Occurrence and distribution of the exotic lizard Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818 in Ilha Grande, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

The gekkonid lizard Hemidactylus mabouia is an exotic species in Brazil and is found in different ecosystems. This species was recorded at Ilha Grande, RJ, one of the largest insular remains of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. In this study, the occurrence of H. mabouia was determined throughout the island, including the rain forest, restinga and anthropic environments. We used the active search method in points along 19 trails that surround Ilha Grande. At each regular interval of 100 m, we searched for the presence of H. mabouia. The species was recorded in a total of 100 points among the 719 sampled and, in all cases, the occurrence of the lizard corresponded to points located in anthropic or perianthropic areas. As most of Ilha Grande is covered by dense tropical rain forest, we believe this has restricted the invasion of H. mabouia in natural environments within the island.

Range extension and distribution of the invasive Moreau’s Tropical House Gecko, Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau de Jonnès, 1818) (Squamata: Gekkonidae), in Suriname

“…The documentation of H. mabouia in the isolated, interiorly located Amerindian village of Kwamalasamutu (Figure 1), approximately 370 km southwest of the nearest previously recorded sites for H. mabouia in Suriname and 500 km from a population in Para state, Brazil (Prudente et al 2013) adds support to an anthropogenic dispersal hypothesis. In addition, previous studies of the natural history and dispersal patterns of H. mabouia in Brazil found the lizards exclusively associated with human dwellings or structures but not in the adjacent forests (Rocha and Bergallo 2011). Many fieldtrips undertaken to the interior of Suriname have never documented H. mabouia in pristine habitats.…”

“…1). H. mabouia is expanding its range in South America (Fuenmayor et al 2005, Rödder et al 2008, Rocha and Bergallo 2011). The potential impact of H. mabouia on two native species of geckos, namely Gonatodes humeralis (Guichenot, 1855) and Thecadactylus rapicauda (Houttuyn, 1782) inhabiting the general area around Kwamalasamutu, is unknown.…”

Occasional release of guppy, Poecilia reticulata (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae) in Upper Paraguay River Basin, Mato Grosso State: a new threat to rivers forming the Brazilian Pantanal?

“…In addition, researches including trophic ecology, reproductive and genetic informations shall be made, as observed for other species studied in this and other Brazil regions (Rocha-Miranda and Martins-Silva, 2006;Rocha and Bergallo, 2011;Krinski andMiyazawa, 2012, 2014;Paulo et al, 2012;Krinski, 2010). Finally, identify how these exotic species (as in this case, the guppies) are being introduced, where do they come, where they live, that trophic position they occupy and how they behave in the environment are main points for understanding the process of introduction/invasion and can assist in making informed decisions to prevent that new accidental introductions happen in the future.…”