Vitor Nelson Teixeira Borges-Junior

Herpetofauna of an Atlantic rainforest area (Morro São João) in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

We studied the herpetofaunal community from the Atlantic forest of Morro São João, in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and present data on species composition, richness, relative abundance and densities. We combined three sampling methods: plot sampling, visual encounter surveys and pit-fall traps. We recorded sixteen species of amphibians and nine of reptiles. The estimated densities (based on results of plot sampling) were 4.5 ind/100 m2 for amphibians and 0.8 ind/100 m2 for lizards, and the overall density (amphibians and lizards) was 5.3 ind/100 m2. For amphibians, Eleutherodactylus and Scinax were the most speciose genera with three species each, and Eleutherodactylus binotatus was the most abundant species (mean density of 3.0 frogs/100 m2). The reptile community of Morro São João was dominated by species of the families Gekkonidae and Gymnophtalmidae (Lacertilia) and Colubridae (Serpentes). The gymnophtalmid lizard Leposoma scincoides was the most abundant reptile species (mean density of 0.3 ind/100 m2). We compare densities obtained in our study data with those of other studied rainforest sites in various tropical regions of the world.

Anurofauna of an Atlantic Rainforest fragment and its surroundings in Northern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

We carried out a study on the anurofaunal community from an Atlantic Forest fragment (Monte Verde mountains) and the surrounding area in Cambuci municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, which constitutes one of the largest fragments remaining in the largely deforested landscape of the northern portion of the State. We combined three sampling methods: plot sampling, transects and pit-fall traps. We recorded twenty species of amphibians, of which only eleven were found within the forest fragment (and five of these also occurred in the surrounding matrix). Two of the species recorded in the present study (Crossodactylus sp. and Ischnocnema cf. parva) may represent undescribed taxa. Our records expand the distribution range of one species (Scinax trapicheiroi) to the north, and fill a geographic distribution gap for another one (Ischnocnema oea). The estimated overall density of frogs living in the leaf litter of the fragment (based on results of plot sampling) was 3.1 individuals/100 m², with Haddadus binotatus being the most abundant species (2.4 individuals/100 m²). Comparisons of our data with those of other studies suggest that anuran communities in forest fragments ca. 1,000 ha or smaller may be severely limited in their richness, and often include a large proportion of species tolerant to open areas, such as many hylids. Our results show the importance of increasing knowledge about the anurofaunal community of the northern portion of the State of Rio de Janeiro and preserve the forest remnants that still exist in the region.

Density and richness of leaf litter frogs (Amphibia: Anura) of an Atlantic Rainforest area in the Serra dos Órgãos, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Data on species composition, richness, and density are presented for the leaf litter frog assemblage of an area of Atlantic Rainforest at the Serra dos Orgaos mountain range, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Three sampling methods were used: plot sampling, visual encounter surveys, and pitfall traps. The local assemblage of leaf litter frogs was composed of 16 species, with the direct-developing species, Euparkerella brasiliensis (Parker, 1926), being the most abundant. The estimated density of the local leaf litter frog assemblage based on plot sampling was 17.1 ind/100 m2 and the estimated overall leaf litter frog mass was 684.2 g/ha. The estimated density of leaf litter frogs at the present study is the highest currently reported for Atlantic Rainforest areas, which reinforces the idea of higher densities of leaf litter frogs in the Neotropical Region compared to the Old World tropics.

Herpetofauna, Estação Ecológica Estadual do Paraíso, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the richest and most threatened biomes on Earth. In the state of Rio de Janeiro it is presently reduced to less than 20% of its original extension, and faunal lists are needed for several areas. Here we present a species list of amphibians and reptiles for the Estacao Ecologica Estadual do Paraiso (EEEP), a forest reserve located in the central portion of Rio de Janeiro state. The list is based on both primary (gathered during a short-term survey by the authors) and secondary data (obtained from a local reference collection). A total of 30 amphibian (of which six are endemic to the state) and 29 reptile species were recorded from the area (of which 25 and 13, respectively, were obtained by primary data). No threatened or presumably threatened species were present among the herpetofauna of the EEEP.

Sexual dimorphism, reproduction and diet of the casque-headed treefrog Itapotihyla langsdorffii (Hylidae: Lophiohylini)

Itapotihyla langsdorffii is a large “casque-headed” treefrog (Hylidae: Lophiohylini) found along most of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. We studied some aspects of the ecology of a population of I. langsdorffii from the Estação Biológica de Santa Lúcia, in Espírito Santo State, southeastern Brazil. Itapotihyla langsdorffii shows considerable sexual size dimorphism, with females (mean snout-vent length 103 mm) being significantly larger than males (mean snout-vent length 81 mm). This species is an explosive breeder with a generalized reproductive mode and has a mean brood size of over 6000 eggs. It feeds on few, large prey, with orthopterans being the dominant items in the diet, though even smaller frogs may occasionally be preyed upon. We discuss our data, making comparisons with other Neotropical hylids, with emphasis on other species in the Tribe Lophiohylini.

Herpetofauna of the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) and its surrounding areas, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Species inventories are useful tools to improve conservation strategies, especially in highly threatened biomes such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Here we present a species list of amphibians and reptiles for the Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu (REGUA), a forest reserve located in the central portion of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The list results from an extensive sampling effort that lasted ten years. A total of 73 amphibian (of which ten are endemic to the state) and 37 reptile species was recorded from the area. Five amphibian species are presently categorized by the IUCN as “data-deficient”, two as “near threatened” and one as “endangered”, whereas one reptile species is categorized as “vulnerable”. Our results showed that REGUA harbors about one-third of the herpetofauna species presently known to occur in state of Rio de Janeiro, adding more information to previously published lists of amphibians and reptiles from localities within the Serra dos =rgaos region, and highlighting the importance of this area for conservation of amphibians and reptiles of the Atlantic Forest.

Species composition and density estimates of the anurofauna of a site within the northernmost large Atlantic Forest remnant (Parque Estadual do Desengano) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Apresentamos dados sobre a composicao de especies, abundância relativa e densidade estimada para anfibios anuros de serrapilheira de uma area de Mata Atlântica no Parque Estadual do Desengano, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, com base em resultados de um estudo de curto prazo realizado durante o inverno a altitudes de 1000-1500 m. Tres metodos de amostragem foram utilizados: amostragem em parcelas, encontros visuais (realizados durante o dia, no crepusculo e a noite) e armadilhas de queda. Foram registradas 13 especies, com Ischnocnema parva (Girard, 1853), uma forma com desenvolvimento direto, sendo a mais abundante. A maioria dos anuros (ca. 90% de todos os individuos) amostrados pelo metodo de encontros visuais foi coletada durante os periodos crepuscular e noturno. A densidade estimada para anuros de serrapilheira foi de 13,2 ind.100 m-2, que e um dos valores mais altos atualmente registrados para areas de Mata Atlântica. Este e o primeiro estudo que analisa a fauna de anuros do Parque Estadual do Desengano e contribui para o conhecimento da fauna da regiao norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro, que ainda e pouco estudada.

Squamata, Iguania, Anolis punctatus Daudin, 1802 and Tropidurus torquatus (Wied, 1820): distribution extension and new records for Ilha Grande, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

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.