Renato Gomes Faria

História natural de Tropidurus oreadicus em uma área de cerrado rupestre do Brasil Central

Meira, K.T.R, Faria, R.G., Silva, M.D.M., Miranda, V.T. de & Zahn-Silva, W. Natural history of Tropidurus oreadicus in a rocky cerrado area of Central Brazil. Biota Neotrop. May/Aug 2007 vol. 7, no. 2. http://www. biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n2/pt/abstract?article+bn04307022007. ISSN 1676-0603. Ecological aspects and of the reproductive biology of Tropidurus oreadicus was investigated in a rocky cerrado area in Central Brazil. It was studied the morphometry, the microhabitat use, the activity pattern, the diet and the characteristics of the reproductive biology of T. oreadicus in Cocalzinho-GO, from April to September/2003. They are sexually dimorphic animals, with adult males larger than females. The preferential microhabitat used by the species was the surface of the rocks (saxicolous habit). The species shows a unimodal activity pattern. It was frequently observed resting and exposed to the sun between 9:00 and 10:59 hours. This T. oreadicus population feed upon ants, larvae of insects and beetles. Besides it presented ontogenetics shift and intersexual differences in the diet. Probably these differences were associated with the differentiated allocation of the resources for the growth or production of gamete. The reproduction is probably seasonal occurring mainly during the months of higher rainfall.

História natural de Leptodactylus mystacinus e Leptodactylus fuscus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) no Cerrado do Brasil Central

Aspects of the ecology of Leptodactylus mystacinus and Leptodactylus fuscus were investigated in an area of the Cerrado of Central Brazil. The study included use of microhabitat, activity patterns, diet and, morphometry. Observations were conducted between April, 2006, and February, 2007. The species are sexually dimorphic - females larger than males - and body size in L. mystacinus is larger than that of L. fuscus. Both species preferred the ground surface (microhabitat) of wetland habitats with herbaceous vegetation close to lentic water bodies. Leptodactylus mystacinus was observed most often in October and November (8:00-8:59 PM and 11:00-11:59 PM), and L. fuscus in November and October between 7:00 PM and 8:59 PM. The diet of both populations was based on Arthropoda, primarily Coleoptera, which was the most important order (IVI). Differences in the volumetric proportions of the categories of then preys used, and in the periods when they were most observed, are probably the factors that contribute the most to the coexistence of both species in the area. Intersexual differences in the diet were observed in both species. These differences were probably associated with the differential allocation of resources to the production of gametes or occasional differences in the use of space by the two sexes.

Herpetofauna of protected areas in the Caatinga I: Raso da Catarina Ecological Station (Bahia, Brazil)

We provide a list of amphibian and squamate species collected in the Raso da Catarina Ecological Station, Bahia state, Brazil, during two distinct periods. An initial visual inventory of amphibians was conducted monthly from March 2010 to February 2011, using transects in a forest and temporary ponds. The second inventory was conducted over a 30-day period between March and April, 2012, when 37 pitfall trap arrays, each consisting of four buckets and supplementary glue traps, were set in low scrub and forest, complemented by opportunistic searches. A total of 19 lizard species, two amphisbaenians, 21 frogs, and 11 snakes were recorded during the study. New records for the protected area include 10 lizards, one amphisbaenian, 15 amphibians, and 11 snakes (36 species in total). Several species typical of the Atlantic Forest were collected, reflecting the potential influence of this biome, especially in the sampled forest habitats (Mata da Pororoca).

Amphibians and reptiles of the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco, municipality of Capela, state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil

The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest has high diversity levels of amphibians and reptiles, but there is a lack of richness survey at several areas, while a high level of deforestation is already known. The biome is highly endangered in northeastern Brazil, and few protected areas have been the main mechanism for providing the habitat conservation. We studied the Refugio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco, a recently established conservation unit in this biome, at the Capela municipality, in the state of Sergipe. Field surveys and literature review were conducted between 2007-2009, revealing 33 species of anuran amphibians and 26 of reptiles (one turtle, ten lizards and 15 snakes). The presence of rare and endemic species suggests an important role of this area as a source remnant of the northeastern Atlantic Forest herpetological community.

Nicho ecológico e aspectos da história natural de Phyllomedusa azurea (Anura: Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae) no Cerrado do Brasil Central

Aspects of the ecology and natural history of Phyllomedusa azurea were investigated in an area of Central Brazilian Cerrado between April, 2006, and February, 2007. Observations were conducted between 6:00 PM and 5:00 AM. The study focused on spatial, temporal, and trophic niches, morphometry and reproduction. Most animals were recorded vocalizing in places dominated by herbaceous vegetation and an open canopy. The main substrates used were bushes and trees, and animals were seen perched most often between 0.5 and 1.0 m of height. Spatial niche breadth was 2.91 and 3.83 for substrate and perch height, respectively. Most animal were sighted close to lentic water bodies, usually up to 0.50 m. It is possible that these characteristics are related primarily to the phylogeny of the genus and secondarily to the specific needs of the species and the local availability of resources. The bushes and trees were used by the species mainly as sites of vocalization and oviposition. Specimens of Phyllomedusa azurea was sighted most frequently between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Estimated temporal niche breadth (activity period) was 4.68. Prolonged reproductive pattern was also observed predominantly in the months with higher temperature and higher humidity (September to February). The diet consisted of eleven items. The most important prey taxon for the females was Orthoptera (IVI = 63), whereas for the males, it was Araneae (IVI = 33). The breadths numeric and volumetric of the trophic niche, was respectively 1.80 and 1.16, for females, and 4.03 and 3.92, for males. Males and females differed in size (SVL) and mass, with the females being larger and heavier. The sizes of smaller reproductive individuals males and females were 34.64 and 40.33 mm, respectively. Differences in size may be related to different investments in reproduction by the two sexes.

Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Phyllodytes punctatus Caramaschi and Peixoto, 2004: distribution extension and first record out of the type locality

This article provides a new record of Phyllodytes punctatus in Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana, municipality of Areia Branca, Sergipe, northeast Brazil. This point is the first record after the description of the species.

Herpetofauna of protected areas in the Caatinga III: The Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil

Despite the increase in herpetofaunal inventories in the Caatinga biome, information for many areas is still lacking and new surveys are required. We conducted a 30-day inventory of the herpetofauna of the Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Thirty-seven pitfall trap arrays composed of 4 buckets each, along with glue traps and active searches were used to sample local herpetofaunal diversity. We recorded 21 species of frogs, 25 lizards, 11 snakes, and 1 chelonian. All sampling methods contributed significantly to achieve the amphibian and reptile diversity recovered in the inventory. Rarefaction curves and richness estimators suggest that local biodiversity is still underestimated. We attempted to show the great potential of Catimbau National Park, characterized by the richest herpetofauna surveyed in a core region of the biome, along with the presence of endemic species such as the worm snake Amphisbaena supranumeraria and the limbless lizard Scriptosaura catimbau, underscoring the importance of the area for the conservation and maintenance of the Caatinga herpetofauna biodiversity.

Ceratophrys joazeirensis Mercadal, 1986 (Anura: Ceratophryidae): New state record

This article provides new records to Ceratophrys joazeirensis of two new localities from the state of Sergipe, northeast Brazil. These records extend the geographical distribution of the species for municipalities from Poco Redondo and Caninde do Sao Franscisco. These points are the first records of Ceratophrys joazeirensis for the State of Sergipe.

Reptilia, Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae, Acratosaura mentalis (Amaral 1933): distribution extension and geographic distribution map

This article provides new records to Acratossaura mentalis of two new localities from the state of Sergipe, northeast Brazil. These records extend the geographical distribution of specie for municipalities from Poco Redondo and Itabaiana. Possibly, these points are the first records of A. mentalis for the state of Sergipe.

Mollusca, Bivalvia, Corbiculidae, Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774): First record for the Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil

Corbicula fluminea is native mollusk from China. In Brazil, this species was first recorded in Rio Grande do Sul state in the late 70’s, being also recorded in the Amazonia basin between 1997 and 1998. The present note reports the occurrence of C. fluminea for the first time in the Caatinga biome and extends considerably the geographical distribution of this invading species in Brazil and consequently in South America.