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Abstract

“Smart fi sh that can see at a distance”: Traditional ichthyological knowledge in the Chapada Diamantina region, Bahia. This paper examines the traditional ichthyological knowledge of a community of fi shermen that live in the Marimbus-Iraquara environmental protection area (Bahia, Brazil). Data were collected using open and semi-structured interviews and fi eld observation. Also, zoological materials were collected. Knowledge about the behavior of 21 fi sh species is reported. The ethological phenomena perceived by the fi shermen were divided into 17 ethological categories related to reproduction, fl ight behavior, predation, social behavior, or response to artifi cial stimuli. The results of the study indicate the existence of a broad local ecological knowledge about species and ecosystems, particularly in relation to fi sh species.

Keywords

• Chapada Diamantina
• Conhecimento tradicional
• Etnoecologia