Caatinga Ethnoherpetology: Relationships between Herpetofauna and People in a Semiarid Region of Northeastern Brazil

Abstract. We investigated the interactions between humans and herpetofauna in the semiarid region of Paraíba State, Brazil. Data were obtained by means of interviews with 124 hunters or ex-hunters using semi-structured questionnaires, complemented by informal conversations. We recorded 18 species (17 reptiles and one amphibian) that local human populations interact with because they have some utilitarian value or because of conflicting relations with local inhabitants. Implementation of conservation measures aimed at the herpetofauna in this region is particularly difficult due to the aversion that local people hold toward many of these species. Therefore, environmental education strategies should be adopted. These efforts should not be solely directed at species subject to hunting, but should be all-inclusive and take into consideration the cultural, social, and utilitarian role that governs the interactions of human populations and the herpetofauna of the Caatinga.