Percepciones populares y culturales sobre los anfibios y reptiles del cantón Zamora

Abstract

Abstract: AbstractEthnozoology is the biological discipline that focuses on studying how humans think, catalog and relate to other animals. In the case of herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles), humans generally demonstrate a negative perspective, influenced by cultural, ecological, geographic, and ignorance factors. This study analyzes the degree of knowledge and the popular and cultural perception that the population of Zamora canton has regarding amphibians and reptiles. For this purpose, a qualitative methodology was used through a semi-structured interview with 35 people, resulting in 40% of those surveyed not knowing what amphibians are, while 42.86% know about reptiles, 74.28% have heard an amphibian sing, 57.14% indicated that they have learned about amphibians and reptiles and 14% indicated that they have learned about amphibians and reptiles. 14% indicated having learned about amphibians and reptiles in school/college, 60% identify amphibians as toads and 37.14% identify reptiles as snakes, in terms of perception: respondents consider amphibians to be harmless (38.5%); while 24.6% of respondents consider reptiles to be curative. In conclusion, the lack of enviro mental education on herpetofauna can have a negative influence on their conservation.