Répteis squamata de remanescentes florestais do Campus da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brasil

fauna inventories are crucial for increasing knowledge of biodiversity as well as for planning and conservation strategies. to assess the taxonomic composition and microhabitat distribution of squamate reptiles in three forest fragments on the campus of the universidade federal do rio grande do norte (ufrn), field collections were carried out quarterly from march through july 2008. active search for specimens was conducted randomly along transects. both time of capture and microhabitat were recorded for each specimen. a total of 92 specimens belonging to 10 species were documented in the study area. further examination of material deposited in the herpetological collection of ufrn uncovered eight additional species recorded for the area, totaling 18 species of squamate reptiles on the ufrn campus. the most abundant species recorded in the study area were mabuya heathi, hemidactylus mabouia and tropidurus hispidus. according to the sorensen similarity index, squamate fauna from the ufrn campus showed 59% similarity with those recorded in the natal dune state park (parque estadual das dunas do natal), a conservation area bordering the campus. in spite of heavy urban encroachment, the forest fragments on the ufrn campus harbor species typical of open and forested areas. the records of coleodactylus natalensis and amphisbaena heathi, both in relictual forest fragments, further justify efforts to preserve these fragments for the maintenance of these endemic species in the campus area.