Geographic distribution, population densities, and issues on conservation of whiptail lizards in restinga habitats along the eastern coast of Brazil

We investigated the current geographic distribution of species of Ameivula and Contomastix along the Brazilian coast. We also estimated population sizes and conservation status of species from both genera and recorded potential sources of habitat degradation. Fieldwork was carried out in 12 areas of restinga (coastal sandy plain) from northeastern (Rio Grande do Norte) to southern Brazil (Santa Catarina), along approximately 4,000 km of coast. We used straight-line transects to estimate population densities. The data indicated that the ranges of species do not overlap. Only the distribution of A. ocellifera overlapped to some degree with A. abaetensis. In general, restingas with intermediate and high levels of degradation had the lowest population densities. We suggest some management strategies for the conservation of coastal species of Ameivula.