Herpetofauna of the Estação Biologia Marinha Augusto Ruschi, a coastal forest remnant in the Atlantic Forest, south-eastern Brazil

Abstract

A four-day herpetofauna survey was undertaken monthly from October 2018 to September 2019 at the Estação Biologia Marinha Augusto Ruschi (EBMAR) nature reserve, a coastal forest remnant in south-eastern Brazil. Each survey involved active visual and auditory searching at night, pitfall traps and incidental observations. This study revealed 31 species of anurans and 28 reptiles. Swamp forest was the most used habitat by these species. Marginal vegetation was the most used microhabitat, followed by leaf litter and bromeliads. Regarding temporal occurrence, 27 (47%) species were occasional, 20 (34%) semi-constant and 11 (19%) constant. Three species are listed as Data Deficient (Chelonoidis carbonarius, Physalaemus signifer and Sphaenorhynchus pauloalvini) and two (3%) as Endangered (Ameivula nativo and Arcovomer passarellii). Thirty-seven (63%) species were recorded during the active survey whereas 11 (17%) were recorded in pitfall traps. The herpetofauna of EBMAR is spatially isolated because the surrounding landscape has been converted to agriculture and human settlement.