Check List 8(1): 016-022, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution PECIES S OF Squamate Reptiles of the central Chapada Diamantina, ISTS L with a focus on 1* the municipality 2 of Mucugê, state of Bahia, Brazil 3 Marco Antonio de Freitas , Diogo Veríssimo and Vivian Uhlig 1 Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). Rua da Maria da Anunciação n 208, Eldorado. CEP 69932-000. Brasiléia, AC, Brazil. 2 University of Kent, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology. CT2 7NR, Canterbury, Kent, UK. 3 Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçã[email protected] de Répteis e Anfíbios – RAN/ICMBio. Rua 229, nº 95, Setor Leste Universitário. CEP 74605-090. Goiânia, GO, Brazil. * Corresponding author. E-mail: Abstract: We present the first species list of squamate reptiles for the central region of the Chapada Diamantina, with a focus on the municipality of Mucugê, state of Bahia Brazil. The data provided were mostly collected in the Caraíbas estate, during vegetation clearing operations for agriculture. The remnant records were collected from roadkills encountered in Mucugê and neighboring municipalities. We found 64 species of squamate reptiles including 35 species of snakes, 25 of lizards and four of amphisbaenians. These records have already yielded three species descriptions with others likely to follow. This is evidence of the poorly documented herpetological diversity of the Chapada Diamantina. The present work highlights the need for further research and the potential of less traditional data sources such as roadkills to improve the knowledge of the herpetofauna of extensive and megadiverse countries like Brazil. Introduction (Figure 1). This 5200 ha estate is situated on a relatively The Chapada Diamantina, the local name of the northern flat upland plateau, at around 1100 m altitude,et al. on2006). the segment of the Serra do Espinhaço mountain ridge, is a west side of the escarpments of the Serra do Sincorá, a mountainous region located within the Caating biome, seasonalsection of forest Chapada (locally Diamantina known as(Rodrigues carrasco) and gallery crossing the state of Bahia from north to south (Ab`Saber The vegetation of the estate includeset al.semi-decidual 2006). The 1977). Although dominated by semi-arid environments, the Chapada Diamantina has a wide range of ecosystems, forest along the river valleys (Rodrigues a result of the topographic diversity, the distribution of remaining records were gathered opportunistically from water sources andet al.drainages, 2008). and the present and past roadkills found along the BA 142 and BR 242 roads, in the contacts with the Cerrado, Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest municipalities of Mucugê, Andaraí, Lençóis, Ibicoara and biomes (Queiroz e.g. et al. 2008; Giulietti and Palmeiras. The Chapada Diamantinae.g. has been targeted by a few studies of itse.g. flora ( Queiroz Wanderley 1995), insects ( Lopes and Louzada 2008), consistentmammals (surveyingOliveira (e.g. and Pessôa 2005), fish (e.g. Santos and Caramaschi 2008) and birds, which have had the most Carvalhaes and Machado 2008). Nonetheless, its biodiversity remains greatly unknown, which explains its selection as a priority area for research on biodiversity in Brazil (Rodrigues 2003). The herpetofauna of the Chapada Diamantina has only recently received attention from the scientific community, with a few surveys attempting to document the reptile and amphibian species present in the region. These studies have resultedet al.in the description of severalet alnew species (Freitas 1999; Argôlo and Freitas 2000,et al. 2008). 2002; Juncá 2005; Rodrigues 2006, 2009a, b; Freitas . 2007a, b, Figure 1. Material2010; Lugli and and MethodsJuncá 2008; Mott Location of the Caraíbas estate, municipality of Mucugê, state Study site of Bahia Brazil. Data collection The majority of the records were gathered at the Caraíbas estate (13°09’ S, 41°24’ W), district of Cascavel, Data collection for the present study began municipality of Mucugê, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil opportunistically in 2000, mostly through records of 016 Freitas et al. | Squamates of the central Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil snakes found as roadkills when the authors traveled et al. 1993; Adriano. Lima pers. comm. 2010; Alfredo Jr through the region as part of consultancy work. This pers. comm. 2010; Freitas 2011). Further studies will be work was intensified from November 2004 to October needed to assess the taxonomy of these groups and their 2008 through the fauna inventories conducted as part of ofgeographic the snake distribution Trilepida koppesi and conservation status. the legally imposed mitigation measures for vegetation The present work extends the geographicSibynomorphus distribution clearing, associated with land use changes in the Caraíbas neuwiedi Siphlophis(Figure leucocephalus 3G) to the northeast estate, namely agriculture. At these field sites, the team Oxyrhopusof Brazil and guibei the distribution (Figure 4B) andof the Philodryas snakes patagoniensis followed the machinery clearing the vegetation to (Figure 3H), (Figure 4A), inventory the fauna being displaced during the process or killed by it. The surveys were conducted yearly by a team (Figure 4C) to the Chapada Diamantina (Freitas and Silva of 10 people, for approximately eight daily hours and for 2007). For this last species this is also the record furthest periods of 10 days at each stage of vegetation clearing. away from the coast (Freitas 1999; Freitas 2003; Juncá This totalizes a minimum of 32,000 man hours of survey Chironius2005; Lugli quadricarinatus and Juncá 2008). Also worth mentioning are effort. The surveys accompanied the clearing of 240 ha the second record for the northeast of BrazilPhilodryas of the aestiva snake per year of native vegetation from 2005 to 2008, leading (Figure 4D), and the third to a total of 960 ha. During these surveys 820 vertebrates record for that same region of the snake were found, 74% of which were reptiles. From these (Figure 4E) (Argôlo Gymnodactylus1998; Argôlo and vanzolinii Freitas 2002). individuals a proportion of those thought to represent This species list also contains recordsTropidurus of the mucujensis narrowly undescribed species or otherwise relevant records were distributed lizards (Figure 4F), collected (NUFAU/IBAMA 021/2005), initially preserved a recently described species, and in 10% formalin and afterwards moved to 70% alcohol. (Figure 4G), both of which are yet to be recorded outside The specimens found as roadkills (IN-154/2007/IBAMA the Mucugê municipality (Rodrigues 1987; Cassimiro art–26) were initially preserved in 20% formalin and then Bothropoidesand Rodrigues erythromelas 2009). Finally, this species list also moved to 70% alcohol. All the specimens were deposited seapresents level. the highest altitude recorded for the snake in six referenced collections: the Zoology Museum of the (Figure 4H), at 1100 m above São Paulo University (MZUSP), Zoology Museum of the Santa Cruz State University (MZUESC), Gregório Bondar Having basic knowledge of the vertebrate specieset al. Zoological Collection (CZGB), Laboratory of Venomous composition for a given area is crucial if effective animals and Herpetology of the Feira de Santana State conservation strategies are to be designed (Heyer University (LAPH/UEFS), Science Museum of the Pontifical 1994). The number of endemic species and the number of Catholic University of Porto Alegre (MCP), Zoology recently described species along with the high probability Museum of the Bahia Federal University (MZUFBA). For that other species remain undescribed, support the need the species that were recorded during the surveys but for further research on the herpetofauna of the Chapada for which it was not possible to collect any specimens, we Diamantina. used the relevant literature to provide support for their In this light, the inventory of the squamate reptiles of the Resultspresence andin the Discussion study area. central Chapada Diamantina is an important contribution not only to the knowledge of the region biodiversity but also to its sustainable management. The focus on Mucugê We recorded 64 species of squamate reptiles, is important given that this municipality makes up more belonging to 45 genera and 17 families. Snakes accounted than 60% of the Chapada Diamantina National Park, for 35 species, 27 genera and six families, lizards for 25 a conservation unit for which detailed information on species, 18 genera and 10 families, while amphisbaenians herpetofauna is scarce. Nonetheless, it is also important accounted for four species in a single genus (Table 1). that further attention is devoted to the management of the The work from which this species list originated has areas outside protected areas, as the pressure for land use greatly contributed to increase the knowledge of the change, namely for agriculture, is increasing. herpetofauna in the Chapada Diamantina region. Three Finally, this work, the first publication using data Amphisbaenaspecies have alreadyuroxena been described based on specimens howcollected this duringand other fauna (e.g. inventories roadkills) undertaken less traditional as part data of Heterodactyluscollected during septentrionalis this research: the amphisbenianAcratosaura the mitigation measures imposed by the ICMBio, highlights spinosa (Figure 2C) and Enyalius(Figure erythroceneus 2A) and the lizards (Figure 2B),Psilophtalmus