Snake assemblage of Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, SP: a Cerrado remnant in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Despite the great extension of the Cerrado and its importance for biodiversity conservation, there are still sampling gaps in this region that has shown conspicuous changes over the years due to the conversion of natural areas into pastures and plantations. Around 88.5% of the Cerrado areas in the State of the São Paulo were cleared in the last four decades and less than 0.81% of the original Cerrado vegetation remains as pristine habitats, although these areas once covered 14% of the state. We present the list of snakes that occur in the Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, a remnant of Cerrado in the State of São Paulo, in addition to information on the abundance and distribution of species in the various habitats found at this location. The survey was conducted between October 2008 and March 2009 during six monthly field trips of five days each, totaling 30 sampling days. Surveys were conducted using incidental encounters (IE) and pitfall traps (PT). We recorded a total of 21 species belonging to 15 genera and six families. All species and individuals captured (18 species; 49 individuals) were found in open Cerrado formations. No individual was observed in the sampled forest habitats (cerradão and dry forest). Forested habitats occupy a relatively small portion of this protected area (12.6%). However, the higher species richness in open habitats may not be a result of limited local coverage of forests. The higher richness in interfluvial open habitats has also been recorded in other Cerrado areas. This survey is an important contribution towards enhancing our knowledge about the snake assemblage in the highly threatened Cerrado of São Paulo State. Hence, these last protected remnants in the state that still house significant areas of open Cerrado formations, such as the Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, although reduced, are extremely important for the conservation of reptiles in the State of São Paulo, in Southeastern Brazil, and in the Cerrado region.

Diversity, activity patterns, and habitat use of the snake fauna of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Central Brazil

“…In comparison to other well-sampled localities in Cerrado, that range from 22 to 61 snake species (Vanzolini 1948, França et al 2008, Sawaya et al 2008, Araújo et al 2010 Strüssmann & Sazima 1993), snake diversity of CVNP is among the most species rich. Nevertheless, we certainly did not record all snake species that occur in the region.…”

Natural History of Pseudoboine Snakes

“…The extensive amount of habitat use data indicates that this species inhabits both forested and open areas, and is frequently found in disturbed areas (Sazima & Haddad, 1992;Xavier-Freire, 1999;Argôlo, 2004;Sawaya et al, 2008;Araújo et al, 2010). Data on microhabitat use indicates that O. guibei is a terrestrial species (N = 11; Sazima & Abe, 1991;Sazima & Haddad, 1992;Santana et al, 2008;F.E.…”

“…It is active both during the day (N = 31; Sazima & Haddad, 1992;Pereira-Filho, 2007;Sawaya et al, 2008;F.E. Barbo, unpublished data) and night (N = 30; Sazima & Abe, 1991;Sawaya et al, 2008;Araújo et al, 2010;Barbo et al, 2011;F.E. Barbo, unpublished data).…”

Snakes of Pontal Do Triangulo Mineiro Region, Cerrado Domain, Southeast Brazil

“…The number of species found was smaller than those found in well-preserved and protected natural areas in this biome (richness ranged from 29 to 47; ARAUJO et al 2010;FREITAS et al 2016;RODRIGUES et al 2015;SAWAYA et al 2008;VALDUJO et al 2009;VAZ-SILVA et al 2007). However, considering the highly disturbed areas in the region of Ituiutaba, the snake assemblage presented here is relatively diverse.…”