BIOTA NEOTROPICA is an electronic, peer-reviewed journal edited by the Program BIOTA/FAPESP: The Virtual Institute of Biodiversity. This journal"s aim is to disseminate the results of original research work, associated or not to the program, concerned with characterization, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within the Neotropical region. Manuscripts are considered on the understanding that their content has not appeared, or will not be submitted, elsewhere in substantially the same form, because once published their copyrights are transferred to BIOTA NEOTROPICA as established in the Copyright Transfer Agreement signed by the author(s).