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THE BLACK SPINE-NECKED SWAMP TURTLE, Acantochelys spixii, IN TCERRO VERDE COASTAL-MARINE PROTECTED AR

AND ZONES OF INFLUEN

Introduction

The black spine-necked swamp turtle, Acanthochelys spixii, is one of the five freshwater turtles thainhabits Uruguay (Achaval & Olmos 2003). In the region, it is found in Argentina (Paran River, CorrProvince) and south of Brazil. In Uruguay is distributed in the northeast and east area (Map 1), in thdepartments of Rocha, Rivera, Tacuaremb and Treinta y Tres (Carreira et al2005). Rocha has thehighest number of records for this species.

Alejandro Fallabrino1, Andrs Estrades1 & Sabrina Clavijo-Baq

1Karumb, Av. Giannattasio 30.5, El Pinar, Uruguay. afalla7@g2Secc. Zoologa Vertebrados, Fac. de Ciencias, UDELAR, Montevideo, Uruguay. sabricb@fci

Study area

From 2003, the organization Karumb has worked throughout tcoast of Rocha to increase knowledge on the biology, ecology conservation status of the marine and freshwater turtles. Thisresearch brings up to date the information for the A. spixiiin thnewly created Cerro Verde Coastal-Marine Protected Area (CMMap 2) and zones of influence (33 56 S; 53 30 W). The area isof the Baados del Este y Franja Costera Biosphere Reserveestablished in 1976 and is a RAMSAR site since 1982. Itencompasses a wide variety of ecosystems, such as rocky shosand beach arcs, sand dunes, native woody and sandy vegetatwetlands (e.g., lagoons, streams, creeks), islands, and the coasoceanic shelf.

Turtle data

The turtles from this research (December 2003/march 2007)were found in small, permanent or temporary ponds; burrowed

Photo 1-2-3), crossing pathways and roads inside the area.Straight carapace length was measured from the nuchal notcho the posterior tip of the supracaudals (SCLn-t) using a caliper

measure ( 1mm) (Photo 4). Other data collected is the tissuesamples for future genetic studies.From a total of 25 turtles examined, 17 were adults (males andemales Photo 5), 6 were juveniles and 2 were hatchlingsPhoto 6) (Table 1).

Some 3 hatchlings were found in clean water ponds with amean of 10 centimeters of profundity. All present their

carapace covered by algae. Others were found caving in hardsubstrates, near the surface to a maximum deep of 50centimeters. Two observations of reproductive biology hasmade. One female was found dead in march 2005, with severaldeveloping eggs inside (Photo 7). Only one nesting activity wasrecorded, a specimen maintained in Turtle Center laid five eggson April 2005, but no development occurred.

Conservation

In Uruguay this species is included in the Official List of Specthe Wild Fauna (Decree 514/001), protected by law (Decree 164and categorized in the recent Red List of the Amphibians andReptiles of Uruguay with as Near Threatened (NT) species (Canet al.in press; IUCN 2006).The principal threats on freshwater turtles of this region are theillegal trade (export and pet Photo 8), habitat destruction (coadevelopment) or degradation and being killed on roads (Photo Lack of information about this specie makes of vital importancinvestigation (ecology, biology, genetic, etc.) and to developconservation strategies. The area of Cerro Verde was highlighta region of great importance and diversity of critical habitats fospecies.The recent creation of this protected area (category "Habitat/SpManagement Area" described by the Decree 52/2005), the

development of an effective management plan, the future integof other coastal areas to the National System of Protected Area(SNAP), are the first steps towards the reduction of the presentthreats in the most important reproduction, developmental andforaging habitats for the black spine-necked swamp turtle inUruguay.

Acknowledgments

This work would not been possible without the collaboration from many Karumb members, in specially Carlos Romero, and avolunteers from Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, USA & England. We would also like to thank Luciana Alonso for assi

translation.

Bibliography

Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y Reptiles del Uruguay, 2da edicin corregida y aumentada. Graphis, Montevideo. UCanavero A., S. Carreira, J. A. Langone, F. Achaval, C. Borteiro, A. Camargo, I. da Rosa, A. Estrades, A. Fallabrino, F. Kolenc, Mendilaharsu, R. Maneyro, M. Meneghel, D. Nuez, C. M. Prigioniand L. Ziegler. In press. Red list of the amphibians and reptilHerpetological Conservation and Biology.Carreira, S., M. Meneghel & F. Achaval. 2005. Reptiles del Uruguay. Seccin Zoologa de Vertebrados, Depto. de Biologa Anim

Ciencias. Montevideo, Uruguay. 639 pp.

Map 2

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Map 1