Amphibians and reptiles of the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco, municipality of Capela, state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest has high diversity levels of amphibians and reptiles, but there is a lack of richness survey at several areas, while a high level of deforestation is already known. The biome is highly endangered in northeastern Brazil, and few protected areas have been the main mechanism for providing the habitat conservation. We studied the Refúgio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco, a recently established conservation unit in this biome, at the Capela municipality, in the state of Sergipe. Field surveys and literature review were conducted between 2007-2009, revealing 33 species of anuran amphibians and 26 of reptiles (one turtle, ten lizards and 15 snakes). The presence of rare and endemic species suggests an important role of this area as a source remnant of the northeastern Atlantic Forest herpetological community.