História natural e dietas de Enyalius bibronii (Squamata, Leiosauridae) em umenclave de mata atlântica 04

Abstract

Brazil is one of the countries with the highest diversity of reptiles in the world (842 spp.) and with a high degree of endemism (around 54%), so it is essential to expand the knowledge on biological and ecological aspects of this group. The Brejos de Altitude are relict areas located between the northeastern semiarid and comprise one of the five recognized endemism areas for the Atlantic Forest and, due to favorable environmental characteristics, present a high degree of threat. Lizards of the genus Enyalius are endemic to Brazil and mainly associated with forest environments of the Atlantic Forest and yet little is known about its natural history. For Enyalius bibronii, little information beyond its distribution is available. Thus, this work addresses basic aspects of the ecology and natural history of E. bibronii, including its diet, in the Mata do Pau-ferro State Park, a northeastern altitude swamp in Areia-PB. Eighteen individuals were found over the 11 months of the survey (December/2017 to October/2018), being collected mainly by trapping and falling; From those actively collected, there is a preference for vegetation, only one found in soil. Preliminary information on reproductive aspects indicates that E. bibronii have continuous or prolonged reproductive season, with females with eggs found in April, May and August. The diet of the species indicates a generalist feeding habit, but with preference for insects, with larger prey being termites, insect eggs and ants, more often for ants and orthopterans. The most important prey in relation to the volume were termites, corresponding to 54% of all ingested volume and Orthoptera, corresponding to 24.2%. It was also observed the significant presence of nematodes in the stomach tract of some individuals, indicating that the species presents this phylum as endoparasites.