Spatial patterns of snake diversity in an urban area of north-east Brazil

Abstract

The distribution of animal populations within an assemblage includes a wide variety of patterns, which are fundamental to understanding population dynamics and aid in conservation actions. We examined a snake assemblage in an urban area to describe species distribution patterns and to identify which places are more likely to contain snakes, both venomous and non-venomous. The study was conducted in the urban area of the municipality of Rio Tinto in northeast Brazil. We used a geostatistical modelling technique called ordinary kriging to identify which places were more likely to contain snakes, and a statistical spatial method (average nearest neighbour distance) to detect distribution patterns of snake species within the study area. A total of 291 individuals distributed among 28 species were recorded. The snakes were found in streets, homes, churches, university campus, streams, and even in local supermarkets. Ordinary kriging showed that the area of distribution of individuals was concentrated at three distinct points located in the centre of the urban area. The significant results of the average nearest neighbour distance analysis showed a clustered distribution for two species and dispersed distributions for eight species. Information on urban sites where snakes are more likely to be found is important not only for conservation, but also to help local citizens better understand and live amongst snakes.

Snakes of the Pernambuco Endemism Center, Brazil: diversity, natural history and conservation

“…In the PEC it can be found in all states (Fig. 8G ) in Forest, Brejos Nordestinos and urban areas ( Pereira Filho and Montingelli 2011 , França and França 2019 ). Leptophis ahaetulla feeds on amphibians and lizards ( Albuquerque et al 2007 ).…”

“…In the PEC it occurs in the states of Alagoas and Paraíba (Fig. 8F ), being found in Forest, Brejos Nordestinos, Tabuleiros and urban areas ( Rodrigues et al 2015 , Pereira Filho et al 2017 , Mesquita et al 2018 , França and França 2019 ). Drymoluber dichrous feeds on lizards and amphibians ( Martins and Oliveira 1998 , Borges-Nojosa and Lima 2001 ).…”

“…In the PEC it occurs in the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco (Fig. 9A ), being found in Forest, Tabuleiros, and urban areas ( Mesquita et al 2018 , França and França 2019 ). Apostolepis cearensis feeds on small elongated reptiles ( Mesquita et al 2009 , Amorim et al 2015 , Marques et al 2019 ).…”

“…In the PEC , it occurs in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraíba (Fig. 8I ), being found in Forest, Brejos Nordestinos, Tabuleiros, and urban areas ( Pereira Filho et al 2017 , Mesquita et al 2018 , França and França 2019 ). Spilotes pullatus feeds on mammals and birds ( Silva et al 2010 , Marques et al 2014 ).…”

“…8B ), being found in Forest, Brejos Nordestinos, Tabuleiros and Restinga Areas ( Pereira Filho and Montingelli 2011 , Rodrigues et al 2015 , Pereira Filho et al 2017 , Sampaio et al 2018 ). This species can also occur in urban areas ( França and França 2019 ). Boa constrictor feeds on mammals, birds and lizards ( Pizzatto et al 2010 ).…”