Raul Fernandes Dantas Sales

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte | IIP · Departamento de Botânica, Ecologia e Zoologia

This study describes the diet and trophic ecology of anurans from the Amazonian savanna in Amapá (Brazil). A total of 17 anuran species were collected (three bufonids, eight hylids, five leptodactylids, and one phyllomedusid), and their stomach contents revealed 17 prey items. Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Acari had high indices of relative importance...

Protected areas are important strategies for conserving biodiversity , but maintaining them is a challenge, especially in urban areas. In this study, the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of employees on the fauna of reptiles and small cryptic lizard species in an urban park in the Atlantic Forest was investigated. A total of 39 employees of the par...

We reassessed the type-series of Amphisbaena lumbricalis Vanzolini, 1996 and Amphisbaena carvalhoi Gans, 1965, two small amphisbaenid species from northeastern Brazil, to evaluate the characters used to diagnose and distinguish them, and compared these data with additional specimens from four new localities. We found broadly overlapping ranges of t...

Este guia de fauna foi organizado e produzido a partir de dados coletados ao longo de dois anos na área do Conjunto Eólico Santo Agostinho, localizado nos municípios de Lajes e Pedro Avelino, estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Para cada espécie registrada na região, constam no guia o nome científico, nome popular, Família, período de atividade, dieta,...

The knowledge about interactions between predators and prey is essential for understanding the natural history of animals, especially snakes, which are cryptic organisms that are difficult to visualize in the wild. This article reports on the predation of lizards, frogs, bats and venomous snakes by the snake Philodryas nattereri, evidencing its...

The Brazilian Caatinga has already lost extensive areas of original vegetation, thus it becomes imperative to perform fauna inventories within this region to fill geographical sampling gaps. Herein, we present a taxonomic list of the herpetofauna of a mountain chain located in the central zone of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state whose region includes...

Studying species interactions in nature often requires elaborated logistics and intense fieldwork. The difficulties in such task might hinder our ability to answer questions on how biotic interactions change with the environment. Fortunately, a workaround to this problem lies within scientific collections. For some animals, the inspection of preser...

O livro “Impacto das Ciências Ambientais na Agenda 2030 da ONU” constitui-se em uma obra produzida a partir de reflexões e desafios postos por ocasião do I Encontro Acadêmico com nome homônimo à obra, realizado no Instituto de Estudos Avançados da Universidade de São Paulo (IEA/USP), em março de 2021, com apoio do Programa de Apoio a Eventos (PAEP)...

O Guia Fotográfico da Fauna do Parque Estadual Dunas do Natal “Jornalista Luiz Maria Alves” apresenta animais com registro de ocorrência na referida Unidade de Conservação, e encontra-se dividido em dois grupos: Vertebrados (mamíferos, aves, répteis e anfíbios) e Invertebrados (insetos e aracnídeos). O objetivo desse guia é auxiliar na identificaçã...

In this study, we provide new data about the foraging behavior and feeding ecology of Phyllopezus periosus, a large-sized gecko endemic from the semiarid Caatinga, northeastern Brazil, looking to answer the following questions: (1) how is the foraging mode of P. periosus? (2) Which types of prey compose its diet? (3) Are lizards selective in diet?...

Predation of Pithecopus gonzagai by Crotophaga ani in Paranatama Municipality, Pernambuco, Brazil

Bromeliads are widely recognized for their role as biodiversity amplifiers in the Neotropical region. Some animal taxa are well known for their relationships with bromeliads, such as aquatic insects and amphibians, but others, such as lizards, are still neglected when it comes to association with these plants. In this study, we present a bibliograp...

Desde 2008, o Brasil assumiu mundialmente a primeira posição no consumo de agrotóxicos. Os debates públicos sobre as consequências deste processo têm-se intensificado e ganharam destaque a partir do ano de 2019, quando mais de 439 agrotóxicos foram liberados, com grandes repercussões na mídia brasileira. Por intermédio deste trabalho buscamos compr...

Across animal taxa, females of non-territorial species have potential opportunities to mate with multiple partners; hence, the primary mechanism available for males to ensure paternity is to guard the receptive female after copulation and repel other males. Hypothetically, mate-guarding is costly for males in terms of energy acquisition and increas...

We studied the autecology of the gecko Hemidactylus agrius at the Seridó Ecological Station (ESEC Seridó), a protected area of the Brazilian Caatinga, northeastern Brazil. Monthly, we inspected a sampling area composed of five transects of 200 m from August 2012 to August 2013. We recorded active lizards only during the night, predominantly in area...

In this study, we report new dietary data about the South American dipsadine snake Philodryas nattereri in the Caatinga ecoregion of northeastern Brazil. Our observations in the wild include predation on a large-sized lizard, an adult bird, venomous toads, a snake, bird chicks inside nests, and a mammal. Besides that, we compared the diet compositi...

In this study, we report new dietary data about the South American dipsadine snake Philodryas nattereri in the Caatinga ecoregion of northeastern Brazil. Our observations in the wild include predation on a large-sized lizard, an adult bird, venomous toads, a snake, bird chicks inside nests, and a mammal. Besides that, we compared the diet compositi...

Here, we report a predation record on A. ocellifera by N. maculatus.

Here, we report a predation record on A. ocellifera by N. maculatus.

Bromeliads are important habitats for reptiles and amphibians, and are constantly used as shelter, refuge, foraging or thermoregulation sites due to their foliar architecture, which allows for constant maintenance of humidity and temperature. This study aimed to identify the herpetofauna inhabiting the non-phytotelmata rupicolous bromeliad Encholir...

Knowing the biology and natural history of a species is the first step to formulate conservation strategies. In this perspective, this study reports new data about the reproductive biology of Coleodactylus natalensis, an endemic and threatened species from Atlantic Forest remnants of Northeast Brazil. Our observations took place at the Floresta Nac...

The first record of Hydrodynastes gigas is reported from Rio Grande do Norte, the northeasternmost state of Brazil. The new record extends this species' known geographic distribution by 796 km southeast and 173 km north from the nearest previously known localities. The new record is from an estuary, with semi-deciduous forests, mangroves, and sand...

Ameiva ameiva is a lizard species widely distributed in Central and South America. In this study, we present data on clutch size and duration of reproductive cycle in a population of A. ameiva from a Caatinga site in northeastern Brazil, looking to answer the following questions: 1) What is the average clutch size in this population? 2) Is clutch s...

A population of A. ocellifera from Lagoa Nova Municipality, Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil (6.1233°S, 36.5642°W; WGS 84; 680 m elev.), we filmed a female individual with a bifurcated tail. The bifurcation point was positioned in the midregion of the tail. Since we have not captured the individual, we could not take precise measurements of...

Behavioral adaptations in Ameivula ocellifera (Squamata: Teiidae) in response to thermal environmental changes. Lizards rely on external sources to regulate body temperature, but in many species, it is not known whether lizards are able to change their thermoregulatory behaviors in response to variations in thermal environments. The seasonal therma...

Sexual dimorphism, diet, and notes on reproduction in Oxyrhopus trigeminus (Serpentes: Colubridae) in the semiarid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. Selected morphological characters, diet, and reproduction of the false-coral snake, Oxyrhopus trigeminus, from several localities in the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil are described based on exa...

In this study, we provide new morphological data, update geographic distribution, and discuss some issues of conservation of Amphisbaena littoralis, a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil. Meristic characters and patterns of head scalation match the published species diagnosis, but we observed some deviations from the type series. Thus, on t...

In this study, we provide new morphological data, update geographic distribution, and discuss some issues of conservation of Amphisbaena littoralis, a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil. Meristic characters and patterns of head scalation match the published species diagnosis, but we observed some deviations from the type series. Thus, on t...

À semelhança dos demais Estados da Região Nordeste, que originalmente tinham a área continental litorânea coberta por Mata Atlântica, nos Estados da Paraíba e Rio Grande do Norte restam apenas fragmentos da outrora frondosa mata que cobria cerca de 1.300.000 km2 do território brasileiro. No entanto, ainda abrigam uma grande biodiversidade, com alto...

This study provides ecological and behavioural data on the reproduction of the whiptail lizard Ameivula ocellifera in the Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil. Our fieldwork consisted of monthly trips for three consecutive days, from January 2009 through June 2010. Incidental observations of reproductive behaviour were recorded in 2012, during a stu...

We analyzed the diet of Amphisbaena heathi, a species with restricted geographic distribution in northeastern Brazil. We also present data on morphometric and meristic characters of the examined specimens and update the geographic distribution of the species. The diet analysis was based on the contents of the digestive tract of 21 specimens collect...

On the natural history of the Caatinga Horned Frog, Ceratophrys joazeirensis (Anura: Ceratrophryidae), a poorly known species of northeastern Brazil. Data on reproduction, sexual dimorphism, and the diet of Ceratophrys joazeirensis, the only species of the genus that occurs in the Brazilian semiarid Caatinga Biome, are presented. Anurans were obser...

This study investigated the influence of seasonality on diet and foraging behavior of the whiptail lizard Ameivula (Cnemidophorus) ocellifera in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. Diet composition was identified through stomach analysis of lizards collected monthly by active search during 2009 (rainy and dry seasons) and half of 2010 (rainy seaso...

Herein, we provide the first record of Enyalius bilineatus for the Caatinga region, northeastern Brazil, and an updated distribution map based on literature and museum records. We collected two specimens of E. bilineatus at Serra do Barbado, northern region of the Espinhaço mountain ridge (“Chapada Diamantina” plateau complex), Bahia, Brazil. This...

Dryadosaura nordestina é uma espécie de lagarto gminofitalmídeo cuja ocorrência está restrita aos remanescentes de Mata Atlântica do nordeste do Brasil, do estado do Rio Grande do Norte até a Bahia. Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever a incubação e eclosão de ovos em laboratório e fornecer caracterização morfométrica de filhotes de D. nordesti...

The Neotropical lizard Mabuya agmosticha Rodrigues, 2000 is a habitat-specialist of thorny bromeliads in rocky outcrops of northeastern Brazil. Its distribution in the Caatinga Domain is most likely relictual. In recent years, new surveys conducted in northeastern Brazil have revealed new records of the species in the Caatinga and also in the Atlan...

Abstract is on ”TEMA H 9” page 700.

Herein, we provide a new record of Cercosaura ocellata Wagler, 1830 in the Atlantic Forest biome, northeastern Brazil, and a distribution map for the species in South America. The new record was in Extremoz municipality, state of Rio Grande do Norte, filling a gap in the known geographic distribution of the species between the states of Ceará and P...

Abstract. We studied the diet of the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus ocellifer (Spix, 1825) and the relationships between predator size and prey size in a Caatinga area of northeastern Brazil. Lizards (N = 111) were collected during the day through active search. In the laboratory, we measured them and registered the number of ingested items of each...

We provide a new record of Alexandresaurus camacan for the state of Bahia and a distribution map for the species. Alexandresaurus was previously known from seven localities in the state of Bahia, all in the Atlantic Forest Domain. The new record is in the Serra da Jiboia, an enclave of Atlantic Forest in the Caatinga Domain.

We provide a new record of Alexandresaurus camacan for the state of Bahia and a distribution map for the species. Alexandresaurus was previously known from seven localities in the state of Bahia, all in the Atlantic Forest Domain. The new record is in the Serra da Jiboia, an enclave of Atlantic Forest in the Caatinga Domain.

Composition, species diversity and resource usage in terms of space and time were evaluated for the lizard community of the Ecological Station of the Seridó (ESEC Seridó), Rio Grande do Norte. An observation area of 150 m × 150 m (2.25 ha) was delimited and surveyed monthly in alternate turns (morning, afternoon and night) for three consecutive day...

We studied the feeding ecology of a population of Coleodactylus natalensis Freire, 1999, an endemic gecko of Atlantic Forest fragments in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Lizards (N = 49) were collected manually through active search in the four habitats of Parque Estadual Dunas de Natal, type locality of the species. In the l...

We studied the diet of the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus ocellifer (Spix, 1825) and the relationships between predator size and prey size in a Caatinga area of northeastern Brazil. Lizards (N = 111) were collected during the day through active search. In the laboratory, we measured them and registered the number of ingested items of each prey categ...

This species was previously known for the states of Bahia, municipality of Juazeiro (type locality; Mercadal 1986. Amphibia-Reptilia 7[4]:313–334), Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte (Vieira et al. 2006. Check List 2[2]:28–29), and Pernam buco (Moura et al. 2011. In Moura [org.], Herpetologia no Estado de Pernambuco, pp. 51–85. Ministerio do Meio A...

We report here a set of observations on mating behavior and female accompaniment by the whiptail lizard Cnemidophorus ocellifer in an area of Caatinga (xerophilous open forests) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. We observed a stationary male lizard performing repeated vibratory movements of the pelvis and tail base upon the...

We studied the use of spatial, temporal, and thermal resources by the Neotropical lizard Ameiva ameiva during rainy and dry seasons in a caatinga (xerophilous open forests) environment in northeastern Brazil. Lizards used the vegetation habitats and microhabitats in the ground, but never were seen in the rocky habitat. Adults usually used the arbor...

We studied the feeding ecology of the neotropical lizard Ameiva ameiva in a semiarid area in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The main food items ingested were insect larvae and pupae, gastropods, beetles, spiders, roaches and orthopterans. The population specialized more in the consumption of larvae and pupae in the rainy season, and cons...

We studied the feeding ecology of the neotropical lizard Ameiva ameiva in a semiarid area in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The main food items ingested were insect larvae and pupae, gastropods, beetles, spiders, roaches and orthopterans. The population specialized more in the consumption of larvae and pupae in the rainy season, and con...

Fauna inventories are crucial for increasing knowledge of biodiversity as well as for planning and conservation strategies. To assess the taxonomic composition and microhabitat distribution of squamate reptiles in three forest fragments on the campus of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), field collections were carried out quart...

Fauna inventories are crucial for increasing knowledge of biodiversity as well as for planning and conservation strategies. To assess the taxonomic composition and microhabitat distribution of squamate reptiles in three forest fragments on the campus of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), field collections were carried out quart...