Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Twenty-three palmar and digital dermatogliphic characters were examined in two Guaymi Amerindian populations, Abrojo and Limoncito, in southeastern Costa Rica. Dermatogliphs were analyzed in relation to sex, bilaterality or assymetry and differences in pattern frequencies between localities. The sample included 134 males and 127 females in two groups, according to their ethnic and linguistic origin: Western Guaymi (Movere), from Limoncito and Abrojo, and Eastern Guaymi (Murire or Buglere) from Limoncito. When compared with other Amerindian groups, the Guaymi presented a very low finger pattern average, as well a low total ridge count. The Movere subgroup, showed similarities among different patterns both in Limoncito and Abrojo. However there are significant differences between the Murire and Movere groups in relation to the ridge count (ab; bc), atd angle; frequency of designs at the interdigital zone 4; bilaterality; and sex. The results obtained confirm the existence of a marked evolutionary divergence between the two groups.

Several striking secondary sexual characters of the weevil Rhinostomus barbirostris serve as weapons in intraspecific battles between males for females about to oviposit. Smaller males adopt two alternative behavioral tactics in these battles which seem designed to minimize the loss in reproduction which would otherwise result from their inferior fighting abilities. Although the beetles may thus be polymorphic for fighting behavior, there was no sign of morphological dimorphisms. The sizes of their weapons (long rostra) were linearly rather than geometrically related to the sizes of other body parts. The males' behavior suggests that there is strong sperm precendence in this species.

336 cases of organophosphorous poisoning from case records of hospitals in Costa Rica between 1 97 2 and 1978 were classified in four categories according to signs and symptoms: 8% latent; 25.9% mild; 43.8% moderate and 22.3% severe. Eighteen of the total patients died during hospitalization.Suicidal ingestion was the principal cause of severe and latent poisoning, especially in urban areas. followed by occupational poisoning in agricultural workers in mild and moderate cases. Occupational poisoning was common in men; in women it was attempted suicide and in children accidental poisoning. Under 40 years of age, the main cause was suicidal ingestion among both men and women, and occupational poisoning after 40 years of age.After discharge from the hospital, 19.6% of the total poisoned patients were referred to psychiatric treatment; 22.7% and 18.2% had had mental and alcoholic problems, respectively, prior to poisoning. Attempted suicide was the principal cause of poisoning in 86.4% of these patients, indicating emotional instability. In this study, the incidence in psychiatric consultation after discharge from the hospital is not indicative of a relationship between mental disorders and acute insecticide poisoning.In 42.6% and in 22% of the deceased patients pralidoxime (PAM) and atropine respectively, were not administered as antidotes in the emergency room. Aminophylline and skeletal muscle relaxants among other contraindicated drugs were administered as part of the treatment in these deceased patients. The consequences of this misguided treatment are questioned.

Trawl samples of demersal fish populations within the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica were conducted during February and July, 1979 and April, 1980 in an attempt to define basic abundance, diversity and distributional patterns. Seventeen day and three night samples produced 6,441 fishes of 107 species during the February cruise. Twenty day and two night samples produced 9,220 individuals of 131 species during the July cruise. Twenty day samples produced 14,151 individuals representing 125 species taken during the April cruise. A total of 214 species were collected during this study.The Gulf of Nicoya may be divided into three zones on the basis of the physical characteristics of the stations (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, depth and distance from the mouth of the Gulf). Few changes in the position of these zones occurred during the study period, indicating a relatively stableestuarine configuration from a biological perspective, under the influence of a wet and a dry season. No significant seasonal changes in the number, biomass, percent occurrence, diversity of partitioning by size class of fishes were observed.Two major types of fish distributional patterns were observed. Several species were ubiquitous and were found throughout the Gulf in varying abundances. Other species were restricted to either the upper or lower Gulf. Dominant groups in the upper Gulf include the sciaenids, sea catfishes (Ariidae) and flatfishes (Soleidae, Cynoglossidae and Syacium ovale). These fishes tend to inhabit the warmer, shallower, less saline waters of the upper Gulf. Flounders (Bothidae), gobies (Bollmannia spp.), morays and congers (Hildebrandia nitens, Priodonophus equatorialis and Muraenesox coniceps) and several other species dominated the deeper, cooler, more saline lower Gulf.

This is a preliminary study of the Pejibaye (Bactris gasipaes) frond and begins with a general morphological description of the Icaf, complementing those already in existence. The data obtained from Central American Pejibayes show that the rachis length of their fronds is considerably longer than those recorded from Surinam populations and it is assumed that at least part of this difference has a genotypic background. It was also found, contrary to expectations, that the older fronds have a longer rachis than younger mature ones from the same trunk. This difference could be due to seasonal environmental factors such as variations in rainfall. The association of leaflets in groups, each leaflet having a different angle of insertion on the rachis within the group, gives a many-planed leaflet arrangement that may increase light-use efficiency. The groups are formed by a variable number of leaflets and consequently are not a reliable character for use as a descriptor. The many-planed arrangement fades in old fronds when drooping of the leaflets increases, obscuring the effect of the different angles of insertion. It was also found that assymetry exists between opposite sides of the same frond in regard to leaflet number and length. An assymetrical frond outline is evident on both sides of the frond. A larger leaflet number was found in the younger fronds when compared with the older ones from the same plant in spite of the longer rachis of the latter ones. This may indicate that even 12 year-old palms have not reached the maximum development of their fronds since it is assumed that leaflet number is less affected by environmental variations than rachis length.

Pollinating insects of Sechium edule (Cucurbitaceae) were classified into primary and secondary according to their abundance and effectiveness as pollen collectors. Among the total of 55 insect species found in Costa Rica pollinating the plant, 28 were identified as primary meliponid bees of the genus Trigona (Apidae), the rest were secondary pollinators: 15 species of wasps (Vespidae); 5 species of bees of the family Halictidae, 3 species of Anthophori da e and 4 species of Apidae. The plants were distributed altitudinally from almost 0 to 2000 m. As altitude increases, primary pollinators diminish; almost all were collected under 500 m; 30% of the secondary pollinators (the highest counts) were obtained over 1500 m.The higher, frequencies of pollinators (44.8 average) were observed between 500 and 999 m. The lower frequencies correspond to the low lands. Only four pollinators were really abundant: Trigona (Trigona) corvina, T. (Partamona) cupira, T. (Trigona) fulviventris and T. (Trigona) fuscipennis. The first two are the most efficient. These two species are abundant between 500 and 1000 m, where the best producing plants are found. Trigona fuscipennis belongs in the low lands and is the major pollinator there. Trigona fulviventris is less frequent between 500 and 1499 m and exhibits high frequencies in low and high altitudes. This peculiar distribution could be due · to the fact that this specie s is not aggressive and therefore less able to compete with Trigona corvina and T. cupira.

A character for sexual determination in specimens of Macrobrachium tenellum (Smith, 1871) is described. The pleura of the second abdominal segment is significantly larger in females than in males. This characteristic may be used for rapid sexing of live shrimp in hatchery and field work.

A new cichlid fish, Cichlasoma rhytisma is described from the Río Sixaola basin on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica. Its most distinctive characteristic is a dark lateral blotch bordered on each side by pale vertical bars. Series of blue-green dots and short vermiculations form horizontal lines along the flanks and create an irregular pattern around the eyes. The new species is compared in detail with the very similar C. alfari, with which it is syntopic.

Inventory of 46 species of Colombian stingless bees (Meliponinae), their vernacular or popular names, their synonyms, and their geographic distribution is reported.

A new species of the four-spined goby genus Evermannia is described from the intertidal zone at two localities on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Observations are included on the ecology and behavior of the species. Proportional and meristic data for Costa Rican specimens of Evermannia zosterura and E. panamensis are provided for the first time.