“Smart fish that can see at a distance”: Traditional ichthyological knowledge in the Chapada Diamantina region, Bahia

Abstract

This paper examines the traditional ichthyological knowledge of a community of fishermen that live in the Marimbus-Iraquara environmental protection area (Bahia, Brazil). Data were collected using open and semi-structured interviews and field observation. Also, zoological materials were collected. Knowledge about the behavior of 21 fish species is reported. The ethological phenomena perceived by the fishermen were divided into 17 ethological categories related to reproduction, flight behavior, predation, social behavior, or response to artificial stimuli. The results of the study indicate the existence of a broad local ecological knowledge about species and ecosystems, particularly in relation to fish species.

Keywords

• Chapada Diamantina
• traditional knowledge
• Ethnoecology