Lizards from central Jatapú River, Amazonas, Brazil

The present study reports an inventory of lizard species from a region at the central Jatapú River located in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. The lizard fauna was surveyed using three sampling methods: diurnal and nocturnal visual search, pitfall traps with drift fences, and incidental collections. We recorded 24 lizard species belonging to 18 genera and eight families. Non-parametric estimators of richness (Bootstrap, Chao 2, Jackknife 1, Ace) were used to estimate the percentage of total richness sampled. Expected species richness varied from 27 species estimated via Bootstrap to 30 species with Jackknife 1. The composition of the lizard fauna encountered in the rio Jatapú plot was compared with seven other published surveys carried out in the region of the Brazilian Guiana Shield. The composition of the Jatapú lizard fauna was most similar to FLOTA Faro (84%) and least similar to ESEC Grão-Pará Center (66%). There was no association between faunal similarity and geographic distance. The present species list contributes to our knowledge of lizards of the southern portion of the Guiana Shield in Brazil.