133 Anuran refuges in the Pantanal wetlands All articles available online at http://www.salamandra-journal.com © 2014 Deutsche Gesellschat für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V. (DGHT), Mannheim, Germany SALAMANDRA 50(3) 133–138 30 October 2014 ISSN 0036–3375 Crab burrows and termite thermal chimneys as refuges for anurans in a Neotropical wetland Fernanda Simioni 1 , Vitor Azarias Campos 2 , Tainá Figueras Dorado-Rodrigues 2 , Jerry Penha 3 & Christine Strüssmann 4 1) Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso – UFMT. Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Boa Esperança. CEP 78060–900, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil 2) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, UFMT 3) Departamento de Botânica e Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, UFMT 4) Departamento de Ciências Básicas e Produção Animal, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UFMT Corresponding author: Fernanda Simioni, e-mail: fernanda.simioni@hotmail.com Manuscript received: 11 November 2013 Accepted: 12 March 2014 by Edgar Lehr Abstract. In this study, we report on shelter use by anurans during the dry season in the Pantanal, a large wetland in mid- western Brazil that is subject to periodical loods, dry periods, and sporadic ires. Field observations were made in the northern Pantanal from 2010 to 2013. We documented the use of underground burrows by seven frog species (about 20% of the known local anuran richness), including representatives of Hylidae, which tend to be arboreal. Most shelters used were galleries similar to those built by the crab Dilocarcinus pagei (Trichodactylidae). We also report on experimental and opportunistic observations on the use of termite thermal chimneys by the toad Rhinella bergi. Due to the prevalence of open areas in the Pantanal and absence of overlapping rocks and other types of shelter, underground galleries and tunnels in termite mounds may oten be important refuges for anurans during the dry season and ires. herefore, these tunnels may contribute signiicantly to the structuring of ground-dwelling anuran communities, which requires further studies. hese studies should also address the indirect impacts of potential threats to the availability and integrity of underground burrows in the Pantanal, such as land management practices, uncontrolled crab exploitation, and extended extreme cli- matic events. Key words. Trichodactylidae, Isoptera, Pantanal, subterranean habitats, diurnal shelter, drought, dry season, ire refuge, murundu. Introduction Shelters may oten be important abiotic limiting factors for animals (Gotelli 2009), and their availability can inlu- ence the survival of individuals, persistence of populations and communities, and biological diversity (Magoulick & Kobza 2003, Mènard et al. 2012). Physical refuges are not only efective to avoid predators, but may also mini- mize excessive luctuations in body temperature, thereby reducing evaporative water loss and risks of desiccation. hese characteristics are important for anurans (and oth- er amphibians) because they have a semi-permeable skin (Seebacher & Alford 2002, Rosset & Alcade 2004, Wells 2007). A few anuran species have adapted to digging them- selves into soil or burrowing (Hoffman & Katz 1989, Denton & Beebee 1993, Rosset & Alcade 2004). In most species, however, individuals occupy burrows ex- cavated by other animals, which presumably reduces the high energetic costs associated with burrowing (Wells 2007). Anurans use burrows excavated by crustaceans, spiders, tortoises, lizards, birds, mammals, and other ani- mals (Conner et al. 1997, Tozetti & Toledo 2005, Wells 2007, Roznik & Johnson 2009, Ferreira & Tonini 2010; also see a recent review in Nunes & Costa 2011). Al- though usually facultative, burrow use may be obligato- ry in some species, such as the crawish frog (Lithobates areolatus, Ranidae), native to the prairies and grasslands of the central United States, which depends on crayish burrows as primary retreats during non-breeding period (Heemeyer et al. 2012). Termite (Isoptera) nests (or termitaria) are another im- portant source of shelter and of nesting sites for several in- vertebrates and vertebrates, including frogs. Termites, and therefore termitaria, are widespread and abundant in Neo- tropical savannas (Moreira et al. 2009). Frogs may also use other forms of shelter, such as cracks and crevices in dry soil (Nunes & Costa 2011).