Natural history of Micrablepharus maximiliani (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a Cerrado region of northeastern Brazil

Francisco Dal Vechio,Renato Recoder,Hussam Zaher,Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702014000200002

Abstract

Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt & Luetken, 1861) is a microteiid lizard widely distributed in the open areas of South America. Little is known about its ecology and reproductive biology. Here, we analyzed aspects of the natural history of a population of M. maximiliani from a Cerrado area in the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. Our results suggest that the reproductive activity of M. maximiliani might be seasonal in the Cerrado, since reproductive females were observed only in the dry season, whereas reproductive males were present in both seasons. Vitellogenic follicles and oviductal eggs were found simultaneously in one female, suggesting that females may produce more than one clutch per season. Sexual dimorphism was observed in body shape, and individuals were mainly restricted to a typical savanna physiognomy. The diet consisted of small arthropods, including spiders, crickets and cockroaches as the most important items.

Highlights

Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt & Luetken, 1861) is a small gymnophthalmid lizard that is widely distributed throughout open areas of tropical South America (VANZOLINI 1988, ÁVILA-PIRES 1995, RODRIGUES 1996)
Sexual dimorphism was observed in body shape, and individuals were mainly restricted to a typical savanna physiognomy
Our results show that Micrablepharus maximiliani is more commonly found in the cerrado sensu stricto physiognomy in the Estação Ecológica UruçuíUna (EEUU)

Summary

Introduction

Micrablepharus maximiliani (Reinhardt & Luetken, 1861) is a small gymnophthalmid lizard (about 4 cm of snout-vent length) that is widely distributed throughout open areas of tropical South America (VANZOLINI 1988, ÁVILA-PIRES 1995, RODRIGUES 1996). It is present in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil, associated with coastal restingas, open habitat enclaves, in transitional areas between the Caatinga and Cerrado domains, or in isolated forests known as “Brejos de Altitude” (FREIRE 1996, SILVA et al 2006, MOURA et al 2010, ABRANTES et al 2011) This species is a semi-fossorial lizard, often associated with rock outcrops, leaf-litter and bare ground, usually found in sandy-soil habitats, or inside termite mounds (RODRIGUES 1996, 2003, MESQUITA et al 2006, WERNECK et al 2009). We provide for the first time a comprehensive study of the natural history of M. maximiliani, presenting information on the reproductive condition, diet, habitat use, and sexual dimorphism of a population from a locality in the northern Cerrado, state of Piauí, Brazil

Methods

Results

Conclusion