Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) · Department of Biology

Anfibios y reptiles de los bosques tropicales del Chocó de la provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Harmonia axyridis is a ladybird extensively used around the world for biological control of agricultural pests. However, it has become invasive in several countries, producing negative ecological and socio-economic impacts. Herein, we review the invasion history of the Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) in Ecuador. Although first r...

Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, but faces severe pressures and threats to its natural ecosystems. Numerous species have declined and require to be objectively evaluated and quantified, as a step towards the development of conservation strategies. Herein, we present an updated National Red List Assessment for amphibian...

Comprehensive assessments of species’ extinction risks have documented the extinction crisis and underpinned strategies for reducing those risks. Global assessments reveal that, among tetrapods, 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals and 13.6% of birds are threatened with extinction. Because global assessments have been lacking, reptiles have been o...

This study investigates the species richness and distribution of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) across various habitats on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador. Through extensive field surveys, we catalogued nineteen species, including four previously known species (two endemics, Psyllobora bisigma and Scymnobius scalesius,...

Las familias Mustelidae y Procyonidae están rela-tivamente bien estudiadas en cuestión de taxono-mía y filogenética. Sin embargo, existe un vacío de información sobre su ecología, comportamiento e incluso distribución de las especies, en especial con las poblaciones dentro de Sudamérica. Nuestro estudio busca esclarecer dos puntos clave, prime-ro l...

Totoia recki new species is the southernmost known representative of the genus and the first record for Ecuador. We described this new species including imagesand a dichotomic key to identify all known species of the genus Totoia, along with some biogeographic comments.

The locality of Porvenir, sensu the collecting locality of Perry O. Simons (1869–1901), is geolocated, and approximate coordinates are provided, along with a map showing a number of other important nearby sites also visited by Simons and referenced in the historical zoological literature. Discussion on the incongruent coordinates for this locality...

A new monotypic genus of the subfamily Theraphosinae Thorell, 1869 is described from the Western Cordillera of the Andes in northern Ecuador. The new genus is diagnosed by its distinctive male palpal morphology, including a semi-spatulate bulb caused by a well developed retrolateral inferior keel, presence of a cymbial apophysis, absence of a tibia...

We describe a new species of leaflitter frog of the genus Noblella from southern Ecuador, province of Zamora Chinchipe. The new species is diagnosed from all its congeners by having one or two tubercles on the upper eyelids; distal phalanges strongly T-shaped; phalangeal formula on hands 2-2-3-3; phalangeal formula on feet 2-2-3-4-3; heel with a sm...

Centrolenidae is a Neotropical family widely distributed in Central and South America, with its species richness concentrated in the tropical Andes. Several taxonomic problems have been identified within this family, mostly related to species with broad geographic distributions. In this study, we assessed and redefined the species boundaries of the...

Understanding how environmental variables influence biofilm formation becomes relevant for managing Vibrio biofilm-related infections in shrimp production. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of temperature, time, and initial inoculum in the biofilm development of these two Vibrio species using a multifactorial experimental design. Planktonic growth...

A new species of Eutichurus is described from Cordillera del Condor, Ecuador.

We describe a new species of Centrolene from the Subandean Cordillera of Kutukú in southeastern Ecuador. The new species differs from all other glassfrogs by the combination of the following characters: presence of processes of vomers but without vomerine teeth; humeral spines in males; dorsum green with light green dots and without dark marks; dor...

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a transformation of medical training. Although there were obvious medical education and social interaction challenges, e-learning presented some advantages, which may have generated medical curricula innovation and adjustments to novel technological methodologies. This study aims to generate consensuses...

Edible insects represent a viable option to address the current need for nutritious, safe, and eco-friendly foods. People native to the Amazon region have a long-standing tradition of consuming edible insects that are relatively unknown elsewhere. This research aimed to characterize the chemical, nutritional, and microbiological composition of the...

The diversity of Neotropical velvet worms (Onychophora, Neopatida) is significantly underestimated, particularly within the Andean clade represented by the genus Oroperipatus , the last species of which was described more than 70 years ago. Here, we describe a new species of Oroperipatus from the Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador, bringing the total nu...

Geographic barriers, such as mountain ranges, impede genetic exchange among populations, promoting diversification and speciation. The effectiveness of these barriers in limiting gene flow varies between lineages due to each species’ unique dispersal modes and capacities. Our understanding of how the Andes orogeny contributes to species diversifica...

We present the first records of Camponotus textor Forel, 1899 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Ecuador, representing the first records from west of the Andes. We explore the use of participatory science data from iNaturalist and scientific collections to understand the distribution of C. textor. While iNaturalist data alone cannot confirm the presence of...

Geographical barriers like mountain ranges impede genetic exchange among populations, promoting diversification. The effectiveness of these barriers in limiting gene flow varies between lineages due to each species' dispersal modes and capacities. Our understanding of how the Andes orogeny contributes to species diversification comes from well‐stud...

Visual systems adapt to different light environments through several avenues including optical changes to the eye and neurological changes in how light signals are processed and interpreted. Spectral sensitivity can evolve via changes to visual pigments housed in the retinal photoreceptors through gene duplication and loss, differential and coexpre...

The hemipteran Stenomacra tungurahuana Brailovsky & Mayorga, 1997 (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Largidae) remains known from just two localities in the inter-Andean valley of Ecuador. No ecological information nor description of its colouration in life have been reported. In this contribution, I provide the first record of S. tungurahuana on the northea...

The genus Zoniferella includes six taxa of land snails from Colombia and Ecuador, for which little has been published beyond their original descriptions. In this paper, we present new records of Zoniferella vespera (Jousseaume, 1887), expanding its range across northwestern Ecuador. We provide the first description of the colouration in life for Zo...

The Galapagos Archipelago has been world-famous since Darwin’s visit and is recognized for its species radiation and high levels of endemism. However, Galapagos snakes of the genus Pseudalsophis remained poorly known until recently. The taxonomy of this snake radiation was in turmoil until 2018, when nine species were recognized and its origin and...

Studies on genetic variability amongst native and introduced species contribute to a better understanding of the genetic diversity of species along their autochthonous distribution and identify possible routes of introduction. Gonatodes caudiscutatus is a gecko native to western Ecuador and introduced to the Galapagos Islands. Despite being a succe...

The type material of Pamphobeteus ultramarinus Schmidt, 1995 and P. vespertinus (Simon, 1889) are redescribed. The male of P. lapola Sherwood, Gabriel, Brescovit & Lucas, 2022 is described for the frst time. Six new species are described: P. amazonas Sherwood, Gabriel, Peñaherrera-R., Cisneros-Heredia., León-E., Brescovit & Lucas sp. nov. from Braz...

La colección de herpetología del Museo de Zoología (ZSFQ) de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito alberga más de 4000 especímenes de anfibios y reptiles colectados entre 1980 y 2023. La clase Amphibia representa el 77,9% de la colección húmeda y el 22.1% restante corresponde a colecciones húmedas y secas de la clase Reptilia. Durante los últimos 1...

más de un siglo estudios han demostrado la relación entre variables medioambientales y la morfología de las especies, identificándose patrones biogeográficos y macroevolutivos en muchos organismos distribuidos alrededor del mundo. Los ectotermos son un grupo ideal para explorar relaciones entre variables abióticas y cambios en el tamaño total y rel...

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the Inter...

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the Inter...

Los insectos comestibles se han propuesto como alternativa sostenible para el medio ambiente y la ganadería (1). En respuesta a la promoción de los insectos como alimento por parte de la FAO, el consumo de insectos es ahora una tendencia a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, a diferencia de la ganadería tradicional, la información disponible sobre su compo...

We describe a new species of giant crab spider of the genus Sadala Simon, 1880 collected in Lowland Evergreen rainforests at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador. This new species corresponds to the firstrecord of the genus from Ecuador. Females of the new species of Sadala are similar to S. punicea and S....

The marine iguana populations of San Cristóbal are the smallest of any island in the archipelago and are regarded as the highest priority for the conservation of the species. Marine iguanas depend on their tail for swimming and diving to get food while submerged, and tail damage may impact their ability to forage efficiently. We present the first t...

We describe two new species of glassfrogs of the genus Centrolene living in syntopy at La Enramada, province of Azuay, southwestern Ecuador. They were found in a small creek in montane evergreen forests at 2,900 m elevation. The first new species is distinguished from all other members of the genus Centrolene by having the following combination of...

We describe a new species of Linothele Karsch, 1879 from the southeastern slopes of the Andes in Ecuador. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the presence of abundant bright whitish-golden curly setae on the carapace; a pattern-less grey abdomen in adults, with short whitish-golden setae, short black setae and long and erecte...

We present the first record of Holothele longipes (L. Koch, 1875) (Araneae, Theraphosidae) from the Republic of Ecuador, based on a male specimen collected near Puerto Misahuallí, province of Napo, in the north-eastern foothills of the Andes, upper River Napo basin. This new record extends the geographic range of H. longipes by approximately 554 km...

We review the distribution of White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis rubrirostris) in mainland Ecuador and show that the species has expanded its range significantly. Contrary to published records, A. b. rubrirostris has been present in mainland Ecuador at least since the early 20th century, although probably in low numbers. During the 20th century...

Recent surveys in the Río Negro-Sopladora National Park revealed a striking new species of Hyloscirtus . The new species is easily diagnosed from all other congeners by its large body size (64.9 mm SVL in adult female); broad dermal fringes in fingers and toes; prepollex not projected into a prepollical spine and hidden under thenar tubercle; dorsu...

Congress abstract of oral presentation EIGHT-LEGGED JEWELS IN THE HAZE: AN APPROACH TO TARANTULA (ARANEAE: THERAPHOSIDAE) DIVERSITY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY IN THE JUBONES BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN ECUADOR XXII International Congress of Arachnology – Montevideo, 2023

Congress abstract of poster presentation AN APPROACH TO AMAZONIAN CURTAIN-WEB SPIDERS’ KNOWLEDGE: DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES LINOTHELE KARSCH, 1879 (MYGALOMORPHAE: DIPLURIDAE) FROM THE UPPER AMAZONIA International Congress of Arachnology – Montevideo, 2023

Tropical dry forests are among the most threatened and yet the most biodiverse Neotropical ecosystems. However, current patterns of biological occupancy in these forests remain poorly studied. Here, we document the diversity, patterns of seasonal turnover and change of species composition over time of birds in a highly exploited but protected tropi...

Visual communication is apparently widespread among anurans, but these behaviours in many Neotropical species remain unstudied. We provide the first descriptions of visual displays in males of the Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus carnifex (Hylidae) from three populations at Mindo, in northwestern Ecuador. We describe hind-foot lifting, foot-flagg...

We have discovered a spectacular new species of frog in the genus Hyloscirtus, belonging to the H. larinopygion species group. The adult female is characterized by a mostly black body with large bright red spots on the dorsal and ventral surface, extremities, and toe pads. The adult male is unknown. Small juveniles are characterized by a yellow bod...

Helminths are not usually considered important pathogens for birds of prey. There is a single published report of mortality in raptors due to an air sac trematode infection. We report a well-documented death case from massive infection by an air sac trematode of the family Cyclocoelidae in a wild-caught, juvenile male Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabi...

We review the distribution of White-cheeked Duck Anas bahamensis rubrirostris in mainland Ecuador and show that the species is expanding its range significantly. Contrary to published records, A. b. rubrirostris has been present in mainland Ecuador at least since the early 20th century, although probably in low numbers. During the 20th century, the...

Los alimentos van más allá del acto de comer y son más que productos de consumo. Cada alimento que consumimos encierra una diversidad de historias, cosmovisiones, valores, realidades, procesos y usos, que se comprenden mejor desde las perspectivas del patrimonio vivo, dinámico y diverso. Este se debe pensar simultáneamente en el tiempo, en los terr...

La música, el baile de marimba y la bomba, al igual que los saberes de cocina, con sus leyendas y sus mitos, definen el universo cultural de los afroecuatorianos. Los pueblos recrean esta herencia que, además de servirles como fortaleza y referente para sobrevivir en medio de condiciones adversas, ha enriquecido la diversidad cultural del Ecuador y...

En este capítulo se compilan instrumentos, técnicas y procedimientos referentes a la cocina afroecuatoriana del valle del Chota y de Esmeraldas. Gran parte de esta información se obtuvo mediante entrevistas y grupos focales, donde personas de diferentes comuni-dades afroecuatorianas nos enseñaron y compartieron su gran riqueza cultural en torno a l...

The hemipteran Stenomacra tungurahuana Brailovsky & Mayorga was described in 1997 and remains known from just two localities in Ecuador. No ecological information nor description of its colouration in life have been reported for the species. In this contribution, I present a new record of S. tungurahuana from San Isidro Lodge, province of Napo, tha...

Comprehensive assessments of species’ extinction risks have documented the extinction crisis and underpinned strategies for reducing those risks. Global assessments reveal that, among tetrapods, 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals and 13.6% of birds are threatened with extinction. Because global assessments have been lacking, reptiles have been o...

Species with large distributions provide unique opportunities to test how geography has influenced biotic diversification. In this work, we aimed to explore the effect of geographic barriers on the distribution of the phenotypic and genetic variation of a spider species that is widespread in continental and insular America. We obtained an alignment...

Las áreas verdes urbanas pueden alojar una importante biodiversidad y mantener recursos naturales y servicios ambientales. En un mundo cada vez más urbanizado, estas áreas juegan roles fundamentales para mitigar los impactos negativos del crecimiento urbanístico y del cambio climático, y son indispensables para un entorno saludable. Un aspecto clav...

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban...

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban...

The genus Zoniferella includes six taxa of land snails from Colombia and Ecuador for which little has been published beyond their original descriptions. In this paper, we present new records of Zoniferella vespera, a species previously known only from its type locality, expanding its range across northwestern Ecuador. We provide the first descripti...

This work compares five different distance metrics (i.e., Euclidean, Chebyshev, Manhattan, Mahalanobis, and Canberra) implemented in the weighted Hausdorff distance (WHD) as part of the loss function during the training and validation of a fully convolutional neural network (FCNN) model for detecting ladybird beetle specimens. The FCNN-based detect...

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Ecuador severely. The country caught the attention of international media due to its high death toll and overwhelmed healthcare system. The clinical diagnostics system was rapidly overloaded, and the import of PCR tests was delayed. The case of Ecuador illustrates how middle-income countries rely heavily on the importation...

We describe a new species of terrestrial-breeding frog of the genus Noblella from the northwestern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador, in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador, and report a new locality for the recently described N. worleyae. We include a detailed description of the osteology of both species and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. T...

We report the rediscovery of Laura’s Glassfrog, Nymphargus laurae Cisneros-Heredia & McDiarmid, 2007, based on two specimens collected at the Colonso-Chalupas Biological Reserve, province of Napo, Ecuador. The species was described and known from a single male specimen collected in 1955 at Loreto, north-eastern Andean foothills of Ecuador. Limited...

In the Neotropics, Panopinae spider flies are the most diverse within Acroceridae, specializing as endoparasites of mygalomorph spiders. Camposella insignata Cole, 1919 is one of the most enigmatic flies within this subfamily, given its conspicuously enlarged antennal flagella and apparent rarity, with only two specimens known to this day. This pap...

We describe a new species of Pristimantis from southern Ecuador, province of Zamora Chinchipe. The new species is closely related to an undescribed species of Pristimantis from Reserva Tapichalaca, Ecuador and with species of a clade historically assigned to the P. unistrigatus species group, such as P. parvillus, P. luteolateralis, P. walkeri, amo...

The analysis of the intestinal microbiome in amphibians provides insights of the anthropogenic environmental impact. Pristimantis unistrigatus is an Andean amphibian species whose distribution has been recorded in Ecuador and Colombia, ranging from endemic elfin forests to urban gardens. In this study, we focus on the analysis of the P. unistrigatu...