Reptilia, Testudines, Chelidae: Hydromedusa tectifera: distribution extension in Brazil

The genus Hydromedusa comprises two recognized species, H. maximiliani (Mikan, 1820) and H. tectifera Cope, 1869 from southern South America (Ernst and Barbour 1989, Fritz and Hava 2007). The geographic distribution of Hydromedusa tectifera is restricted to Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Pritchard 1979; Ernst and Barbour 1989; Lema and Ferreira 1990; Fritz and Hava 2007). In Brazil, the range of this species was restricted to the São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul states (Pritchard 1979; Ernst and Barbour 1989; Lema and Ferreira 1990; Lema et al. 2002; Ribas and Monteiro Filho 2002; Rocha et al. 2004; Santos et al. 2005; Ghizoni-Jr and Graipel 2005; Souza, 2005; Noleto et al. 2006; Pontes et al. 2006; Quintela et al. 2006; Fagundes and Bager 2007; Fritz and Havas 2007), in locations at sea level up to 1120 m above sea level (Ribas and Monteiro Filho 2002; Souza 2005; Pontes, et al. 2005; Quintela et al. 2006). According to Souza (2005) all records of this species are in the Atlantic rainforest biome. However, this species was recorded in the Pampa biome by Fagundes and Bager (2007).