Herpetology Notes, volume 12: 87-89 (2019) (published online on 15 January 2019)

Record of exotic species Yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis Podocnemididae) in a Conservation Unit in Northeastern Brazil

Daliana Thaisa Maria Teles de Oliveira Souza¹, Jozélia Maria de Sousa Correia¹, Luciana Carla Rameh-de-Albuquerque2, and Ednilza Maranhão dos Santos¹,*

An exotic species is any species that is outside its natural areas is prohibited”, Federal Law No. 9.985/00 range of distribution (ICMBio, 2006). These species, in (BRASIL, 2000, pp. 21). Notwithstanding, these sites turn, have competitive advantages that are favored by have undergone biological invasions for decades, and the absence of natural enemies (predators) and have the for the protected natural areas of Atlantic Forest, the ability to proliferate and invade ecosystems, whether scenario is very complicated, mainly in the northeast natural or anthropized (Leão et al., 2011). In general, region (Leão et al., 2011). exotic and potentially invasive species are considered There are currently 327 federal conservation units the second largest cause of extinction of native species with records of exotic and invasive species. Of the on the planet, directly affecting local biodiversity, approximately 30 invasive taxa described, two are ecosystem function, economics and human health Testudines: D’ Orbingy’s slider (Trachemys dorbigni) (Pimentel et al., 2001). Among the various impacts (Duméril and Bibron, 1835) and the red eared slider of bioinvasions are the reduction of species diversity (Trachemys scripta elegans) (Wied-Neuwied, 1839) (Lodge, 1993), the generation of hybrids (Carvalho et (ICMBio, 2006). A critical point in this context is the al., 2010), replacement of native species (Huxel, 1999), lack of management or protocol in these areas for the habitat change (Castilla et al., 2004), competition, removal of these organisms. predation, parasitism and subsequent changes in the food The Yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis chain and nutrient cycle (Vitousek, 1990). In Brazil, as in Troschel 1948) is an aquatic Testudine belonging to most countries, biological invasions occur accidentally the family Podocnemididae. Up to 45 cm in length and or intentionally, through different vectors such as ships, 12 kg in mass, they are abundant in the Amazon basin oil rigs, trucks, automobiles, and trains and/or airplanes, (Vogt, 2008), and also found in the states of Goiás and among others (Carlton and Ruiz, 2005). Mato Grosso. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, The areas protected by Conservation Units in with the female being much larger than the male. The Brazil have a main objective to protect and maintain nesting period of this species is regionally synchronic biodiversity. As per this objective, according to Article (Soini, 1994), occurring between June and February 31 of the SNUC (National System of Conservation in Amazonian populations (Rueda-Almonacid et al., Units), “The introduction of exotic species in protected 2007; Vogt, 2008). Egg incubation takes about 60 days. Juveniles and adult males exhibit yellow spots in the cephalic region, which disappear as the animal develops; disappearing completely in adult females (Vogt, 2008). The Dois Irmãos State Park - PEDI is an Integral Protection Conservation Unit with approximately 1000 ¹ Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Anfíbios e Répteis, ha of Atlantic Forest, located in the city of Recife, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (8.002665° S, 34.942679° W, WGS 84, Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s / n, Dois Fig. 1A, B). On 3 June 2015, individuals of Podocnemis Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. 2 Parque Estadual de Dois Irmãos, Praça Farias Neves, s/n - unifillis were observed thermoregulating; on 20 August Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. 2015, two individuals were photographed copulating *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] (Fig. 1C); and on 1 November 2015, during the daily 88 Daliana Thaisa Maria Teles de Oliveira Souza et al.

Figure 1. A - Location of the Dois Irmãos State Park, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil (Photo provided by PEDI); B - Weir of the Conservation Unit, place of record ; C - Record of a couple in copulation in the margin of the water source; and D - Young specimen of Podocnemis unifilis.

survey for the study of Testudines in the PEDI water The following apparatus was used for recording the springs, a juvenile (Fig. 1D) was trapped in a hoop net information: binoculars (Konus VM 7x50) and camera at 8:00 a.m., measuring 6.4 cm carapace length, 6.6 cm (Nikon Coolpix P500), as well as hoop net traps using carapace width, and weighing 0.020 kg. liver, chicken and fish as bait. Record of images and of a So far, there was no record of P. unifilis in a natural young specimen of Podocnemis unifilis were deposited environment outside its range of distribution, thus being in the Herpetology Collection of the Federal Rural considered an exotic species with evidence for invasive University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil potential, since they are reproducing in environments (CHPUFRPE 051). and may be competing with other native species such as Geoffrey’s toadhead turtle (Phrynops geoffroanus Schweigger, 1812) and the scorpion mud turtle Acknowledgements. We thank to the management of the Dois (Kinosternon scorpioides Linnaeus, 1766). For the Dois Irmãos State Park, the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio), the National Council for Scientific and Irmãos State Park, this is the second record of exotic Technological Development (CNPq) for the scholarship granted to species from the northern region of Brazil (Santos et the first author, and the Chico Mendes Institute - ICMBio for the al., 2015), being also recorded in the same water body license granted (11218-1). as Podocnemis expansa (Schweigger, 1812), known colloquially as “Amazonian Tortoise.”. Record of exotic Yellow-spotted river turtle in Northeastern Brazil 89

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Accepted by Eric Munscher