title: Students' attitudes toward and knowledge about snakes in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Humans in various cultures have feared snakes, provoking an aversion and persecution that hinders conservation efforts for these reptiles. Such fact suggests that conservation strategies for snakes should consider the interactions and perceptions of the local population towards these animals. The aim of this study was to investigate students' perception of snakes and if attitudes and knowledge may differ according to gender and local residence (urban or rural).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected in the second half of 2012 and consisted of questionnaires applied to 108 students in the Basic Education School in the municipality of Sumé, located in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male respondents recognized more species than female did. Part of the students affirmed to have a fear of snakes, especially women. Nearly half of respondents (49%) showed negative behaviour towards these animals, reflecting the influence of potential risk and myths associated with snakes, and supported by a limited knowledge about these animals and their ecological and utilitarian role. We find that the rural students recognized significantly more species than the urban students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results point to the need for educational interventions in order to increase knowledge about the positive aspects associated with snakes, seeking to minimize the influence of myths and beliefs that contribute to a strong aversion to snakes by the locals. Conservation strategies should therefore engage students but also teachers, who are key individuals in the process.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av, das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil. romulo_nobrega@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Rômulo R N
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Vanessa N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Dilma M B M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Trovão
authors.forename: José V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: José S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.forename: Thelma L P
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Ângelo G C
authors.initials: ÂG
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Reinaldo F P
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lucena
authors.forename: Raynner R D
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Barboza
authors.forename: Paulo F G P
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Washington L S
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Wedson M S
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Souto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012911:Snakes; D013334:Students