New species of Oswaldocruzia (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Ameiva festiva (Squamata: Teiidae) from Nicaragua

Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Ameiva festiva (Sauria: Teiidae) is described and illustrated. Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis represents the 78th species assigned to the genus and is most similar to the Caribbean species of the genus by possessing spicules in which each of the 3 divisions terminates in numerous fine points. Of the 8 species assigned to this group, O. nicaraguensis is most similar to Oswaldocruzia moraveci; of the 8 species, only O. moraveci and O. nicaraguensis possess a type II bursa and lack cervical alae. It is separated from O. moraveci by the position of the tips of ribs 5-6; close together in O. nicaraguensis, well separated in O. moraveci.

Life at the river's edge: ecology of Kentropyx altamazonica in Brazilian Amazonia

The teiid lizard Kentropyx altamazonica was studied at two localities in the Brazilian Amazon region, one in Amazonas (Rio Ituxi) and the other in Rondônia (Rio Formoso). This lizard is linearly distributed along water courses, where it carries on most activities in well-lit, warm microhabitats. Activity does not occur on days with cloud cover. Late morning and midday activity predominates on sunny days. Body temperatures of active lizards were 35.9 ± 0.37°C (mean ± SE) and were higher than substrate or air temperatures at the point of capture and higher than overall temperatures in the habitat. Although a variety of prey types are eaten, spiders, grasshoppers and crickets, roaches, and insect larvae dominate the diet. Larger lizards eat larger prey but also include small prey in their diets. Absolute and relative prey sizes were greater for lizards at the Rio Ituxi than for those in Rondônia, but lizard stomachs were equally full, suggesting that prey types available varied between sites. Males reach larger body sizes than females and have relatively larger heads. Although K. altamazonica is similar in ecology to other Amazonian Kentropyx species, it is more closely associated with water than the others.