Record of the occurrence of Lachesis muta (Serpentes, Viperidae) in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Paraíba, Brazil, with comments on the species’ preservation status

Abstract

ResumoRegistro de ocorrência de Lachesis muta (Serpentes, Viperidae) em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica na Paraíba, Brasil, com comentários sobre o status de preservação da espécie. Neste estudo é descrito um novo registro da serpente pico-de-jaca, Lachesis muta, em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica no estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Essa espécie é considerada a maior das serpentes peçonhentas do Novo Mundo. O espécime foi encontrado durante a noite, cruzando um atalho estreito, próximo a um declive, a aproximadamente 20m de uma queda d'água. A ocorrência de L. muta nesse fragmento demonstra a importância da conservação dos fragmentos de Mata Atlântica para a preservação dessa espécie. Palavras-chave:Conservação; Lachesis muta; Mata Atlântica; Surucucu-pico-de-jaca; Viperidae AbstractIn this study, one describes a new record of the bushmaster snake, Lachesis muta, in an Atlantic Forest fragment in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. This species is regarded as the largest venomous snake from the New World. The specimen was found at night, crossing a narrow shortcut, close to a slope, about 20m away from a waterfall. The occurrence of L. muta in this fragment demonstrates the importance of conservating Atlantic Forest fragments for preservating this species.

The herpetofauna of the Serra do Urubu mountain range: a key biodiversity area for conservation in the brazilian atlantic forest

“…Lachesis muta occurs mainly in primary forest but can occasionally be found in secondary disturbed forest (Campbell & Lamar, 2004;Rodrigues et al, 2013b). The populations of the Atlantic Forest occur in very fragmented areas, with a higher risk of extinction because of the isolation of the forest fragments (Alves et al, 2014).…”

Herpetofauna of Matas de Água Azul, an Atlantic Forest remnant in Serra do Mascarenhas, Pernambuco state, Brazil

“…In this study, it was recorded in the largest forest fragment (Mata do Xixá). Records in disturbed forests are rare (Rodrigues et al 2013a), revealing its fidelity to densely forested areas, making it highly susceptible to habitat loss. In addition, the tropidurid lizard Strobilurus torquatus (Table 3, Figure 6L) also has a high association with forested habitats, with reports placing the species in the Atlantic Forest in nine Brazilian states (Rodrigues et al 2013b) and in forest enclaves in Ceará state (Borges Nojosa & Caramaschi 2003).…”

New records and range expansion of Chironius carinatus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes, Colubridae) from the state of Paraíba, northeast Brazil

“…Both C. carinatus and C. exoletus seem to be vulnerable to lowquality of forest fragments. Although the two individuals of C. carinatus were found outside forests, Santa Rita municipality still has large patches of dense vegetation where there are some snakes that are restricted to forest fragments, such as Lachesis muta (Rodrigues et al 2013). Even though Paraiba state has already been thoroughly surveyed (Pereira-Filho et al 2017), we continue to find new species, such as Micrurus potyguara Pires, da Silva Jr, Feitosa, Prudente, Preira-Filho & Zaher, 2014 Dixon et al 1993 San Antonio 07.817819 −072.442573 Dixon et al 1993 La Esmeralda 03.174548 −065.545220 Dixon et al 1993 Rio Orinoco 02.810142 −065.095780 Dixon et al 1993 Bolívar 06.355639 −063.582294 Dixon et al 1993 El Manteco 07.351688 −062.53557 Dixon et al 1993 Rio Uairen 04.550740 −061.096781 Dixon et al 1993 Ucaima, Bolivar 06.242872 −062.833473 Dixon et al 1993 Conejo Blanco 10.500425 −066.951136 Dixon et al 1993 Miranda 10.497461 −066.644364 Dixon et al 1993 Monagas 09.746692 −063.181647 Dixon et al 1993 Cumanacoa, Sucre 10.250618 −063.918679 Dixon et al 1993 Santa Rosa 09.895792 −069.767413 Dixon et al 1993…”