9
Introduction Previous studies on amphibians and reptiles in Ceará, northeastern Brazil, have focused on the Caatinga and relictual tropical rainforests (“Brejos de Altitude”) (e.g., Borges-Nojosa et al., 2010; Loebmann and Haddad, 2010; Ribeiro et al., 2012). The lack of studies on the coastal zone is illustrated by the fact that some large reptiles with apparently stable populations (Eunectes murinus and Paleosuchus palpebrosus; Mendonça et al., 2009; Lima et al., 2011), which are well known to the locals, have been only officially reported recently. The state of Ceará has about four phytophysiognomies: Atlantic rainforest, Caatinga, Cerrado and Coastal vegetation complex (Figueiredo, 1997). Although studies involving herpetofauna of Ceará started around the nineteenth century (Lopes and Silva, 2003), not all of these physiognomies were fully prospected. Specifically, the coastal region has been poorly investigated, with only a general study, which only reports some species of the Coastal region, without providing a list (Cascon and Borges-Nojosa, 2003). The Northeast Coast of Ceará has a warm and dry climate. Its closeness to both the Cerrado and Caatinga allows the occurrence of species from these two domains, forming a vegetation complex (Castro et al., 2012). Both are savanna formations with shrubs and two well-defined seasons (dry and rainy; Coutinho, 2006). Additionally, rain forest areas nearby could also influence this vegetation complex. The coastal area of the city of São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, has been subject to land speculation and is being developed into a Port and Industrial Complex. This enterprise is contributing to rapid changes in local conditions and may cause a strong impact on local wildlife. Given the lack of research in the area, it is difficult to propose a management plan for the conservation of local fauna. As a result, an available list of the herpetofauna of this coastal area in Ceará is lacking. Here, we surveyed amphibians and reptiles of the coastal region of São Gonçalo do Amarante, reported geographic distribution extension for some species found in the area and tested their similarity with other Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 405-413 (2014) (published online on 18 June 2014) Herpetofauna of a coastal region of northeastern Brazil Maria Juliana Borges-Leite¹ ,2 *, João Fabrício Mota Rodrigues 2,3 and Diva Maria Borges-Nojosa¹ ,2 ¹ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC, Campus do Pici, CEP 60455-760, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. 2 Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará – NUROF – UFC, Campus do Pici, Bloco 905, CEP: 60.455-760, Fortaleza – CE, Brazil 3 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Campus Samambaia, CEP 74001-970, Goiânia, GO, Brazil. * Corresponding author, M.J. Borges-Leite, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. We surveyed amphibians and reptiles in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Northeastern Brazil, from December 2007 to May 2009. We recorded 23 species of amphibians from six families and 37 species of reptiles from 15 families (one amphisbaenid, one freshwater turtle, 14 lizards and 21 snakes). The distributions of Scinax nebulosus and S. fuscomarginatus were expanded to the coastal region of Ceará. Species accumulation curves for reptiles and amphibians reached an asymptote. Richness estimators predicted 25 species of amphibians and 42 of reptiles. The herpetofauna of the study area is very similar to that of Caatinga areas of Ceará and is less similar to that of nearby areas of Atlantic rainforest. Keywords: Amphibians, Squamata, Reptiles, Ceará, Semi-deciduous forest, Similarity.

Herpetofauna of a coastal region of northeastern Brazil · northeastern Brazil, have focused on the Caatinga and relictual tropical rainforests ... such as Serra da Ibiapaba and Chapada

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Introduction

Previous studies on amphibians and reptiles in Ceará, northeastern Brazil, have focused on the Caatinga and relictual tropical rainforests (“Brejos de Altitude”) (e.g., Borges-Nojosa et al., 2010; Loebmann and Haddad, 2010; Ribeiro et al., 2012). The lack of studies on the coastal zone is illustrated by the fact that some large reptiles with apparently stable populations (Eunectes murinus and Paleosuchus palpebrosus; Mendonça et al., 2009; Lima et al., 2011), which are well known to the locals, have been only officially reported recently.

The state of Ceará has about four phytophysiognomies: Atlantic rainforest, Caatinga, Cerrado and Coastal

vegetation complex (Figueiredo, 1997). Although studies involving herpetofauna of Ceará started around the nineteenth century (Lopes and Silva, 2003), not all of these physiognomies were fully prospected. Specifically, the coastal region has been poorly investigated, with only a general study, which only reports some species of the Coastal region, without providing a list (Cascon and Borges-Nojosa, 2003).

The Northeast Coast of Ceará has a warm and dry climate. Its closeness to both the Cerrado and Caatinga allows the occurrence of species from these two domains, forming a vegetation complex (Castro et al., 2012). Both are savanna formations with shrubs and two well-defined seasons (dry and rainy; Coutinho, 2006). Additionally, rain forest areas nearby could also influence this vegetation complex.

The coastal area of the city of São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, has been subject to land speculation and is being developed into a Port and Industrial Complex. This enterprise is contributing to rapid changes in local conditions and may cause a strong impact on local wildlife. Given the lack of research in the area, it is difficult to propose a management plan for the conservation of local fauna. As a result, an available list of the herpetofauna of this coastal area in Ceará is lacking.

Here, we surveyed amphibians and reptiles of the coastal region of São Gonçalo do Amarante, reported geographic distribution extension for some species found in the area and tested their similarity with other

Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 405-413 (2014) (published online on 18 June 2014)

Herpetofauna of a coastal region of northeastern Brazil

Maria Juliana Borges-Leite¹,2*, João Fabrício Mota Rodrigues2,3 and Diva Maria Borges-Nojosa¹,2

¹ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC, Campus do Pici, CEP 60455-760, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

2 Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará – NUROF – UFC, Campus do Pici, Bloco 905, CEP: 60.455-760, Fortaleza – CE, Brazil

3 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Campus Samambaia, CEP 74001-970, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.

* Corresponding author, M.J. Borges-Leite, e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract. We surveyed amphibians and reptiles in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Northeastern Brazil, from December 2007 to May 2009. We recorded 23 species of amphibians from six families and 37 species of reptiles from 15 families (one amphisbaenid, one freshwater turtle, 14 lizards and 21 snakes). The distributions of Scinax nebulosus and S. fuscomarginatus were expanded to the coastal region of Ceará. Species accumulation curves for reptiles and amphibians reached an asymptote. Richness estimators predicted 25 species of amphibians and 42 of reptiles. The herpetofauna of the study area is very similar to that of Caatinga areas of Ceará and is less similar to that of nearby areas of Atlantic rainforest.

Keywords: Amphibians, Squamata, Reptiles, Ceará, Semi-deciduous forest, Similarity.

Maria Juliana Borges-Leite et al.406

physiognomies of Ceará. We compare the study area with surveys in Ceará in order to make a general characterisation of the diversity of this coastal region in comparison to nearby areas.

Material and Methods

Study area

São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Brazil has an area of 834.39 km², and the predominant vegetation is semi-deciduous coastal forest (Figueiredo, 1997). The study area includes floristic elements of Caatinga, Cerrado, and Restinga, corroborating the idea that the plant community of the coastal region of Ceará has an ecotonal nature (Castro et al., 2012). The mean annual maximum temperature is 28 °C and minimum is 26°C, and the mean annual rainfall is 1,026 mm, mainly concentrated from January to June (FUNCEME, 2014).

Sampling occurred in three sites (Figure 1 and 2) chosen randomly with similar vegetation and climate: Dunas (-3.545527°, -38.857833°; 7 m a.s.l. hereafter datum WGS84), Jardim Botânico (-3.574194°, -38.888694°; 28 m a.s.l.), and Taíba (-3.515250°, -38.918805°; 13 m a.s.l.).

Data collection

We conducted fieldwork during 18 months, four days per month, from December 2007 to May 2009. In December 2007 and in April 2008, the effort was greater with two sampling periods of four days in each of these months.

Specimens were collected using five stations of pitfall traps with drift fences in each sampling site (Cechin and Martins, 2000; Heyer et al., 2001), consisting of four 60-L plastic buckets, disposed in a “Y” arrangement in each station. This methodology was applied in each sampling site, totaling 15 traps/day. We also used time-constrained searches (transects; Heyer et al., 2001) lasting one hour in an area of 600 m² during the daytime, totaling 108 person/hours of sampling effort. We used unlimited active search at night near lakes (Heyer et al., 2001).

Voucher specimens were euthanised by injection of lidocaine hydrochlorid, fixed in 10% formalin and preserved in 70% ethanol (Auricchio and Salomão, 2002). Specimens were deposited in the Coleção de Herpetologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará

Figure 1. Map of study site in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Brazil. Sampling sites: ♦ (black diamond) – Taíba; ■ (black square) – Jardim Botânico; and ● (black circle) – Dunas.

Herpetofauna of a coastal region of northeastern Brazil 407

(CHUFC; Appendix 1). Nomenclature followed Frost (2014) for amphibians and Uetz (2014) for reptiles.

Data analysis

We built species accumulation curves separately for amphibians and reptiles to analyse monthly sampling effort (Gotelli and Colwell, 2001). These curves were based in the Mao Tau’s method for species accumulation in the software EstimateS (version 8.0.0) (Colwell, 2006), with a confidence interval of 95%. The richness of amphibians and reptiles was estimated with the first-order Jackknife.

We compared the herpetofauna of São Gonçalo do Amarante with data from other physiognomies (Caatinga, Cerrado and Brejos-de-altitude) from the state of Ceará with Jaccard’s Similarity Index and represented using the UPGMA clustering method. The herpetofauna of Caatinga areas were obtained from

Borges-Nojosa and Cascon (2005), Borges-Nojosa et al. (2010), Loebmann and Haddad (2010) and Ribeiro et al. (2012); Brejos-de-altitude from Borges-Nojosa (2007), Loebmann and Haddad (2010) and Ribeiro et al. (2012); and Cerrado from Loebmann and Haddad (2010) and Ribeiro et al. (2012). The herpetofauna of Serra da Ibiapaba (Loebmann and Haddad, 2010) and Chapada do Araripe (Ribeiro et al., 2012) were divided in those three physiognomies according to information presented in these papers. We did not include unidentified or introduced species. These analyses were made using the free software Past v. 2.10 (Hammer et al., 2001).

Results

We recorded 23 species of anurans from six families (Table 1), 36 species of squamate from 14 families and one species of chelonian (Table 2). Accumulation curves based on monthly sampling effort (Figure 3 and

Figure 2. Study areas A- Taíba; B- Dunas; and C- Jardim Botânico.

4) showed that the richness of amphibians and reptiles reached an asymptote. The richness estimator predicted 25 species of amphibians (Jackknife = 25.85 ± 2.08) and 42 of reptiles (Jackknife = 42.7 ± 2.79), considering chelonians and squamates as one group.

The herpetofauna of the study area is very similar to that of Caatinga areas of Ceará (Figure 5 and 6) and most likely represents a mixture of species from these three physiognomies, Caatinga, Cerrado and rainforest. The study area is more similar to distant Caatinga areas, such as Serra da Ibiapaba and Chapada do Araripe than to nearby areas of rainforest such as Serra de Baturité. It is also different from the Cerrado areas of Serra da Ibiapaba and Chapada do Araripe.

Discussion

The study area has species broadly distributed over Ceará such as Tropidurus hispidus, Ameiva ameiva, Rhinella jimi, which were found in all physiognomies. Ameivula ocellifera, Salvator merianae, Iguana iguana, Rhinella granulosa, Leptodactylus vastus, Leptodactylus macrosternum and Proceratophrys cristiceps were also present in almost all physiognomies in Ceará.

Anurans recorded in the studied area, in general, were generalist species regarding habitat use, and most of the species were typical of Caatinga areas (Arzabe, 1999; Borges-Nojosa et al., 2010; Loebmann and Haddad, 2010; Ribeiro et al., 2012). The reptiles, in general, also were habitat generalists, and were also representatives of the Caatinga herpetofauna (Rodrigues, 2003; Borges-Nojosa et al., 2010).

Family Species Locality Method Habitat ROSC

Rhinella granulosa (Spix, 1824) D Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Bufonidae

Rhinella jimi (Stevaux, 2002) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Odontophrynidae Proceratophrys cristiceps (Müller, 1884 “1883″) T Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Dendropsophus microcephalus (Cope, 1886) D, T Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 3, 4

Dendropsophus nanus (Boulenger, 1889) D Nlas Ca, Rf 3, 4, 5

Hypsiboas raniceps Cope, 1862 D, J, T Nlas Ca, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Phyllomedusa nordestina Caramaschi, 2006 J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Scinax fuscomarginatus (Lutz, 1925) D Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 4,

Scinax nebulosus (Spix, 1824) T Nlas Ca, Rf 4

Hylidae

Scinax x-signatus (Spix, 1824) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

*Leptodactylus aff. hylaedactylus D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca -

Leptodactylus fuscus (Schneider, 1799) D, J, T Nlas, Pt Ca, Rf 1, 3, 4, 5

Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 D, J, T Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Leptodactylus mystaceus (Spix, 1824) D, J, T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Leptodactylus pustulatus (Peters, 1870) D, J, T Nlas, Pt Ca, Rf 2, 3

Leptodactylus troglodytes Lutz, 1926 D, T Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Leptodactylus vastus Lutz, 1930 T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Physalaemus albifrons (Spix, 1824) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca 3, 4, 5

Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Pleurodema diplolister (Peters, 1870) T Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce 1, 3, 4, 5

Leptodactylidae

Pseudopaludicola mystacalis J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Rf 2, 4, 5

Dermatonotus muelleri (Boettger, 1885) J, T Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Microhylidae

Elachistocleis piauiensis Caramschi & Jim, 1983 D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca 3, 4, 5

Total six families, 23 species

Table 1. List of amphibians recorded in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Brazil. Locality of occurrence: D- Dunas; J- Jardim Botânico and T- Taíba. Capturing method: Las- Limited active search; Nlas- Non-limited active search and Pt- Pitfall traps. Habitat registered in the literature: Ca- Caatinga; Ce- Cerrado and Rf- Rainforest. Record of the occurrence of the species in Ceará (ROSC): 1- Borges-Nojosa and Cascon (2005); 2-Borges-Nojosa (2007); 3- Borges-Nojosa et al. (2010); 4- Loebmann and Haddad (2010); 5- Ribeiro et al. (2012). Asterisk (*) indicates which species have not been used for the similarity analysis.

Maria Juliana Borges-Leite et al.408

1

Taxa Species Locality Method Habitat ROSC

Amphisbaenia

Amphisbaenidae Amphisbaena vermicularis Wagler, 1824 D Pt Ca, Rf 3, 4, 5

Sauria

Iguanidae Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758) T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Hemidactylus agrius Vanzolini, 1978 J, T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 3, 4, 5

Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnès, 1818) T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 4, 5 Gekkonidae

Lygodactylus klugei (Smith,Martin & Swain,1977) D Nlas, Pt Ca 1, 3, 5

Colobosauroides cearensis Cunha, Lima-Verde & Lima, 1991 D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Rf 2, 4

Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt & Lütken, 1862) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Gymnophthalmidae

Vanzosaura rubricauda (Boulenger, 1902) D, T Nlas, Pt Ca 1, 3, 4, 5

Scincidae Brasiliscincus heathi (Schmidt & Inger, 1951) J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Polychrotidae Polychrus acutirostris Spix, 1825 J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Sphaerodactylidae Coleodactylus meridionalis (Boulenger, 1888) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Ameivula ocellifera (Spix, 1825) J, T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 3, 4, 5 Teiidae

Salvator merianae (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) J, T Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Tropiduridae Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) D, J, T Las, Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Serpentes

Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758 D, T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5 Boidae

Epicrates cenchria (Linnaeus, 1758) J Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 3

Table 2. List of reptiles recorded for São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará. Locality of occurrence: D- Dunas; J- Jardim Botânico and T- Taíba. Capturing method: Las- Limited active search; Nlas- Non-limited active search and Pt- Pitfall traps. Habitat registered on the literature: Ca- Caatinga; Ce- Cerrado and Rf- Rainforest. Record of the occurrence of the species in Ceará (ROSC): 1- Borges-Nojosa and Cascon (2005); 2-Borges-Nojosa (2007); 3- Borges-Nojosa et al. (2010); 4- Loebmann and Haddad (2010); 5- Ribeiro et al. (2012). Asterisk (*) indicates which species have not been used for the similarity analysis.

Taxa Species Locality Method Habitat ROSC

Drymarchon corais (Boie, 1827) J Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 4

Leptophis ahaetulla (Linnaeus, 1758) J, T Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Mastigodryas bifossatus Raddi, 1820 J Nlas - -

Oxybelis aeneus (Wagler, 1824) J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Spilotes pullatus (Linnaeus, 1758) J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Colubridae

Tantilla melanocephala (Linnaeus, 1758) D, T Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 4, 5

Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus (Wied-Neuwied, 1825) J, T Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 4, 5

Erythrolamprus taeniogaster Jan, 1863 D Nlas Ca, Rf 4, 5

Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837) J, T Nlas Ca 5

Lygophis dilepis (Cope, 1862) D, T Nlas Ca 4, 5

Oxyrhopus trigeminus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 J, T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Philodryas nattereri Steindachner, 1870 J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 3, 4, 5

Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein, 1823) J, T Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Pseudoboa nigra (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) T Nlas Ca, Rf 3, 4, 5

Psomophis joberti (Sauvage, 1884) J, T Las, Nlas Ca 4, 5

Taeniophallus occipitalis (Jan, 1863) J Nlas, Pt Ca, Ce, Rf 2, 4, 5

Dipsadidae

Xenodon merremii (Wagler, 1824) J Nlas Ca, Rf 2, 3, 4, 5

Elapidae Micrurus ibiboboca (Merrem, 1820) J Nlas Ca, Ce, Rf 1, 2, 4, 5

Typhlopidae *Typhlops aff. amoipira D, J Pt - -

Testudines

Chelidae Mesoclemmys tuberculata (Lüderwaldt, 1926) T Nlas Ca, Rf 3, 4, 5

Total 15 families, 37 species

Herpetofauna of a coastal region of northeastern Brazil 409

The distribution of Scinax nebulosus and S. fuscomarginatus were extended to the coastal region of Ceará. Despite being described as widely distributed (Peters and Orejas-Miranda, 1970), Mastigodryas bifossatus was recorded for Ceará in only two studies (Lima-Verde and Cascon, 1990; Mesquita et al., 2013). According to national (MMA, 2014) and international (IUCN, 2014) lists of endangered species, no endangered species were found in this study.

Previously, the coastal region of Ceará was classified as physiognomically distinct from Caatinga (Fernandes, 1990; Figueiredo, 1997), but recently it has been suggested that its flora has ecotonal characteristics that include species from Cerrado and Caatinga (Castro et al., 2012). Our comparisons of similarity index and cluster analyses indicate a similarity between the study area and Caatinga and reinforce the ecotonal view of the Vegetational Complex of Ceará which has amphibians and reptiles found in Caatinga, Cerrado and Rainforest areas (see Table 1 and 2, and Figures 5 and 6). The higher similarity between the herpetofauna of the study area and distant Caatinga regions than to nearby areas of Brejos de Altitude suggest that physiognomies have higher influence in similarities between herpetofauna of different areas than geographic distance.

To conclude, the herpetofauna of the study area is similar to Caatinga areas, but it also shares species with Rainforest and Cerrado areas. Moreover, this coastal herpetofauna presents evidence of having ecotonal characteristics. Environmental impacts observed in this

Figure 3. Accumulation curve of amphibians produced using the number of species found and number of samples (field periods): Species observed (SOBS) 95% upper and lower bound is confidence interval; Sobs Mao Tau is richness observed.

Figure 4. Accumulation curve of reptiles produced using the number of species found and number of samples (field periods): Species observed (SOBS) 95% upper and lower bound is confidence interval; Sobs Mao Tau is richness observed.

Figure 5. Dendrogram for cluster analysis (UPGMA) using the Jaccard’s Similarity Index between the amphibians of the coastal region of São Gonçalo do Amarante (SGA) and the other areas studied in Ceará State. Cophenetic correlation coefficient = 0.933. Source: 1- Borges-Nojosa & Cascon (2005) – SDA (Serra das Almas Caatinga); 2-Borges-Nojosa (2007) – BAT (Baturité Rainforest); 3- Borges-Nojosa et al. (2010) – CAU (Caucaia Caatinga); PAC (Pacajús Caatinga) ; 4- Loebmann & Haddad (2010) – IBCA (Ibiapaba Caatinga); IBCE (Ibiapaba Cerrado); IBMU (Ibiapaba Rainforest); 5- Ribeiro et al. (2012) – ARCA (Araripe Caatinga); ARCE (Araripe Cerrado); ARMU (Araripe Rainforest).

Maria Juliana Borges-Leite et al.410

area due to the installation of the Port and Industrial Complex underscore the need to implement conservation measures to ensure biodiversity protection. Even if we have not listed threatened species in this municipality, we extended the distribution of two species of anurans and found at least two taxa not yet defined. New studies are required to improve the characterisation of the biodiversity in the region and thus be able to develop a management plan and take appropriate conservation measures.

Acknowledgements. We would like to thank Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA) for granting collecting permits (authorization #045/07-NUFAU-CE and #10893-1). We thank the direction of the Jardim Botânico de São Gonçalo do Amarante for the access of space; Mr. and Mrs. Borges for the stay and for allowing the use of their property for research; Daniel Passos, Otávio Bezerra and Flávia Prado for

their company and assistance in the field; Daniel Cassiano and James Harris for reviewing the manuscript and making useful suggestions. We are grateful to the Delphi Projetos e Gestão Ltda and Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC) for financial support.

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Figure 6. Dendrogram of the cluster analysis (UPGMA) using the Jaccard’s Similarity Index between the reptiles of the coastal region of São Gonçalo do Amarante (SGA) and the other areas studied in Ceará State. Cophenetic correlation coefficient = 0.857. Source: 1- Borges-Nojosa & Cascon (2005) – SDA (Serra das Almas Caatinga); 2-Borges-Nojosa (2007) – BAT (Baturité Rainforest); 3- Borges-Nojosa et al. (2010) – CAU (Caucaia Caatinga); PAC (Pacajús Caatinga) ; 4- Loebmann & Haddad (2010) – IBCA (Ibiapaba Caatinga); IBCE (Ibiapaba Cerrado); IBMU (Ibiapaba Rainforest); 5- Ribeiro et al. (2012) – ARCA (Araripe Caatinga); ARCE (Araripe Cerrado); ARMU (Araripe Rainforest).

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Appendix

Voucher specimens deposited in the Coleção de Herpetologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará (CHUFC) collected in São Gonçalo do Amarante, State of Ceará, Brazil.

Amphibians: Dendropsophus microcephalus (UFC A4832, UFC A5216, UFC A5219-20, UFC A4875, UFC A5218). Dermatonotus muelleri (UFC A4924, UFC A4989, UFC A5274, UFC A5323). Elachistocleis piauiensis (UFC A4806, UFC A4811, UFC A4813, UFC A4814, UFC A4820, UFC A4825, UFC A4826, UFC A4931, UFC A4949). Hypsiboas raniceps (UFC A4869, UFC A5058, UFC A5059, UFC A5228). Leptodactylus aff. hylaedactylus (UFC A4798, UFC A4800, UFC A4819, UFC A4827-29, UFC A5077-79, UFC A5082). Leptodactylus fuscus (UFC A4818, UFC A5229, UFC A5230). Leptodactylus macrosternum (UFC A4795, UFC A4854, UFC A4860, UFC A4864, UFC A4879, UFC A5231). Leptodactylus mystaceus (UFC A5075, UFC A5076, UFC A5189, UFC A5232, UFC A5233). Leptodactylus pustulatus (UFC A4821, UFC A4822, UFC A4855, UFC A5234, UFC A5235). Leptodactylus troglodytes (UFC A4804, UFC A4809, UFC A4833, UFC A4861, UFC A4865, UFC A4878). Leptodactylus vastus (UFC A5236, UFC A5277). Phyllomedusa nordestina (UFC A5050). Physalaemus cuvieri (UFC A4887, UFC A4888, UFC A4889, UFC A4908, UFC A5121). Physalaemus albifrons (UFC A5097-98, UFC A5112-15). Pleurodema diplolister (UFC A4801, UFC A4808, UFC A4834, UFC A4835, UFC A5053, UFC A5054). Proceratophrys cristiceps (UFC A5051). Pseudopaludicola mystacalis (UFC A4842-43, UFC A4891, UFC A4896-99, UFC A4900-02). Rhinella granulosa (UFC A4878). Rhinella jimi (UFC A5060-63, UFC A5245). Scinax fuscomarginatus (UFC A5246-48). Scinax nebulosus (UFC A5073-74). Scinax x-signatus (UFC A4876, UFC A4890, UFC A5064-67).

Reptiles: Ameiva ameiva (UFC L3502, UFC L3515-16, UFC L3557, UFC L3576, UFC L3580). Amphisbaena vermicularis (UFC L3542, UFC L3745-46). Ameivula ocellifera (UFC L3512, UFC L3520, UFC L3552, UFC L3558, UFC L3568, UFC L3718). Coleodactylus meridionalis (UFC L3521, UFC L3555, UFC L3559, UFC L3560, UFC L3567, UFC L3592). Colobosauroides cearensis (UFC L3508-10, UFC L3705-09, UFC L3719). Hemidactylus agrius (UFC L3699). Hemidactylus mabouia (UFC L3522, UFC

L3700-04). Lygodactylus klugei (UFC L3593, UFC L3722). Micrablepharus maximiliani (UFC L3501, UFC L3546-48, UFC L3569, UFC L3574). Polychrus acutirostris (UFC L3629). Tropidurus hispidus (UFC L3506, UFC L3519, UFC L3543, UFC L3544, UFC L3582, UFC L3710). Vanzosaura rubricauda (UFC L3534, UFC L3538, UFC L3591). Boa constrictor (UFC3001). Drymarchon corais (UFC3002). Epicrates cenchria (UFC2970). Helicops leopardinus (UFC2939). Leptophis ahaetulla (UFC2998, UFC3026). Erythrolamprus taeniogaster (UFC3032). Lygophis dilepis (UFC3000, UFC2948). Mastigodryas bifossatus (UFC3552). Oxyrhopus trigeminus (UFC2971). Philodryas nattereri (UFC2972). Philodryas olfersii (UFC2938, UFC2973). Pseudoboa nigra (UFC2934, UFC2974,UFC2975). Taeniophallus occipitalis (UFC2952). Tantilla melanocephala (UFC2930-32, UFC2937). Typhlops aff. amoipira (UFC2935, UFC2936, UFC2956). Xenodon merremii (UFC3040).

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Accepted by Diogo Provete