O ambiente e a diversidade das serpentes no estado do Tocantins – Brasil

Abstract

The vegetation of Tocantins is predominantly Cerrado (91%), and less than 10% correspond to ombrophilous formations and seasonal forest. The easy removal of vegetation from the soil, from savannas, converting it to extensive use of monocultures and livestock intensifies the loss of microhabitats. The present study made possible a checklist through the collection of primary data, in loco, for the localities of Taquaruçu (District of Palmas) and Araguaína, these represent the two biomes present in the state – Cerrado and Amazon, respectively – and secondary ones through registers And the compilation of local and border studies that present a faunal interaction of snakes to the Tocantins. The list of snakes reached 96 species distributed in 9 families: Anomalepididae (1 sp.), Leptotyphlopidae (6 spp.), Typhlopidae (1 sp.), Aniliidae (1 sp.), Boidae (8 spp.), Colubridae (17 spp.), Dipsadidae (53 spp.), Elapidae (4 spp.) and Viperidae (5 spp.), of the snake families in Brazil were not represented only Tropidophiidae. There is a predominance of species typical of the Cerrado, also being observed the existence of species of the confronting biomes, with some Amazonian representatives registered in the central and southern regions of the state following the gallery forests of the Araguaia-Tocantins basin. Other data that deserve importance are for the species Siagonodon acutirostris that has geographic distribution restricted to Tocantins; The extension of distribution to Araguaína of the species Apostolepis nelsonjorgei, previously recorded in Tocantins at the Serra Geral do Tocantins and Porto Nacional Ecological Station, and Corallus batesii being the third record in the north of the state. The total richness of recorded species is similar with the results of studies from other points in the Cerrado. The state map was elaborated using geoprocessing programs to characterize the 63 municipalities, where records were obtained, and also to demonstrate which points are without studies or records, for future surveys of data that will aid in a broader and more complete list for Tocantins. This characterization of local species, besides creating a way to guide people about the species of snakes that inhabit the environment where they live, evaluates the wealth contributing to the knowledge of the local fauna and, above all, aim at a more harmonious relationship so that the valorization of nature progresses in humans.