Reptilia, Squamata, Polychrus spp.: new record, range extensions, and distribution map in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

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Helminths of the lizard <em>Colobosauroides cearensis</em> (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) in an area of Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil

Lizards are hosts to a variety of parasites, but in South America only 15% of lizard species have been studied for helminths. In the present study, the component community of helminths associated with the gymnophthalmid Colobosauroides cearensis in an area of Caatinga (7°22’46.08” S, 38°38’47.87”W) is reported. We examined 91 specimens from the Brazilian state of Ceará, and five taxa of helminths were recovered: four Nematoda (Parapharyngodon largitor, Spauligodon sp., Physaloptera sp. and Oswaldocruzia sp.) and one Cestoda (Oochoristica sp.). Parapharyngodon largitor was the most prevalent species (61%), and presented the highest mean abundance of infection (1.60 ± 0.18). Lizard body size influenced the richness and abundance of helminths, while infection parameters were not related to lizard sex

Autecology of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Brazilian semiarid Caatinga

Autoecologia do lagarto Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) da Caatinga semiárida brasileira. Colabosauroides cearesis é um lagarto diurno com distribuição relictual associados a habitats forestais, no domínio da Caatiga brasileira. O conhecimento da história natural desse lagarto é escasso devido o seu habito secreto. Aqui, descrevemos a dieta, reprodução, dimorfsmo sexual, uso de microhabitat e ecologia térmica de C. cearensis, com base em trabalhos de campo entre 2015–2017 no estado do Ceará, Brasil. A dieta desses lagartos é composta exclusivamente por artrópodes, sendo Formicidae a categoria de presas mais importante. A largura de nicho numérico e volumétrico foram 5,52 e 9,2, respectivamente, e a sobreposição de nicho trófco entre fêmeas e machos foi de 0,3. Os machos distinguem-se das fêmeas por apresentar maior tamanho e pela presença de poros femorais. Colobosauroides cearensis é criptozóico, habitando a serapilheira e não tendo contato direto com o solo ou radiação solar. A temperatura corporal média dos lagartos é de 30,4 ± 3,3°C, correlacionada positivamente com a temperatura do ar. Fêmeas grávidas com tamanho de ninhada fxa de dois ovos são encontradas no início da estação chuvosa. A ovipostura ocorre entre abril e maio (quando o maior número de juvenis foi observado). A maturidade sexual ocorre cedo nos machos, e o volume testicular está signifcativamente correlacionado com o tamanho do corpo.Autecology of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Brazilian semiarid Caatinga. Colobosauroides cearensis is a diurnal lizard with a relictual distribution associated with forested habitats in the Brazilian Caatinga Domain. Knowledge of the natural history of this secretive lizard is scarce. Herein, the diet, reproduction, sexual dimorphism, microhabitat use, and thermal ecology of C. cearensis are described based on feldwork in 2015–2017 in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The diet of the lizards is composed exclusively of arthropods, with Formicidae being the most important prey category. Numerical and volumetric niche breadths are 5.52 and 9.2 respectively, and trophic niche overlap between females and males is 0.3. Males are distinguished from females by the larger size of the males and the presence of femoral pores. Colobosauroides cearensis is cryptozoic, inhabiting the leaf litter and having no direct contact with the soil or solar radiation. The average body temperature of the lizards is 30.4 ± 3.3°C, which is positively correlated with the air temperature. Gravid females with fxed clutch size of two eggs are found in early rainy season. Oviposition occurs between April and May (when the highest number of juveniles are observed). Sexual maturity occurs early in males and testicular volume is signifcantly correlated with body size

New records and distribution extensions of three species of Mesoclemmys Gray, 1863 (Testudines: Chelidae) in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, with observations on terrestrial movements

Distribution patterns of most of the 20 Neotropical freshwater turtles belonging to the family Chelidae are usually based on few locality records. We here report on vouchered records of three species of the chelid genus Mesoclemmys in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Presence of M. vanderhaegei is confirmed for the Amazon River Basin, and M. gibba and M. raniceps are recorded in Mato Grosso for the first time

Natural history of the rare and endangered snake Atractus ronnie (Serpentes: Colubridae) in northeastern Brazil

Natural history of the rare and endangered snake Atractus ronnie (Serpentes: Colubridae) in northeastern Brazil. The habitat use, activity period, sexual dimorphism, morphological variation, reproduction and diet composition of this fossorial and nocturnal snake are reported. The snakes were captured between 2008–2014 in the Chapada do Araripe in northeastern Brazil, and were collected by active visual searches, as well as in pitfall traps with drift fences. Although females are larger than males, the males have longer tails, and scale counts differ between the sexes. Reproduction is seasonal, occurring during the rainy season. Brood sizes rang from one to four eggs. Atractus ronnie preys on earthworms, in addition to ants (Crematogaster sp.) and insect larvae.História natural da serpente rara e ameaçada de extinção Atractus ronnie (Serpentes: Colubridae) no nordeste do Brasil. O uso do habitat, período de atividade, dimorfsmo sexual, variações morfológicas, reprodução e a composição da dieta desta serpente fossória e noturna são relatados. As serpentes foram capturadas entre 2008–2014 na Chapada do Araripe, nordeste do Brasil, e foram coletadas por meio de busca ativa, bem como em armadilhas de queda com cerca guias. Embora as fêmeas sejam maiores que os machos, os machos têm caudas mais longas e as contagens das escamas diferem entre os sexos. A reprodução é sazonal, ocorrendo durante a estação chuvosa. O tamanho da ninhada variou de um a quatro ovos. A principal presa de A. ronnie são minhocas, além de formigas (Crematogaster sp.) e larvas de insetos

Body size, reproduction and feeding ecology of Pleurodema diplolister (Amphibia: Anura: Leiuperidae) from Caatinga, Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil

We present data about body size, sexual dimorphism, reproductive traits and diet ecology of Pleurodoma diplolister. This species is sexually dimorphic with females larger than males, corroborating others Leiuperidae species. The number of eggs varied from 62 to 1241 and we found a positive relationship between SVL of females and number of mature ovarian eggs but there is no relationship between SVL and volume of eggs. The diet of P. diplolister was composed by 11 categories of which Formicidae, Coleoptera and Orthopterans were the most important items and showed generalist and oportunistic predator habits. Data presented here should be considered in the development of future conservation strategies of anurans from Caatinga biome and other semiarid/arid environments

UNA NUEVA ESPECIE DE COSMOCERCA (NEMATODA: ASCARIDIDA: COSMOCERCIDAE) DE SAURIOS GIMNOFTÁLMIDOS DEL OESTE DE BRASIL

En este artículo se describe e ilustra a Cosmocerca gymnophthalmicola n. sp., un parásito intestinal de los lagartos gimnoftálmidos Alopoglossus angulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) y Cercosaura eigenmanni (Griffin, 1917) del oeste de Brasil. Cosmocerca gymnophthalmicola n. sp. representa la 31ª especie asignada al género, y la 11a en la región Neotropical. Por otra parte, C. gymnophthalmicola n. sp. es la cuarta especie que tiene hospederos lagartos, y se distingue de otras especies del género Cosmocerca por poseer 6 pares de plectanas y por una combinación de espículas y gubernáculo y por la ausencia de alas laterales en ambos sexos. La nueva especie es más similar a C. banyulensis, C. chilensis, C. longicauda, C. parva y C. rara en tener 6 pares de plectanas, pero se diferencian de estas especies por espículas más grandes y ausencia de ala lateral en ambos sexos

Helminths of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) in an area of Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil

Lizards are hosts to a variety of parasites, but in South America only 15% of lizard species have been studied for helminths. In the present study, the component community of helminths associated with the gymnophthalmid Colobosauroides cearensis in an area of Caatinga (7°22’46.08” S, 38°38’47.87”W) is reported. We examined 91 specimens from the Brazilian state of Ceará, and five taxa of helminths were recovered: four Nematoda (Parapharyngodon largitor, Spauligodon sp., Physaloptera sp. and Oswaldocruzia sp.) and one Cestoda (Oochoristica sp.). Parapharyngodon largitor was the most prevalent species (61%), and presented the highest mean abundance of infection (1.60 ± 0.18). Lizard body size influenced the richness and abundance of helminths, while infection parameters were not related to lizard sex

Ecology and parasitism of the lizard Tropidurus jaguaribanus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from northeastern Brazil

Ecology and parasitism of the lizard Tropidurus jaguaribanus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) from northeastern Brazil. Specimens of Tropidurus jaguaribanus were collected as part of a study of their use of microhabitats, activity period, body temperature, diet, foraging, sexual dimorphism (in size and in form), reproductive biology, and parasite community composition. The preferential microhabitat of the species is the surface of rocks (saxicolous habit). The species has a bimodal diurnal activity period and a seasonal reproductive cycle. The diet is composed mainly of beetles and ants in adults and juveniles. The species is a sit-and-wait forager; the lizards scarcely move and feed on sedentary, immobile prey. The helminth community associated with these lizards is composed of fve species: Oochoristica travassosi, Parapharyngodon alvarengai, Physaloptera sp., Spauligodon sp., and Strongyluris oscari. The prevalence, intensity of infection, and parasite abundance is the same in both sexes.Ecologia e parasitismo do lagarto Tropidurus jaguaribanus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) do nordeste do Brasil. Espécimes de Tropidurus jaguaribanus foram coletados como parte de um estudo de uso de micro-hábitats, período de atividade, temperatura corporal, dieta, forrageamento, dimorfsmo sexual (tamanho e forma), biologia reprodutiva e composição da comunidade parasitária. O micro-hábitat preferencial da espécie é a superfície das rochas (hábito saxícola). A espécie possui um período de atividade diurna bimodal e um ciclo reprodutivo sazonal. A dieta é composta principalmente por besouros e formigas em adultos e juvenis. A espécie é um forrageador senta-eespera; os lagartos movem-se pouco e alimentam-se de presas sedentárias e imóveis. A comunidade de helmintos associada a esses lagartos é composta por cinco espécies: Oochoristica travassosi, Parapharyngodon alvarengai, Physaloptera sp., Spauligodon sp. e Strongyluris oscari. A prevalência, a intensidade da infecção e a abundância de parasitas são as mesmas em ambos os sexos

Morphology and geographical distribution of the poorly known snake Umbrivaga pygmaea (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Brazil

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