Conservation of the caecilian Siphonops annulatus (Amphibia, Gymniphiona) in brazilian cacao plantations: a successful relationship between a fossorial animal and an agrosystem. In: Agrotrópica v. 27 p. 233-238, 2015.

Abstract

Cacao plantations give an important contribution to the conservation of the Atlantic Forest biome, considered the most threatened biodiversity hotspot in South America. Due to their mainly fossorial way of life, caecilian amphibians are the least known order of terrestrial vertebrates. We present observations on the Neotropical siphonopid caecilian Siphonops annulatus (Mikan 1820), which is abundant in the cacao plantations of Southern Bahia. “Cabruca” is the most traditional form of cacao cultivation in this region and uses large native trees which create a fresh, shady environment with an nutrient rich, humid, leaf litter that is highly suitable for caecilians. The current abundance and easiness of observation of S. annulatus makes this region particularly favourable to long-term studies of the ecology of this caecilian. Local knowledge associates the occurrence of these animals with well-established and fertile cacao plantations. The preservation of S. annulatus in this region seems intrinsically linked to the maintenance of the cabruca. Our concern is that the possible regional reduction of cacao cultivation would lead to the loss of one of the most important open laboratories in the world in which caecilians can be studied in nature.