A potential recovery of a population of the sand lizard Liolaemus lutzae Mertens, 1938 in an area within its range: a lizard endemic and threatened with extinction

Abstract

The endemic and threatened lizard Liolaemus lutzae has a relatively small geographic range restricted to only 200 km of along the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, which are habitats under intensive anthropic disturbance. At the Barra da Tijuca beach, in Rio de Janeiro city an estimate of the population abundance made in 1991, compared to a previous estimate made in 1984, showed a considerable decrease (about 65%). Most of the decrease was attributed to anthropic disturbances that locally affected the beach vegetation, the species habitat. In this study we present esti- Keywords: Liolaemus lutzae, endemic lizard species, population recovery, restinga, threatened species. Uma possível recuperação de uma população do lagarto de areiaLiolaemus lutzae em uma área de sua ocorrência: um lagarto endêmico e ameaçado de extinção O lagarto endêmico e ameaçado de extinção Liolaemus lutzae possui distribuição geográfica relativamente reduzida a apenas 200 km ao longo da costa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, hábitats sobre intensa pressão de degradação. Na praia da Barra da Tijuca, cidade do Rio de Janeiro, uma estimativa do tamanho populacional feita em 1991 foi comparada a uma estimativa anterior feita em 1984, mostrou considerável decréscimo populacional (aproximadamente 65%

Potential distribution of the endangered endemic lizard Liolaemus lutzae Mertens, 1938 (Liolaemidae): are there other suitable areas for a geographically restricted species?

“…The elimination of some current populations (see Rocha and Bergallo, 1992;Rocha et al, 2009a) and the potential recovery when correct policies for the conservation of the species (Rocha et al, 2009b) are adopted suggest this. Alternatively, it may suggest a larger geographic distribution of an ancient lineage of the genus Liolaemus on the coast of Brazil.…”

Anurans from the “Restinga” of Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

“…The restinga of Grumari also houses a population of the endemic, and endangered, sand lizard Liolaemus lutzae (Rocha et al 2009) and a new currently not described species of amphisbaenian that is so far known only from this locality (Rocha et al 2003). Long-term studies with other faunal groups in this area are also needed.…”

The endemic and threatened lizard Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata: Liolaemidae): current geographic distribution and areas of occurrence with estimated population densities

“…Unfortunately, data on local density or population sizes for L. lutzae is still scarce (SOARES & ARAÚJO 2008, ROCHA et al 2009). An experimental introduction of L. lutzae was carried out in the state of Espírito Santo 18 years ago, to an area 200 km from the original population in Barra de Maricá, state of Rio de Janeiro, outside the original range of the species.…”

“…This disturbance has led to the decline of several populations of L. lutzae (e.g. ROCHA & BERGALLO 1992, BERGALLO et al 2000, ROCHA et al 2003 and has resulted in the species being included as "critically endangered" in the checklist of the threatened fauna of the state of Rio de Janeiro (BERGALLO et al 2000), in the Official List of Brazilian Fauna Threatened With Extinction (ROCHA et al 2008) and in the global checklist of IUCN Red List (ROCHA 2000a, IUCN 2007 Despite the intense degradation occurring within the range of L. lutzae (ROCHA & BERGALLO 1992, ROCHA et al 2003, there is currently only one study about the conservation status of the species (ROCHA et al 2009), which is restricted to a population of a single area, Barra da Tijuca, in the Rio de Janeiro municipality. Additionally, there is no information on the present geographic distribution and the local status of most populations of this endemic lizard throughout its range, which is fundamental to the implementation of strategies for the conservation of the species.…”