Ethnoherpetology:conhecimento, interações e formas de uso dos répteis pelos moradores da Serra do Batista, no município de Lagoa do Sitio Piauí.

Abstract

Ethnoherpetology is a field of study that focuses on the cultural relationships between amphibian humans and reptiles, and is part of the broader discipline of ethnozoology. Thus, the present study was developed with the aim of understanding the perceptions, attitudes and practices related to reptiles, by residents of Serra do Batista, in Lagoa do Sitio Piauí. The research involved a sample of 27 people, distributed into three distinct groups. The first group being composed of 9 individuals from the Cajupí Settlement, the second 11 people from the Serra do Batista I Settlement, and the third 7 people from the group of Posseiros da Lagoa do Luís Nogueira, aged between 26 and 92 years old, 18 of whom were male and 9 female. Educational level, 21 people have incomplete primary education, 6 incomplete secondary education. Through questionnaires containing 15 questions, a rich traditional knowledge about these local reptile species was identified, as well as associated beliefs and myths. Residents' attitudes towards these animals vary between respect and aversion, reflecting the complexity of local cultural and ecological relationships. In view of the above, the data obtained provide a diverse view of the environmental importance of reptiles and their interactions with the community, highlighting the need to promote greater understanding and harmonization between traditional practices and scientific knowledge with a focus on environmental education.