Conhecimento e uso de animais silvestres na medicina popular, no semiárido da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

In this chapter, populations of medicinal animals are found for the communities of the Paraíba Semi - arid, Northeastern Brazil, being financed in studies carried out in the municipalities of Lagoa, São Mamede, Cabaceiras and Solânea. The informants of the research were household heads, totaling 299 informants (women and men), responding to the semi-structured questionnaire of decisions about the medicinal uses of the local fauna, their parts used and therapeutic purposes. In order to correlate the species of diseases addressed also the taxonomic ones, considering that each species was characterized morphologically and ecologically. Thus, 30 animals (14 birds, 10 mammals, 4 plants and 2 insects) were registered, and 28 medicinal species belonging to 27 genera and 20 families were identified. Studies such as this, make it possible to carry out a survey of information that can be used to maintain traditional knowledge and its sources of reports for the creation of protection, protection and sustainability of wildlife.