FAUNA PARAGUAY LATEST UPDATES

Here you will find details of the additions to FAUNA Paraguay in the last two months arranged by date so that you can keep up-to-date with what is new on our rapidly changing website! This page changes daily so check regularly if you don´t want to miss anything! Details of updates more than two months old are available on request

Week beginning 12 May 08

º 3 new species of butterfly, new total 279 species - Heliconius ethilla, Narope cyllastros and Parypthimoides phronius (Thanks to Laura Tensen, Nick Charlton, Jeni Oborn and Ezequiel Nuñez-Bustos).

Week beginning 5 May 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 1 new species of bird, new total 510 species (71.93% of total!) - Amazona vinacea (Thanks to Nelson Pérez).
º 1 new species of reptile, new total 61 species (38.61% of total!) - Echinanthera occipitalis (Thanks to Moriz Stiefel).
º 1 new species of amphibian, new total 35 species (42.68% of total!) - Elachistocleis bicolor (Thanks to Jeni Oborn).
º 13 new species of butterfly, new total 276 species - Astraptes fulgor, Caria marsyas, Celaenorrhinus similis, Helias phalaenoides, Lento krexoides, Milanion leucaspis, Strephanota umbrax, Taygetis laches, Tisias lesueur, Urbanus dorantes, Urbanus esta, Urbanus evenus and Xeniades orchamus (Thanks to Jeni Oborn, Moriz Stiefel, Pier Cacciali and Ezequiel Nuñez-Bustos).
º 2 new species of emperor moth, new total 24 species (32.88% of total!) - Molippa simillima and Oiticella convergens (Thanks to Chris Elder, Pier Cacciali, Celia Gamayo and Bill Oehlke)
º 2 new species of hawkmoth, new total 33 species (31.43% of total!) - Errinyis lassauxii and Perigonia ilus (Thanks to Jeni Oborn).

Week beginning 28 April 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 4 new unidentified species of grasshopper in the Caelifera gallery (Thanks to Moriz Stiefel).
º 1 new species of assassin bug in the Reduviidae gallery - Ricolla sp. (Thanks to Moriz Stiefel and Dmitri Forero).

Week beginning 21 April 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 1 new species of reptile, new total 60 species (38.22% of total!!) - Philodryas olfersii (Thanks to Carol Fernandez).
º 6 new species of butterfly, new total 263 species - Callimormus saturnus, Corticea noctis, Gorgythion begga, Nastra ethologus, Quinta cannae and Vehilius stictomenes (Thanks to Ezequiel Nuñez-Bustos).

NEWLY UPDATED SPECIES GALLERIES
º 6 species of butterfly - Cymaenes gisca, Danaus plexippus, Hemiargus hanno, Leptotes cassius, Nascus phocus and Panoquina ocola

FURTHER ANT SECTION EXPANDED AND SPECIES LIST ADDED
The Ectatomminae section has now been expanded, the sixth of the twelve ant subfamilies in Paraguay to be updated with mounted specimen images, a full species list and detailled family characteristics. The remaining subfamilies will be updated over the coming days.

Week beginning 14 April 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 1 new species of butterfly, new total 257 species - Astraptes creteus.
º 2 new unidentified species of spider in the Arachnida gallery (Thanks to Laura Tensen).
º 1 new unidentified species of ichneumonid wasp in the Ichneumonidae gallery (Thanks to David Gill).
º 2 new unidentified species of chrysomelid beetle in the Chrysomelidae gallery (Thanks to David Gill).

NEWLY UPDATED SPECIES GALLERIES
º 1 species of mammal - Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Thanks to Hugo del Castillo).
º 5 species of birds - Cathartes aura, Heliomaster furcifer, Piaya cayana, Trichothraupis melanops and Veniliornis spilogaster (Thanks to David Gill and Sylvia Centrón).
º 2 species of reptile - Mabuya frenata and Philodryas patagoniensis (Thanks to Hugo del Castillo).
º 1 species of amphibian - Physalaemus cuvieri (Thanks to David Gill).
º 3 species of butterfly - Barbicornis basalis, Charius anius and Lasaia agesilas (Thanks to Ivan Saxby and Alberto Esquivel).

ANT SECTIONS EXPANDED AND SPECIES LIST INCLUDED
Thanks to an agreement with the online project Ant Web, we have been able to greatly expand the coverage of Paraguayan Ants Formicidae. New features include complete species lists for all the subfamilies classified to tribal level, descriptions of the characteristics that define the ant subfamilies and the inclusion of a images of mounted specimens of a great number of Paraguayan species to complement the already existing images of live specimens taken in Paraguay that were previously available. Currently the following subfamilies have been updated - Amblyoponinae, Cerapachyinae, Heteroponerinae, Paraponerinae and Proceratiinae and others will be added over the coming days. A total of 541 species are currently documented for Paraguay, but at least another 100 species likely occur. For those interested in ants on a global level, we suggest browsing through Ant Web where you will find a wealth of additional information. (Thanks to Alex Wild and Ant Web).

COREIDAE EXPERT FOUND
Dr Harry Braylovsky has very kindly agreed to assist with the identification of images of the Hemipteran family Coreidae, or Leaf-footed Bugs and related families. Dr Brailovsky is based in Mexico and is a renowned expert on the New World Coreids. Currently six species are represented in the Coreidae gallery with a further species in the closely-related Alydidae gallery.

NEW BIRD FAMILY ACCOUNTS
Further accounts of bird family characteristics are now available online, the Antbirds Thamnophilidae and Woodpeckers Picidae. This is accessible through the bird list page and the bird image galleries.

Week beginning 7 April 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 1 new species of mammal, new total 71 species (41.92% of total!) - Galictis cuja (Thanks to Hugo del Castillo).
º 3 new species of bird, new total 509 species (71.79% of total!) - Campephilus melanoleucus, Claravis pretiosa and Momotus momota (Thanks to Sylvia Centron and Hans Hostettler)
º 2 new species of reptile, new total 59 species (37.58% of total!) - Leptodeira annulata and Tropidurus guarani (Thanks to Hugo del Castillo, Marianella Velilla and Pier Cacciali).
º 3 new species of butterfly, new total 256 species - Polites vibex, Strephonota affinis elika and Strymon mulucha (Thanks to Laura Tensen and Ezequiel Nuñez-Bustos).
º 1 new species of emperor moth, new total 22 species (30.14% of total!) - Dysdaemonia fosteri (Thanks to Sylvia Centrón).
º 1 new unidentified species of Flower Chafer in the Scarabaeidae gallery (Thanks to Ashley Hillman).
º 1 new unidentified species of Mantid in the Mantidae gallery. (Thanks to Sylvia Centrón).
º 2 new unidentified species of grasshopper in the Caelifera gallery. (Thanks to Sylvia Centrón and David Gill).
º 1 new unidentified species of scorpion in the Arachnida gallery (Thanks to Sylvia Centrón).

NEWLY UPDATED SPECIES GALLERIES
º 5 species of mammal - Alouatta caraya, Callicebus pallescens, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Tamandua tetradactyla and Tayassu pecari (Thanks to Hugo del Castillo and Sylvia Centrón).
º 33 species of bird - Alectrurus risora, Amblyramphus holosericeus, Anas bahamensis, Baryphthengus ruficapillus, Busarellus nigricollis, Buteogallus urubitinga, Caprimulgus longirostris, Caracara plancus, Cariama cristata, Chrysomus ruficapillus, Cistothorus platensis, Coryphaspiza melanotis, Coryphistera alaudina, Coscoroba coscoroba, Crax fasciolata, Eleothreptus anomalus, Emberizoides herbicola, Fluvicola leucocephala, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus, Hirundo rustica, Icterus cayanensis, Jacana jacana, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, Porphyrio flavirostris, Rynchops niger, Scardafella squamata, Sporophila bouvreuil, Sporophila ruficollis, Syrigma sibilatrix, Tachycineta leucorrhoa, Tachycineta meyeni, Thamnophilus sticturus and Trogon rufus (Thanks to Arne Lesterhuis, Sylvia Centrón and Hugo del Castillo).
º 5 species of reptile - Boa constrictor, Caiman yacare, Chelonoidis petersi, Eunectes notaeus and Thamnodynastes chaquensis (Thanks to Sylvia Centrón).

CERAMBYCIDAE EXPERT FOUND
Gino Nearns of the University of New Mexico has agreed to help us with the identification of our Cerambycid Beetle images. Argentinian by birth, Gino is one of the foremost experts on the Cerambycid fauna of the Southern Cone of South America.

MORE NOTULAS FAUNISTICAS SERIE 1 AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD IN FAUNA PARAGUAY E-LIBRARY
A further 46 volumes of Notulas Faunisticas Serie 1 are now available for free download from the Notulas Faunisticas page. A total of 60 volumes of this regional journal are now available through the FAUNA Paraguay E-library, including many important and hard to find references on Paraguayan zoology. The complete run of the journal will soon be available through FAUNA Paraguay. (Thanks to Julio Rafael Contreras).

Week beginning 31 March 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 3 new species of mammal, new total 70 species (41.92% of total!) - Blastocerus dichotomus, Myocastor coypus and Speothos venaticus
º 7 new species of bird, new total 506 species (71.37% of total!!) - Anthus hellmayri, Anthus nattereri, Buteo swainsoni, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Nonnula rubecula, Nothura minor and Poecilotriccus latirostris (Thanks to Juan Klavins, Arne Lesterhuis and David Gill).
º 1 new species of reptile, new total 57 species (36.08% of total!) - Sibynomorphus ventrimaculatus (Thanks to David Gill).
º 1 new species of amphibian, new total 34 species (41.46% of total!) - Leptodactylus mystacinus (Thanks to David Gill).
º 1 new unidentified species of cockroach in the Blattaria gallery.

NEWLY UPDATED SPECIES GALLERIES
º 3 species of mammal - Dasyprocta azarae, Leopardus pardalis and Panthera onca.
º 11 species of bird - Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Asio clamator, Cairina moschata, Calidris fuscicollis, Dendrocygna autumnalis, Euphonia chlorotica, Melanerpes flavifrons, Penelope superciliaris, Pulsatrix perspicillata, Sarkidiornis melanotos and Thamnophilus doliatus (Thanks to Juan Klavins and Hugo del Castillo).
º 1 species of reptile - Crotalus durissus (Thanks to Juan Klavins).
º 1 species of butterfly - Ascia monuste
º 1 species of hawkmoth - Pachyloides resumens.

NEW AMPHIBIAN ORDER AND FAMILY ACCOUNTS
The account of the characteristics of the amphibian order Anura, the Frogs and Toads is now online and accessible through the amphibian list and amphibian image galleries. The family characteristics accounts of the Tree-frogs Hylidae, Microhylid Frogs Microhylidae, Crossodactylid Frogs Hylodidae, Horned Toads Ceratophryidae, Toads Bufonidae and American Pond Frogs Leptodactylidae have also been uploaded, accessible through the same pages.

NEW BIRD FAMILY ACCOUNTS
Four more accounts of bird family characteristics are now available online, the Crescentchests Melanopareidae, the Tapaculos Rhinocryptidae, the Gnateaters Conopophagidae and the Ground Antbirds Formicariidae. These are accessible through the bird list page and the bird image galleries.

ECOSARA BULLETIN VOLUME 2 PUBLISHED
The second edition of the ECOSARA Bulletin has now been published and is available for download in pdf format in both English and Spanish through the ECOSARA Bulletin page.

CERAMBYCIDAE SECTION RESTRUCTURED AND CHECKLIST NOW AVAILABLE
The section of the page devoted to the Long-horned Beetles (Cerambycidae) has been restructured to allow the incorporation of new material on this charismatic Coleopteran group. This has involved a more detailled taxonomic arrangement of the group to tribal level and the inclusion of a list of the 500 species currently documented as occurring in Paraguay - remarkably 25 of these (5%) are considered endemic to the country!

REPTILE HIGHER ORDER TAXONOMY PAGE ADDED
A new feature covering the higher order taxonomy of the vertebrate classes is now being incorporated into the species lists. This feature will contain a concise breakdown of the classification of the class in question down to subfamily level. Each taxonomic level will be linked to a page that describes in detail the characteristics of that group. The same descriptions will also be accessible from the species list and image gallery pages, but the addition of this new feature allows the higher level taxonomy to summarised in a clearer and more concise way. The reptile taxonomy page is now online detailling the characteristics of each of the taxonomic levels. Similar pages will also be made available for the other classes over the coming weeks.

Week beginning 24 March 08

NEW SPECIES IN IMAGE GALLERIES
º 1 new species of mammal, new total 67 species (40.12% of total!) - Artibeus planirostris (Thanks to Alberto Esquivel, Chris Elder and Ismael Mora Ortega).
º 1 new species of bird, new total 499 species (70.38% of total!!) - Thamnophilus sticturus (Thanks to Alberto Madroño).
º 1 new species of reptile, new total 56 species (35.44% of total!) - Bothrops jararacussu (Thanks to David Gill).
º 4 new species of butterfly, new total 253 species - Archaeoprepona demophoon, Astraptes elorus, Evansiella cordela and Parides bunichus (Thanks to Ezequiel Nuñez-Bustos).
º 1 new unidentified species of geometrid moth in the Geometridae gallery (Thanks to Alberto Esquivel).
º 1 new unidentified species of snout moth in the Pyralidae gallery (Thanks to Alberto Esquivel).
º 1 new species of assassin bug in the Reduviidae gallery - Brontostoma affinis discus (Thanks to Moriz Stiefel).
º 1 new unidentified species of leaf-footed bug in the Coreidae gallery (Thanks to Moriz Stiefel).
º 1 new unidentified species of soft-winged flower beetle in the Melyridae gallery (Thanks to Laura Tensen).
º 1 new unidentified pentatomid bug in the Pentatomidae gallery. (Thanks to Laura Tensen).
º 1 new unidentified species of mantid in the Mantidae gallery.
º 2 new unidentified species of spider in the Arachnida gallery. (Thanks to David Gill and Ivan Saxby)

NEWLY UPDATED SPECIES GALLERIES
º 2 species of mammal - Akodon montensis and Dasyprocta azarae (Thanks to Laura Tensen, Ismael Mora Ortega, David Gill and Ashley Hillman).
º 9 species of bird - Aramides saracura, Circus buffoni, Cranioleuca obsoleta, Haplospiza unicolor, Nyctibius aethereus, Phaethornis eurynome, Sirystes sibilator, Sittasomus grisecapillus and Tersina viridis (Thanks to Alberto Esquivel, Bernard Oosterbaan, David Gill and Hans Hostettler).
º 3 species of reptile - Mabuya frenata, Spillotes pullatus and Stenocercus caducus (Thanks to David Gill).
º 1 species of amphibian - Physalaemus cuvieri (Thanks to David Gill).
º 1 species of butterfly - Heraclides androgeus (Thanks to Bernard Oosterbaan and Ezequiel Nuñez-Bustos).
º 2 species of emperor moth - Automeris basalis and Neocarnegia basirei (Thanks to Alberto Esquivel and Bernard Oosterbaan).
º 1 species of assassin bug - Harpactor angulosus (Thanks to David Gill).

UPDATED BIRD FAMILIES ACCOUNTS
The Limpkin family Aramidae has been updated with new information.