On the Intriguing Occurrence of Rhinoclemmys Punctularia (Daudin, 1801) in Coastal Plains of Eastern Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
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Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 667-671 (2014) (published online on 12 November 2014) On the intriguing occurrence of Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Daudin, 1801) in coastal plains of eastern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Salvatore Siciliano1,*, Jailson F. de Moura1, Davi C. Tavares1,2, Carlos Eduardo Silva de Amorim1 and Carlos Alexandre R. Matias3,4 The geographical distribution of many Brazilian found in coastal lakes and swamps. This paper reports freshwater turtles is poorly known, with few references two specimens of Aperema (Rhinoclemmys punctularia) regarding this subject (Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984; recently found as the result of a large effort to survey Iverson, 1992; Vanzolini, 1994). However, considerable beaches and associated habitats of the eastern Rio de effort has been made to update such data in recent years Janeiro state coastline. These ecosystems are currently (e.g.Bour and Zaher, 2005; Loebmann et al., 2006; under tremendous pressure from fire, urbanization and Loebmann, 2008; Molina et al., 2009; Costa et al., 2010). general eradication, and for this reason our turtle records The coastal region of Brazil is one of the country’s are noteworthy and underscore the importance of such most disturbed and exploited areas as a result of over environments. 500 years of intense human settlement that followed The ‘Grupo de Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Brazil’s discovery by Portuguese sailors (Rocha et al., Região dos Lagos’ (GEMM-Lagos, the Lagos Region 2005). Consequently, the remaining vegetated coastal Study Group on Marine Mammals/ENSP/FIOCRUZ) strips are undergoing extensive human impact, with regularly patrols beaches in search of strandings along increasing degradation of coastal sand plains, sand ca. 250 km of the eastern Rio de Janeiro State coast dunes, lakes, swamps and beach habitats (‘restingas’) between latitudes 21°18’S and 23°S, approximately. along the Brazilian coast (Araújo and Lacerda, 1987; Since 1999, GEMM-Lagos maintains a regional Araújo, 1991; 2000; Rocha and Bergallo, 1997). Under reporting network and database of sea turtles, seabirds such historical pressure, restingas may offer a number and marine mammal strandings, which includes of suitable habitats for the aquatic turtles, which are information on both live-stranded and dead, beach-cast specimens. In addition, reports of diverse ‘stranded’ non-marine animals are also made on a regular basis, which usually comprises rodents and marsupials, egrets and passerines, as well as terrestrial, aquatic and semi- 1 Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ & Grupo de aquatic turtles. Estudos de Mamíferos Marinhos da Região dos Lagos (GEMM-Lagos), Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1.480 – 6º. andar, Considering the paucity of information of the reptile sala 611. Manguinhos, 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil fauna of the eastern coast of Rio de Janeiro, especially 2 Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense – UENF, for aquatic and terrestrial turtles, and the need for the Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais/CBB – LCA. Av. Alberto Lamego, 2.000 – Parque conservation of their habitats, we provide noteworthy Califórnia, 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ Brazil records of two non-marine turtles recently found by 3 Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, GEMM-Lagos. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública – DESP, One specimen of R. punctularia was observed alive at Instituto de Veterinária – IV. BR-465, Km 7, 23890-000 Parque Natural Municipal dos Pássaros, Rio das Ostras Seropédica, RJ Brazil municipality (RO), in December 2008 (Figure 1, record 4 Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Pública e Meio #1). The provenience of this turtle is unknown but the Ambiente, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública/FIOCRUZ. Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1.480 – 3º. andar. Manguinhos, facility receives only wild reptiles, birds and mammals 21041-210 Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil donated by the general public as well as specimens * Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] found by City Hall personnel inside RO boundaries. 668 Salvatore Siciliano et al. Figure 1. Location records of specimens of Aperema (Rhinoclemmys punctularia) found in the coastal plains of eastern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Photographs were taken at Parque dos Pássaros facilities dorsal surface of the head and is distributed throughout (Figure 2). The turtle was released in a RO coastal South America (Gans, 1980; Ernst and Barbour, 1989). lagoon within a few days of its arrival at Parque Natural It is common in coastal regions as far east as Belém, Municipal dos Pássaros. Following this first report, on 7 Pará State, with few reports in Central Amazonia, December 2011, a second R. punctularia specimen was between the states of Maranhão and Pará, and a doubtful found by locals on the beach of Orla 500, Cabo Frio, in record exists from eastern Rio Grande do Norte the early morning (Figure 2, record #2). It was believed (Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984; Ávila-Pires et al., 2010; to be a ‘sea turtle’ and several attempts were made Dornas et al., 2011). Although this may be considered by locals to release the turtle into the sea. As they did a highly unexpected occurrence, the R. punctularia not succeed, the GEMM-Lagos personnel were called Cabo Frio specimen could be living in the nearby Praia for assistance. On site, we noticed that it was a semi- Rasa Reserve, a protected area under jurisdiction of the aquatic turtle specimen rather than a sea turtle and took Brazilian Navy. This particular site possesses swamps, measurements and photographs for our records (Figure marshes and coastal lakes in near-pristine condition, 3). The specimen was released in a small lake in the which can provide shelter to medium sized mammals vicinity of the original capture site. It has been regularly and reptiles, such as capybaras and caimans (SS, re-sighted in the area since then. By January 2014 it personal observation). In fact, range extensions for R. weighed 990 grams, with carapace measurements 197 punctularia were recently reported for Tocantins and mm long, 140 mm wide, and 70 mm high. Maranhão, central-north Brazil, well inside the Cerrado Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Daudin, 1801), popularly biome (Dornas et al., 2011; Silva et al., 2011; Pereira et known in Northern Brazil as Aperema, is the only al., 2013). These records are clear evidence of the general member of the Geoemydidae in Brazil. The Aperema lack of information on the geographical distribution of inhabits rivers and lakes, has small orange spots on the Brazilian terrestrial and freshwater turtles, particularly On the intriguing occurrence of Rhinoclemmys punctularia in Brazil 669 Figure 2. Dorsal view (A), plastron view (B) and details of the carapace (C) and head (D) of the Aperema (Rhinoclemmys punctularia) specimen found in Rio das Ostras, eastern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in December 2008. R. punctularia, (Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984; Iverson, scripta elegans are traditionally kept as pets elsewhere 1992; Vanzolini, 1994). Not surprisingly, as a possible in south-southeastern Brazil. Additionally, Chelonoidis result of increased search effort, there are now available carbonaria and C. denticulata are commonly kept as pets numerous articles covering the range extensions of in most parts of Brazil. In fact, specimens of Trachemys some terrestrial and aquatic turtles in Brazil (e.g. Molina scripta elegans and C. denticulata are frequently found et al., 2009; Sousa and Novelli, 2009; Costa et al., 2010; in the houses of the various surrounding municipalities Silveira and Valinhas, 2010). Indeed, the description of a including Cabo Frio, Armação dos Búzios, Casimiro de new species of side-necked turtle (genus Mesoclemmys) Abreu, São Pedro D’Aldeia, Iguaba Grande, Araruama within the Cerrado-Caatinga biomes in Northeastern and Rio das Ostras. Strays of such species are often Brazil (Bour and Zaher, 2005) is equally remarkable. reported to our group. We must consider the possibility of the present R. We can also speculate that specimens of R. punctularia punctularia specimens as being of captive origin that were brought as pets from the Amazon region and escaped or unintentionally introduced in the area. If released after they increased in size. However, the a captive origin is to be considered, they probably possibility of a relictual population of Rhinoclemmys came from an unknown breeding facility. Authorized occurring in a small area in eastern Rio de Janeiro state breeders are listed in: http://www.ibama.gov.br/fauna/ cannot be disregarded. The ‘restingas’ of eastern Rio criadouros/conservacionistas.pdf, and no breeders are de Janeiro are important areas of reptilian endemism found in the Cabo Frio – Rio das Ostras surroundings. (Rocha et al., 2005). This particular stretch of coastal In addition, Aperema turtles have not been a component vegetation is home to endemic species of lizards of the common wildlife trade in south-southeastern (Liolaemus lutzae and Cnemidophorus littoralis) in Brazil. In contrast, Trachemys dorbigni and Trachemys addition to a recently described Colubridae (Tantilla 670 Salvatore Siciliano et al. Figure 3. Dorsal view (A), plastron view (B), details of the head and carapace (C, D) of the Aperema (Rhinoclemmys punctularia) specimen found on the beach of Orla 500, Cabo Frio, RJ on 7 December 2011. sp.) and one amphisbaena (Rocha et al., 2005; Muniz, References 2010). Not surprisingly, our specimens were found in an Araújo, D.S.D., Lacerda, L.D. (1987): A natureza da restinga. environment with many coastal plain lakes. This agrees Ciência Hoje 6: 42-48. with the findings of Wariss et al. (2012) for a coastal area Araújo, D.S.D. (1991): As restingas dizimadas. Ecorio 1: 31-32. in northeastern Pará state, in which almost 90% of R. Araújo, D.S.D. (2000): Análise florística e fitogeográfica das punctularia specimens were ‘caught in the coastal plain restingas do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Unpublished. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, 169 pp.