Check List 2006: 2(3) ISSN: 1809-127X NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae, Psilophthalmus Psilophthalmus paeminosus Rodrigues, 1991 paeminosus: Distribution extension, new state (Figure 1), the only species of this genus, is record among the species of the Gymnophthalmidae described from these dunes. The species is found Fagner Ribeiro Delfim1 2 only on the right bank of the middle São Edelmo de Melo Gonçalves Francisco, where it has been recorded in the Selma Torquato da Silva3 municipalities of Santo Inácio (type locality) and 1 Vacaria (Rodrigues 1991c), in the state of Bahia. Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro These localities, characterized by sandy soils, are de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade relatively isolated and harbor other endemic species Federal da Paraíba, CEP 58051-900 – João Pessoa, of lizards and snakes (Rodrigues 1991a; 1996). PB, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, CEP 57072-970 – Maceió, AL, Brazil. 3 Setor de Zoologia, Museu de História Natural, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, CEP 57021-090 – Maceió, AL, Brazil. Originally, the lizard fauna of the Caatinga was thought to consist of elements common to the broad swathe of savannah-like ecosystems that crosses South America from northeast to southwest (Vanzolini et al. 1980; Rodrigues 2003). However, researches by Rodrigues (1984a; Figure 1. Psilophthalmus paeminosus collected at b; 1986b; 1991a; b; c; 1992; 1993; 1996a) resulted Fazenda Cana Brava (09°34’39” S, 37°59’12” W), in the descriptions of a number of new species and in the municipality of Canindé do São Francisco, genera of lizards and snakes, which have state of Sergipe, Brazil. contradicted considerably the traditional idea of During a long-term study of vertebrates in the low rates of endemism in this biome. Estação Ecológica de Xingó (limits 09°28’ to A large proportion of these new species belong to 09°36’ S, 37°47’ to 38°03’ W), we obtained the family Gymnophthalmidae, a group of small specimens of P. paeminosus from two localities in lizards distributed between the Tehuantepec the municipality of Canindé do São Francisco, on isthmus, in southern Mexico, and northern the right bank of the São Francisco, in the state of Argentina, as well as the Caribbean and some Sergipe (Figure 2). Specimens were deposited at continental islands of Central and South America. the Coleção Herpetológica do Museu de História They are found in open or forested habitats, where Natural da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, in they are associated with the undergrowth, leaf Maceió (MUFAL 6271-6292). litter and humus layer (Vanzolini et al. 1980; The collecting localities were Fazenda Lamarão Rodrigues et al. 2001), as well as ant nests (09°33’06” S, 37°55’97” W) and Fazenda Cana (Rodrigues 1996b). Of the sixteen species of Brava (09°34’39” S, 37°59’12” W), where three gymnophtalmids known from the Brazilian and 18 specimens were collected, respectively. Caatinga, only two are amply distributed in this Sandy soils predominate at both sites, alternating biome, while six others are thought to have relict with shallow tracts of gravelly clay-like soils (red- ranges. The eight other species are all found yellow lithosoils). Specimens of P. paeminosus exclusively in the paleoquaternary dune fields of were collected exclusively in sandy soil habitats. the middle São Francisco River, in the Brazilian On three occasions, the species was found in state of Bahia (Rodrigues 2003; Borges-Nojosa sintopy with a second psammophilous and Cascon 2005). gymnophtalmid, Vanzosaura rubricauda. 89 Check List 2006: 2(3) ISSN: 1809-127X NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Figure 2. Known geographic distribution of Psilophthalmus paeminosus, including the new localities reported here. Psilophthalmus paeminosus was invariably shade. Six specimens were found buried in sandy observed in locations with accumulations of soil beneath the humus, at depths of between 5 humus, either alone, or in groups of up to four and 30 cm. Rodrigues (1991b) recorded similar individuals. In 18 sightings, cacti, bromeliads or microhabitat use and flight behavior in this fallen trunks were present, providing full or partial species in the São Francisco dune fields. 90 Check List 2006: 2(3) ISSN: 1809-127X NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION A similar range extension was reported recently Acknowledgements for the gymnophtalmid genus Calyptommatus – We are grateful to the Companhia Hidrelétrica do also originally thought to be endemic to the São São Francisco (CHESF) for logistic support at the Francisco dune fields (Rodrigues 1991a) – when Estação Ecológica de Xingó. We also thank Prof. Rodrigues et al. (2001) described a new species, Gilda Acciole, project coordinator, and Álvaro Calyptommatus confusionibus, from the Parque Flavinele, Albérico de M. Saldanha Filho, Edalvis Nacional Serra das Confusões, in the state of de M. Gonçalves, Márcia Nascimento, Daniele da Piauí, approximately 120 km from the former site. Silva Barbosa and Jean M. G. Bandeira, who Rodrigues et al. (2001) interpreted this provided valuable assistance with data collection. distribution pattern on the basis of the recent We thank Stephen Ferrari for his revision of the geological history of the region (Pleistocene- text. The first author received an undergraduate Holocene), when prevailing southeast winds stipend from PROEST-UFAL. provoked constant variation in the size and distribution of the dune fields (Ab’Saber 1977; Literature cited Rodrigues 1987; Oliveira et al. 1999). The most Ab’Saber, A. N. 1977. Espaços ocupados pela recent retraction of the dunes restricted them to expansão dos climas secos na América do their present distribution. During this most recent Sul, por ocasião dos períodos glaciais retraction, a series of sandy “islands” were left quaternários. Paleoclimas 3: 1-19. behind, forming refuges similar in function to the Borges-Nojosa, D. M. and P. Cascon. 2005. forest refuges of the Pleistocene (Vanzolini and Herpetofauna da área Reserva da Serra das Williams 1981). Almas, Ceará. Pp. 245–260. In Araújo, F. S., M. J. N. Rodal and M. R. V. Barbosa. This interpretation is supported by the distribution (orgs.), Análise das variações da of other species associated with sandy soils biodiversidade do Bioma Caatinga: suporte (Rodrigues 1987; 1991a; 2003; Rodrigues et al. a estratégias regionais de conservação. 2001). Tropidurus cocorobensis (Tropiduridae), Brasília. Ministério do Meio Ambiente. for example, is found in four distinct areas of the Oliveira, P. E., A. M. F. Barreto and K. Suguio. Caatinga: Raso da Catarina and Morro do Chapéu, 1999. Late Pleistocene/Holocene climatic in Bahia, Buique, in the state of Pernambuco and vegetational history of the Brazilian (Rodrigues 1987) and Xingó, in the state of Caatinga: the fossil dunes of the middle São Alagoas. All three sites are dominated by sandy Francisco River. Palaeogeography, palaeo- soils, appropriate for species with psammophilous climatology, palaeoecology 152: 319-337. habits. In fact, the vast majority of Caatinga Rodrigues, M. T. 1984a. Uma nova espécie endemics – not only reptiles, but also amphibians brasileira de Tropidurus com crista dorsal and mammals – are psammophilous, i.e. restricted (Sauria, Iguanidae). Papéis Avulsos de to habitats with sandy soils (Rodrigues 2003). Zoologia 35(16): 169-175. Rodrigues, M. T. 1984b. Notobachia ablephara: While it confirms that P. paeminosus is not novo gênero e espécie do nordeste do Brasil endemic to the dune fields of the middle São (Sauria, Teiidae). Papéis Avulsos de Francisco river, the range extension recorded here Zoologia 35(28): 361-366. adds little to our knowledge of the zoogeographic Rodrigues, M. T. 1986b. Uma nova espécie do history of this species, given that the two areas gênero Phyllopezus de Cabaceiras: Paraíba: were linked by sandy habitats prior to the Brasil, com comentários sobre a fauna de formation of the river channel (Oliveira et al. lagartos da área (Sauria, Gekkonidae). 1999, Rodrigues et al. 2001). It nevertheless Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 36(20): 237- emphasizes the need for research in poorly-known 250. areas, such as the lower São Francisco and the Rodrigues, M. T. 1987. Sistemática, Ecologia e sandy areas in the Cerrado/Caatinga contact zone, Zoogeografia dos Tropidurus do Grupo so that the geographic ranges of species assumed Torquatus ao Sul do Rio Amazonas (Sauria, to be endemic to the Caatinga, or even relict Iguanidae). Arquivos de Zoologia 31(3): populations, can be evaluated more definitively. 105 – 231. 91 Check List 2006: 2(3) ISSN: 1809-127X NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Rodrigues, M. T. 1991a. Herpetofauna das dunas Rodrigues, M. T. 1996a. Lizards, snakes, and interiores do Rio São Francisco: Bahia: amphisbaenians from the quaternary sand Brasil: I. Introdução à área e descrição de dunes of the middle Rio São Francisco, um novo gênero de microteiídeos Bahia, Brazil. Journal of Herpetology 30(4): (Calyptommatus) com notas sobre sua 513-523. ecologia, distribuição e especiação (Sauria, Rodrigues, M. T. 1996b. A new species of lizard, Teiidae). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia genus Micrablepharus (Squamata: 37(19): 285-320. Gymnophthalmidae), from Brazil. Rodrigues, M. T. 1991b. Herpetofauna das dunas Herpetologica 52(4): 535-541. interiores do Rio São Francisco: Bahia: Rodrigues, M. T. 2003. Herpetofauna da Brasil: II. Psilophthalmus: um novo gênero Caatinga. Pp. 181-236. In Leal, I. R., M. de microteiídeos sem pálpebras (Sauria, Tabarelli and J. M. C. Silva. (Eds.). Teiidae). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia Ecologia e Conservação da Caatinga. 37(20): 321-327. Recife. Ed. Universitária-UFPE. Rodrigues, M. T. 1991c. Herpetofauna das dunas Rodrigues, M. T, H. Zaher and F. Curcio. 2001. A interiores do Rio São Francisco: Bahia: new species of lizard, genus Brasil: III. Procellosaurinus: um novo Calyptommatus, from the Caatingas of the gênero de microteiídeos sem pálpebras, com state of Piauí, Northeastern Brazil a redefinição do gênero Gymnophthalmus (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae). Papéis (Sauria, Teiidae). Papéis Avulsos de Avulsos de Zoologia 41(28): 529-546.