Diversidade e aspectos ecológicos e comportamentais de serpentes da estação ecológica de anavilhanas, Amazônia Central, Brasil

Abstract

The present study was carried out aiming to broaden the knowledge about the composition, ecology, behavior and distribution of snake species from Central Amazon, mainly those from Anavilhanas Ecological Station. A line of interception traps with guide fence, pitfall and funnels traps was put up inside the conservation unit. We also collected specimens by occasional finding in dense ombrophilous forest of dry land ecosystem inside the reserve and its surrounding area, in the municipality of Novo Airão, Amazonas State, Brazil. In order to contribute with the study of the species' behavioral ecology, we observed and photographed these species' different defense behavior. The collection method with funnel traps proved to be an excellent alternative for snakes surveys, allowing more accurate verification of species richness and abundance. It has several advantages in comparison with the pitfall trap method, with an expressive capture rate and access to fauna that is distinct from visual search and occasional finding methods. In a sample of 108 snakes collected, we identified seven families totaling 34 species. The most abundant sampled snake species were Boa constrictor (16%), Bothrops atrox (15%), Atractus torquatus (7%), Erythrolamprus aesculapii (6%) and Leptodeira annulata (5%). We calculated the biogeographical resemblance coefficients in order to compare the similarity to other snake fauna studies and to other biomes. The species accumulation curve did not reach the asymptote. This indicates the need for further studies and collections in order to obtain a complete inventory of the region. The results of our study, together with analyses of other studies carried out on the region, which includes various distinct ecosystems, indicate that the Central Amazon, an almost unknown region, may be one of the richest regions of the world in snake species.