Wind Decreases Microhabitat and Body Temperatures in Populations of Endangered Brazilian Sand Lizards Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 2025
Feeding Habits, Microhabitat Use, and Daily Activity Cycle of Adenomera marmorata (Anura, Leptodactylidae) in Two Brazilian Atlantic Forest Remnants Thiago Maia-Carneiro, Thiago Arnt Dorigo, Mara Cíntia Kiefer, Monique Van Sluys, Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha South American Journal of Herpetology, 2021 We investigated daily activity, microhabitat use, and feeding habits of the anuran Adenomera marmorata in two Brazilian Atlantic forest remnants: Estação Ecológica Estadual Paraíso (EEEP) and Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA). Most individuals were active at dusk (EEEP: n = 5 or 62.5%; REGUA: n = 16 or 45.7%; populations pooled: n = 21 or 48.8%) and nocturnally (EEEP: n = 3 or 37.5%; REGUA: n = 17 or 48.6%; populations pooled: n = 20 or 46.5%); however, individuals were encountered during the day (EEEP: n = 0; REGUA: n = 2 or 5.7%; populations pooled: n = 2 or 4.7%). The microhabitat used most by the anurans was the leaf litter of forest floor (EEEP: n = 8 or 80.0%; REGUA: n = 33 or 94.3%; populations pooled: n = 41 or 91.1%). In EEEP, in numerical terms, mainly isopods (33.33%) and ants (22.22%) composed the diet of A. marmorata. Volumetrically, Isopoda (77.37%) was the most important item. In terms of frequency of occurrence, isopods, and ants, both consumed by 30% of the individuals, were the most relevant food items. In REGUA, numerically, individuals mainly consumed ants (23.26%) and isopods (20.93%). In volumetric terms, individuals predominantly ingested isopods (56.57%). The food items most commonly consumed by individuals in REGUA were isopods (40.63%) and ants (37.50%). Adenomera marmorata ingested 8 different types of food in EEEP and 14 in REGUA, feeding on a significantly higher number of food items in REGUA than in EEEP. The populations also differed in diet composition in volumetric terms, showing that food consumption can vary between populations, which might result from differences in local food availability and individual morphological characteristics. Adenomera marmorata might be able to forage opportunistically or selectively depending on the prey.
Diverging temporal and thermal niche dimensions favor syntopy of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) Thiago Maia-Carneiro, Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha Biologia, 2021 Divergences in ecological niche dimensions favor the coexistence of species in syntopy. Supposedly, closely related species face stronger pressures to differ in dimensions of niches. Integration among temporal, spatial and thermal niche dimensions is relevant for lizards because it allows proper regulation of body temperatures, which has consequences for their physiology and ecology. Here, we investigated temporal (daily activity) and thermal (body and microhabitat temperatures) niche dimensions and thermoregulation of Tropidurus hispidus and T. semitaeniatus . We hypothesized that divergences of niche dimensions would favor their local coexistences (syntopy). Tropidurus hispidus and T. semitaeniatus had similar lengths of daily activity cycles, but differed in movement rates along the day (start of the activities; hours of activity peaks; periods of greater inactivity). Activity rates and body temperatures of the lizards reflected phylogeny and thermal conditions. For both species, microhabitat temperatures and sunlight were sources for thermoregulation. Tropidurus semitaeniatus used warmer microhabitats than T. hispidus , but the species had similar body temperatures. Body sizes did not influence body temperatures, presumably because of effective behavioral thermoregulation allowing maintenance of body temperatures under appropriate ranges. Levels of active or passive thermoregulation varied depending of the thermal source (air and substrate temperatures). To thermoregulate, lizards raised up or brought down their bodies and increased or decreased levels of body flattening over substrates and shuttled across microhabitats with different temperatures and levels of sunlight. Along the day, T. hispidus used mainly partially shaded microhabitats and T. semitaeniatus used mostly full sunlight. Temporal and thermal niche dimensions of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus differed in ways that favor their syntopy.
Defensive behaviors and microhabitat use of Tropidurus catalanensis (Squamata, Tropiduridae): body sizes and habitat openness / vegetation cover affect prediction of risk and flight distances North Western Journal of Zoology, 2021
Amphibians and reptiles from the parque nacional da tijuca, brazil, one of the world’s largest urban forests Thiago Arnt Dorigo, Carla Costa Siqueira, Jane C. F. Oliveira, Luciana Ardenghi Fusinatto, Manuela Santos-Pereira, et al. Biota Neotropica, 2021 The Parque Nacional da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is considered to be one of the world’s largest urban forests, however no systematic inventory of its herpetofauna is available. In the present study, we surveyed the amphibians and reptiles of this park to assess its species composition (including secondary data) and obtain estimates of species richness and abundance. We conducted active searches (460 hours) between January 2013 and December 2015. We identified the taxa endemic to either the Atlantic Forest or Rio de Janeiro state, and verified the conservation status of each species in the international, Brazilian, and state red lists. We also estimated the species richness and sampling sufficiency by rarefaction curves and Bootstrap richness estimator, and analyzed the distribution of the species abundance in Whittaker plots. We recorded 3,288 individuals over 36 months, representing 24 species of amphibians and 25 reptiles. The cumulative species curves, rarefaction, and the richness estimated indicated that sampling effort was adequate. Species abundance adjusted to the log-series model in both amphibians and reptiles. The four most abundant amphibians represented 70% of the individuals recorded in this group, while the two most abundant reptiles represented 60% of the total individuals. The inclusion of the secondary data raised the number of amphibian species to 38, and the number of reptiles to 36. Approximately 80% of the amphibian species and 28% of the reptile species recorded are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, and six of the amphibian species are endemic to Rio de Janeiro state. Six amphibian species and one reptile species are classified under some threat of extinction, and two reptile species were exotic. The considerable diversity of the herpetofauna of the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, which includes endemic and threatened species, reflects the effectiveness of the reforestation of this protected area and emphasizes the importance of its conservation.
A summary of reptile and anuran amphibian species from brazilian sandy coastal plains: 31 years of sampling efforts of the “laboratório de ecologia de vertebrados, universidade do estado do Rio de Janeiro” C. F. D. Rocha, C. M. Militão, D. Vrcibradic, M. Van Sluys, J. Pereira-Ribeiro, et al. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2021 Although currently there is already a set of studies regarding ecological aspects of some particular reptile and amphibian species living in Brazilian sandy coastal plains (including the so-called “restinga” and “campo nativo” habitats), there is comparatively few information on the species composition usually associated to these environments. During 31 years (1988-2019) of herpetological studies carried out in sandy coastal plains environments by our research team of the Laboratory of Vertebrate Ecology (Department of Ecology, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil) we have surveyed reptile and amphibian communities and performed different studies with similar methods in 70 sites from 10 different states along the Brazilian coast. Our surveys resulted in records of 87 species of reptile (five turtles, two crocodylians, six amphisbaenians, 36 lizards and 39 snakes) from 24 families, and 77 species of anuran amphibians from nine families. We have studied multiple natural history topics for anurans and reptiles which resulted in the publication of some specific ecological studies, especially regarding some species, encompassing population and community ecology, foraging and feeding habits, species activity, thermoregulation, reproduction, use of microhabitats, and parasitism by ecto and endoparasites. Our results along these three decades have also contributed for the description of four new lizard species (Ameivula nativo, Glaucomastix littoralis, G. abaetensis and G. itabaianensis). Our studies constitute an important contribution to the knowledge of the ecology of anuran amphibians and reptiles in these ecosystems, as well as to the conservation of sandy coastal plains environment. The checklist presented in this study, based on our records of sandy coastal plains herpetofauna, provides for many localities along the Brazilian coast, the needed knowledge on species occurrence, including the presence of endemic and/or endangered species, which can be of value for many conservation actions.
High prevalence and intensity of infestation of Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Acarina: Trombiculidae) on Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae): effects of body size and on body condition across ten populations along the Brazilian coast Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha, Mônica Cunha-Barros, Vanderlaine Amaral Menezes, Davor Vrcibradic, Mara Cíntia Kiefer, et al. Biologia, 2020 We investigated the infestation of Eutrombicula alfreddugesi mites on Tropidurus torquatus lizards across ten coastal populations in Brazil to evaluate variations among localities and relationships with intrinsic features of hosts (body size and body condition). For each population, we calculated the prevalence of infestation and the mean number of mites per host (mean intensity of infestation). Lizards from all populations were infested by mites, with prevalence ranging from 95.6 to 100%. Mean intensities of infestation also were always high, ranging from 55.3 ± 88.8 to 280.9 ± 208.2 mites per lizard. The lizard body regions most intensely used as microhabitat by mites were the axillae and neck (which bear “mite pockets” in T. torquatus). In most populations, the number of mites tended to increase with the body size of hosts. The body condition of hosts and the intensity of infestation were positively correlated, considering the total sample (i.e. lizards of all populations pooled). The main microhabitats (i.e., body regions) used by E. alfreddugesi on T. torquatus represented total intensities of infestation, suggesting that counting mites on these body regions provide a useful index to estimate the overall intensity of infestation. Lizards are suitable and predictable resources for parasitic mites, which take advantage of ecological and morphological features of host individuals and species, with large body sizes, imbricated and keeled scales, and presence of skin folds and mite pockets favoring occupation and high intensities of infestation by mites.
Body orientation for thermoregulation and daily activity cycle of mabuya macrorhyncha (Squamata: Scincidae) Thiago Maia-Carneiro, Gisele R. Winck, Mariana Rodrigues Pereira, Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha Zoologia, 2018 We investigated the daily activity and thermoregulatory body orientation of Mabuya macrorhyncha (Hoge, 1947), a lizard species that occurs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We conducted this investigation in a sandy coastal dune remnant (“restinga” ecosystem) in Grussaí, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the summer. The daily activity cycle of the lizards started around 6:00 am and ended before 7:00 pm. This is longer than observed in other populations of M. macrorhyncha (approximately 7:00 am to 5:00 pm). The activity cycle of the lizards was bimodal, with the first peak between 6:00 and 11:00 am and the second from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. This contrasts with observations on other populations of this species, which revealed an unimodal pattern. The mean body temperature of M. macrorhyncha in Grussaí was 34.2 ± 1.5 °C, which was comparatively higher than observed in other populations of the species. The differences in the daily activity and of body temperature of these lizards between our study and previous studies on this species may reflect environmental thermal conditions. The mean air and mean substrate temperatures when individuals were active were 27.8 and 30.5 °C respectively. Lizard orientation was significantly correlated with the direction of the solar incidence, suggesting that solar radiation, and particularly behavioral adjustments that maximize exposure to the sun, are important for the thermoregulation of M. macrorhyncha. Circular structures at the site, such as bromeliads, offer microhabitats with different orientations to the sunlight, favoring lizard thermoregulatory behaviors.
Partition of trophic niche dimensions of a pair of syntopic lizard species (Squamata, Tropidurus) Herpetological Journal, 2017
Seasonal influences of wind intensity on activity rates and thermoregulation of differently sized individuals of liolaemus lutzae (Squamata: Liolaemidae) Salamandra, 2017
Flight initiation distances of Tropidurus hispidus and tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, tropiduridae) in sympatry Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 2015
Estimated population density of and sources of disturbance for the endemic and threatened Liolaemus lutzae in a remnant area of its narrow habitat in Southeastern Brazil Salamandra, 2013
Feeding habits, microhabitat use, and daily activity period of Rhinella ornata (Anura, Bufonidae) from three Atlantic rainforest remnants in southeastern Brazil North Western Journal of Zoology, 2013
Evidence of phoresy by leeches (Hirudinoidea) on Rhinella abei (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Atlantic rainforest in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil Acta Herpetologica, 2012
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Ecological constraints to match field and preferred temperatures in lizards Tropidurus catalanensis (Squamata; Tropiduridae) T Maia-Carneiro, CA Navas Journal of Thermal Biology 98, 102903 , 2021 2021 Citations: 5
Body lifting, flattening, and burying of Tropidurus catalanensis Gudynas & Skuk, 1983 (Squamata, Tropiduridae): Defense, thermoregulation, or both? T Maia-Carneiro, C Navas Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences 7 (17), 339-342 , 2021 2021
Diverging temporal and thermal niche dimensions favor syntopy of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Biologia 76 (1), 133-146 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Climbing behavior of Rhinella icterica (Spix, 1824)(Anura, Bufonidae): A typically terrestrial toad being scansorial T Maia-Carneiro, R Maia-Solidade Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences 7 (16), 149-151 , 2020 2020 Citations: 5
High prevalence and intensity of infestation of Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Acarina: Trombiculidae) on Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae): effects of … CFD Rocha, M Cunha-Barros, VA Menezes, D Vrcibradic, MC Kiefer, ... Biologia, 1-7 , 2020 2020 Citations: 7
Defensive behaviors of Tropidurus catalanensis Gudynas & Skuk, 1983 (Squamata, Tropiduridae) T Maia-Carneiro, S Langie-Santos, CA Navas Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences 7 (15), 39-42 , 2020 2020 Citations: 5
Tropidurus hispidus (Lagartixa; Peter's Lava Lizard) and T. semitaeniatus (Calango-de-Lagedo). Cloacal discharge T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Herpetological Review 51 (2), 336-337 , 2020 2020
Tropidurus catalanensis (Calango; Collared lizard). Bone deformity T Maia-Carneiro, S Langie-Santos, CA Navas Herpetological Review 51 (3), 606 , 2020 2020 Citations: 1
Tropidurus catalanensis (Calango; Collared lizard). Caudal autophagy T Maia-Carneiro, S Langie-Santos, CA Navas Herpetological Review 51 (3), 606 , 2020 2020
Topidurus catalanensis (Calango; Collared lizard). Clutch and egg size T Maia-Carneiro, S Langie-Santos, CA Navas Herpetological Review 51 (3), 606-607 , 2020 2020
Bothrops jararacussu (Jararacussu; Jararacuçu). Diet T Maia-Carneiro, TA Dorigo, L Seixas, CFD Rocha Herpetological Review 51 (3), 609 , 2020 2020 Citations: 2
Ecpleopus gaudichaudii (NCN). Endoparasites T Maia-Carneiro, D Vrcibradic, MC Kiefer, LA Anjos, CFD Rocha Herpetological Review 51 (4), 850 , 2020 2020
A summary of reptile and anuran amphibian species from Brazilian sandy coastal plains: 31 years of sampling efforts of the “Laboratório de Ecologia de Vertebrados, Universidade … CFD Rocha, CM Militão, D Vrcibradic, M Van Sluys, J Pereira-Ribeiro, ... Brazilian Journal of Biology , 2020 2020 Citations: 2
Body orientation for thermoregulation and daily activity cycle of Mabuya macrorhyncha (Squamata: Scincidae) T Maia-Carneiro, GR Winck, MR Pereira, CFD Rocha Zoologia (Curitiba), 1-5 , 2018 2018 Citations: 4
Helminth infections in a pair of sympatric congeneric lizard species T Maia-Carneiro, T Motta-Tavares, RW Ávila, CFD Rocha Parasitology research 117 (1), 89-96 , 2018 2018 Citations: 10
Seasonal influences of wind intensity on activity rates and thermoregulation of differently sized individuals of Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata: Liolaemidae) T Maia-Carneiro, TA Dorigo, CFD Rocha Salamandra 53 (3), 469-472 , 2017 2017 Citations: 11
Partition of trophic niche dimensions of a pair of syntopic lizard species (Squamata, Tropidurus). T Maia-Carneiro, T Motta-Tavares, CFD Rocha Herpetological Journal 27 (2) , 2017 2017 Citations: 11
Influences of seasonality, thermal environment and wind intensity on the thermal ecology of Brazilian sand lizards in a restinga remnant T Maia-Carneiro, TA Dorigo, CFD Rocha South american journal of herpetology 7 (3), 241-251 , 2012 2012 Citations: 60
Influences of sex, ontogeny and body size on the thermal ecology of Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata, Liolaemidae) in a restinga remnant in southeastern Brazil T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Journal of Thermal Biology 38 (1), 41-46 , 2013 2013 Citations: 44
Seasonal variations in behaviour of thermoregulation in juveniles and adults Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata, Liolaemidae) in a remnant of Brazilian restinga T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Behavioural processes 100, 48-53 , 2013 2013 Citations: 36
Feeding habits, microhabitat use, and daily activity period of Rhinella ornata (Anura, Bufonidae) from threeAtlantic rainforest remnants in southeastern Brazil. T Maia-Carneiro, MC Kiefer, M Van Sluys, CF Duarte Rocha North-Western Journal of Zoology 9 (1) , 2013 2013 Citations: 26
Diet of the lizard Ecpleopus gaudichaudii (Gymnophthalmidae) in Atlantic Rainforest, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil T MAIA, M Almeida-Gomes, CC Siqueira, D Vrcibradic, MC Kiefer, ... Zoologia 28, 587-592 , 2011 2011 Citations: 26
Ecological aspects of the pumpkin toadlet, Brachycephalus garbeanus Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920 (Anura: Neobatrachia: Brachycephalidae), in a highland forest of … TA Dorigo, CC Siqueira, D Vrcibradic, T Maia-Carneiro, ... Journal of Natural History 46 (39-40), 2497-2507 , 2012 2012 Citations: 25
Anurans from the “Restinga” of Parque Natural Municipal de Grumari, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil FB da Silva Telles, VA Menezes, T Maia-Carneiro, TA Dorigo, GR Winck, ... Check List 8 (6), 1267-1273; erratum , 2012 2012 Citations: 21
Ecology of the bromeligenous frog Phyllodytes luteolus (Anura, Hylidae) from three restinga remnants across Brazil's coast T Motta-Tavares, T Maia-Carneiro, LF Dantas, MV Sluys, FH Hatano, ... Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 88 (1), 93-104 , 2016 2016 Citations: 20
Diet and endoparasites of the lizard Gymnodactylus darwinii (Gekkota, Phyllodactylidae) from an Atlantic Rainforest area in southeastern Brazil M Almeida-Gomes, D Vrcibradic, T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Biotemas 25 (1), 203-206 , 2012 2012 Citations: 16
Diverging temporal and thermal niche dimensions favor syntopy of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Biologia 76 (1), 133-146 , 2021 2021 Citations: 15
Predation of Tropidurus hispidus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) by Siphlophis leucocephalus (Squamata, Dipsadidae) T Maia-Carneiro, P Goyannes-Araújo, CFD Rocha Neotropical Biology and Conservation 11 (1), 47-50 , 2016 2016 Citations: 14
Diet and helminths of Enyalius brasiliensis (Lacertilia, Iguania, Leiosauridae) in an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in southeastern Brazil TA Dorigo, T Maia-Carneiro, M Almeida-Gomes, CC Siqueira, ... Brazilian Journal of Biology 74 (1), 199-204 , 2014 2014 Citations: 14
Flight initiation distances of Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in sympatry T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Herpetological Conservation and Biology 10 (2), 661-665 , 2015 2015 Citations: 13
Evidence of phoresy by leeches (Hirudinoidea) on Rhinella abei (Anura: Bufonidae) in the Atlantic Rainforest in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil T Maia-Carneiro, T Dorigo, M Wachlevski, C Rocha Acta Herpetologica 7 (1), 163-169 , 2012 2012 Citations: 13
Seasonal influences of wind intensity on activity rates and thermoregulation of differently sized individuals of Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata: Liolaemidae) T Maia-Carneiro, TA Dorigo, CFD Rocha Salamandra 53 (3), 469-472 , 2017 2017 Citations: 11
Partition of trophic niche dimensions of a pair of syntopic lizard species (Squamata, Tropidurus). T Maia-Carneiro, T Motta-Tavares, CFD Rocha Herpetological Journal 27 (2) , 2017 2017 Citations: 11
The behaviour of orientation of openings of burrows by Liolaemus lutzae (Squamata: Liolaemidae): is it influenced by environmental factors? T Maia-Carneiro, CFD Rocha Journal of Natural History 47 (3-4), 253-262 , 2013 2013 Citations: 11
Feeding habits, microhabitat use, and daily activity of Cycloramphus brasiliensis (Anura: Cycloramphidae) from the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil T Maia-Carneiro, TA Dorigo, M Almeida-Gomes, M Van Sluys, ... Zoologia (Curitiba) 29 (3), 277-279 , 2012 2012 Citations: 11
Helminth infections in a pair of sympatric congeneric lizard species T Maia-Carneiro, T Motta-Tavares, RW Ávila, CFD Rocha Parasitology research 117 (1), 89-96 , 2018 2018 Citations: 10
Sibynomorphus neuwiedi (Ihering, 1911)(Serpentes; Dipsadidae) and Potamojanuarius lamellatus (Semper, 1885)(Gastropoda; Veronicellidae): a trophic relationship revealed T Maia, TA Dorigo, SR Gomes, SB Santos, CFD Rocha Biotemas 25 (1), 211-213 , 2012 2012 Citations: 9
