THE GYMNOPHTALMID LIZARDS (SQUAMATA: GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE) OF THE CARIRI REGION OF PARAÍBA AND SERIDÓ OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL: CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY.

Abstract

The present study aimed to inventory the fauna of gimnophthalmid lizards in some areas of Caatinga in the Cariri region of Paraíba and Seridó of Rio Grande do Norte, map their respective geographical distribution, discourse on their natural history and use of habitat. Four species of gymnophthalmid lizards (Anotosaura vanzolinia; Acratosaura mentalis; Micrablepharus maximiliani and Vanzosaura rubricauda) were recorded in the sampled areas. Only Vanzosaura rubricauda was found in all explored areas, accordingly to its classification as a taxon widely distributed in the open vegetation formations of South America. Anotosaura vanzolinia and Acratosaura mentalis were recorded in new localities, extending their respective distributions in the State of Paraíba. The present hypothesis of distribution of the gymnophthalmid species that occur in the Caatinga biome was maintained. Therefore, we find it improbable that species that occur in the Paleoquaternary Sand-Dunes of the Middle São Francisco River may also occur in typical caatinga localities without sandy soils and/or not connected historically-geologically to that. However, the possibility of new records of gymnophthalmid lizards for the Caatinga biome can not be discard.