Etno conhecimento de agricultores sobre a importância dos anfíbios anuros em uma comunidade rural do município de São João do Rio do Peixe - PB.

Abstract

Anuran amphibians are important components of trophic webs, particularly due to their role on the biological control of insects. Ethnobiology is concerned with the means of which traditional communities understand, recognize and modify the environment. Due to an enduring lack of knowledge, amphibians are still recognized as ‘repulsive’ animals, with many people regarding them as maleficent creatures. Given this scenario, the present study aimed to identify and evaluate the knowledge of agriculturists from the Viração rural community, city of São João do Rio do Peixe, Paraíba state, regarding the biology of anuran amphibian species. Interviews were conducted with 25 farmers from local visits 12

to their work field. During the initial approach, farmers were informed about the nature of the research, its aims, risks and benefits, and how the interview would be conducted. The farmers cited five species as abundant anuran amphibians, of which the sapo cururu grande and the rãzinha puladeira were the most commonly cited. The results of the present study were important to identify the perception of the farmers towards natural resources.