A "hotspot" within a hotspot: the reptiles of the Estação Ecológica and Área de Proteção Ambiental de Murici, Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil / Um "hotspot" dentro de um hotspot: os répteis da Estação Ecológica e Área de Proteção Ambiental de Murici, Mata Atlântica do nordeste do Brasil

Abstract: Currently the Atlantic Forest hotspot has less than 11% of its original coverage. However approximately 300 species of reptiles are known to inhabit this ecoregion, of which 34% are endemic. The creation of protected areas represents a strategy for preserving ecosystems and managing land use, and for attaining the proper management of these protected areas, information on local biodiversity is essential. Herein we provide the first list of reptile species for the Estação Ecológica and Área de Proteção Ambiental de Murici, two overlapping protected areas located in the state of Alagoas, one of the most important sets of forest remnants for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest in the northeast of Brazil. The species list was constructed based on expeditions and occasional encounters in the area between 1994 and 2022. A total of 89 reptile species were obtained during the 28 years of collection, being two species of Crocodylia, three species of Testudines and 84 species of Squamata. This richness is by far one of the greatest ever documented for the Atlantic Forest. Additionally, two species registered in the area are considered threatened according to the national list (Amerotyphlops paucisquamus and Bothrops muriciensis) and six are defined as data deficient for the assessment of their conservation status. Three species are recorded for the first time in the Atlantic Forest north of the São Francisco River: Dipsas indica, Trilepida salgueiroi and Cercophis auratus. We claim that the species list provided here will serve as a starting point for further studies in this rich reptile "hotspot" within the Atlantic Forest.

Resumo: Atualmente o hotspot da Mata Atlântica tem menos de 11% de sua cobertura original. Porém aproximadamente 300 espécies de répteis são conhecidas por habitar esta ecorregião, das quais 34% são endêmicas. A criação de unidades de conservação representa uma estratégia de preservação de ecossistemas e gestão do uso do solo, e para o manejo adequado dessas áreas protegidas é fundamental a informação sobre a biodiversidade local. Apresentamos aqui a primeira lista de espécies de répteis para a Estação Ecológica e Área de Proteção Ambiental de Murici, duas unidades de conservação parcialmente sobrepostas localizadas no estado de Alagoas, um dos conjuntos de remanescentes florestais mais importantes para a conservação da Mata Atlântica no nordeste do Brasil. A lista de espécies foi construída com base em expedições e encontros ocasionais na área entre 1994 e 2022. Um total de 89 espécies de répteis foram registradas durante os 28 anos de coleta, sendo duas espécies de Crocodylia, três espécies de Testudines e 84 espécies de Squamata. Essa riqueza é de longe uma das maiores já documentadas para a Mata Atlântica. Além disso, duas espécies registradas na área são consideradas ameaçadas segundo a lista nacional (Amerotyphlops paucisquamus e Bothrops muriciensis) e seis são definidas como dados insuficientes para a avaliação de seu status de conservação. Três espécies são registradas pela primeira vez na Mata Atlântica ao norte do rio São Francisco: Dipsas indica, Trilepida salgueiroi e Cercophis auratus. Afirmamos que a lista de espécies aqui fornecida servirá como ponto de partida para novos estudos neste rico "hotspot" de répteis dentro da Mata Atlântica.

Citizen science and online data: opportunities and challenges for snake ecology and action against snakebite

The secretive behavior and life history of snakes makes studying their biology, distribution, and the epidemiology of venomous snakebite challenging. One of the most useful, most versatile, and easiest to collect types of biological data are photographs, particularly those that are connected with geographic location and date-time metadata. Photos verify occurrence records, provide data on phenotypes and ecology, and are often used to illustrate new species descriptions, field guides and identification keys, as well as in training humans and computer vision algorithms to identify snakes. We scoured eleven online and two offline sources of snake photos in an attempt to collect as many photos of as many snake species as possible, and attempt to explain some of the inter-species variation in photograph quantity among global regions and taxonomic groups, and with regard to medical importance, human population density, and range size. We collected a total of 725,565 photos—between 1 and 48,696 photos of 3098 of the world's 3879 snake species (79.9%), leaving 781 “most wanted” species with no photos (20.1% of all currently-described species as of the December 2020 release of The Reptile Database). We provide a list of most wanted species sortable by family, continent, authority, and medical importance, and encourage snake photographers worldwide to submit photos and associated metadata, particularly of “missing” species, to the most permanent and useful online archives: The Reptile Database, iNaturalist, and HerpMapper.

Herpetofauna of five "Brejos de Altitude" of the interior of the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Brejos de altitude are found at high altitudes, generally over 600 meters above sea level, in mountainous and plateau regions throughout the Brazilian Northeast. These relict altitudinal forests display unique biota evolutionary characteristics, due to, mainly, the geological time they have spent isolated, where they serve as islands for biological specialization, with many registered endemisms. Studies that provide basic data on herpetofauna are important to understand the structure and composition of these communities. In this context, the present study aimed to compile an inventory of the herpetofauna of five brejos de altitude in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and compare its snake taxocenosis with that of other Caatinga localities in Northeastern Brazil. The areas were inventoried through different time, sampling and methodologies number of people and the use or not of traps. Literature data and scientific collections were used to complement the species list. A total of 88 species were recorded in all five study areas,: 32 amphibians (two orders, 8 families and 15 genera) and 56 reptiles (2 orders, 18 families and 44 genera). Four species of lizards found in the present study are endangered, and one tortoise and snake species are data deficient (DD).

Herpetofauna from Serra da Jibóia, an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil

Serra da Jibóia consists of a mountain massif located in the Recôncavo Baiano, in the Brazilian state of Bahia, with a total area of approximately 23,000 hectares, where predominant Atlantic Rainforest areas still exist. Studies that provide basic data on herpetofauna are important to understand the structure and composition of communities. The present study aimed to compile an inventory of the herpetofauna of the Serra da Jibóia and compare its snake taxocenosis with that of other Atlantic Rainforest localities in northern Bahia. Data collection was carried out from 1995 to 2014, through field surveys, active search, opportunistic encounters and pitfall traps. Literature data and scientific collections were used to complement the species list. A total of 114 species were recorded, comprising 55 amphibians (two orders, 14 families and 28 genera) and 59 reptiles (2 orders, 21 families and 48 genera). Four reptile species and 23 amphibian species were configured as new records for the region. One species is threatened with extinction in the national territory and another is classified as data deficient. The creation of a Conservation Unit within the Serra da Jibóia is essential for the preservation of this environment, which presents an enormous flora and fauna diversity, with the presence of endemic and endangered species.

Herpetofauna of five "Brejos de Altitude" of the interior of the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Brejos de altitude are found at high altitudes, generally over 600 meters above sea level, in mountainous and plateau regions throughout the Brazilian Northeast. These relict altitudinal forests display unique biota evolutionary characteristics, due to, mainly, the geological time they have spent isolated, where they serve as islands for biological specialization, with many registered endemisms. Studies that provide basic data on herpetofauna are important to understand the structure and composition of these communities. In this context, the present study aimed to compile an inventory of the herpetofauna of five brejos de altitude in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and compare its snake taxocenosis with that of other Caatinga localities in Northeastern Brazil. The areas were inventoried through different time, sampling and methodologies number of people and the use or not of traps. Literature data and scientific collections were used to complement the species list. A total of 88 species were recorded in all five study areas,: 32 amphibians (two orders, 8 families and 15 genera) and 56 reptiles (2 orders, 18 families and 44 genera). Four species of lizards found in the present study are endangered, and one tortoise and snake species are data deficient (DD).

New additions to the herpetofauna of the Dois Irmãos State Park, an urban Atlantic Rainforest fragment in northeastern Brazil

The Atlantic Rainforest is the second largest forest block in the Neotropics, which originally comprised more than 150 million ha in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions. In this study, we updated the list of amphibians and reptiles in the Dois Irmãos State Park (PEDI), a conservation unit that is an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Active and passive surveys were carried out weekly, from June 2008 to April 2009, respectively by searching different forest microenvironments and by using pitfall traps. We recorded 34 species of amphibians belonging to 10 families and 27 species of reptiles belonging to 17 families. This study adds three species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles to previous surveys of the herpetofauna at the PEDI. The PEDI comprises a richness equivalent to 49% of the anurans and 32% of the reptiles recorded in the Atlantic Rainforest in Pernambuco State. This area makes up the group of urban protected areas in which the local herpetofauna has been inventoried, as well as isolated areas in the metropolitan region of the municipality of Recife. Regarding these urban areas, the PEDI Reserve comprises 38.7% of the local richness, being considered a well-maintained remnant in an urban area. Thus, we highlight the need to invest in the conservation of urban forest fragments, given the significant richness that PEDI displays in relation to other extremely impoverished Atlantic Rainforest areas.

Herpetofauna from Serra da Jibóia, an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil

Serra da Jibóia consists of a mountain massif located in the Recôncavo Baiano, in the Brazilian state of Bahia, with a total area of approximately 23,000 hectares, where predominant Atlantic Rainforest areas still exist. Studies that provide basic data on herpetofauna are important to understand the structure and composition of communities. The present study aimed to compile an inventory of the herpetofauna of the Serra da Jibóia and compare its snake taxocenosis with that of other Atlantic Rainforest localities in northern Bahia. Data collection was carried out from 1995 to 2014, through field surveys, active search, opportunistic encounters and pitfall traps. Literature data and scientific collections were used to complement the species list. A total of 114 species were recorded, comprising 55 amphibians (two orders, 14 families and 28 genera) and 59 reptiles (2 orders, 21 families and 48 genera). Four reptile species and 23 amphibian species were configured as new records for the region. One species is threatened with extinction in the national territory and another is classified as data deficient. The creation of a Conservation Unit within the Serra da Jibóia is essential for the preservation of this environment, which presents an enormous flora and fauna diversity, with the presence of endemic and endangered species.

New additions to the herpetofauna of the Dois Irmãos State Park, an urban Atlantic Rainforest fragment in northeastern Brazil

The Atlantic Rainforest is the second largest forest block in the Neotropics, which originally comprised more than 150 million ha in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions. In this study, we updated the list of amphibians and reptiles in the Dois Irmãos State Park (PEDI), a conservation unit that is an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Active and passive surveys were carried out weekly, from June 2008 to April 2009, respectively by searching different forest microenvironments and by using pitfall traps. We recorded 34 species of amphibians belonging to 10 families and 27 species of reptiles belonging to 17 families. This study adds three species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles to previous surveys of the herpetofauna at the PEDI. The PEDI comprises a richness equivalent to 49% of the anurans and 32% of the reptiles recorded in the Atlantic Rainforest in Pernambuco State. This area makes up the group of urban protected areas in which the local herpetofauna has been inventoried, as well as isolated areas in the metropolitan region of the municipality of Recife. Regarding these urban areas, the PEDI Reserve comprises 38.7% of the local richness, being considered a well-maintained remnant in an urban area. Thus, we highlight the need to invest in the conservation of urban forest fragments, given the significant richness that PEDI displays in relation to other extremely impoverished Atlantic Rainforest areas.