title: Reptiles from Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhão, northeastern Brazil.
abstract: We are presenting a list of the reptile species from Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (LMNP), Maranhão, Brazil, obtained during 235 days of field work. The study area is located in the contact zone between three major Neotropical ecosystems: Amazonia, Caatinga, and Cerrado. The PNLM encompasses the largest dune fields in Brazil, wide shrubby areas (restingas), lakes, mangroves, and many freshwater lagoons. We have recorded 42 species of reptiles in the area: 24 snakes, 12 lizards, two worm lizards, three turtles, and one alligator. About 81 % of the recorded species occurred only in restinga areas. Our data highlights the uniqueness of the PNLM in the context of the biomes that surround it and shows the importance of efforts to improve the conservation of reptiles living in the restinga, which currently comprise only about 20 % of the total area protected by the park, but which are the mesohabitat containing most of the reptile species in the Lençóis Maranhenses complex of habitats.
authors.affiliation: Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia, Caixa Postal 6109, CEP 13084-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Current Address: Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, MA-230, Km 4, S/N, CEP 65500-000, Chapadinha, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jivanildo Pinheiro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: João Carlos Lopes
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Carlos Frederico D
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Rocha
keywords: Richness; dunes; ecotone; lizards; restingas; snakes; turtles; worm lizards