001). We were also able to observe more lizards in the following substrates: tile, wall, rocks, and bricks (p < 0.001). In addition, the animals were in these substrates more frequently from 12am to 1pm (p = 0.004).

Tropidurus Wied, 1825, is one of the most ubiquitous lizard genera distributed in open habitats of tropical and subtropical South America. Nevertheless, the broad representation of specimens of this group in scientific collections is hardly reflected in our knowledge of its taxonomic diversity. Most species currently assigned to Tropidurus began to be uncovered in the early 1980's and additional populations in need of formal taxonomic treatment have been cataloged ever since. Herein, we name Tropidurus sertanejo, n. sp., a new species of the T. torquatus group endemic to the semiarid Brazilian Caatinga. Tropidurus sertanejo, n. sp., is currently known from two isolated populations in the municipalities of Caetite and Ibotirama, State of Bahia, Brazil. This is the only species of the T. torquatus group lacking granular mite pockets on the lateral neck, and it is also diagnosable by having a conspicuous bronze-colored head, a light-brown dorsal body with small pale salmon spots, and small body size...

Tropidurus Wied, 1825, is one of the most ubiquitous lizard genera endemic to South America. Herpetologists from different regions of the continent have progressively mapped new populations, including undescribed species hidden under widely distributed nominal taxa. Currently, four monophyletic species groups are recognized in Tropidurus (T. bogerti group [monotypic], T. semitaeniatus group [four species], T. spinulosus group [five species], and T. torquatus group [16 species]), but none have been comprehensively revised taxonomically. During a collection expedition carried out in Paraguay in 2013, I recognized three new, distinct morphotypes among populations of the Tropidurus spinulosus group formerly assigned to T. guarani Alvarez et al., 1994. To delimit these new taxa, I analyzed coloration patterns, and quantified meristic and morphometric variables, comparing freshly collected samples with specimens housed in five museum collections. In this paper, I describe and illustrate the allopatric ...

Climate change and rising global temperatures pose a serious threat to biodiversity. We assessed the vulnerability to global warming of four genera of iguanian lizards whose distributions include a broad range of environments from the Peninsula of Yucatan to southern Patagonia. Original data on body temperatures (Tb), operative temperatures (Te, ‘null temperatures’ for non-regulating animals), thermoregulatory set-point range (preferred body temperatures, Tset) and quantitative indices of temperature regulation and quality of the thermal environment (db, de and E) for Tropidurus species were compared to published data for Anolis, Liolaemus and Sceloporus. Our results suggest that thermoregulatory behavior typically increases with latitude and altitude (except for two southernmost liolaemids), and that tropical and lowland lizards generally behave as thermoconformers. In a warming scenario, thermoconformity or poor thermoregulation in environments where large proportions of Tb and Te exceed the population's Tset will cause a reduction in the hours of activity and a higher risk of overheating. These results identify tropical populations as the most vulnerable to rising temperatures, especially the ones inhabiting open and low elevation sites. This indicates that protection of these environments should be a conservation priority. In contrast, Patagonia and montane environments represent potential future thermal refuges for many equator-ward or lowland lizards that, if capable of dispersion, would eventually be forced to retreat to these environments.

Tropidurus comprises a Neotropical genus of lizard that currently has about 30 species widely distributed in the South American. Among these species, Tropidurus torquatus, which has the characteristic of great physiological plasticity, occupying a variety of habitats in open areas and urbanized environments. Considering this, the aim of the study was to investigate the germinative cells and spermatogenesis of a population of T. torquatus in an urban area under Cerrado Biome influences to understand how to establish the temporal development of germinative cells and spermatogenesis during a period of one year. Individuals were obtained in the Zoological Collection of Vertebrates at the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), and the germinative cells and full spermatogenesis were described with light microscopy. Tropidurus torquatus presented germ cells with similar characteristics already documented for the other species of lizards and reptiles. Spermatogonia type A and B, primary and secondary spermatocytes, and spermatids were present in almost all months evaluated. The gonadosomatic ratio presented its highest value in October, moment in which spermatogenesis presented all the germinative cells and spermatozoa in the lumen, of the seminiferous tubules. In the seasonal climate of the Cerrado Biome, we observe discontinuous spermatogenesis in T. torquatus with the production of spermatozoa in almost every month of the year, however with sperm storage in the epididymis during the phase of testicular regression. Tropidurus comprises a Neotropical genus of lizard that currently has about 30 species widely distributed in the South American. Among these species, Tropidurus torquatus, which has the characteristic of great physiological plasticity, occupying a variety of habitats in open areas and urbanized environments. Considering this, the aim of the study was to investigate the germinative cells and spermatogenesis of a population of T. torquatus in an urban area under Cerrado Biome influences to understand how to establish the temporal development of germinative cells and spermatogenesis during a period of one year. Individuals were obtained in the Zoological Collection of Vertebrates at the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), and the germinative cells and full spermatogenesis were described with light microscopy. Tropidurus torquatus presented germ cells with similar characteristics already documented for the other species of lizards and reptiles. Spermatogonia type A and B, primary and secondary spermatocytes, and spermatids were present in almost all months evaluated. The gonadosomatic ratio presented its highest value in October, moment in which spermatogenesis presented all the germinative cells and spermatozoa in the lumen, of the seminiferous tubules. In the seasonal climate of the Cerrado Biome, we observe discontinuous spermatogenesis in T. torquatus with the production of spermatozoa in almost every month of the year, however with sperm storage in the epididymis during the phase of testicular regression.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:20:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-08-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) In semi-arid areas of northeastern Brazil, Chagas disease vectors of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex comprise a monophyletic group of kissing bugs that inhabit rock outcrops. Most of them exhibit allopatric or parapatric distribution; the exception is T. petrocchiae, which is found in cohabitation with T. brasiliensis in rock outcrops. We used vertebrate mitochondrial gene sequencing applied to DNA isolated from bug midgut to identify the insect blood meal sources via BLAST procedure. Fourteen sylvatic insects from four geographic districts in the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba had their blood meal sources detected. While T. brasiliensis is recorded to be associated mainly (52–71%) with rodents, T. petrocchiae samples were strongly associated (86%) with reptiles of Tropidurus and Hemidactylus genera. We suggest that T. petrocchiae is the single member within this complex to be associated with reptiles, indicating a distinct niche occupation related to the trophic resources. Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas – UNICAMP Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCFAR/UNESP Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Monitoramento Ambiental Universidade Federal da Paraíba– UFPB, Campus IV Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCFAR/UNESP FAPESP: 2016/08176-9 FAPESP: 2017/21359-8

Ecology and parasitism of the lizard Tropidurus jaguaribanus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from northeastern Brazil. Specimens of Tropidurus jaguaribanus were collected as part of a study of their use of microhabitats, activity period, body temperature, diet, foraging, sexual dimorphism (in size and in form), reproductive biology, and parasite community composition. The preferential microhabitat of the species is the surface of rocks (saxicolous habit). The species has a bimodal diurnal activity period and a seasonal reproductive cycle. The diet is composed mainly of beetles and ants in adults and juveniles. The species is a sit-and-wait forager; the lizards scarcely move and feed on sedentary, immobile prey. The helminth community associated with these lizards is composed of fve species: Oochoristica travassosi, Parapharyngodon alvarengai, Physaloptera sp., Spauligodon sp., and Strongyluris oscari. The prevalence, intensity of infection, and parasite abundance is the same in both sexes.

Submitted by Jonathan Sousa de Almeida (jonathan.sousa@ufma.br) on 2022-08-23T16:12:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SUSANE XAVIER BRAS.pdf: 801531 bytes, checksum: 29539a026b6f17c7bfae837a26e27274 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2022-08-23T16:12:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SUSANE XAVIER BRAS.pdf: 801531 bytes, checksum: 29539a026b6f17c7bfae837a26e27274 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-26 FAPEMA Anthropogenic changes are occurring globally and have significant effects on wildlife. Studies have sought to understand the extent to which urbanization causes changes in the ecology of different species. Such studies have shown that urban animals can change their behavior to adapt to these new conditions. Individuals of the same species differ in behavior between urban and rural habitats. Although studies on urbanization have become common in literature in Brazil, there is a paucity of studies with empirical evidence of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the relationships between urbanization and the structure of the animal community. In view of this, this dissertation had as objective to test if the urbanization influences the behavior of tropical lizard Tropidurus hispidus, within the animal personality. We captured male lizards from rural and urban habitats on the Island of Maranhão-MA. We kept the lizards in individual terrariums and, after a period of acclimatization, we performed three tests to evaluate the behavior of tonic immobility, distance of initiation of escape and aggressiveness. Each test was repeated three times to measure intra-individual consistency in behavior. We found evidence that T.hispidus presents personality traits involving tonic immobility, distance of initiation of escape and aggressiveness. These behaviors did not appear to differ between rural and urban individuals, but urban individuals tended to have more flexible behaviors while rural individuals had more consistent behaviors. Our results are the first evidence of animal personality in T. hispidus and suggest that this species may be more flexible in urban populations. Mudanças antropogênicas estão ocorrendo a nível global e têm efeitos significativos na vida selvagem. Estudos vêm buscando entender em que medida a urbanização causa alterações na ecologia de diferentes espécies. Tais estudos demonstraram animais urbanos podem mudar seu comportamento para se adaptar a essas novas condições. Indivíduos de uma mesma espécie apresentam diferença no comportamento entre habitats urbanos e rurais. Apesar de estudos sobre urbanização terem se tornado comum na literatura, no Brasil, há uma escassez de estudos com evidências empíricas dos mecanismos subjacentes responsáveis pelas relações entre a urbanização e a estrutura da comunidade animal. Diante disto, essa dissertação teve como objetivo testar se a urbanização influencia o comportamento do lagarto tropical Tropidurus hispidus, no âmbito da personalidade animal. Nós capturamos lagartos machos de habitats rurais e urbanos na Ilha do Maranhão-MA. Mantivemos os lagartos em terrários individuais e, após um período de aclimatação, realizamos três testes para avaliar os comportamentos de imobilidade tônica, distância de iniciação de fuga e agressividade. Cada teste foi repetido três vezes para medir a consistência intraindividual no comportamento. Encontramos evidências que T.hispidus apresenta traços de personalidade envolvendo os comportamentos de imobilidade tônica, distância de iniciação da fuga e agressividade. Esses comportamentos não pareciam diferir entre os indivíduos rurais e urbanos, mas os indivíduos urbanos tendiam a ter comportamentos mais flexíveis enquanto os rurais apresentavam comportamentos mais consistentes. Nossos resultados são a primeira evidência de personalidade animal em T. hispidus e sugerem que essa espécie pode ser mais flexível nas populações urbanas.

Temperature is one of the main environmental variables shaping the evolution and biology of terrestrial ectotherms. The Pantanal is the largest continuous wetland in the World. However, a lack of knowlegde still exists on the thermal ecology of terrestrial ectothems from this wetland. In this context, the thermal ecology of the lizard Tropidurus lagunablanca Carvalho, 2016 (Squamata, Tropiduridae) was investigated in the Brazilian Pantanal. The thermal ecology and microhabitat use of lizards from a riparian forest was compared to lizards from a park savanna. At both studied areas, air and body temperatures of lizards did not differ between sexes. Mean T. lagunablanca body temperatures were higher at the savanna compared to the forest, while air temperatures were similar in both habitats. The main substrates were tree trunks, with a frequency of approximately 90% of the observations. Lizards from the savanna used higher perches than those from the forest despite -in average- trees were higher at the forest. Lizard sun and shade exposure was similar for both areas. Lizards from both habitats showed similar strong linear relationships between body and air temperatures. However, lizard behaviour of using tree trunk perches differently under different sunlight situations suggests that these lizards actively thermoregulate. Further research on the thermoregulation abilities of this species, with a null hypotesis and behavioral observations will shed light on lizard thermal biology. Studies on the ecophysiological aspects of these lizards should be a priority to understand how they will react to climate change and which conservation measures will be more effective concerning their preservation.

Tropidurus catalanensis Gudynas & Skuk, 1983 Taraguira torquata: COPE 1862. Tropidurus torquatus: KOSLOWSKY 1898; BERTONI 1914, 1939; ScHOUTEN 1929; GIRAUDO & CONTRERAS 1994; DUR�� RODAS 1995; AqUINO et al. 1996; MOTTE et al. 2004; MOTTE et al. 2009; CAbRAL & WEILER 2014; CAccIALI et al. 2016. Tropidurus catalanensis GUDYNAS & SKUK, 1983. TYPE LOcALITY: 1 KM ESE OF ROUTE 30 AND ARROYO CATALAN GRANDE, ARTIGAS, URUGUAY. ��LVAREZ et al. 1995; KUNZ & BORGES-MARTINS 2013. Tropidurus torquatus torquatus: BURT & BURT 1933. Tropidurus torquatus hispidus: HELLMIcH 1960. Geographic distribution. THE DISTRIbUTION OF T. catalanensis RANGES FROM THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE BRAZILIAN STATE OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL, THROUGH EASTERN PARAGUAY AND THE STATE OF PARAN�� (BRAZIL) TO THE PROVINcES OF CHAcO AND CORRIENTES (ARGENTINA), AND URUGUAY (FIG. 11A)., Published as part of Cacciali, Pier & K��hler, Gunther, 2018, Diversity of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) in Paraguay-an integrative taxonomic approach based on morphological and molecular genetic evidence, pp. 511-536 in Zootaxa 4375 (4) on page 521, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4375.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1160960, {"references":["Gudynas, E. & Skuk, G. (1983) A new species of the iguanid lizard genus Tropidurus from temperate South America (Lacertilia: Iguanidae). Contribuciones en Biologia del Centro Educativo Don Orione, 10, 1 - 10.","Cope, E. D. (1862) Catalogue of the reptiles obtained during the exploration of the Parana, Paraguay, Vermejo and Uruguay rivers, by Capt. Thos. J. Page, U. S. N.; and of those procured by Lieut. N. Michler, U. S. Top. Eng., commander of the expedition conducting the survey of the Atrato River. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia, 14, 346 - 359. Available from: http: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 1951818 page / 358 / mode / 1 up (Accessed 25 Jan. 2018)","Koslowsky, J. (1898) Enumeracion sistematica y distribucion geografica de los reptiles argentinos. Revista del Museo de La Plata, 8, 161 - 200.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1914) Fauna paraguaya: Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados del Paraguay. Descripcion Fisica y Economica del Paraguay, 59, 1 - 83.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1939) Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados de Paraguay. Revista de la Sociedad Cientifica del Paraguay, 4, 3 - 60.","Schouten, G. B. (1929) Notas sobre la oologia de algunos saurios del Paraguay y de los paises limitrofes. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 33, 518 - 521.","Giraudo, A. R. & Contreras, A. O. (1994) Lista preliminar de los reptiles registrados en el Departmento de Neembucu, Paraguay. Boletin de la Asociacion Herpetologica Argentina, 10, 1 - 4.","Dure Rodas, A. (1995) Estudio de reptiles y anfibios. Biota, 2, 20 - 24.","Cabral, H. & Weiler, A. (2014) Lista comentada de los reptiles de la Coleccion Zoologica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de Asuncion, Paraguay. Cuadernos de Herpetologia, 28, 19 - 28.","Kuntz, T. S. & Borges-Martins, M. (2013) A new microendemic species of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from southern Brazil and revalidation of Tropidurus catalanensis Gudynas & Skuk, 1983. Zootaxa, 3681 (4), 413 - 439. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3681.4.6","Burt, C. E. & Burt, M. D. (1933) A preliminary checklist of the lizards of South America. Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis, 28, 1 - 104.","Hellmich, W. (1960) Die Sauria des Gran Chaco und seiner Randgebiete. Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, 101, 1 - 131."]}

Tropidurus etheridgei Cei, 1982 Tropidurus hispidus: KOSLOWSKY 1898; BERTONI 1914, 1939; TALbOT 1978, 1979 Tropidurus etheridgei CEI, 1982. TYPE LOcALITY: MINA CLAVEROS, C��RDObA, ARGENTINA. AqUINO et al. 1996; MOTTE et al. 2009; CARVALHO 2013; CAbRAL & WEILER 2014; CAccIALI et al. 2016 Tropidurus torquatus hispidus: HELLMIcH 1960 Geographic distribution. CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN BOLIVIA, SOME AREAS IN WESTERN BRAZIL, PARAGUAYAN CHAcO (WEST OF PARAGUAY RIVER), AND A NARROW AREA IN THE DRY CHAcO OF ARGENTINA (FIG. 11B), Published as part of Cacciali, Pier & K��hler, Gunther, 2018, Diversity of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) in Paraguay-an integrative taxonomic approach based on morphological and molecular genetic evidence, pp. 511-536 in Zootaxa 4375 (4) on page 521, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4375.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1160960, {"references":["Cei, J. M. (1982) A new species of Tropidurus (Sauria, Iguanidae) from the arid Chacoan and western regions of Argentina. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural History University of Kansas, 97, 1 - 10","Koslowsky, J. (1898) Enumeracion sistematica y distribucion geografica de los reptiles argentinos. Revista del Museo de La Plata, 8, 161 - 200.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1914) Fauna paraguaya: Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados del Paraguay. Descripcion Fisica y Economica del Paraguay, 59, 1 - 83.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1939) Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados de Paraguay. Revista de la Sociedad Cientifica del Paraguay, 4, 3 - 60.","Talbot, J. J. (1978) Ecological notes on the Paraguayan Chaco herpetofauna. Journal of Herpetology, 12, 433 - 434. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1563636","Talbot, J. J. (1979) Una nueva lista sistematica de reptiles del Paraguay. Informes Cientificos del Instituto de Ciencias Basicas, 2, 76 - 94.","Carvalho, A. L. G. (2013) On the distribution and conservation of the South American lizard genus Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1825 (Squamata: Tropiduridae). Zootaxa, 3640 (1), 42 - 56. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3640.1.3","Cabral, H. & Weiler, A. (2014) Lista comentada de los reptiles de la Coleccion Zoologica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de Asuncion, Paraguay. Cuadernos de Herpetologia, 28, 19 - 28.","Hellmich, W. (1960) Die Sauria des Gran Chaco und seiner Randgebiete. Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, 101, 1 - 131."]}

Tropidurus lagunablanca Carvalho, 2016 Tropidurus spinulosus: PERAccA 1895; ScHENKEL 1901; BERTONI 1939; HELLMIcH 1960; ELTER 1981. Tropidurus SP.: AqUINO et al. 1996 [PART.] Tropidurus guarani: FROST et al. 1998 [PART.]; CARVALHO 2013 [PART.]; CAccIALI et al. 2016 [PART.]. Tropidurus lagunablanca CARVALHO, 2016. TYPE LOcALITY: RESERVA NATURAL LAGUNA BLANcA, SANTA ROSA DEL AGUARAY, SAN PEDRO, PARAGUAY. Tropidurus tarara CARVALHO, 2016. TYPE LOcALITY: RESERVA NATURAL CERRADOS DEL TAGATIYA, CONcEPcI��N, PARAGUAY. Tropidurus teyumirim CARVALHO, 2016. TYPE LOcALITY: PARqUE NAcIONAL YbYcUI, PARAGUAR��, PARAGUAY. Tropidurus SP. 1: CAccIALI et al. 2016. Geographic distribution. BROADLY DISTRIbUTED IN MATO GROSSO AND MATO GROSSO DO SUL (BRAZIL), NARROWING THE DISTRIbUTION SOUTHWARDS, REAcHING THE YbYcU�� NATIONAL PARK (PARAGUAR��, PARAGUAY) AS THE SOUTHERNMOST REcORD FOR THE SPEcIES (FIG. 11D)., Published as part of Cacciali, Pier & K��hler, Gunther, 2018, Diversity of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) in Paraguay-an integrative taxonomic approach based on morphological and molecular genetic evidence, pp. 511-536 in Zootaxa 4375 (4) on page 521, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4375.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1160960, {"references":["Peracca, M. G. (1895) Viaggio del dott. Alfredo Borelli nella Republica Argentina e nel Paraguay. Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparata della R. Universita di Torino, 10, 1 - 32.","Schenkel, E. (1901) Achter Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel, 13, 142 - 199.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1939) Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados de Paraguay. Revista de la Sociedad Cientifica del Paraguay, 4, 3 - 60.","Hellmich, W. (1960) Die Sauria des Gran Chaco und seiner Randgebiete. Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, 101, 1 - 131.","Elter, O. (1981) Cataloghi. V - La collezione erpetologica del Museo di Zoologia dell'Universita di Torino. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali. Torino, 116 pp.","Carvalho, A. L. G. (2013) On the distribution and conservation of the South American lizard genus Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1825 (Squamata: Tropiduridae). Zootaxa, 3640 (1), 42 - 56. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3640.1.3"]}

Tropidurus spinulosus (Cope, 1862) Microlophus spinulosus COPE, 1862. TYPE LOcALITY: PARAGUAY. Tropidurus spinulosus: BOULENGER 1885, 1894, 1898; KOSLOWSKY 1898; BERTONI 1914, 1939; BURT & BURT 1933; COcHRAN 1961; ScOTT & LOVETT 1975; TALbOT 1979; AqUINO-SHUSTER et al. 1991; AqUINO et al. 1996; FROST et al. 1998; ZIEGLER et al. 2002; MOTTE et al. 2009; CARVALHO 2013; CAccIALI et al. 2016. Tropidurus (Microlophus) spinulosus: BOETTGER 1885. Tropidurus spinulosus guarani ÁLVAREZ et al., 1994. TYPE LOcALITY: CERRO H&utilde;, PARAGUARí, PARAGUAY. Tropidurus SP.: AqUINO et al. 1996 [PART.]. Tropidurus guarani: FROST et al. 1998 [PART.]; MOTTE et al. 2004 [PART.]; MOTTE et al. 2009 [PART.]; CARVALHO 2013 [PART.]; CAbRAL & WEILER 2014; CAccIALI et al. 2016 [PART.]. Geographic distribution. Tropidurus spinulosus IS MAINLY ASSOcIATED WITH XERIc AREAS IN SOUTHERN BOLIVIA, WESTERN PARAGUAY, WITH REcORDS IN ROcKY OUTcROPS EAST OF THE PARAGUAY RIVER, AND NORTHEASTERN ARGENTINA (FIG. 11C), Published as part of Cacciali, Pier & Köhler, Gunther, 2018, Diversity of Tropidurus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) in Paraguay-an integrative taxonomic approach based on morphological and molecular genetic evidence, pp. 511-536 in Zootaxa 4375 (4) on page 521, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4375.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1160960, {"references":["Cope, E. D. (1862) Catalogue of the reptiles obtained during the exploration of the Parana, Paraguay, Vermejo and Uruguay rivers, by Capt. Thos. J. Page, U. S. N.; and of those procured by Lieut. N. Michler, U. S. Top. Eng., commander of the expedition conducting the survey of the Atrato River. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia, 14, 346 - 359. Available from: http: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 1951818 page / 358 / mode / 1 up (Accessed 25 Jan. 2018)","Boulenger, G. A. (1885) Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). 2 nd edition. Vol. 2. Taylor and Francis, London, 497 pp. Available from: http: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / item / 61183 page / 7 / mode / 1 up (Accessed 25 Jan. 2018)","Boulenger, G. A. (1894) List of reptiles and batrachians collected by Dr. J. Bohls near Asuncion, Paraguay. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 13, 342 - 348. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939408677709","Boulenger, G. A. (1898) A list of reptiles, batrachians, and fishes collected by Cav. Guido Boggiani in the northern Chaco. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 19, 125 - 127.","Koslowsky, J. (1898) Enumeracion sistematica y distribucion geografica de los reptiles argentinos. Revista del Museo de La Plata, 8, 161 - 200.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1914) Fauna paraguaya: Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados del Paraguay. Descripcion Fisica y Economica del Paraguay, 59, 1 - 83.","Bertoni, A. de W. (1939) Catalogos sistematicos de los vertebrados de Paraguay. Revista de la Sociedad Cientifica del Paraguay, 4, 3 - 60.","Burt, C. E. & Burt, M. D. (1933) A preliminary checklist of the lizards of South America. Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis, 28, 1 - 104.","Cochran, D. M. (1961) Type specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the United States National Museum. United States National Museum Bulletin, 220, 1 - 291. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 26967","Scott, N. J. & Lovett, J. W. (1975) A collection of reptiles and amphibians from the Chaco of Paraguay. Occasional Papers of the University of Connecticut, 2, 257 - 266.","Talbot, J. J. (1979) Una nueva lista sistematica de reptiles del Paraguay. Informes Cientificos del Instituto de Ciencias Basicas, 2, 76 - 94.","Carvalho, A. L. G. (2013) On the distribution and conservation of the South American lizard genus Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1825 (Squamata: Tropiduridae). Zootaxa, 3640 (1), 42 - 56. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3640.1.3","Boettger, O. (1885) Liste von Reptilien und Batrachiern aus Paraguay. Zeitschrift fur Naturwissenschaft, 58, 213 - 248. Available from: http: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 31401231 page / 245 / mode / 1 up (Accessed 25 Jan. 2018)","Cabral, H. & Weiler, A. (2014) Lista comentada de los reptiles de la Coleccion Zoologica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de Asuncion, Paraguay. Cuadernos de Herpetologia, 28, 19 - 28."]}

Tropidurus is a Neotropical genus of iguanoid lizards characterized by a conspicuously enlarged interparietal plate, the presence of gular folds, presence of infradigital keels, and the absence of femoral pores. Currently, 29 species are recognized within the genus, seven of which are present in Paraguay: T. etheridgei , T. torquatus , T. guarani , T. lagunablanca , T. spinulosus , T. tarara , and T. teyumirim . We generated genetic data based on two DNA mitochondrial markers (16S and COI) and one nuclear (PRLR) marker for all the seven Paraguayan species with the goal to identify the taxonomic relationships among taxa based on the intra- and interspecific genetic variation and the construction of molecular clusters. ML and BI analyses match in the recognition of two main clusters: groups torquatus and spinulosus , and within the torquatus group the differentiation between T. catalanensis and T. etheridgei is highly supported. Nevertheless, there is a complete lack of congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear genes in the topology within the spinulosus group. Tropidurus guarani and T. spinulosus are more differentiated from the remaining species of the spinulosus group with genetic p-distances from 4.0 to 6.0. Low distances were found between T. lagunablanca and T. tarara (1.0–1.1%), and slightly higher, among T. teyumirim , T. lagunablanca , and T. tarara (2.0–2.6% respectively). From a morphological perspective, species of the Tropidurus torquatus group are easily distinguished; but we found strong overlaps of scalation characters in the spinulosus group. We interpret the low genetic distances documented among the nominal taxa Tropidurus lagunablanca , T. tarara , and T. teyumirim as evidence for conspecificity. This hypothesis is supported by the lack of morphological characters that would diagnose any of the three taxa. Similarly, we found low genetic distances among populations assigned to the nominal taxa T. guarani and T. spinulosus , including samples from near the type locality of the former, and therefore we recognize only two species of the T. spinulosus complex in Paraguay: T. spinulosus and T. lagunablanca .

In this study we describe Tropidurus azurduyae, a new species of lizard endemic to the Andes. This species is restricted to inter-Andean dry valleys of central and southern Bolivia, within the ecoregion known as Bolivian Montane Dry Forests. It is currently known from the departments of Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Potosi, and Santa Cruz, where it ranges in elevation from about 1000 to 2800 m. In addition, our analyses of closely related populations of Tropidurus from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay revealed undescribed species in central and northeastern Brazil and eastern Bolivia that render T. etheridgei Cei, 1982, paraphyletic. These results underscore the need for a comprehensive revision of peripheral and disjunct populations currently assigned to widely distributed species of Tropidurus. The phylogenetic relationships and distribution patterns of these new taxa concur with recent findings supporting seasonally dry tropical forests and open formations of dry vegetation from South America as distinct biotic units. Furthermore, they offer no support for seasonally dry tropical forests as closely related areas. In line with these discoveries, we refute biogeographic scenarios based exclusively on vicariance to explain the biogeographic history of Tropidurus.

We used the gut contents of triatomines collected from rural areas of Ceará State, northeastern Brazil, to identify their putative hosts via vertebrate cytb gene sequencing. Successful direct sequencing was obtained for 48% of insects, comprising 50 Triatoma brasiliensis, 7 Triatoma pseudomaculata, and 1 Rhodnius nasutus. Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) procedure revealed that domestic animals, such as chickens (Gallus gallus) and goats (Capra hircus), are the main food source, including in sylvatic environment. Native hosts were also detected in peridomestic environment such as reptiles (Tropidurus sp. and Iguana iguana) and the Galea spixii (Rodentia: Caviidae). The role of goats and Galea spixii in Chagas disease epidemiology calls for further studies, because these mammals likely link the sylvatic and domestic Trypanosoma cruzi cycles.