Under the light: high prevalence of haemoparasites in lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) from Central Amazonia revealed by microscopy.

Blood samples from 330 lizards of 19 species were collected to investigate the occurrence of haemoparasites. Samplings were performed in areas of upland (terra-firme) forest adjacent to Manaus municipality, Amazonas, Brazil. Blood parasites were detected in 220 (66%) lizards of 12 species and comprised four major groups: Apicomplexa (including haemogregarines, piroplasms, and haemosporidians), trypanosomatids, microfilarid nematodes and viral or bacterial organisms.

Composition and ecology of a snake assemblage in an upland forest from Central Amazonia.

Most species of Amazonian snakes have wide geographic distributions. However, local environmental factors influence the formation of assemblages in different localities. In this study, we investigated the composition of the assemblage and the effect of environmental variables on the distribution of the species inhabiting an upland forest in the Experimental Farm area of the Federal University of Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil.