Herpetofauna do Maciço de Baturité: update checklist de um enclave florestal no nordeste

Abstract

The Baturité Massif is classified as a high-altitude rainforest region in the state of Ceará, Brazil, encompassing 13 municipalities. Over the years, this region has been the focus of various studies, including herpetology, enhancing understanding of the species found within this enclave surrounded by the Caatinga biome. Only one survey of reptiles and amphibians had previously been conducted in the region, in 2007, which consisted of 95 species, in this period of 18 years new species were discovered and taxonomic changes were made, highlighting the need for an updated assessment of its biodiversity. This work was carried out with the support of the Herpetological Collection from the Regional Nucleus of Ophiology of the Federal University of Ceará and the Regional University of Cariri, as well as other online collections and data from previous bibliographic records. Additionally, conservation statuses were verified according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the state of Ceará’s red list of threatened species, produced by the Secretaria do Meio Ambiente e Mudança de Clima do Estado do Ceará (SEMA). In total, 107 species were recorded, comprising 37 amphibians and 70 reptiles, with 13 new species and 12 taxonomic rebookings noted. The region hosts seven endemic species from Ceará, five of which are listed on the state’s red list. Despite its notable biodiversity importance, the Baturité Massif faces increasing environmental threats from human activities, making it crucial to expand conservation areas or establish new protected areas in this region.