New records of the teiid lizards Kentropyx paulensis (Boettger, 1893) and Tupinambis duseni Lönnberg, 1910 (Squamata: Teiidae) from the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

Kentropyx paulensis and Tupinambis duseni are teiid lizard species endemic to the Cerrado ecoregion. They are, respectively, considered “Vulnerable” and “Near Threatened” in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Herein, we report the occurrence of both species in the municipality of Buenópolis, Minas Gerais, representing their easternmost locality and the second state record. An updated distribution map for K. paulensis and T. duseni is presented

ETHNOZOOLOGY AS COMPLEMENTARY METHOD TO INVENTORY MEDIUM AND LARGE-BODIED MAMMALS: THE CASE STUDY OF SERRA DO OURO BRANCO, BRAZIL

We evaluated the use of both ethnozoological and conventional sampling methods to the inventory medium and large-bodied mammals. Our study was conducted at Serra do Ouro Branco, southern portion of Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Ethnozoological methods comprehended interviews and projective tests carried out with 107 residents of three communities, while the conventional sampling was 36 days of diurnal and nocturnal census. We registered 28 mammal species through ethnozoological methods and 20 through conventional methods. Considering the long coexistence of the residents with local fauna and the temporal limitations of conventional methods, it was expected to find a small richness through conventional methods. However, it is important to stress that these methods are complementary and species level identification in many cases would be not possible without conventional sampling. In addition, considering the difficulties to sample mammals, the union of these approaches was positive and had the advantage of involving the local population in the process. The interviews provided additional information that may contribute to understand the conservation status of the species locally and to elaborate conservation strategies based on the interactions of the local human population with the mammals

INVENTÁRIO DE PEQUENOS MAMÍFEROS (RODENTIA E DIDELPHIMORPHIA) DA SERRA DE OURO BRANCO: PORÇÃO SUL DA CADEIA DO ESPINHAÇO, MINAS GERAIS, BRASIL

Serra do Ouro Branco is located at the south portion of Espinhaço Range, at a transition area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Here, we surveyed small mammals communities from Parque Estadual Serra do Ouro Branco and Monumento Natural Estadual do Itatiaia, two protected areas, and compared them with the diversity recorded in the remaining Espinhaço mountain range. Sampling occurred over 24 months (2009-2010) using pitfall traps. Nineteen species, 13 rodents and six marsupials, were recorded in 6,664 traps /night. The study area has low similarity with other areas of Espinhaço Range; high dissimilarity was the main pattern found, as revealed by the large number of singletons (40%) and few species found at least in half of the areas (17%). Thus, the elevated richness and diversity registered allied to the singularity in composition of species in each area and the scarcity of data for the north and mainly for the central region of Espinhaço, reinforce the importance and urgency of more studies and inventories of small mammals in all mountain range extension.Serra do Ouro Branco is located at the south portion of Espinhaço Range, at a transition area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Here, we surveyed small mammals communities from Parque Estadual Serra do Ouro Branco and Monumento Natural Estadual do Itatiaia, two protected areas, and compared them with the diversity recorded in the remaining Espinhaço mountain range. Sampling occurred over 24 months (2009-2010) using pitfall traps. Nineteen species, 13 rodents and six marsupials, were recorded in 6,664 traps /night. The study area has low similarity with other areas of Espinhaço Range; high dissimilarity was the main pattern found, as revealed by the large number of singletons (40%) and few species found at least in half of the areas (17%). Thus, the elevated richness and diversity registered allied to the singularity in composition of species in each area and the scarcity of data for the north and mainly for the central region of Espinhaço, reinforce the importance and urgency of more studies and inventories of small mammals in all mountain range extension.Serra do Ouro Branco is located at the south portion of Espinhaço Range, at a transition area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Here, we surveyed small mammals communities from Parque Estadual Serra do Ouro Branco and Monumento Natural Estadual do Itatiaia, two protected areas, and compared them with the diversity recorded in the remaining Espinhaço mountain range. Sampling occurred over 24 months (2009-2010) using pitfall traps. Nineteen species, 13 rodents and six marsupials, were recorded in 6,664 traps /night. The study area has low similarity with other areas of Espinhaço Range; high dissimilarity was the main pattern found, as revealed by the large number of singletons (40%) and few species found at least in half of the areas (17%). Thus, the elevated richness and diversity registered allied to the singularity in composition of species in each area and the scarcity of data for the north and mainly for the central region of Espinhaço, reinforce the importance and urgency of more studies and inventories of small mammals in all mountain range extension

Lizard fauna (Squamata, Sauria) from Serra do Ouro Branco, southern Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The present study evaluated the lizard fauna in Serra do Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais, Brazil, a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado. Data was collected using pitfall traps, active and occasional encounters, and through information from zoological collections and the literature. Field sampling was performed in two stages over a period of 36 months: from December 2006 to December 2008, and from January to December 2010. The study area is home to 15 species belonging to eight families: Anguidae, Gekkonidae, Gymnophthalmidae, Leiosauridae, Polychrotidae, Mabuyidae, Teiidae, and Tropiduridae. Lizard species evaluated in this study represent a relevant asset for this zoological group inhabiting the transitional areas between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado. They include strictly forest species and endemic Atlantic Forest species such as Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, Enyalius perditus and Heterodactylus imbricatus in addition to typical Cerrado taxa common to both biomes

Ethnozoology as complementary method to inventory medium and large-bodied mammals : the case study of serra do Ouro Branco, Brazil.

We evaluated the use of both ethnozoological and conventional sampling methods to the inventory medium and large-bodied mammals. Our study was conducted at Serra do Ouro Branco, southern portion of Espinha?o Range, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Ethnozoological methods comprehended interviews and projective tests carried out with 107 residents of three communities, while the conventional sampling was 36 days of diurnal and nocturnal census. We registered 28 mammal species through ethnozoological methods and 20 through conventional methods. Considering the long coexistence of the residents with local fauna and the temporal limitations of conventional methods, it was expected to find a small richness through conventional methods. However, it is important to stress that these methods are complementary and species level identification in many cases would be not possible without conventional sampling. In addition, considering the difficulties to sample mammals, the union of these approaches was positive and had the advantage of involving the local population in the process. The interviews provided additional information that may contribute to understand the conservation status of the species locally and to elaborate conservation strategies based on the interactions of the local human population with the mammals

ATLANTIC ‐ PRIMATES : a dataset of communities and occurrences of primates in the Atlantic Forests of South America

Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1–6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Paraná, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co‐occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data.Fil: Culot, Laurence. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Pereira, Lucas Augusto. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Agostini, Ilaria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: de Almeida, Marco Antônio Barreto. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Alves, Rafael Souza Cruz. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Baldovino, María Celia. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Di Bitetti, Mario Santiago. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Oklander, Luciana Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Holzmann, Ingrid. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Dums, Marcos. RUMO S.A. Licenciamento Ambiental; BrasilFil: Lombardi, Pryscilla Moura. RUMO S.A. Licenciamento Ambiental; BrasilFil: Bonikowski, Renata Twardowsky Ramalho. RUMO S.A. Licenciamento Ambiental; BrasilFil: Age, Stéfani Gabrieli. RUMO S.A. Licenciamento Ambiental; BrasilFil: Souza Alves, João Pedro. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Chagas, Renata. Universidade Federal da Paraíba; BrasilFil: da Cunha, Rogério Grassetto Teixeira. Universidade Federal de Alfenas; BrasilFil: Valença Montenegro, Monica Mafra. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Primates Brasileiros; BrasilFil: Ludwig, Gabriela. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Primates Brasileiros; BrasilFil: Jerusalinsky, Leandro. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Primates Brasileiros; BrasilFil: Buss, Gerson. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Primates Brasileiros; BrasilFil: de Azevedo, Renata Bocorny. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Primates Brasileiros; BrasilFil: Filho, Roberio Freire. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Bufalo, Felipe. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Milhe, Louis. Université D'Avignon et des Pays du Vaucluse; FranciaFil: Santos, Mayara Mulato dos. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Sepulvida, Raíssa. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Ferraz, Daniel da Silva. Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Faria, Michel Barros. Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Ribeiro, Milton Cezar. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Galetti, Mauro. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasi

ATLANTIC-PRIMATES: a dataset of communities and occurrences of primates in the Atlantic Forests of South America

Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1–6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km 2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Paraná, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km 2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co-occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data. © 2018 by the The Authors. Ecology © 2018 The Ecological Society of Americ

New distribution reports of Rhagomys rufescens (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) Thomas, 1886

Rhagomys rufescens is a rare, arboreal sigmodontine rodent endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. This species is known from eight localities in Brazil. Here we present a new report based on four individuals of this species registered in Serra do Ouro Branco, municipality of Ouro Branco (Minas Gerais, Brazil). One juvenile male, one adult male and two juvenile females were captured in pitfall traps during the rainy season, in a study of small mammal ecology. This is the first record for the Espinhaço Mountain range and the northernmost report for the species in this state, 85 km northeast of the last registered location

Community structure of small mammals in areas affected by maize plantations (Ze mays) and roads in Ouro Branco Mountain, Minas Gerais.

Os pequenos mamíferos não-voadores do Brasil pertencem às ordens Rodentia e Didelphimorphia e correspondem a 298 espécies, compreendendo 43% da diversidade de mamíferos do país. A Mata Atlântica e o Cerrado são o segundo e terceiro biomas mais ricos em espécies de mamíferos no Brasil. A Serra do Ouro Branco, local onde foi realizado este estudo, localizada na porção sul da Cadeia do Espinhaço, é uma área de transição entre o Cerrado e a Mata Atlântica. A situação do Espinhaço é extremamente grave em relação a conservação de mamíferos devido a destruição e fragmentação de habitats e, embora tenha uma grande importância na manutenção da diversidade de pequenos mamíferos, existem lacunas de conhecimento relacionadas a inventários, sistemática, distribuição geográfica e ecologia deste grupo. Neste contexto, o presente estudo tem o objetivo de contribuir para o conhecimento das espécies de pequenos mamíferos da Serra do Ouro Branco, bem como avaliar os impactos que estas sofrem através da agricultura e apresentar informações sobre a biologia das espécies. No primeiro capítulo é apresentado um levantamento das espécies da serra do Ouro Branco através de dois anos de amostragem. Foram encontradas 17 espécies de pequenos mamíferos, sendo 11 de roedores e seis de marsupiais. As espécies são características dos três biomas que compõe a Cadeia do Espinhaço (Caatinga, Cerrado e Mata Atlântica) e a área representa um local importante para a conservação, sua composição foi diferente de outras áreas amostradas na região e foram encontradas espécies consideradas raras em levantamentos. É de conhecimento que a agricultura causa alterações no habitat e que essas alterações influenciam a fauna presente no local. No entanto, estudos objetivando descobrir as respostas específicas a plantações são menos abundantes, principalmente com mamíferos. No segundo capítulo foram avaliados os efeitos de plantações de milho sobre as comunidades de pequenos mamíferos, levando em consideração de que algumas espécies podem se favorecer, utilizando 11 o milho como alimento. Foi montado um experimento, com três réplicas para cada tratamento, para avaliar as respostas das espécies ao milho. Assim três áreas de borda com plantação eram o tratamento de análise, três áreas de interior de fragmento eram o controle para o tratamento borda e três áreas de borda com estrada eram o controle para a oferta de alimento proporcionada pela plantação. Os animais capturados foram medidos, era oferecido milho e outros alimentos para avaliar se era um recurso utilizado pela espécie. Posteriormente os animais eram marcados e soltos. Os pequenos mamíferos foram afetados pela matriz em contato imediato com a floresta, pois a composição, a riqueza, a abundância e a eqüitabilidade variaram entre os três tratamentos. A matriz correspondente à plantação de milho serviu fonte de recurso principalmente para O. nigripes e favoreceu esta espécie, permitindo maior estabilidade ao longo do ano em áreas de borda com plantação. No terceiro capítulo são apresentados dados de demografia e cuidado parental de Oligoryzomys nigripes, espécie mais abundante durante todo o estudo. Sua abundância variou em resposta a estação do ano, com maiores valores na estação seca/chuvosa e os menores na estação seca. A abundância de juvenis sempre foi maior que a dos adultos, principalmente nos meses de seca. Foram capturadas três fêmeas lactantes junto aos seus respectivos filhotes e foram observados comportamentos relacionados ao cuidado parental. Diante de qualquer aproximação da fêmea ou dos filhotes, esta os agrupou sob o corpo e atacou com mordidas. Nestes eventos, os filhotes se encontravam bem desenvolvidos e já se alimentavam sozinhos, no entanto, foram amamentados ao longo do dia e da noite.The brazilian small mammals belong to the Rodentia and Didelphimorphia orders, including 298 species, or 43% of the mammal diversity of the country. The Atlantic Forest and Cerrado are among the mammal species richest biomes of Brazil. The Ouro Branco mountain, where this study was conducted, is located in the Espinhaço mountain range, a transition area between Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. The intense habitat fragmentation and destruction of the Espinhaço mountain range is the great treat for the conservation of its mammalian fauna. Despite of the great importance of this area, due to the high diversity of small mammals, there are knowledge gaps related to inventories, systematic, geographic distribution and ecology for this group. In this context, our study aimed to be a contribution for the knowledge of the species composition of the Ouro Branco mountain. We also presented some information about the biology of the species and analysed the impacts that the different species are facing due to agriculture. In the first chapter we present the results of an inventory of the small mammal species of Ouro Branco mountain collected in two years sampling. We found 17 species, being 11 rodents and six marsupials. The species are characteristic of the three biomes that characterize the Espinhaço Mountain Range as a whole,the Atlantic Forest, the Caatinga and the Cerrado. The study area represents an important location for the conservation because their composition was different of the other areas already studied in the Espinhaço Mountain Range and we found some species considered rare in inventories. The agriculture causes habitat changes, that influence the local fauna. However, studies aiming to find out species specific answers for the plantations impact are rare, mainly for the mammals. In this work, we studied the effects of maize plantations on small mammal communities, considering that some species could be favored by using this resource. We draw an experiment with three replicates for each treatment aiming the evaluation of the species answers to maize plantations. Thus, three edge areas between forest and maize plantations, 13 were the treatment; three areas of interior of forest fragment, were the control to the edge treatment, and three edge areas between forest and roads, were the control to the treatment availability of food provided by plantation. The captured animals were measured, sexed and classified according to the age classes. They were kept in laboratory, were it was offered corn maize and other foods to assess whether it was a resource used by the species. Latter the animals were tagged and released. The small mammals community were affected by the adjacent matrix , this could be concludedbecause the composition, richness, abundance and equitability values varied between the three treatments. The matrix of maize plantation served as food resource especially for Oligoryzomys nigripes and favored this species, allowing greater stability throughout the year in the areas near the edges between plantation and forest than in the other treatments. In the third chapter we present data from demographics and parental care of the population of Oligoryzomys nigripes of Ouro Branco mountain. Oligoryzomys nigripes was the most abundant species in the study area throughout the year, although its abundance varied seasonally. The highest abundance values occurred in the rainy/dry season and the lowest in the dry season. Juveniles were always more abundant than adults, mainly in the months of drought. Three lactating females were captured with their offsprings and parental care behaviors were observed. These females protected the puppies by keeping them under their bodies and displayed the intent to bite, when threatened by the approach of any kind of threat. The puppies were well developed, independently feeding, however, still nursing during the observed capturing events