New records of Chelidae species from the state of Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

Research involving citizen science has gained increasing relevance in scientific studies due to the voluntary contributions of information provided by the community. The widespread use of the internet and social media has enabled public participation in research focused on environmental conservation. As a result, citizen science has emerged as an important tool for addressing potential knowledge gaps regarding species occurrences that may have been overlooked due to limited research efforts. Citizens actively contribute by sharing valuable information about species, such as freshwater turtles, which are the focus of this study. Initially, primary data were collected from bibliographic sources, databases, and zoological collections. Subsequently, an illustrative flyer containing photos of the target species was created to request information regarding their occurrence in the state of Piauí. The main platforms used for outreach were Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The community was encouraged to contribute by submitting as much information as possible regarding sightings of the species. At reported sighting locations where specimens were found, funnel traps or hand nets were used for collection. The captured specimens were then deposited in the Coleção de História Natrual da Universidade Federal do Piauí (CHNUFPI). The most effective social media platforms were WhatsApp, with 40 contributions, and Instagram, with 12 records. Based on the gathered data and collected specimens, the known distribution of Mesoclemmys tuberculata was expanded to include the municipalities of Itaueira and Floriano. Additionally, three new records of Phrynops geoffroanus were documented in São Raimundo Nonato, Guadalupe, and Canto do Buriti. Citizen science approaches have made significant contributions to biodiversity monitoring and species conservation efforts. In this case, they directly contributed to expanding the known distribution range of the studied turtle species.