Hunting for wild animals is stimulated by the many different human uses of faunal resources, and these animals constitute important subsistence items in local communities in the Caatinga region. In order to gain access to these resources, hunters have developed a series of techniques and strategies that are described in the present work. The principal hunting techniques encountered were: waiting, especially directed towards hunting diurnal birds; calling ("arremedo"), a technique in which the hunters imitate the animal's call to attract it to close range; hunting with dogs, a technique mostly used for capturing mammals; tracking, a technique used by only a few hunters who can recognize and follow animal tracks; and "facheado", in which the hunters go out at night with lanterns to catch birds in their nests. Additionally, many animal species are captured using mechanical traps. The types of traps used by the interviewees were: dead-fall traps ("quixó"), ironjaw snap traps ("arataca"), wooden cages with bait ("arapuca"), iron-cage traps ("gaiola'), "visgo", multi-compartment bird cages ("alçapão"), buried ground traps with pivoted tops ("fojo"), and nooses and cages for carnivorous. The choice of which technique to use depends on the habits of the species being hunted, indicating that the hunters possess a wide knowledge of the biology of these animals. From a conservation perspective, active hunting techniques (waiting, imitation, hunting with dogs, and "facheado") have the greatest impact on the local fauna. The use of firearm and dogs brought greater efficiency to hunting activities. Additional studies concerning these hunting activities will be useful to contribute to proposals for management plans regulating hunting in the region -with the objective of attaining sustainable use of faunal resources of great importance to the local human communities.

ResumoA caça e o uso da fauna são práticas antigas e que desempenham um importante papel socioeconômico no semiárido nordestino. De uma perspectiva conservacionista, essas atividades tem evidentes implicações que necessitam ser melhor investigadas visando subsidiar planos de manejo sustentável. Diante disso, a presente pesquisa objetiva caracterizar as práticas cinegéticas direcionadas a vertebrados e seus usos em dois municípios do semiárido do Estado da Paraíba (Brasil), bem como avaliar as implicações dessas práticas para conservação. As informações foram obtidas através de entrevistas com questionários semiestruturados, complementadas com conversas informais. Um total de 37 caçadores ou usuários de produtos de animais silvestres foi entrevistado. A fauna cinegética registrada foi representada por 81 espécies de vertebrados, os quais se enquadram nas seguintes categorias de uso: alimentação (42 espécies), estimação (31), medicinal (15), artesanal (05) e ritualística (03). Um total de 21 espécies é abatida por controle, uma vez que podem representar perigo ou prejuízo. Constatou-se que dentre as espécies de valor utilitário, os grupos taxonômicos com papel mais relevante são aves e mamíferos. Nossos resultados apontam a necessidade urgente de programas educativos junto aos moradores locais procurando ordenar as atividades de caça. Considerando que a caça e uso da fauna silvestre são atividades comuns na região, percebe-se a urgência em controlar melhor essas práticas, já que a legislação não tem sido eficaz nesse sentido. A elaboração de planos de manejo e conservação deve levar em consideração o contexto social e cultural das pessoas envolvidas nessas atividades e devem ser implementados em consonância com populações usuárias dos recursos. Palavras-chave: Etnozoologia, fauna cinegética, Caatinga, conservação AbstractHunting and the use of the fauna are ancient practices and have performed an important social-economic role in the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil. From a conservationist point of view, these activities have obvious implications that require better investigation, aiming to subsidize sustainable handling plans. This study aims to analyse the hunting practices directed at vertebrates and their use in two cities from the semi-arid region, Paraíba state (Brazil), as well as to evaluate the implications of these practices for conservation. Information has been collated through interviews with semi-structured questionnaires and supplemented by informal interviews. A total of 37 hunters or users of wild animal products have been interviewed. The hunting fauna recorded in this study is represented by 81 vertebrate species, which fit into the following categories of use: food (42 species); pets (31 species); medicinal (15 species); craft (05 species) and religious purposes (03 species). A total of 21 species are slaughtered under control, as they may be dangerous or harmful. It has been noticed that within these species with value of use, the taxonomic groups with a more important role are birds an...

For many millennia humans and reptiles have interacted, but the attitude of humans towards these animals has depended on culture, environment, and personal experience. At least 719 reptile species are known to occur in Brazil and about 11% of this fauna has been exploited for many different purposes, including bushmeat, leather, ornamental and magic/religious uses, and as folk medicines. Brazil can therefore serve as an interesting case study for better understanding reptile use by human societies, and the present paper catalogues some of the reptile species being used in Brazil and discusses implications for their conservation. A literature review indicated that 81 reptile species are culturally important in this country, with 47 (58%) species having multiple uses, 54 being used for medicinal purposes, 38 as food, 28 for ornamental or decorative purposes, 20 used in magic/religious practices, 18 as pets, and 40 are commonly killed when they come into contact with humans. Regarding their conservation status, 30 (37.5%) are included on State's Red List, Brazilian Red List or the IUCN Red List. There are many forms of interaction between reptiles and humans in Brazil-although most of them are quite negative in terms of wildlife conservation-which reinforces the importance of understanding such uses and interactions in the context of protecting reptiles in Brazil. A better understanding of the cultural, social, and traditional roles of these reptiles is fundamental to establishing management plans for their sustainable use.

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BackgroundHumans in various cultures have feared snakes, provoking an aversion and persecution that hinders conservation efforts for these reptiles. Such fact suggests that conservation strategies for snakes should consider the interactions and perceptions of the local population towards these animals. The aim of this study was to investigate students' perception of snakes and if attitudes and knowledge may differ according to gender and local residence (urban or rural).MethodsData was collected in the second half of 2012 and consisted of questionnaires applied to 108 students in the Basic Education School in the municipality of Sumé, located in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.ResultsThe male respondents recognized more species than female did. Part of the students affirmed to have a fear of snakes, especially women. Nearly half of respondents (49%) showed negative behaviour towards these animals, reflecting the influence of potential risk and myths associated with snakes, and supported by a limited knowledge about these animals and their ecological and utilitarian role. We find that the rural students recognized significantly more species than the urban students.ConclusionsOur results point to the need for educational interventions in order to increase knowledge about the positive aspects associated with snakes, seeking to minimize the influence of myths and beliefs that contribute to a strong aversion to snakes by the locals. Conservation strategies should therefore engage students but also teachers, who are key individuals in the process.

The present work provides an overview of the global use of reptiles in traditional folk medicine and the implications for conservation. The results demonstrate that at least 165 reptile species belonging to 104 genera and 30 families are used in traditional folk medicine around the world. Some species are used as sources of drugs for modern medical science. Of the reptiles recorded, 53% are included on lists of endangered species, demonstrating the importance of understanding such medicinal uses in the context of reptile conservation as well as the need for considering socio-cultural factors when establishing management plans directed towards the sustainable use of these reptiles.

This chapter provides an overview of the global use of herpetofauna in traditional folk medicine and the implications for conservation. The results indicate that 331 species (284 reptiles and 47 amphibians) are used in traditional folk medicine around the world. Among the species recorded, 182 reptiles and 42 amphibians are listed in the IUCN Red List. Additionally, 93 reptiles are in some of the appendices of CITES. These numbers demonstrate the importance of understanding such medicinal uses in the context of reptile conservation as well as the need for considering sociocultural factors when establishing management plans directed toward the sustainable use of these reptiles.

RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a estrutura e a composição da anurofauna associada a diferentes corpos d'água temporários em uma área de caatinga do nordeste brasileiro. As coletas de dados consistiram em buscas intensivas na área, percorrendo-se as margens dos corpos d'água e áreas adjacentes. Na composição da anurofauna, foram registradas 16 espécies, pertencentes a 11 gêneros e sete famílias (Bufonidae, 2 espécies; Hylidae, 4; Leptodactylidae, 4; Leiuperidae, 3; Cycloramphidae, 1; Microhylidae,1 e Pipidae, 1). Algumas destas espécies apresentam estreita relação com o bioma Caatinga. Em relação às estratégias reprodutivas, a anurofauna apresentou período de reprodução restrito à estação chuvosa, turno de vocalização exclusivamente noturno e cinco modos reprodutivos distintos, sendo que 43,7% das espécies registradas depositaram ovos em ninhos de espuma, diretamente sobre a superfície da água ou em tocas subterrâneas construídas pelo macho. Palavras-chave: Anuros, Caatinga, Ecologia de Comunidades. ABSTRACT COMPOSITION, AND SPATIAL-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANURANS IN THE CARIRI PARAIBANO, NORTHEAST BRAZIL. The objective of the present study was to characterize the structure and the composition of an anuran assemblage associated to different temporary ponds in a Caatinga area in Northeast Brazil. The data were obtained through intensive search in the area, investigating the margins of water bodies and adjacent areas. In the anuran composition, it was registered 16 species distributed in 11 genera and seven families (Bufonidae, 2 species; Hylidae, 4; Leptodactylidae, 4; Leiuperidae, 3; Cycloramphidae, 1; Microhylidae, 1 e Pipidae, 1). Some of these present a strong correlation with the Caatinga. The anurans presented reproduction restricted to the rainy season, an exclusive nocturnal calling activity, and five distinct reproductive modes, 43.7% of the recorded species deposited eggs in foam nest, directly on the water surface or in subterranean burrows built by the male.