/pdf/checklist-of-chelonians-of-the-world-52r70ac5nu.pdf

Checklist of Chelonians of the World

Relationships among turtle species loosely categorized within the South American genus Phrynops are explored. Three once recognized genera (Batrachemys, Mesoclemmys and Phrynops) that were demoted to subgenera, and then synonymized with Phrynops, are demonstrated to warrant full recognition based on morphometric analysis, skull osteology, and mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequencing. Mesoclemmys is resurrected from the synonymy of Phrynops as a monotypic genus including M. gibba. The genus Rhinemys, previously a synonym of Phrynops, is resurrected for the species R. rufipes. Ranacephala gen. nov. is described to include the species R. hogei. The genus Batrachemys is resurrected from the synonymy of Phrynops and includes B. dahli, B. nasuta, B. raniceps, B. tuberculata, and B. zuliae. The taxon vanderhaegei is placed in Bufocephala gen. nov. The genus Phrynops is redefined to include the taxa P. geoffroanus, P. hilarii, P. tuberosus, and P. williamsi. Cladistic analysis of morphological data supports this taxonomy. A new species of Batrachemys is described from the western Amazon region, and is distinguished by having facial markings in juveniles, a relatively wide head, and a flattened shell. The new species, B. heliostemma sp. nov., is sympatric with and most similar to the recently resurrected form Batrachemys raniceps in the upper Amazonian region of Peru and adjacent Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia. Lastly, morphometric data from living and museum specimens of all species of Batrachemys are presented.

A taxonomic reevaluation of Phrynops (Testudines: Chelidae) with the description of two new genera and a new species of Batrachemys.

Las tortugas de la familia Chelidae (tortugas pelurodiras de cuello de serpiente) son las mas abundantes y ampliamente distribuidas en America del Sur y presentan patrones de endemismo a nivel especifico relacionados con las cuencas hidrograficas. Basandonos en la literatura disponible, examinamos la distribucion geografica de 22 especies de Chelidae reconocidas en America del Sur en relacion con las cuencas hidrograficas. Para las 19 especies presentes en Brasil estudiamos ademas la relacion con el clima y las caracteristicas del habitat. Los mapas de distribucion de las especies fueron utilizados para calcular la riqueza de especies en un area determinada. Tambien se empleo un analisis parsimonioso de endemicidad (PAE) para estudiar las semejanzas entre areas y las relaciones entre especies. Para las especies brasilenas, la precipitacion anual en cada cuenca hidrografica explico el 81% de la variacion en la distribucion de las tortugas y a escala regional (de todo el pais) la temperatura tambien afecta a su distribucion. Mientras que la pluviosidad monstro una relacion positiva y estadisticamente significativa con el numero de especies en un area determinada, para la temperatura dicha relacion fue negativa y no significativa. Con la unica excepcion de un clado no resuelto formado por algunas cuencas hidrograficas del norte, la existencia de grupos norte-nosdeste y centro-sur bien definidos (y coincidentes con las cuencas hidrograficas) y la diferenciacion de los biomas apoyan la hipotesis de regionalizacion de la fauna de tortugas de agua dulce. Ademas, las especies brasilenas que viven en formaciones abiertas o cerradas ponen de manifiesto un patron biogeografico mas general. La distribucion geografica de las especies de Chelidae brasilenas aparentemente refleja patrones climaticos y de la fisonomia vegetal y podria estar asociada a algunos rasgos de su historia de vida como la escasa vagilidad. Dado que la distribucion de algunas especies de Chelidae brasilenas incluye puntos calientes de diversidad, la delimitacion de areas de endemismo puede ser util para definir areas prioritarias para la conservacion.

Geographical distribution patterns of South American side-necked turtles (Chelidae), with emphasis on Brazilian species

We provide a list of amphibians, lizards, chelonians, and snakes collected during a 30-day expedition to the northern portion of Chapada Diamantina National Park, Palmeiras municipality, Bahia State, Brazil Thirty-five pitfall trap arrays composed of 4 buckets each, coupled with glue traps, and haphazard searches were used to sample the herpetofaunal diversity We recorded 15 species of lizards, 4 amphisbaenas, 23 snakes, 2 chelonians and 31 frogs Herein, we provide the first record of several species for Chapada Diamantina, which among them are worth mentioning Chiasmocleis sp (Anura: Microhylidae) and Acanthochelys sp (Testudines: Chelidae) Despite these findings, our rarefaction curves suggest that local biodiversity is still underestimated, which reinforces the need for future inventories in this and in less studied sites along this region Finally, the number of endemic and undescribed species recorded in this study provides additional evidence of the importance of Chapada Diamantina for the maintenance and conservation of the herpetofauna within the Caatinga domain

Herpetofauna of protected areas in the Caatinga IV: Chapada Diamantina National Park, Bahia, Brazil

A new species of chelid turtle, Platemys macrocephala, is described from the upper Rio Mamor6 of central Bolivia and the Pantanal region of the upper Rio Paraguai of Brazil. It is most closely related to P. radiolata and differentiated mainly by its wider head, more robust skull, and larger body size.

Platemys macrocephala, a new species of chelid turtle from central bolivia and the pantanal region of brazil

Distribution of the South American Chelid Turtles Platemys radiolata and P. spixii

In 1976 one of the authors saw a pet turtle which he recognised to be Phrynops hogei . This was remarkable because hitherto the type specimen, first described in 1967, was the only one known to scientists. However, since 1976 three other live animals have been seen, and also eight museum specimens. From the new information the authors conclude that the range of the species is small, and also that the type locality was wrongly given. They think the turtle may well be endangered, and suggest a captive breeding programme for its conservation.

R. da Rocha e Silva

Papers

Distribution of the South American Chelid Turtles Platemys radiolata and P. spixii

Rare Brazilian Sideneck Turtle