Usos de serpentes e lagartos por Indígenas Potiguaras das Aldeias Forte e Galego, Município de Baia da Traição, Paraíba

Abstract

The indigenous and other traditional people are holders of important knowledge about the fauna and flora. These cultures classify and assign uses to some species. Several species of reptiles are used by traditional communities in Brazil. Some studies have show that reptiles are used to zootherapy, food, craft and religious purposes. The aim of this study is to verify for what purposes the species of snakes and lizards are used in indigenous villages of "Forte" and "Galego", located in led Baia da Traição, north coast of the State of Paraíba. A total of 74 semi-structured questionnaires were applied and supplementary information are obtained by conversations with local people from December 2012 to April 2014. Possible utilities were attributed to snakes and lizards, but the use of lizards were most cited, principally for food and zootherapic medicine. The teju (Salvator merianae) and the chameleon (Iguana iguana) were species mentioned by locals with use as food as zootherapy. The rainbow-boa snake (Epicratis assisi) was the only snake reported as used for zootherapy, food and craft purposes. Indigenous people have the permission to use of wildlife, but it is necessary to evaluate how these uses can influence the population dynamics of lizards and snakes, and consequently implementation of measures for the sustainable use of these species.