High-biodiversity areas require accurate investigations: a reply to Pires & Sobczak (2025) on the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the Serra de Baturité Environmental Protection Area

Abstract

Abstract Humid forest enclaves in mountainous areas of northeastern Brazil harbor a distinct biota from the surrounding dry vegetation, with stronger affinities to Amazonian and Atlantic species, such as the Serra de Baturité Environmental Protection Area (SBEPA), in the Ceará state. Although the region has been the focus of various scientific studies, only a few provided comprehensive data on its biodiversity. Aiming to fill in this gap, Pires & Sobczak (2025) published a broad compilation of species records within the SBEPA, covering multiple biological groups. Despite its relevance, we identified numerous mistakes, inconsistencies, and omissions related to terrestrial vertebrates. Here, we highlight major issues in this article, such as the use of outdated taxonomic frameworks, inflated species lists, the inclusion of species not known to occur in the region, and the omission of species with confirmed presence. We present a corrected list for terrestrial vertebrates of the SBEPA, using the same temporal frame of the original article. We also discuss species conservation status, endemism, exotic species occurrence, and the inappropriate use of bibliographic references.