Leaf litter herpetofauna of the Reserva Florestal de Morro Grande, Cotia (SP)

Abstract

We present an annotated list of anurans, lizards, and snakes registered at the Reserva Florestal de Morro Grande, Cotia, State of São Paulo. The list includes 27 anurans, five lizards and three snakes captured mainly in pitfall traps and encountered during field surveys. Eighteen species of anurans captured from pitfall traps were used to compare six areas sampled inside the Reserve, three in secondary forest and three in mature forest. The analysis showed significant differences among secondary and mature forest. We also compared the similarity of the anurofauna of the Reserve to those of six other Atlantic Forest localities inside the State. The anurofauna found at the Reserve is more similar to that found in other localities at the Atlantic plateau than those from coastal plains. The small number of reptiles specimens captured in pitfall traps precluded the same analyses made for anurans. The low abundance of these animals inside the forest limited our ability to compare different areas. There is an evident lack of information on the biology, distribution and conservation status on Brazilian herpetofauna that could be filled by inventory and monitoring of this fauna. Only natural history knowledge can lead to efficient conservation planning of these species.