Herpetofauna of Matas de Água Azul, an Atlantic Forest remnant in Serra do Mascarenhas, Pernambuco state, Brazil

Abstract: The northern most portion of Atlantic Forest is currently considered as the most vulnerable and threatened in this ecoregion, while also harboring the ecoregion’s least studied biota. Herein we present results of a herpetofaunistic survey in Refúgio de Vida Silvestre (Wildlife Refuge) Matas de Água Azul (RVSMAA), in the mountain range Serra do Mascarenhas, northeastern state of Pernambuco, Brazil, one of the largest forest remnants in the northern Atlantic Forest. The sampling was carried out in four expeditions using methods of visual searching and pitfall traps. A total of 43 species of amphibians and 40 species of reptiles were registered, including anurans, caecilians, lizards, snakes and chelonians. The richness recorded represented 56% of amphibians and 20% of reptiles registered in the Atlantic Forest north of the São Francisco River. The RVSMAA holds a high diversity of amphibians and reptiles, representing one of the highest levels of richness in the northern Atlantic Forest. The record of seven species included in some of the threatened species lists reinforces the importance of the area for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest herpetofauna and adds relevant information to our knowledge of northern Atlantic Forest biodiversity and aids in its assessment of conservation.

摘要：大西洋森林（Atlantic Forest）最北端区域目前被视为该生态区中最脆弱且受威胁程度最高的区域，同时也是该生态区研究程度最低的生物群落栖息地。本研究报告了巴西伯南布哥（Pernambuco）州东北部马斯卡伦哈斯山脉（Serra do Mascarenhas）内的蓝水林野生动物保护区（Wildlife Refuge Matas de Água Azul，缩写RVSMAA）的两栖爬行动物区系调查结果，该保护区是大西洋森林北部现存规模最大的森林遗存之一。本次采样通过四次野外考察完成，采用目视搜寻与陷阱诱捕两种调查方法。此次调查共记录两栖动物43种、爬行动物40种，涵盖无尾目（anurans）、蚓螈（caecilians）、蜥蜴、蛇类及龟鳖类（chelonians）。本次记录的物种丰富度占圣弗朗西斯科河（São Francisco River）以北大西洋森林区域已记录两栖动物总数的56%、爬行动物总数的20%。该保护区拥有极高的两栖动物与爬行动物多样性，是大西洋森林北部区域物种丰富度最高的区域之一。本次调查记录到7种被列入各类受威胁物种名录的物种，这一发现凸显了该区域对于大西洋森林两栖爬行动物保护的重要价值，同时为我们认知大西洋森林北部的生物多样性补充了关键数据，并可为该区域的保护评估工作提供助力。