Reptiles from Lencois Maranhenses National Park, Maranhao, northeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We are presenting a list of the reptile species from Lencois Maranhenses National Park (LMNP), Maranhao, Brazil, obtained during 235 days of field work. The study area is located in the contact zone between three major Neotropical ecosystems: Amazonia, Caatinga, and Cerrado. The PNLM encompasses the largest dune fields in Brazil, wide shrubby areas (restingas), lakes, mangroves, and many freshwater lagoons. We have recorded 42 species of reptiles in the area: 24 snakes, 12 lizards, two worm lizards, three turtles, and one alligator. About 81 % of the recorded species occurred only in restinga areas. Our data highlights the uniqueness of the PNLM in the context of the biomes that surround it and shows the importance of efforts to improve the conservation of reptiles living in the restinga, which currently comprise only about 20 % of the total area protected by the park, but which are the mesohabitat containing most of the reptile species in the Lencois Maranhenses complex of habitats.2465168Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico do Maranhao - FAPEMA [INFRA 00563/10]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Instituto BiomasFundacao "O Boticario" de Protecao a Natureza [0612/2004-1]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico do Maranhao - FAPEMA [INFRA 00563/10]CNPq [304791/2010-5, 470265/2010-8]Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - FAPERJ through Programa Cientistas do Nosso Estado [E-26/102.404.2009]Fundacao "O Boticario" de Protecao a Natureza [0612/2004-1