Paula Hanna Valdujo

Ecology of Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) in the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract We provide ecological information on Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis (Amaral, 1925) regarding geographical distribution, habitat use, biometry, feeding habits, and reproduction, based on field studies and analysis of 175 preserved specimens. Bothrops n. pauloensis is endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, where it occurs in open, seasonally dry savannas. Sexes are dimorphic in body length, relative tail length and relative body mass, but not in relative head length or diet. A wide array of prey, from centipedes to rodents, is consumed, and there is an ontogenetic dietary shift from ectotherms to endotherms. Prey-predator mass ratios ranged from 0.006–0.571. Although prey mass increased with snake mass, large snakes also ate many small prey. There was no difference in relative prey mass between sexes. Reproduction was highly seasonal, with a long vitellogenic period. Embryos were found only from October to December (rainy season). Litter size ranged from 4–20, and was dependent on female size. Although B. n. pauloensis occupies seasonally dry savannas, its ecological characteristics are similar to those described for Bothrops species inhabiting forested habitats.

Para que servem os inventários de fauna

Inventarios de fauna acessam diretamente a diversidade de uma localidade, em um determinado espaco e tempo. Os dados primarios gerados pelos inventarios compoem uma das ferramentas mais importantes na tomada de decisoes a respeito do manejo de areas naturais. Entretanto, varios problemas tem sido observados em diversos niveis relacionados aos inventarios de fauna no Brasil e vao desde a formacao de recursos humanos ate a ausencia de padronizacao, de desenho experimental e de selecao de metodos inadequados. Sao apresentados estudos de caso com mamiferos, repteis, anfibios e peixes, nos quais sao discutidos problemas como variabilidade temporal e metodos para deteccao de fauna terrestre, sugerindo que tanto os inventarios quanto os programas de monitoramento devam se estender por prazos maiores e que os inventarios devem incluir diferentes metodologias para que os seus objetivos sejam plenamente alcancados.

Anuran Species Composition and Distribution Patterns in Brazilian Cerrado, a Neotropical Hotspot

ABSTRACT. Species distribution patterns result from the combination of multiple factors acting over different spatial and temporal scales. We analyze the distribution patterns of anuran amphibians within the Cerrado domain of South America in a historical framework. First, we provide an updated list of species based on extensive research in zoological collections and fieldwork. We then explore patterns of endemism and the distribution of species occurring both in Cerrado and each of the adjoining domains, providing directions for future hypotheses tests. We found 209 anuran species occurring in localities within Cerrado. Among them, 150 are primarily associated with Cerrado, and 59 are typical of one of the Cerrado adjoining domains. Widespread species account for only 14% of the Cerrado typical species. Species occurring in Cerrado and one adjoining domain present a highly structured spatial pattern in which Amazonian species are restricted to the northwestern Cerrado, Atlantic species to the southeastern Cerrado, Caatinga species to the northeastern Cerrado, and Chaco species to the southwestern Cerrado. Cerrado endemics occur in most localities and in all regions, whereas narrow endemics (< 60,000 km2) are restricted to mountain ranges in central, southeastern, and southwestern Cerrado. The limited distribution of species shared with one of the four adjoining domains highlights the influence of independent species pools more associated with other domains.

Systematics of spiny-backed treefrogs (Hylidae: Osteocephalus): An Amazonian puzzle

Spiny‐backed tree frogs of the genus Osteocephalus are conspicuous components of the tropical wet forests of the Amazon and the Guiana Shield. Here, we revise the phylogenetic relationships of Osteocephalus and its sister group Tepuihyla, using up to 6134 bp of DNA sequences of nine mitochondrial and one nuclear gene for 338 specimens from eight countries and 218 localities, representing 89% of the 28 currently recognized nominal species. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal (i) the paraphyly of Osteocephalus with respect to Tepuihyla, (ii) the placement of ‘Hyla’ warreni as sister to Tepuihyla, (iii) the non‐monophyly of several currently recognized species within Osteocephalus and (iv) the presence of low (<1%) and overlapping genetic distances among phenotypically well‐characterized nominal species (e.g. O. taurinus and O. oophagus) for the 16S gene fragment used in amphibian DNA barcoding. We propose a new taxonomy, securing the monophyly of Osteocephalus and Tepuihyla by rearranging and redefining the content of both genera and also erect a new genus for the sister group of Osteocephalus. The colouration of newly metamorphosed individuals is proposed as a morphological synapomorphy for Osteocephalus. We recognize and define five monophyletic species groups within Osteocephalus, synonymize three species of Osteocephalus (O. germani, O. phasmatus and O. vilmae) and three species of Tepuihyla (T. celsae, T. galani and T. talbergae) and reallocate three species (Hyla helenae to Osteocephalus, O. exophthalmus to Tepuihyla and O. pearsoni to Dryaderces gen. n.). Furthermore, we flag nine putative new species (an increase to 138% of the current diversity). We conclude that species numbers are largely underestimated, with most hidden diversity centred on widespread and polymorphic nominal species. The evolutionary origin of breeding strategies within Osteocephalus is discussed in the light of this new phylogenetic hypothesis, and a novel type of amplexus (gular amplexus) is described.

Squamate reptiles from Parque Nacional das Emas and surroundings, Cerrado of Central Brazil

We present a list of squamate reptiles from Parque Nacional da Emas (PNE), ten neighbor private properties and Parque Estadual Nascentes do Rio Taquari, states of Goias, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul. The study area encompasses the headwaters of Araguaia and Taquari river basins and part of Paranaiba River Basin, resulting in significant habitat heterogeneity. Inside PNE, we recorded 74 squamate species: 47 snakes, 21 lizards and six amphisbaenians. If we consider also the neighboring areas, richness value raises to 87 species: 54 snakes, 27 lizards and six amphisbaenians. From these, 52 % of the lizards, 19 % of the snakes and 33 % of the amphisbaenians are Cerrado endemics. Forest-specialist species are more common outside than inside PNE. Additional species are expected to occur in the PNE region, in view of their known geographical ranges.

A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NEW SPECIES OF CNEMIDOPHORUS (SQUAMATA, TEIIDAE) FROM A CERRADO ENCLAVE IN SOUTHWESTERN AMAZONIA, BRAZIL

We describe a new species of Cnemidophorus from a Cerrado enclave in southwestern Amazonia, Rondônia state, Brazil. This species is apparently endemic to Cerrado enclaves in the vicinity of the city of Vilhena, a region under intensive anthropic pressure due to the expansion of soybean plantations. A discriminant analysis indicated that femoral pores and scales around the tail are the best discriminators among Brazilian species of Cnemidophorus. A naïve Bayesian network constructed with categorical (mostly coloration) variables indicated that the new species had high conditional probabilities of dorsolateral fields absent, vertebral field spotted, and paravertebral lines absent. The analyses revealed clear distinctions between species of Cnemidophorus that range north and south of the the Amazon River. The new species may have evolved as a result of vicariance, following the isolation of peripheral enclaves of Cerrado in southwestern Amazonia after the late Pleniglacial. The restricted range in small areas, under extreme human pressure around Vilhena, makes this species one of the most critically endangered elements of the Brazilian herpetofauna.

Anfíbios da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, região do Jalapão, Estados do Tocantins e Bahia

The Northern part of Cerrado is one of the biologically poorest known areas in the domain. Recent studies revealed richness values that are as high as those from other sites in the domain. The Estacao Ecologica Serra Geral do Tocantins is located in a region known as Jalapao, in Northeastern Cerrado, and it is included in the largest set of protected areas in the domain. We describe amphibian richness and species composition in EESGT, and discuss it in a biogeographic context. We also describe breeding sites focusing on phytophysiognomy and types of water bodies. We sampled amphibians through active search and pitfall traps, during the peak of breeding season for most of the anuran species in Cerrado. We registered 36 species, which coupled with former studies results in a regional richness of 39 species known for Jalapao. After applying Jackknife estimator, we suggest a potential richness of 42 species for the EESGT. Most registered species are endemic or strongly associated to Cerrado, followed by species widespread in Brazil or South America, and those associated with Caatinga. Most species breed in temporary ponds located in open areas, although there are some forest specialists, and stream-breeding species.

Cryptic diversity in South American Teiinae (Squamata, Teiidae) lizards

Based on phylogenetic and molecular dating analyses of several species of Cnemidophorus and Ameiva, representing major groups of species of these two genera, we uncover a previously unrecognized Ameiva lineage, which includes described Cnemidophorus parecis from south‐western Amazonia. We discuss the diagnosis of Ameiva and Cnemidophorus and the implications of the new taxonomic rearrangement of genera from Teiidae for the monophyly of Ameiva. Based on the conclusion of our analyses, we provide description of a new species named Ameiva jacuba from the central Brazilian Cerrado and a detailed diagnosis for the relocation of C. parecis to Ameiva. We do not adopt here recent taxonomic changes proposed for Teiidae and provide a discussion about them. Finally, based on molecular dating and the distribution of living species, we propose an evolutionary scenario for the origins of South American cis‐Andean Ameiva lineages, associated with the topographic subdivision of the Cerrado region during Miocene marine introgressions.

Amphibia, Anura, São Desidério, western Bahia uplands, northeastern Brazil

The contact zone between Cerrado and Caatinga is among the least known areas in the Cerrado biome, and no information is available about the anuran species occurring in this area and their ecology. Along this area, seasonally dry tropical forests are common on the lowlands with some enclaves inside the Cerrado core area. Here, we present for the first time a list of species on this zone recognized as a priority area for conservation inside the Cerrado . We sampled anuran species within 30 km of Sao Desiderio, a city in western Bahia, from habitats including temporary and permanent ponds in Cerrado and seasonally dry tropical forests, as well as veredas and marshes. We recorded 32 anuran species, belonging to 12 genera in five families. Hylidae was the richest family (ten species) followed by Leiuperidae and Leptodactylidae (eight species each), Bufonidae (five species), and Microhylidae (two species). The heterogeneity of this site could be demonstrated by the presence of species with different dispersal/colonization history with eight species (25 %) endemic to Cerrado , three (9 %) shared with Caatinga biome, two (6 %) shared with Atlantic Forest, and eighteen (56 %) widespread through adjacent biomes.

Vertebrados da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins: faunística, biodiversidade e conservação no Cerrado brasileiro

Basic taxonomic and distributional data on vertebrates are one of the most useful and reliable sources of information for conservation planning. Biological data are even more relevant in rich and highly threatened regions such as the Brazilian Cerrado, one of the least studied global biodiversity hotspots. Herein we provide a summary of the results of a vertebrate survey at Estacao Ecologica Serra Geral do Tocantins (~716.000 ha), the second largest protected area in the Cerrado region. We recorded 450 species in EESGT and surroundings, including 17 threatened species, 50 Cerrado endemics and 11 potential restricted-range species. Our results also added 180 new vertebrate records for the Jalapao region. At least 12 species were considered potential undescribed taxa; four of these were recently described based on specimens obtained in the present study. Our results indicate that EESGT is among the most biologically relevant protected areas in the Cerrado. Proper management will favor the persistence of threatened vertebrates dependent on the last remaining large blocks of pristine Cerrado savannas. Moreover, EESGT and its major biological subunits contribute decisively to the representativeness of the reserve system in the Cerrado, conserving presumed narrow endemics with high intrinsic vulnerability and high potential value as indicators of biogeographic processes of diversification in rich and complex Neotropical biotas.