Kingsleya attenboroughi is a freshwater crab species belonging to Pseudothelphusidae described in the municipality of Barbalha, Ceará. The objective of this study was to understand the degree of knowledge of residents of two rural communities (Sítio Santo Antônio and Farias) of the same municipality about K. attenboroughi. The data were obtained from March to May 2018 through the application of open and semi-structured interviews, using the usual techniques of ethnographic recording. We interviewed 30 women and 22 men, whose ages ranged from 18 to 93 years. The participants provided data that can serve in a more objective way to make decisions regarding the preservation of K. attenboroughi in the Conservation Unit in which it occurs. The residents use the streams of the species for various activities, such as agriculture, farming, fishing and bathing, and pass the knowledge about the species from generation to generation. These activities, together with an aquatic theme park, can be the main causes for its threat status. All participants have been concerned about the decrease of water in recent years, damaging local biodiversity. The informants suggest activities of environmental education and greater inspection by the agencies responsible for the area.

Environmental education comes to develop in the population a perception that it is the main protagonist when it comes to the conservation of biodiversity. Bats have an extensive diversity, are of great ecological importance, using insects and other arthropods, fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, pollen, nectar, small vertebrates and blood as food, contributing to the dispersion of seeds and the control of insects, however, an erroneous perception of bats is portrayed. This work sought to demystify the prejudiced and erroneous concepts that people have about these mammals, promoting the awareness of elementary school students at Escola Estado da Paraíba. An exploratory class was held addressing the ecology of bats, and a questionnaire was applied to analyze the knowledge of the students and after the class, as well as a game was made “Tabuleiro dos Morcegos Brasileiros” where there were questions and challenges, which required participants to prior knowledge of bat ecology. It was verified by means of the second questionnaire that the explanations about the characteristics of bats and their relationship with the environment contributed for the children to stop having a misconception about bats. There is a lack of information regarding the importance of bats, these animals have a great role in nature, such as reforestation and pest control. However, they are still targets of prejudice and misinformation for many people.