<b><em>Piolho-de-cobra</em> (Arthropoda: Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) as viewed by the inhabitants of Pedra Branca, Santa Terezinha, Bahia State, Brazil</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v28i2.1035

Abstract

This paper deals with the conceptions, knowledge and attitudes of the inhabitants of Pedra Branca county, State of Bahia, on the arthropod known as piolho-de-cobra (millipede) (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha). A new field within ethnozoology is here presented: ethnomyriapodology, defined as the transdisciplinary study of the relationships between human beings and the myriapods. Data were collected from February to June, 2005 by means of open-ended interviews carried out with 24 individuals whose ages ranged from 25 to 86 years old. Some traditional knowledge regarding this millipede taxonomy, biology, habitat, ecology, seazonality, and behavior were recorded. Results show that this centipede is classified as an “insect”. The way it moves was highly commented, as well as the fact that this animal is considered “poisonous”. In general, the traditional zoological knowledge of the inhabitants of Pedra Branca concerning the geophilomorph centipede is rationally coherent with the academic knowledge.