Lizards of Marambaia, an insular remnant of Restinga and Atlantic Forest in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Authors

  • André Luiz Gomes de Carvalho Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal
  • Alexandre Fernandes Bamberg de Araújo Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal
  • Hélio Ricardo da Silva Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal

Keywords:

lizards, species list, insular community, sea-level changes

Abstract

This work presents the results of a survey of the lizard species that occur in Marambaia, RJ. Twelve species of lizards, distributed in seven families were registered. Teiidae is the richest family (3 spp.), followed by Gekkonidae (2), Scincidae (2), Tropiduridae (2), Gymnophthalmidae (1), Leiosauridae (1), and Polychrotidae (1). The lizard fauna of Marambaia is similar to that occurring in other localities in the southeastern coast of Brazil. Nevertheless, Marambaia harbors Cnemidophorus littoralis and Liolaemus lutzae, species restricted to restinga habitats in Rio de Janeiro State and considered under threat. The area also protects typical forest species, including the arboreal lizards Enyalius brasiliensis and Anolis cf. fuscoauratus. Forest and restinga are continuous in Marambaia and represent the richest habitats for lizards, comprising nine and eight species, respectively. The possibility of genetic variability loss due to the geographical isolation of the area, and the apparent difficulty of re-colonization in the case of local loss of diversity, added to environmental modifications caused by human activities, are worrying issues for the conservation of Marambaia herpetofauna.

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Published

2007-01-01

How to Cite

Carvalho, A. L. G. de, Araújo, A. F. B. de, & Silva, H. R. da. (2007). Lizards of Marambaia, an insular remnant of Restinga and Atlantic Forest in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 7(2). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/301

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