We analyzed the thermal ecology and activity patterns of the lizard community from the Restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The broadest activity was that of Tropidurus torquatus, a sit-andwait forager, while the active foraging teiid Cnemidophorus littoralis had the shortest activity. The nocturnal gekkonid Hemidactylus mabouia was found active during the day only during early morning and late afternoon, when environmental temperatures are low. Body temperature was highest for Cnemidophorus littoralis and lowest for the two Mabuya species. The patterns found here are discussed and compared to those of congeneric species in other habitats in Brazil.Key words: thermal ecology, lizard community, activity patterns, restinga habitat. RESUMOEcologia termal e padrões de atividade da comunidade de lagartos da restinga de Jurubatiba, Macaé, RJForam analizados a ecologia termal e os padrões de atividade da comunidade de lagartos da restinga de Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A espécie com atividade mais extensa foi Tropidurus torquatus, um forrageador "senta-e-espera", enquanto o forrageador ativo Cnemidophorus littoralis teve a atividade mais restrita. O geconídeo noturno Hemidactylus mabouia foi encontrado ativo durante o dia apenas no início da manhã e no final da tarde, quando as temperaturas ambientais estão baixas. A temperatura corpórea foi mais alta para Cnemidophorus littoralis e mais baixa para as duas espécies de Mabuya. Os padrões aqui encontrados são discutidos e comparados com os de espécies congenéricas em outros habitats no Brasil.Palavras-chave: ecologia termal, comunidade de lagartos, padrões de atividade, restinga.

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We studied the species richness and composition of frogs in 10 restinga habitats (sand dune environments dominated by herbaceous and shrubby vegetation) along approximately 1500 km of coastal areas of three Brazilian States: Rio de Janeiro (Grumari, Maricá, Massambaba, Jurubatiba and Grussaí), Espírito Santo (Praia das Neves and Setiba) and Bahia (Prado and Trancoso). We estimated β-diversity and similarity among areas and related these parameters to geographic distance between areas. All areas were surveyed with a similar sampling procedure. We found 28 frog species belonging to the families Hylidae, Microhylidae, Leptodactylidae and Bufonidae. Frogs in restingas were in general nocturnal with no strictly diurnal species. The richest restinga was Praia das Neves (13 species), followed by Grussaí and Trancoso (eight species in each). The commonest species in the restingas was Scinax alter (found in eight restingas), followed by Aparasphenodon brunoi (seven areas). Our data shows that richness and composition of frog communities vary consistently along the eastern Brazilian coast and, in part, the rate of species turnover is affected by the distance among areas. Geographic distance explained approximately 12% of species turnover in restingas and about 9.5% of similarity among frog assemblages. Although geographic distance somewhat affects frog assemblages, other factors (e.g. historical factors, disturbances) seem to be also involved in explaining present frog assemblage composition in each area and species turnover among areas. The frog fauna along restinga habitats was significantly nested (matrix community temperature = 26.13°; p = 0.007). Our data also showed that the most hospitable restinga was Praia das Neves and indicated that this area should be protected as a conservation unit. Frog assemblage of each area seems to partially represent a nested subset of the original assemblage, although we should not ignore the importance of historical factors. This nestedness pattern, in part, probably results from the intensive fragmentation of restinga habitats. Possibly, many frog species may have been lost in some studied areas as a result of the extensive habitat degradation to which restinga habitats are presently exposed.Keywords: Restinga habitats, Atlantic forest, frog richness, frog assemblages, faunal similarity. Riqueza de espécies, composição e diversidade de anfíbios anuros em ambientes de restingas costeiras no Brasil ResumoEstudamos a riqueza de espécies e a composição de anuros em 10 habitats de restinga (ambientes de dunas e praias arenosas dominadas por vegetação herbácea e arbustiva), ao longo de aproximadamente 1500 km da costa de três estados brasileiros: Rio de Janeiro (Grumari, Maricá, Massambaba, Jurubatiba e Grussaí), Espírito Santo (Praia das Neves e Setiba) e Bahia (Prado e Trancoso).Estimamos a diversidade beta (β) e a similaridade entre as áreas e relacionamos estes parâmetros com a distância geográfica entre áreas. Todas as áreas foram estudadas com um esforço de amostragem simila...

We studied the parasitism by larvae of the chigger mite Eutrombicula alfreddugesi on the lizard community of Restinga de Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil. We investigated the patterns of infestation (prevalence and intensity) of chigger mites in four sympatric lizards: Tropidurus torquatus, Mabuya agilis, M. macrorhyncha and Cnemidophorus littoralis. All lizards collected were checked for the presence of mites, which were counted under stereomicroscope. We tested the relationship between intensity of infestation and lizard body size for each species using regression analysis. The prevalences and mean intensities (+ one standard deviation) of infestation on each host species were, respectively: 100%; 86.4 + 94.6 in T. torquatus (n = 62); 100%; 20.9 + 9.3 in M. agilis (n = 7); 100%; 11.1 + 13.1 in M. macrorhyncha (n = 12); and 95.2%; 19.1 + 16.8 in C. littoralis (n = 21). Only for C. littoralis did body size significantly affect the intensity of infestation (r = 0.27, p = 0.02). For all lizard species, the body parts where chiggers occurred with the highest intensity were those of skin folds and joint regions.

Specimens of the four most abundant diurnal lizards (Tropidurus torquatus, Cnemidophorus littoralis, Mabuya macrorhyncha and M. agilis) inhabiting the restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil were examined for nematodes. Eight species of nematodes were found. Tropidurus torquatus had the richest (8 species) and most diverse nematode fauna, whereas that of C. littoralis was the poorest (2 species) and less diverse. Tropidurus torquatus also had the highest overall prevalence (92%) and mean infection intensity (37.2; standard deviation 82.0; range 2-549). Similarities in nematode faunal composition between host species was generally low, except between the two Mabuya species.

ABSTRACT. We analyzed the diet and microhabitat use for two Hylodinae anurans (Cycloramphidae), Hylodes phyllodes Heyer & Cocroft, 1986 and Crossodactylus gaudichaudii Duméril & Bibron, 1841, living in sympatry at an Atlantic Rainforest area of Ilha Grande, in southeastern Brazil. The two species live syntopically at some rocky streams. The two species differed strongly in microhabitat use. Hylodes phyllodes occurred mainly on rocks, whereas C. gaudichaudii was observed mostly on the water. Regarding diet, coleopterans, hymenopterans (ants), and larvae were the most important prey item consumed by both species. Data suggest that microhabitat use appears to be an important parameter differentiating these frogs with respect to general resource utilization.

Studies on anurans in restinga habitats are few and, as a result, there is little information on which methods are more efficient for sampling them in this environment. Ten methods are usually used for sampling anuran communities in tropical and sub-tropical areas. In this study we evaluate which methods are more appropriate for this purpose in the restinga environment of Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba. We analyzed six methods among those usually used for anuran samplings. For each method, we recorded the total amount of time spent (in min.), the number of researchers involved, and the number of species captured. We calculated a capture efficiency index (time necessary for a researcher to capture an individual frog) in order to make comparable the data obtained. Of the methods analyzed, the species inventory (9.7 min/searcher /ind.-MSI; richness = 6; abundance = 23) and the breeding site survey (9.5 MSI; richness = 4; abundance = 22) were the most efficient. The visual encounter inventory (45.0 MSI) and patch sampling (65.0 MSI) methods were of comparatively lower efficiency restinga, whereas the plot sampling and the pit-fall traps with drift-fence methods resulted in no frog capture. We conclude that there is a considerable difference in efficiency of methods used in the restinga environment and that the complete species inventory method is highly efficient for sampling frogs in the restinga studied and may be so in other restinga environments. Methods that are usually efficient in forested areas seem to be of little value in open restinga habitats.Key words: Anura, restinga habitat, Anuran sampling methods, Restinga de Jurubatiba, species richness. RESUMOEdiciência relativa de métodos de amostragem de anuros em um habitat de restinga (Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)São escassos os estudos sobre anuros em áreas de restinga e, conseqüentemente, há pouca informação sobre os métodos mais eficientes de amostragem nesse habitat. De forma geral, são utilizados dez métodos de amostragem em comunidades de anuros em áreas tropicais e subtropicais. Neste estudo, avaliamos quais seriam os métodos mais eficientes para amostrar a comunidade de anfíbios na restinga do Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Analisamos seis métodos usualmente utilizados para a amostragem de anuros. Registramos, para cada método, o tempo total dispendido (em min), o número de pesquisadores envolvidos e o número de espécies e de anuros capturados. Calculamos, então, um índice de eficiência de captura (tempo necessário para um pesquisador capturar um animal), de forma a tornar comparáveis os dados obtidos, e estimamos a riqueza e a abundância totais obtidas com cada método. Dos métodos avaliados, os mais eficientes foram Inventário completo de espécies (9,7 min/amostrador/ indivíduo-MAI, com riqueza = 6 e abundância = 23) e Transectos em sítios reprodutivos (9,5 MAI, com riqueza = 4 e abundância = 22

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the richest and most threatened biomes on Earth. In the state of Rio de Janeiro it is presently reduced to less than 20% of its original extension, and faunal lists are needed for several areas. Here we present a species list of amphibians and reptiles for the Estação Ecológica Estadual do Paraíso (EEEP), a forest reserve located in the central portion of Rio de Janeiro state. The list is based on both primary (gathered during a short-term survey by the authors) and secondary data (obtained from a local reference collection). A total of 30 amphibian (of which six are endemic to the state) and 29 reptile species were recorded from the area (of which 25 and 13, respectively, were obtained by primary data). No threatened or presumably threatened species were present among the herpetofauna of the EEEP.