Body size predicts ontogenetic nitrogen stable-isotope (δN) variation, but has little relationship with trophic level in ectotherm vertebrate predators.

Large predators have disproportionate effects on their underlying food webs. Thus, appropriately assigning trophic positions has important conservation implications both for the predators themselves and for their prey. Large-bodied predators are often referred to as apex predators, implying that they are many trophic levels above primary producers.

INFLUENCE OF SEASON, ENVIRONMENT, AND SEX ON SELECTED BLOOD PARAMETERS OF GEOFFROY'S SIDE-NECKED TURTLES, (SCHWEIGGER, 1812).

Laboratory tests help to determine a diagnosis, to plan treatment, and to indicate prognosis of diseases. However, the interpretation of test results in reptiles is challenging, because they are influenced by environmental and individual factors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish hematologic parameters of Geoffroy's side-necked turtle (), including variables such as season, environment, sex, and straight carapace length (SCL).

DESCRIPTION AND PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF A NEW SPECIES OF HERPETODIPLOSTOMUM FROM PHRYNOPS GEOFFROANUS IN BRAZIL AND A REEVALUATION OF CHELONIODIPLOSTOMUM.

As presently recognized, Herpetodiplostomum is a small genus of proterodiplostomid digeneans parasitic in crocodilians. Most members of Cheloniodiplostomum, a genus of proterodiplostomids that parasitize chelonians, were originally placed within Herpetodiplostomum. The 2 genera were distinguished based on the presence/absence of papillae on the holdfast organ and anterior extent of vitellarium.

Haemogregarine (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) infection in Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle, Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Chelidae), from a Brazilian Neotropical savanna region.

Knowledge of blood parasites in Brazilian chelonians is limited, since they have been recorded in only six species. Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Bour) is a freshwater turtle with a wide geographic distribution in Brazil, but there is little information about its natural history. This paper reports on a study of the prevalence and infection intensity of a haemogregarine in two subpopulations of M.

Haemogregarina spp. in a wild population from Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848 in the Brazilian Amazonia.

The study objectives were to characterize the morphology of the parasitic forms and describe the prevalence and intensity of Haemogregarina spp. in a population of the turtle Podocnemis unifilis as well as to examine the relationships between parasitism and turtle variables such as gender, size, and weight. Samples were taken in the Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers, Itaituba, Pará state, Brazil.