Amphisbaenians, municipality of São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

We provide a checklist, distribution map, and key to the amphisbaenians of the municipality of São Paulo. Seven species in three genera were recorded. Between August 2003 and June 2007, 104 individuals in two genera and five species were received at the Laboratório de Herpetologia of the Instituto Butantan: Amphisbaena alba, A. dubia, A. mertensi, A. trachura, and Leposternon microcephalum. Records for two additional species, Amphisbaena hogei and Cercolophia roberti, were recovered at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. Two widely distributed species, Amphisbaena dubia and Leposternon microcephalum, present different distribution patterns, probably reflecting the distribution of open and forested areas in the studied region, close to contact areas between the Atlantic Forest and adjacent open formations. Most amphisbaenians seem to endure habitat modifications in urbanized areas, but some species as A. hogei and C. roberti are no longer recorded in the São Paulo area.