Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 235-239 (2020) (published online on 11 March 2020) Natural history notes and range extension of Loxopholis ferreirai (Rodrigues and Avila-Pires, 2005): a micro-endemic species from the flooded igapó forests of Rio Negro and tributaries, Brazilian Amazonia (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) Sergio Marques-Souza1,*, Marco A. de Sena1, Gisele Cassundé Ferreira2, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues1, and Tuliana O. Brunes1 Introduction Although the distribution and natural history of some semi-aquatic species is well studied (e.g., Vitt and The Amazonia forest is in one of the largest drainage Blackburn, 1991; Avila-Pires, 1995; Vitt et al., 2001), basins in the world, both in terms of area and water the knowledge about most of them is anecdotal. A volume, reaching a discharging volume of 175,000 m3/ remarkable example is the lizard Loxopholis ferreirai, s (Wohl, 2007). Due to its largely flat terrain close to locally known as “Panema’s lizard”, which means “bad rivers, large extensions are seasonally flooded by the luck” (“Panema”), as local villagers believe that, when waters of the Rio Amazonas and its tributaries (Junk, it falls on the boat, fishing will be unproductive. 2000). This so-called annual flood pulse creates selective Most of the 11 known species of Loxopholis (Pellegrino pressures to live in flooded environments, such as igapó et al., 2018) are terrestrial, living in the leaf litter of terra- and várzea forests. Given this landscape context, several firme forests (Avila-Pires, 1995; Brunes et al., 2019). lizards in Amazonia have a close association with Loxopholis ferreirai is known only from its type locality, aquatic environments, such as flooded forests, large two islands on the Arquipélago de Anavilhanas, a large and small rivers. Some genera, such as Crocodilurus, fluvial archipelago in the Rio Negro, central Amazonia, Dracaena, Kentropyx, Loxopholis, Neusticurus, subjected to annual cycles of flooding (Rodrigues and Potamites, Varzea, and Uranoscodon (Uzzell, 1965; Avila-Pires, 2005). Little is known about its distribution Vitt and Blackburn, 1991; Avila-Pires, 1995; Vitt et al., and how this species deals with the seasonally flooded 2001), present distinct levels of association with aquatic habitat. Recently, during three field expeditions to lower environments (Marques-Souza et al., 2018, Vásquez- and middle Rio Negro basin, one of the largest tributaries Restrepo et al., 2019). Among these lizards, an apparent of the Rio Amazonas, we gathered data on distribution widespread adaptation is to forage off ground, on fallen and natural history of L. ferreirai. Therefore, here we logs or tree trunks, allowing them thriving during the expand the distribution of the species to nine localities flood season (Vitt and Blackburn, 1991; Avila-Pires, on the lower and middle Rio Negro region and one 1995). Additionally, these species are commonly good tributary river. We also provide basic natural history swimmers, capable of escaping from predators during data (microhabitat usage, activity time, and oviposition predatory attempts. site) from specimens collected. Materials and Methods Species identification was based on specimens’ external morphology (scale counts; Table 1) and 1 Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, taxonomic literature on Loxopholis (Uzzell and Barry, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11.461, São Paulo, 1971; Avila-Pires, 1995; Rodrigues and Avila-Pires, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil. 2 Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, 2005; Marques-Souza et al., 2015). All specimens of Caixa Postal 399, Belém, Pará 66017-970, Brazil. L. ferreirai registered were collected and euthanized * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] according to ethical guidelines (Underwood et al., 236 Sergio Marques-Souza et al. Table 1. Scale counts of previous and new Loxopholis ferreirai specimens from sampled localities at Rio Negro and Rio Jaú, state of Amazonas, Brazil. SL = Samplig locality number; N = number of specimens analysed per locality; SAB = number of scales around midbody; Dorsals = number of transversal rows of dorsal scales; Ventrals = number of transversal rows of ventral scales; FingerTable IV 1. Scale= number counts ofof Loxopholis lamellae ferreirai under specimensfourth finger; from sampled Toe IV localities = number at Rio ofNegro lamellae and Rio under Jaú, state fourth of Amazonas, toe; Gulars Brazil. =SL number = Samplig of locality transversal number; N = number of specimens analysed per locality; SAB = number of scales around midbody; Dorsals = number of transversal rows of dorsal scales; Ventrals = number rowsof transversalof gular rowsscales; of ventral * = previously scales; Finger knownIV = number localities of lamellae (Rodrigues under fourth and finger; Avila-Pires, Toe IV = number 2005). of lamellae under fourth toe; Gulars = number of transversal rows of gular scales. SL Locality Municipality N SAB Dorsals Ventrals Pores in males Finger IV Toe Gulars (preanal and IV femoral) 1* Lago do Prato, Arquilélago de Novo Airão 1 32 44 27 12 14 21 13 Anvilhanas 2* Ilha do Açaí, Arquipélago de Novo Airão 1 30 42 26 12 13 19 15 Anavilhanas 3 Parque Nacional do Jaú Novo Airão 23 30–33 42–45 26–28 12 14–16 19–21 13–15 4 Ilha Comunidade Santa Helena Barcelos 3 29–31 40–43 26–29 11 14–15 18–21 12 5 Igarapé do Piloto Barcelos 1 29 43 27 12 15 20 12 6 Ilha do Piloto Barcelos 5 30–31 40–44 26–28 11–12 14–15 20–21 12–13 7 Ilha das Pombas Barcelos 3 30–32 43–45 29–30 11 14–16 20 13–14 8 Ilha Paranã Uruá Barcelos 4 30–31 42–44 26–27 10–12 14–16 19–22 11–13 9 Ilha Cacauali Santa Isabel do Rio Negro 2 29 41 27 11–12 13–14 20 11 10 Poção Janatuba Santa Isabel do Rio Negro 2 30 41–44 29 11 13–14 19–21 11–12 11 Ilha Uruari Santa Isabel do Rio Negro 2 29–31 39–44 27–28 13 12–13 18–19 10–12 12 Ilha Comunidade Boa Vista Santa Isabel do Rio Negro 1 29 40 25 12 13 18 11 13 Lago Mamiará Santa Isabel do Rio Negro 1 30 42 27 10 14 19 11 Total 49 29–33 39–45 25–30 10–13 13–16 18–22 10–15 2013). A small portion of liver or muscle tissue was Acknowledgements) to Parque Nacional do Jaú (PARNA removed for DNA extraction and preserved in 100% Jaú), in the municipalities of Barcelos and Novo Airão, ethanol. The specimens were fixed with 10% formalin state of Amazonas, from the 14th of February to the 10th and preserved in 70% ethanol. Tissue samples were of March 2017 (Locality 3 in Table 2). We (SMS, MAS, deposited in the MTR Tissue Collection at the Instituto MTR, TOB, and collaborators) performed the third de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, state of São fieldtrip sampling several localities (localities 4, 7, 9 Paulo, Brazil. Vouchers specimens were deposited at and 10 in Table 2) in the municipalities of Barcelos and the Museu de Zoologia (MZUSP), Universidade de São Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, state of Amazonas, during Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil, and Museu Paraense a 26 days expedition (from the 17th of April to the 12th Emílio Goeldi (MPEG), state of Pará, Brazil. During the of May 2018). first fieldtrip (see above), we measured air temperature and relative humidity at each site where Loxopholis was Results and Discussion collected, using a portable thermohygrometer. Eggs measurements were taken with a calliper with a 0.1 mm The new localities where Loxopholis ferreirai was precision. registered were summarized in Table 2. With this data, We collected the specimens of Loxopholis ferreirai we extended the distribution of the species in c.a. 600 during three fieldtrips. We (SMS, MAS, and TOB) km northwest straight-line (Fig. 1). In Barcelos, we performed the first one from the 14th to the 23th of registered 11 specimens of L. ferreirai in two islands of February 2017 in the municipality of Barcelos, state the Arquipélago de Mariuá, being nine specimens on Ilha of Amazonas, on the middle portion of the Rio Negro do Piloto, one in Ilha Anauali (0.9303°S, 62.8670°W; (localities 5, 6 and 8 in Table 2). The city of Barcelos Datum WGS84; 33 m elevation), which was not is in front of the Arquipélago de Mariuá, one of the collected as it escaped during capture attempt, and one largest fluvial archipelagos in the world together in Igarapé do Piloto, which is situated on the right bank with Anavilhanas, located in the lower portion of of the Rio Negro (Table 2). This latter specimen was the Rio Negro. The second fieldtrip was performed found in syntopy with Loxopholis percarinatum (Müller, by Pedro L.V. Peloso (PLVP) and collaborators (see 1923) at Igarapé do Piloto. As far as we know, this is Natural history notes and range extension of Loxopholis ferreirai 237 Table 2. General information of previous and new occurrence observations of Loxopholis ferreirai at Rio Negro and Rio Jaú, state of Amazonas, Brazil. SL = Sampling locality number; N = number of specimens analysed per locality. m a.s.l. = meters above sea level. Coordinates are given in Datum WGS84. * GPS coordinates taken from field of notebook Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues (MTR) due Tableto geographic 2. General information inconsistence of previous or andabsence new occurrence in Rodrigues observations & ofÁvila-Pires Loxopholis ferreirai 2005. at Rio Negro and Rio Jaú, state of Amazonas, Brazil. SL = Sampling locality number; N = number of specimens analysed per locality. m a.s.l. = meters above sea level. Coordinates are given in Datum WGS84. SL Year Voucher number N Location Locality Municipality Latitude Longitude Elevation Reference (m a.s.l.) 1* 1995 MZUSP 57312 (holotype) 1 Island Lago do Prato, Arquilélago