Distribution of populations of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris, Daudin 1802, Alligatoridae) in the São Francisco River basin, Brazil

R Filogonio,Lf Passos,Vb Assis,Me Coutinho

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842010000500007

Abstract

We surveyed populations of the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris, throughout the São Francisco River basin, from Três Marias reservoir, State of Minas Gerais, to the river delta, at the boarder of Sergipe and Alagoas states. We registered the occurrence of crocodilians in 61% of all surveyed localities (n = 64), in which the presence of C. latirostris was confirmed in 44% of the surveyed sites. Caimans occurred in both lentic and lotic habitats, although there was a preference for small dams, oxbow lakes and wetlands. Despite the hunting pressure and human impact on natural habitats, our results indicate that the populations of C. latirostris in the São Francisco basin are not fragmented.

Highlights

The broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris, is a native species from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay
Few studies have dealt with the status or dynamics of Brazilian populations in the wild and most of them were conducted in the Paraná River basin or on the coastal south-eastern part of the species distribution range
Caiman latirostris was sighted directly in 28 localities (44%), and Paleosuchus palpebrosus was present in three different sites, whereas the other sightings corresponded to unidentified individuals

Summary

Introduction

The broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris, is a native species from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is distributed throughout the Paraná, Paraguay, São Francisco and Uruguay River basins (Borteiro et al, 2006), being the crocodilian with the southernmost distribution among neotropical species. The species distribution within Brazil ranges from the north-eastern state of Rio Grande do Norte reaching the south of the Rio Grande do Sul state (Verdade and Piña, 2006). Few studies have dealt with the status or dynamics of Brazilian populations in the wild and most of them were conducted in the Paraná River basin or on the coastal south-eastern part of the species distribution range

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