Paulo Sérgio Bernarde

A SNAKE COMMUNITY AT ESPIGÃO DO OESTE, RONDÔNIA, SOUTHWESTERN AMAZON, BRAZIL

Abstract A snake richness of 56 species was recorded at Espigão do Oeste (Rondônia), with a faunal composition very similar to that of the closely located area of the Hydroelectric Power Plant of Samuel (Rondônia). The most abundant species were Liophis reginae (18.6% of the total), Oxyrhopus melanogenys (8.4%), Chironius exoletus (6%), Boa constrictor (5.8%), Dipsas catesbyi (5.6%), and Drymarchon corais (5.6%). A smaller number of snakes was recorded during the driest months (from June to August). Most species feed on lizards (55.3% of the species), followed by anurans (48.2%), mammals (26.8%), birds (12.5%), and snakes (12.5%). A cluster analysis was carried out to produce a dendrogram with information on size (snout-vent length), feeding habits, activity time, and foraging substratum. Eight guilds of snakes were found, according to similarities in resources use. The cluster analysis grouped together both closely or distantly related species, showing that both historical and ecological factors were important in structuring the assemblage.

Análise comparada da riqueza de anuros entre duas áreas com diferentes estados de conservação no município de Londrina, Paraná, Brasil (Amphibia, Anura)

This study provides a list of anurans occuring in Londrina Municipality, north of Parana, and analyses the difference in species richness between one well preserved forest area (Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy) and another, altered area (Estacao de Piscicultura da Universidade Estadual de Londrina). The greatest number of species was in the preserved area (24 species) when compared to the altered one (14 species). The occurence of true forest species (stenoics), such Crossodactylus sp., Eleutherodactylus binotatus, E. guentheri, and Hyalinobatrachium uranoscopum, only in the Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy shows the conservation leveis of areas and put in evidence the anurans as biological indicators of environmental quality. New registers for Parana State were the following species: H. uranoscopum, P. avelinoi and Scinax perereca.

Herpetofauna da área do Igarapé Esperança na Reserva Extrativista Riozinho da Liberdade, Acre - Brasil

A regiao do Alto Jurua localiza-se no estado do Acre (oeste da Amazonia brasileira) e e uma regiao conhecida por apresentar uma alta diversidade e tambem considerada prioritaria para inventariamento e conservacao da herpetofauna. Este trabalho foi realizado entre agosto de 2006 a junho de 2008 e apresenta a lista de especies de anfibios e repteis da area do Igarape Esperanca na Reserva Extrativista Riozinho da Liberdade, Acre. Quatro metodos amostrais foram empregados para inventariar a herpetofauna: procura limitada por tempo, armadilhas de interceptacao e queda, registros auditivos e encontros ocasionais. Foram registradas 162 especies, sendo 83 de anfibios (80 anuros, dois gimnofionos e uma salamandra) e 79 de repteis (29 lagartos, 42 serpentes, um anfisbenio, quatro quelonios e tres jacares). Dessas especies, onze (Adelphobates quinquevittatus, Hyalinobatrachium munozorum, Pristimantis academicus, P. aureolineatus, Syncope antenori, Alopoglossus buckleyi, Drymobius rhombifer, Liophis dorsocorallinus, L. taeniogaster, Umbrivaga pygmaea e Micrurus remotus) foram registradas pela primeira vez para o Acre, sendo que seis delas (H. munozorum, P. academicus, P. aureolineatus, S. antenori, A. buckleyi e L. dorsocorallinus) consistem tambem os primeiros registros para o Brasil. Salienta-se aqui a importância da forma do uso das florestas pelas populacoes tradicionais (indigenas, extrativistas e ribeirinhos) e das areas protegidas na conservacao da alta biodiversidade encontrada no Alto Jurua e tambem a necessidade de estudos sobre o uso de algumas especies (especialmente de quelonios e crocodilianos) para analisar possiveis impactos sobre as populacoes desses animais.

Impacto do desmatamento e formação de pastagens sobre a anurofauna de serapilheira em Rondônia

Abundance and diversity of leaf-litter frog species were studied in forest and pasture in Rondonia, Brazil. Also, the efficiency of use of pitfall traps was examined. Pitfall traps were established in three treatments: forest interior far (> 100 m) from water; forest interior near (< 100 m) water; pasture, far from water. Species richness was typical of the Amazon region, with a total of 1,324 individuals of 27 species in nine families: Aromobatidae (1 species), Brachycephalidae (2), Bufonidae (4), Cycloramphidae (1), Dendrobatidae (1), Hylidae (5), Leiuperidae (1), Leptodactylidae (7) e Microhylidae (5). Pitfall traps captured 57% of the species known for this location, capturing mainly terrestrial and fossorial species. The greatest richness and diversity of captures were during the rainy season in the forested sites. Forest converted to pasture affects several features of the habitat that reduce habitat quality with respect to these amphibians, including fewer places for reproduction, reduced food supply, loss of leaf-litter and soil compaction all with their influence on microclimate, as well as the arrival of other species more common in open areas.

Lagartos (Squamata: Lacertilia) em áreas de floresta e de pastagem em Espigão do Oeste, Rondônia, sudoeste da Amazônia, Brasil

This study describes the richness and capture rates of lizards in forested and pasture areas at a locality in Rondonia (southwestern Amazon) utilizing three sampling methods: pitfall trap with drift fences, nocturnal time-constrained search and incidental finding. In all, 29 species belonging to nine families was recorded. Most species were found in forested area, whilst only eight species in pasture area. Most species were collected with pitfall trap (22), followed by incidental finding (16), and nocturnal search (9). The collecting curve gathering the three methods used showed that after the eighth month of sampling no new species could be added. This data suggests that the community was well sampled. The fact that some species were collect just by one of collecting method indicates the adequacy of using two or more methods for sampling communities. Higher species richness was recorded in forested areas compared with pastures. Such reduction is species number is due to the removing of plant covering and its consequences, the increasing predation rate, competition, food reduction, losses of sheltering and breeding, and limited thermoregulatory capacity.

Uso do hábitat, atividade e comportamento de Bothriopsis bilineatus e de Bothrops atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae) na floresta do Rio Moa, Acre, Brasil

The snakes Bothriopsis bilineatus and Bothrops atrox are sympatric vipers in the Amazon. While B. atrox is common, Bothriopsis bilineatus is considered relatively rare. Both species are dietary generalists, with B. atrox foraging mostly on the ground while B. bilineatus is more arboreal. Here, we describe habitat use and activity patterns for these two snakes in Amazonian forest near the Moa River, Cruzeiro do Sul (Acre). This study was based on observations during both time constrained visual searches and opportunistic encounters along trails that included both seasonally flooded and terra firme forests. During a total of 360 hours of time constrained visual search, 11 B. bilineatus and six B. atrox were found, while one B. bilineatus and six B. atrox were found during opportunistic encounters. All 12 B. bilineatus were found on vegetation above the ground, while only five B. atrox were on vegetation, and these were all juveniles. Thus, during time constrained visual searches B. bilineatus was more common (0.03 snake/hour) than B. atrox (0.016 snake/hour). These two species use different habitats. Bothriopsis bilineatus was most commonly found in upland terra firme forests, with many palms and free from seasonal floods. Bothrops atrox was most commonly found in lower, wetter seasonally flooded areas. Perhaps structural differences in the vegetation in these two forest types influence the distribution of these two species, possibly due to a related influence on prey abundance, besides historical factors. Both species are found more often during the rainy season, rarely being found during the dry season, when their amphibian prey are less abundant. In most of the Amazon, B. bilineatus seems less common than B. atrox, but in the present study, the former was the most frequent snake during time constrained visual search.

Serpentes peçonhentas e ofidismo em Cruzeiro do Sul, Alto Juruá, Estado do Acre, Brasil

Despite the importance of accidents involving snakebites, research on this theme in Brazil is relatively rare, especially in the Amazon region. Due to the poor number of studies about ophidism in the state of Acre and to the importance of this type of research in public health, epidemiological works on snake bite accidents are of great relevance. This study presents the list of species of poisonous snakes and the epidemiological aspects of snakebites in Cruzeiro do Sul, region of Alto Jurua (State of Acre, Brazil), in order to verify the snake genera responsible for the bites, and the main aspects involving the accidents and hospital attending. The epidemiologic data were collected from SINAN (National Databank of Major Causes of Morbidity) in the sector of epidemiologic vigilance of Hospital Regional do Jurua, in Cruzeiro do Sul. Seven species of poisonous snakes were recorded in Cruzeiro do Sul: three viperids (Bothrops atrox, Bothriopsis bilineata and Lachesis muta) and four elapids (Micrurus hemprichii, M. lemniscatus, M. remotus and M. surinamensis). During a two-year period (August 2007 to July 2009) 195 cases of snakebites were recorded. Fifty-one percent of the accidents were classified as lachetic (Lachesis), followed by bothropic (Bothrops and Bothriopsis) with 38% and crotalic (Crotalus) with 2%. In 9% of cases the snake genus involved was not informed. The majority of the accidents involved adult males living in rural areas, mainly affected in the lower limbs. The cases occurred most frequently from November to April, coinciding with the highest pluviometric levels. Most snakebites were equivocally attributed to L. muta, and were probably caused by B. atrox.

Hábitos alimentares de serpentes em Espigão do Oeste, Rondônia, Brasil

The present study reports on food habits of snakes in Espigao do Oeste, Rondonia State (Southwestern Amazonia), Brazil. Snakes were recorded by time constrained search, pitfall traps with drift fences, captures by local inhabitants, and opportunistic sightings. The snakes collected had their stomachs and intestinal contents examined. Information on food habits was obtained for 89 specimens belonging to 31 species. The majority of the 114 items found (stomach contents and field observations) were adult frogs (38%), followed by mammals (16%), lizards (15%), mollusks (13%), birds (5%), and snakes (5%). The majority of snake species from Espigao do Oeste feed on lizards, as in Central Amazonia (Manaus). A smaller proportion of snakes in the Amazonia feed upon frogs in relation to the Pantanal, South and Southeastern Brazil. These differences may be due to greater proportion of Xenodontinae in extra-Amazonian communities, as many snakes in that clade prey upon frogs. Most of the frogs and lizards species recorded in stomach contents snakes are terrestrial, which should be associated with most species of analysed snakes (52%) foraging on the ground.

Herpetofauna da floresta do baixo rio Moa em Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre - Brasil

We report the results of a herpetofauna survey carried out in the forest of Lower Moa River, Cruzeiro do Sul, state of Acre, northern Brazil. The study was carried out from February 2008 to September 2009; the species were sampled through pitfall traps with drift fences (AIQ), time-constrained search (PLT), active search (BA), sampling at breeding sites (ASR), and occasional encounters (EO). The herpetofauna was sampled in an area of approximately 256 ha located within private properties, including an open area of pastures adjacent to a forest. In the forest area, sampling was carried out in two trails with different physiognomies: terra firme (upland forest) and varzea (flooded forest). We recorded 103 species: 50 anurans and 53 reptiles (35 snakes, 17 lizards and one crocodilian). The collectors curve reached the asymptote for anurans, but not for lizards, snakes or the whole herpetofauna (all groups together). Most species of anurans and reptiles were recorded in forest areas, mainly terra firme. Most amphibians were recorded through PLT and ASR, whereas reptiles were recorded through EO and PLT. A higher number of snakes were expected for the locality than the richness actually recorded (35 species). We emphasize the importance of preserving private forests that encompass both kinds of habitat (terra firme and varzea), since they differ in herpetofauna composition due to differences in forest structure. The preservation of forests is crucial to the maintenance of amphibian and reptile biodiversity in the Amazon, which loses species due to the conversion of forests into pastures and logging.

Serpentes do Estado de Rondônia, Brasil

The present study aimed to update the snake species list of the state of Rondonia based on a literature review, and to provide information on species distribution in the state. A total of 118 snake species from eight families have been recorded in Rondonia: Leptotyphlopidae (4 species), Typhlopidae (1), Aniliidae (1), Boidae (6), Colubridae (21), Dipsadidae (67), Elapidae (9) and Viperidae (9). Of these, 109 species were recorded in areas of amazon forest and 27 in cerrado areas. The observed richness in cerrado areas is probably underestimated because of the low number of studies, and the small coverage (ca. 5%) of this vegetation in the state. Nine species (Epicrates crassus, Chironius flavolineatus, Drymoluber brazili, Apostolepis striata, Oxyrhopus rhombifer, Pseudoboa nigra, Xenodon merremii, Bothrops mattogrossensis and Crotalus durissus) were recorded exclusively in cerrado areas, being related with this environment in Amazon. Six species (Masticophis mentovarius, Apostolepis striata, Erythrolamprus mimus, Micrurus mipartitus, Micrurus sp. and Bothrocophias microphthalmus) have been recorded in Brazil only in Rondonia. There are gaps of knowledge on snake fauna in some regions of the state, and further studies are essential. This is an emergencial measure, because of the increaseing habitat destruction along the Cerrado and southern portions of Amazonia.