Although currently there is already a set of studies regarding ecological aspects of some particu... more Although currently there is already a set of studies regarding ecological aspects of some particular reptile and amphibian species living in Brazilian sandy coastal plains (including the so-called “restinga” and “campo nativo” habitats), there is comparatively few information on the species composition usually associated to these environments. During 31 years (1988-2019) of herpetological studies carried out in sandy coastal plains environments by our research team of the Laboratory of Vertebrate Ecology (Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil) we have surveyed reptile and amphibian communities and performed different studies with similar methods in 70 sites from 10 different states along the Brazilian coast. Our surveys resulted in records of 87 species of reptile (five turtles, two crocodylians, six amphisbaenians, 36 lizards and 39 snakes) from 24 families, and 77 species of anuran amphibians from nine families. We have studied m...
This study proposes to reconstruct the paleoenvironment from Quaternary sites of the caves in the... more This study proposes to reconstruct the paleoenvironment from Quaternary sites of the caves in the sertão baiano and Lagoa Santa region during the Pleistocene. The paleofauna of bats from these sites were compared to the extant fauna of 25 localities, representing most important Neotropical biome. This study was possible because all bat fossil species from both sites were elements of the extant Neotropical fauna, excepting Desmodus draculae. Because bats are considered good environmental definers, the association of extant and fossil fauna permits the recognition of similar environments. The similarity between faunas was analyzed by Jaccard index with a posterior grouping analysis by UPGMA. The paleofauna of Lagoa Santa matched to Caatinga fauna, suggesting a dry and open environment adjacent to the Lagoa Santa caves during the Pleistocene. The paleofauna of sertão baiano caves matched to neither of the analyzed faunas. Most authors suggest that fossil record of the sertão baiano cav...
We investigated the daily activity and thermoregulatory body orientation of Mabuya macrorhyncha (... more We investigated the daily activity and thermoregulatory body orientation of Mabuya macrorhyncha (Hoge, 1947), a lizard species that occurs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We conducted this investigation in a sandy coastal dune remnant (“restinga” ecosystem) in Grussaí, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the summer. The daily activity cycle of the lizards started around 6:00 am and ended before 7:00 pm. This is longer than observed in other populations of M. macrorhyncha (approximately 7:00 am to 5:00 pm). The activity cycle of the lizards was bimodal, with the first peak between 6:00 and 11:00 am and the second from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. This contrasts with observations on other populations of this species, which revealed an unimodal pattern. The mean body temperature of M. macrorhyncha in Grussaí was 34.2 ± 1.5 °C, which was comparatively higher than observed in other populations of the species. The differences in the daily activity and of body temperature of these lizards betwee...
The knowledge on the insular reptile fauna from Ilha Grande (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is ... more The knowledge on the insular reptile fauna from Ilha Grande (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is mostly restricted to the results of surveys carried out within a limited area, considering the island’s total area of 19,300 ha. Until now, the number of reptile species reported for Ilha Grande amounted to 25 (nine lizards and 16 snakes). Here we present the first records of two lizard species (Anolis punctatus and Tropidurus torquatus) for the island, raising the local reptile list to 27 species. The first one appears to be rare in the area, whereas the second species was found in a portion of the island that has not been previously surveyed for reptiles. Although the presence of T. torquatus in other insular environments may be related to anthropogenic introduction, we believe the population in Ilha Grande to be natural, considering the geological history of the island.
Here we present teiid lizard fossils from Gruta do Urso, Aurora do Tocantins, Tocantins State, no... more Here we present teiid lizard fossils from Gruta do Urso, Aurora do Tocantins, Tocantins State, northern Brazil. We describe a left lower jaw of a "Cnemidophorinae" indet. and a right dentary attributed to Tupinambis sp. These materials share with extant Teiidae a heterodont dentition with subpleurodont tooth implantation, and are assigned to Teiinae and Tupinambinae based on dental characteristics. The paleofaunal assemblage from Gruta do Urso suggests a late Pleistocene/ early Holocene age. These records add to our knowledge of the Quaternary fauna of northern Brazil.
Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, Jan 29, 2016
Communities are structured by interactions of historical and ecological factors, which influence ... more Communities are structured by interactions of historical and ecological factors, which influence the use of different resources in time and space. We acquired data on time of activity, microhabitat use and diet of a lizard assemblage from a sand dune habitat in a coastal area, southeastern Brazil (Restinga de Jurubatiba). We analyzed the data of niche overlap among species in these three axes (temporal, spatial and trophic) using null models. We found a significant overlap within the trophic niche, whereas the overlap for the other axes did not differ from the expected. Based on this result, we discuss the factors acting on the structure of the local lizard community.
We present a list of the anuran amphibians from “restinga” of Grumari, part of the Parque Natural... more We present a list of the anuran amphibians from “restinga” of Grumari, part of the Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari (PNMG), Rio de Janeiro municipality, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. This study was carried out from May 2009 to December 2010 using two active sampling methods: quadrant plots and acoustic/visual transects. We recorded 22 anuran species distributed in six families: Bufonidae (1 species), Craugastoridae (1), Hylidae (14), Leptodactylidae (3), Microhylidae (2) and Strabomantidae (1). The presence of endangered and endemic species evidence Grumari’s importance as an area for conservation of the “restinga” habitat remnants in Rio de Janeiro. Grumari is also one of the richest known areas in terms of amphibian species among the “restinga” areas studied to date in Brazil, second only to Mata de São João, Bahia.
The yellow anaconda, Eunectes notaeus, was until recently considered as a species with accidental... more The yellow anaconda, Eunectes notaeus, was until recently considered as a species with accidental occurrence on southern Brazil, due to river floods from the Pantanal region on central Brazil. Here we provide monitoring records of a well-established population in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and also discuss its distribution in the area.
In this study we attempted to access further information on the geographical distribution of the ... more In this study we attempted to access further information on the geographical distribution of the endangered lizard Liolaemus lutzae, estimating its potential distribution through the maximum entropy algorithm. For this purpose, we related its points of occurrence with matrices of environmental variables. After examining the correlation between environmental matrices, we selected 10 for model construction. The main variables influencing the current geographic distribution of L. lutzae were the diurnal temperature range and altitude. The species endemism seemed to be a consequence of a reduction of the original distribution area. Alternatively, the resulting model may reflect the geographic distribution of an ancestral lineage, since the model selected areas of occurrence of the two other species of Liolaemus from Brazil (L. arambarensis and L. occipitalis), all living in sand dune habitats and having psamophilic habits. Due to the high loss rate of habitat occupied by the species, th...
Blood parasites of reptiles encompass haemogregarins, trypanosomes, microfilaria, piroplasmids, a... more Blood parasites of reptiles encompass haemogregarins, trypanosomes, microfilaria, piroplasmids, and plasmodium (Arikan and Çiçek, 2014). Among these, the haemogregarines (Apicomplexa) are the most common blood parasite in reptiles (Telford, 2009). Haemogregarines are often recorded in snakes (e.g. O'Dwyer et al., 2003), crocodiles (e.g. Viana et al., 2010b), lizards (e.g. Damas-Moreira et al., 2014) and turtles (e.g. Soares et al., 2014). Hematophagous invertebrates are the main vectors of hemoparasites responsible for transmission between hosts (Jacobson, 2007), although some items composing diet may also be an important route of infection (Viana et al., 2012a). Among hematophagous, the mosquitos of the family Culicidae (Diptera) are the main potential vectors of hemoparasites in snakes (e.g. Sloboda et al., 2007), crocodiles (e.g. Viana et al., 2010a), lizards (e.g. Lainson et al., 2003) and turtles (e.g. Crans and Rockel, 1968). Parasites are known for their influence on communities' structure, both directly on the hosts behaviour and/or density, and indirectly when the effect on hosts reflects on other species interaction as competition and predation (Minchella and Scott, 1991; Goater et al., 2013). High rates of parasite infection in lizards may influence the competitive ability of species and ultimately the composition of a lizard assemblage
Viperid snakes are widely distributed in the South America and the greater distribution range of ... more Viperid snakes are widely distributed in the South America and the greater distribution range of the family is found at the Crotalinae subfamily. Despite the abundance of this snakes along their geographic distribution, some ecological aspects remain unknown, principally at subtropical areas. In the present study, we evaluated the activity (daily and seasonal) and the use of the habitat by Bothrops diporus, B. jararaca andB. jararacussu, in an Atlantic Forest area at southern Brazil. We observed higher incidence of viperid snakes during the months with higher temperatures, while no snakes were found during the months with lower temperatures. The data suggest the minimum temperature as environmental variable with the greatest influence on the seasonal activity of this species. Considering the daily activity, we observed a tendency of snakes to avoid the warmest hours. Bothrops jararacussu tend to avoid open areas, being registered only inside and at the edges of the forest. We compar...
However, there is only a single record of snake for the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Norther... more However, there is only a single record of snake for the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Northern region, a viperid from southwestern Brazilian Amazonia (Hsiou & Albino, 2011). In the present work we report the fi rst record of Eunectes for Tocantins, northern Brazil. This large specimen is attributed to E. murinus Linnaeus, 1758, and provides improved insight into late Pleistocene paleoecology for the region. ABSTRACT-Brazilian late Pleistocene snakes have an extensive fossil record and are recognized for southern, northeastern and northern regions of this country. This fossil record is represented by the families Boidae, 'Colubridae', Viperidae and Elapidae. Here is presented the fi rst record for Eunectes Wagler for the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian northern region. The material described is a single incomplete dorsal vertebra, and although it shares several vertebral features with most Boidae taxa, it can be distinguished from all other boids because is a robust and wide vertebra with a slightly depressed neural arch, relatively thick and robust zygosphene with a prominent median turbercle. The taxonomic allocation to E. murinus (Linnaeus) is based on the exceptionally large size of the vertebra. The discovery of E. murinus in the late Pleistocene of Tocantins State indicates the presence of a large body of water in a region that has previously been interpreted as relatively arid during this time.
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 2012
Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick usually associated with reptiles and amphibia... more Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick usually associated with reptiles and amphibians. However, relatively few studies on occurrences of ticks in wild reptile populations in Brazil have been produced. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of ticks associated with reptile species in the Grussaí restinga, in the municipality of São João da Barra, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Between December 2010 and January 2011, 131 individuals belonging to nine species of reptiles of the order Squamata were sampled: the lizards Tropidurus torquatus (n = 51), Hemidactylus mabouia (n = 25), Mabuya agilis (n = 30), Mabuya macrorhyncha (n = 6), Cnemidophorus littoralis (n = 5) and Ameiva ameiva (n = 10); and the snakes Philodryas olfersii (n = 2), Oxyrhopus rhombifer (n = 1) and Micrurus corallinus (n = 1). The only tick species found to be associated with any of the reptiles sampled was A. rotundatum. One adult female was detected on one individual of the lizard A. ameiva...
A new coccidian species of the genus Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Protozoa, Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) i... more A new coccidian species of the genus Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Protozoa, Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is reported from the colubrid snake host Philodryas olfersii Lichtenstein at a coastal area in the State of Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. Oöcysts of Caryospora olfersii n. sp. are spherical to sub-spherical, 33.1 × 31.2 μm, with smooth, colourless, three-layered wall, c.1.4; middle layer lightly striated. Micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are all absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 22.9 × 17.4 μm on average, with one extremity in the shape of a short neck. Stieda body present, 3.2 × 1.3 μm, sub-Stieda body present, homogeneous, larger than Stieda body, 4.5 × 1.7 μm. Sporozoites are inserted in a bulky sporocyst residuum.
Although currently there is already a set of studies regarding ecological aspects of some particu... more Although currently there is already a set of studies regarding ecological aspects of some particular reptile and amphibian species living in Brazilian sandy coastal plains (including the so-called “restinga” and “campo nativo” habitats), there is comparatively few information on the species composition usually associated to these environments. During 31 years (1988-2019) of herpetological studies carried out in sandy coastal plains environments by our research team of the Laboratory of Vertebrate Ecology (Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil) we have surveyed reptile and amphibian communities and performed different studies with similar methods in 70 sites from 10 different states along the Brazilian coast. Our surveys resulted in records of 87 species of reptile (five turtles, two crocodylians, six amphisbaenians, 36 lizards and 39 snakes) from 24 families, and 77 species of anuran amphibians from nine families. We have studied m...
This study proposes to reconstruct the paleoenvironment from Quaternary sites of the caves in the... more This study proposes to reconstruct the paleoenvironment from Quaternary sites of the caves in the sertão baiano and Lagoa Santa region during the Pleistocene. The paleofauna of bats from these sites were compared to the extant fauna of 25 localities, representing most important Neotropical biome. This study was possible because all bat fossil species from both sites were elements of the extant Neotropical fauna, excepting Desmodus draculae. Because bats are considered good environmental definers, the association of extant and fossil fauna permits the recognition of similar environments. The similarity between faunas was analyzed by Jaccard index with a posterior grouping analysis by UPGMA. The paleofauna of Lagoa Santa matched to Caatinga fauna, suggesting a dry and open environment adjacent to the Lagoa Santa caves during the Pleistocene. The paleofauna of sertão baiano caves matched to neither of the analyzed faunas. Most authors suggest that fossil record of the sertão baiano cav...
We investigated the daily activity and thermoregulatory body orientation of Mabuya macrorhyncha (... more We investigated the daily activity and thermoregulatory body orientation of Mabuya macrorhyncha (Hoge, 1947), a lizard species that occurs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We conducted this investigation in a sandy coastal dune remnant (“restinga” ecosystem) in Grussaí, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the summer. The daily activity cycle of the lizards started around 6:00 am and ended before 7:00 pm. This is longer than observed in other populations of M. macrorhyncha (approximately 7:00 am to 5:00 pm). The activity cycle of the lizards was bimodal, with the first peak between 6:00 and 11:00 am and the second from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. This contrasts with observations on other populations of this species, which revealed an unimodal pattern. The mean body temperature of M. macrorhyncha in Grussaí was 34.2 ± 1.5 °C, which was comparatively higher than observed in other populations of the species. The differences in the daily activity and of body temperature of these lizards betwee...
The knowledge on the insular reptile fauna from Ilha Grande (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is ... more The knowledge on the insular reptile fauna from Ilha Grande (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is mostly restricted to the results of surveys carried out within a limited area, considering the island’s total area of 19,300 ha. Until now, the number of reptile species reported for Ilha Grande amounted to 25 (nine lizards and 16 snakes). Here we present the first records of two lizard species (Anolis punctatus and Tropidurus torquatus) for the island, raising the local reptile list to 27 species. The first one appears to be rare in the area, whereas the second species was found in a portion of the island that has not been previously surveyed for reptiles. Although the presence of T. torquatus in other insular environments may be related to anthropogenic introduction, we believe the population in Ilha Grande to be natural, considering the geological history of the island.
Here we present teiid lizard fossils from Gruta do Urso, Aurora do Tocantins, Tocantins State, no... more Here we present teiid lizard fossils from Gruta do Urso, Aurora do Tocantins, Tocantins State, northern Brazil. We describe a left lower jaw of a "Cnemidophorinae" indet. and a right dentary attributed to Tupinambis sp. These materials share with extant Teiidae a heterodont dentition with subpleurodont tooth implantation, and are assigned to Teiinae and Tupinambinae based on dental characteristics. The paleofaunal assemblage from Gruta do Urso suggests a late Pleistocene/ early Holocene age. These records add to our knowledge of the Quaternary fauna of northern Brazil.
Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, Jan 29, 2016
Communities are structured by interactions of historical and ecological factors, which influence ... more Communities are structured by interactions of historical and ecological factors, which influence the use of different resources in time and space. We acquired data on time of activity, microhabitat use and diet of a lizard assemblage from a sand dune habitat in a coastal area, southeastern Brazil (Restinga de Jurubatiba). We analyzed the data of niche overlap among species in these three axes (temporal, spatial and trophic) using null models. We found a significant overlap within the trophic niche, whereas the overlap for the other axes did not differ from the expected. Based on this result, we discuss the factors acting on the structure of the local lizard community.
We present a list of the anuran amphibians from “restinga” of Grumari, part of the Parque Natural... more We present a list of the anuran amphibians from “restinga” of Grumari, part of the Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari (PNMG), Rio de Janeiro municipality, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. This study was carried out from May 2009 to December 2010 using two active sampling methods: quadrant plots and acoustic/visual transects. We recorded 22 anuran species distributed in six families: Bufonidae (1 species), Craugastoridae (1), Hylidae (14), Leptodactylidae (3), Microhylidae (2) and Strabomantidae (1). The presence of endangered and endemic species evidence Grumari’s importance as an area for conservation of the “restinga” habitat remnants in Rio de Janeiro. Grumari is also one of the richest known areas in terms of amphibian species among the “restinga” areas studied to date in Brazil, second only to Mata de São João, Bahia.
The yellow anaconda, Eunectes notaeus, was until recently considered as a species with accidental... more The yellow anaconda, Eunectes notaeus, was until recently considered as a species with accidental occurrence on southern Brazil, due to river floods from the Pantanal region on central Brazil. Here we provide monitoring records of a well-established population in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and also discuss its distribution in the area.
In this study we attempted to access further information on the geographical distribution of the ... more In this study we attempted to access further information on the geographical distribution of the endangered lizard Liolaemus lutzae, estimating its potential distribution through the maximum entropy algorithm. For this purpose, we related its points of occurrence with matrices of environmental variables. After examining the correlation between environmental matrices, we selected 10 for model construction. The main variables influencing the current geographic distribution of L. lutzae were the diurnal temperature range and altitude. The species endemism seemed to be a consequence of a reduction of the original distribution area. Alternatively, the resulting model may reflect the geographic distribution of an ancestral lineage, since the model selected areas of occurrence of the two other species of Liolaemus from Brazil (L. arambarensis and L. occipitalis), all living in sand dune habitats and having psamophilic habits. Due to the high loss rate of habitat occupied by the species, th...
Blood parasites of reptiles encompass haemogregarins, trypanosomes, microfilaria, piroplasmids, a... more Blood parasites of reptiles encompass haemogregarins, trypanosomes, microfilaria, piroplasmids, and plasmodium (Arikan and Çiçek, 2014). Among these, the haemogregarines (Apicomplexa) are the most common blood parasite in reptiles (Telford, 2009). Haemogregarines are often recorded in snakes (e.g. O'Dwyer et al., 2003), crocodiles (e.g. Viana et al., 2010b), lizards (e.g. Damas-Moreira et al., 2014) and turtles (e.g. Soares et al., 2014). Hematophagous invertebrates are the main vectors of hemoparasites responsible for transmission between hosts (Jacobson, 2007), although some items composing diet may also be an important route of infection (Viana et al., 2012a). Among hematophagous, the mosquitos of the family Culicidae (Diptera) are the main potential vectors of hemoparasites in snakes (e.g. Sloboda et al., 2007), crocodiles (e.g. Viana et al., 2010a), lizards (e.g. Lainson et al., 2003) and turtles (e.g. Crans and Rockel, 1968). Parasites are known for their influence on communities' structure, both directly on the hosts behaviour and/or density, and indirectly when the effect on hosts reflects on other species interaction as competition and predation (Minchella and Scott, 1991; Goater et al., 2013). High rates of parasite infection in lizards may influence the competitive ability of species and ultimately the composition of a lizard assemblage
Viperid snakes are widely distributed in the South America and the greater distribution range of ... more Viperid snakes are widely distributed in the South America and the greater distribution range of the family is found at the Crotalinae subfamily. Despite the abundance of this snakes along their geographic distribution, some ecological aspects remain unknown, principally at subtropical areas. In the present study, we evaluated the activity (daily and seasonal) and the use of the habitat by Bothrops diporus, B. jararaca andB. jararacussu, in an Atlantic Forest area at southern Brazil. We observed higher incidence of viperid snakes during the months with higher temperatures, while no snakes were found during the months with lower temperatures. The data suggest the minimum temperature as environmental variable with the greatest influence on the seasonal activity of this species. Considering the daily activity, we observed a tendency of snakes to avoid the warmest hours. Bothrops jararacussu tend to avoid open areas, being registered only inside and at the edges of the forest. We compar...
However, there is only a single record of snake for the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Norther... more However, there is only a single record of snake for the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Northern region, a viperid from southwestern Brazilian Amazonia (Hsiou & Albino, 2011). In the present work we report the fi rst record of Eunectes for Tocantins, northern Brazil. This large specimen is attributed to E. murinus Linnaeus, 1758, and provides improved insight into late Pleistocene paleoecology for the region. ABSTRACT-Brazilian late Pleistocene snakes have an extensive fossil record and are recognized for southern, northeastern and northern regions of this country. This fossil record is represented by the families Boidae, 'Colubridae', Viperidae and Elapidae. Here is presented the fi rst record for Eunectes Wagler for the late Pleistocene of the Brazilian northern region. The material described is a single incomplete dorsal vertebra, and although it shares several vertebral features with most Boidae taxa, it can be distinguished from all other boids because is a robust and wide vertebra with a slightly depressed neural arch, relatively thick and robust zygosphene with a prominent median turbercle. The taxonomic allocation to E. murinus (Linnaeus) is based on the exceptionally large size of the vertebra. The discovery of E. murinus in the late Pleistocene of Tocantins State indicates the presence of a large body of water in a region that has previously been interpreted as relatively arid during this time.
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 2012
Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick usually associated with reptiles and amphibia... more Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick usually associated with reptiles and amphibians. However, relatively few studies on occurrences of ticks in wild reptile populations in Brazil have been produced. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of ticks associated with reptile species in the Grussaí restinga, in the municipality of São João da Barra, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Between December 2010 and January 2011, 131 individuals belonging to nine species of reptiles of the order Squamata were sampled: the lizards Tropidurus torquatus (n = 51), Hemidactylus mabouia (n = 25), Mabuya agilis (n = 30), Mabuya macrorhyncha (n = 6), Cnemidophorus littoralis (n = 5) and Ameiva ameiva (n = 10); and the snakes Philodryas olfersii (n = 2), Oxyrhopus rhombifer (n = 1) and Micrurus corallinus (n = 1). The only tick species found to be associated with any of the reptiles sampled was A. rotundatum. One adult female was detected on one individual of the lizard A. ameiva...
A new coccidian species of the genus Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Protozoa, Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) i... more A new coccidian species of the genus Caryospora Léger, 1904 (Protozoa, Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is reported from the colubrid snake host Philodryas olfersii Lichtenstein at a coastal area in the State of Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. Oöcysts of Caryospora olfersii n. sp. are spherical to sub-spherical, 33.1 × 31.2 μm, with smooth, colourless, three-layered wall, c.1.4; middle layer lightly striated. Micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are all absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 22.9 × 17.4 μm on average, with one extremity in the shape of a short neck. Stieda body present, 3.2 × 1.3 μm, sub-Stieda body present, homogeneous, larger than Stieda body, 4.5 × 1.7 μm. Sporozoites are inserted in a bulky sporocyst residuum.
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