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Abstract The microplastics (MPs), due to their high dispersion and bioaccumulation rates, have been identified in various animal groups, such as anuran amphibians during both larval and adult stages. However, current studies on adult anuran amphibians focus on assessing only one exposure route, the digestive system, while other routes remain underestimated. Therefore, this present study aimed to evaluate the degree of contamination in the digestive, respiratory, and integumentary systems, in situ, of two endemic Amazonian adult anuran species (Physalaemus ephippifer and Boana multifasciata). From this, we identified and characterized microplastic particles for each exposure route, assessed the effects of morphometric measures on the total MP contamination level and in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Additionally, we determined different contamination indices and how they vary according to species and systems. Based on our data, the digestive and integumentary exposure routes showed the highest contamination levels for both species. Additionally, variations in MP contamination levels indicated that P. ephippifer had a higher level of MP contamination. Thus, this study provides the first evidence of microplastic exposure through respiratory and integumentary routes in adult anurans in situ, and it is the first to identify MP contamination in terrestrial biomonitors in the Amazon.

Los Matorrales de cactáceas del sur de Cuba constituyen una ecorregión que solo se encuentra dispersa en franjas y fragmentos pequeños asociados a climas secos costeros de esta isla, con un área inferior a 3000 km2. Su estado de conservación se clasifica como "Vulnerable" y se considera que la naturaleza peligra en su territorio, por lo que es indispensable la actualización del conocimiento de su biodiversidad para contribuir a su preservación. En este estudio se presenta el inventario de los anfibios y reptiles de esta ecorregión en la franja suroriental de la isla, confeccionado a partir de la revisión bibliográfica y de colecciones, así como de muestreos de campo a diferentes sitios del área de estudio entre los años 2015 y 2022. En los muestreos se utilizó la metodología de registros de encuentros visuales con búsqueda activa de los animales, tanto de forma visual como auditiva, realizando muestreos diurnos y nocturnos. Se registran nueve especies de anfibios y 61 especies de reptiles, con predominio de las familias Eleutherodactylidae y Anolidae, y de los géneros Eleutherodactylus y Anolis. El endemismo es alto, con 77.8% en anfibios y 78.7% en reptiles, 22 especies son conocidas solamente de esta área. Tres especies de anfibios y 11 de reptiles se consideran amenazadas en la Lista Roja de UICN, además de otras cinco clasificadas como “Casi amenazada”. Se seleccionaron 25 especies consideradas como de mayor interés para la conservación en base a su endemismo local y grado de amenaza, las que deberían recibir la mayor prioridad para lograr su preservación en el área de estudio. La combinación de alta riqueza específica, endemismo local y especies amenazadas de los dos grupos enfatizan la relevancia de esta ecorregión para la conservación en Cuba y el Caribe.

Karimata Island is an island about 100 km west of Borneo, causes geographical isolation and generally always shows an impact on the diversity of animal communities that are less, one of the communities affected is herpetofauna. Herpetofauna is very important in an ecosystem so it is necessary to conduct a survey. The survey was conducted from April 1 to April 7, 2023 in Betok Jaya Village, Karimata Island which was divided in 3 observation areas based on habitat type using the Visual Encounter Survey method. Herpetofauna found consisted in 22 species divided into 5 species of amphibians and 17 species of reptiles with a total of 43 individuals. Herpetofauna located adjacent to human areas is vulnerable to various disturbances such as maritime transportation activities, household waste pollution and land clearing, which can be a threat to the herpetofauna community of Karimata Island.

Only a few comprehensive studies have been carried out on parasites in amphibians and reptiles in Ukraine. This has resulted in identifying over 100 helminth species across these vertebrate groups. However, most of the studies were performed in the 20th century and the taxonomy of many parasites and their hosts has changed ever since, in addition to the discovery of new species and registrations of species that had not been previously known for Ukraine. In recent decades, there have been very few publications on helminths from amphibian or reptile hosts in this region. Notably, just one of these recent studies is a faunistic study, providing a list of helminths found in two species of green frogs – Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) and Pelophylax esculentus (Linnaeus, 1758). Therefore, it is clear that publishing datasets of modern records of helminths in these vertebrate groups, based on modern taxonomy, is an essential step in further studies of their parasitic diversity. Additionally, such study is important in terms of global climate change, the growing number of possibilities of invasion of alien species (both hosts and parasites) that might potentially become a threat to native biota and growing anthropogenic pressure on local populations of hosts that affect the parasites as well. In future, this study is planned to be used for the creation of a checklist of helminths of the herpetofauna of Ukraine. The present dataset is an inventory of various species of helminths parasitising common species of the herpetofauna in central, northern, western and southern Ukraine recorded during field studies in the 2021-2023 period.The dataset is the first one to represent the up-to-date and unified data on helminths of reptiles and amphibians of Ukraine. Previously, records of this group of organisms with reference to their hosts were presented as several separate records within the country. Currently, this is the largest dataset presenting geocoded records of non-human-related helminths in the fauna of Ukraine. It reports helminth species from 15 hosts (205 individuals), including eight amphibians and seven reptilian species found in various Ukrainian regions. A total of 47 helminth species have been documented in the research and during 2021-2023 period on the territory of northern (Kyiv and Zhytomyr), western (Lviv, Zakarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk), central (Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia and Poltava) and southern (Odesa) regions of Ukraine. The identified helminth species belong to the following phyla: Acanthocephala (Centrorhynchidae (2), Echinorhynchidae (2)); Nematoda (Acuariidae, Anisakidae, Cosmocercidae (3), Dioctophymatidae, Gnathostomatidae (1), Kathlanidae (1), Molineidae (7), Onchocercidae (1), Pharyngodonidae (1), Rhabdiasidae (6), Strongyloididae); Platyhelminthes (Diplodiscidae (1), Diplostomidae (2), Encyclometridae (1), Haematoloechidae (1), Leptophallidae (2), Macroderidae (1), Mesocestoididae, Opisthorchiidae (2), Plagiorchiidae (3), Pleurogenidae (2), Polystomatidae (3), Proteocephalidae (1), Strigeidae (1) and Telorchiidae (3)). Only some helminths in the dataset were not identified to species level. Material is stored in the collection of the department of Parasitology of the I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine.

The Pacific Lowlands (PL) of Mexico hosts a rich diversity of amphibians and reptiles, comprising 326 native species (76 amphibians and 250 reptiles) across 45 families. This region is significant from a biodiversity standpoint, accounting for 23.3% of Mexico’s total amphibian and reptile species, with 30 species being endemic to the PL. Notably, the PL ranks sixth in amphibian and reptile diversity among Mexico’s fourteen biogeographic provinces. The species composition indicates a complex biogeographic relationship for the province, which shares the highest percentages of species with the neighboring Transition Zone provinces, while also acting as a vital corridor for species adapted to varied environmental conditions. Despite its diversity, 24 species in the PL are of conservation concern, highlighting threats from habitat loss, urbanization, and the impacts of introduced species in the province. Our findings underscore the ecological significance of the PL and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect its unique biodiversity.

Identifying urban and peri-urban areas inhabited by species of reptiles and amphibians represents the first step in understanding how herpetofauna can adapt to anthropogenic factors. This is particularly true for regions where sampling biases have left significant gaps in our knowledge of fauna distribution, such as Romania. The aim of the study is to show my preliminary observations on the herpetofauna and its use of habitats in the urban and peri-urban environments from the city of Pitești, Argeș County, located in southern Romania. I identified nine species of amphibians (Salamandra salamandra, Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Hyla orientalis, Pelophylax ridibundus and Rana dalmatina) and nine species of reptiles (Emys orbicularis, Trachemys scripta, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis muralis, Anguis colchica, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix and Natrix tessellata). The most abundent species in urban environments were Podarcis muralis and Bufotes viridis, with other species naturally present in the same habitats being Lacerta viridis, Hyla orientalis and Bufo bufo. In an artificial urban pond there were present Emys orbicularis and the invasive species Trachemys scripta (together with other exotic turtles belonging to other genera) as a result of translocation and releases. When taking into account the peri-urban areas as well, the most abundant species in the study area were Bombina variegata, Rana dalmatina and Bufotes viridis, the first two being limited to the woodland area. The most widespread species were Hyla orientalis, Bufotes viridis, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis muralis and Natrix natrix. These widespread species were present throughout all the study area. I have also recorded some species of reptiles with very few observations in the Argeș County: Natrix tessellata and Trachemys scripta. Finally, I identified anthropogenic factors that negatively impact the herpetofauna, such as habitat loss, direct persecution, road mortality, invasive species and poaching.

Global herpetofauna faces threats by habitat loss and degradation, with amphibian and reptile species maintenance in human-modified landscapes not only depending on forest remnants, but also on biodiversity-friendly matrices, such as agroforestry systems. Nevertheless, herpetological studies in agroforests are limited, hindering conservation decisions. To fill this gap, we conducted a global meta-analysis to assess the ability of agroforestry systems to maintain abundance and richness of amphibian and reptile species when compared to native forests. We analyze how community parameters (richness or abundance) and agroforest types based on the vegetation characteristics described by the studies (simplified or complex) impact the variation of overall effect size. We also used meta-regression models to examine how the amount of forest cover around agroforests affects the effect size. Finally, we calculated Sorensen's Index based on incidence data to investigate the degree of similarity in species composition of amphibians and reptiles between agroforestry systems and native forests. Our results showed that amphibian diversity in agroforests is lower than in native forests, regardless of the parameter and agroforestry type. For reptiles, agroforests showed higher abundance and similar species richness to forests. Simplified agroforestry systems support less reptile diversity than complex systems, which are more similar to forests. Interestingly, landscape forest amount modulates the ability of agroforests in maintain reptile richness. In fact, agroforests inserted in highly forested landscapes can harbor higher richness of reptiles than forests. We also found that half of the amphibian and reptile species observed in agroforests are different from those observed in native forests. Our findings highlights that agroforests cannot replace native forests because such systems harbor reduced abundance and species richness, especially amphibians, and a distinct species composition. However, when inserted in forested landscapes these agricultural systems can host rich reptile communities. Thus, preserving native forests and restoring deforested regions are crucial for herpetofauna conservation in human-modified landscapes.

Fluorescence in amphibians and reptiles has emerged as a prominent study subject in recent years, with research focused on understanding its function and diversity. As the knowledge of fluorescence in vertebrates is still understudied, we surveyed amphibian and reptile species in montane and lowland Atlantic Forest sites to evaluate presence or absence of fluorescence. By randomly sampling species, we found evidence of fluorescence in amphibians of the genera Scinax, Brachycephalus and Hylodes, and reptiles of the genera Bothrops, Enyalius and Hemidactylus. Our findings increase the list of known species that may benefit from fluorescent patterns. Fluorescence was either ocular, dermal, or subdermal related to the skeleton or ossified dermal structures. Whether these species are able to see and interpret the different the patterns generated by fluorescent structures is yet to be discovered.

This paper contains information on the records of bottom macroinvertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals collected during a field expedition to the valley of the Shokhdara River (in the vicinities of town of Khorog city) near its mouth and confluence with Panj River in autumn 2019 – spring 2020. According to the results of the study, 3 fish species (Actinopterigii) were found inhabiting Shokhdara River with 1 additional species being confirmed by locals. The taxonomic composition of the registered fish species is as follows: Cyprinidae – 2, Nemacheilidae – 1. 5 species of reptiles (Squamata: Colubridae – 2, Viperidae – 1, Agamidae – 1, Gekkonidae - 1), and 1 species of amphibians (Anura: Bufonidae – 1) were registered within the investigated area. 24 taxonomic groups of water macroinvertebrates were spotted (89,7% - Insecta): Simuliidae - 35,8%, Ephemeroptera – 18,7%, Chironomidae – 18%, Trichoptera – 10,5%, Oligochaeta – 6,5%, Plecoptera – 2,8%, Diptera – 2,5%, Gastropoda – 2,5%. Nematoda, Turbilaria, Ostracoda, Copepoda, Сyclops, Sphaerium, Araneida, Acarina, Odonata, Heteroptera, Colleoptera, Neuroptera, Lepidoptera and Megaloptera in total counted as only 2,7% of all registered macroinvertebrates. A total of 99 bird species (48% of the avifauna of the studied region) were registered during autumn/spring research. Among Mammalia class such valuable and rare internationally protected species as Asian otter, snow leopard and Himalayan brown bear were confirmed to inhabit the areas adjacent to the studies river valley.

The mortality of wildlife on roadways is a major conservation concern worldwide. Amphibians and reptiles are especially vulnerable to vehicular collisions, and this is of particular concern in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve (Ontario, Canada) where several species are near their geographic limits of distribution and designated as species-at-risk. We completed regular surveys (n = 270) of two major highways in the Reserve, each slightly less than 40 km in length. All observations of wildlife-vehicle collisions were documented for two years on each road, including 18,278 frogs, turtles, and snakes. We used kernel density estimation to map relative magnitude of this mortality and built a suite of regression tree models to assess the influence of landcover and other habitat factors on roadkill at two scales (1 ha and 20 ha). Sample size was large enough to conduct species-level analyses for Chrysemys picta marginata (midland painted turtle) and Nerodia sipedon (northern watersnake). Spatial clustering of roadkill was evident on both roads and for all taxa. However, the extent of clustering varied between the two roadways due to differences in landcover pattern and clustering was more discrete for frogs and turtles than for snakes. For frogs, turtles, and northern watersnakes we found that elevated levels of mortality were positively associated with the amount of wetland and open water in adjacent areas as well as the proximity of water features. However, mortality locations for other species of snakes were more closely associated with upland habitat types. While some generalities emerge from our study, the variation also suggests that caution be exercised when attempting to extend results to different taxa and roadways, especially since these results may vary with scale. Nonetheless, scale-related differences can be informative for identifying the location of roadkill mitigation efforts and we illustrate how such an approach could be implemented for snakes that exhibit less discrete clustering of mortality.

The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance and tips on how to enter the wonderful world of reptiles and amphibians, or "herping," and, further, how to leverage iNaturalist to document herp observations and contribute to science. The intended audience is anyone who is interested in the natural world and wants to learn more about observing herps, identifying herps, and contributing to science by adding their observations to iNaturalist.

En este estudio se presenta el inventario de los anfibios y reptiles de la meseta de San Felipe, situada en la provincia Camagüey, Cuba, un área pobremente estudiada hasta el momento. Se utilizó la metodología de registro de encuentros visuales con búsqueda activa de los animales, tanto de forma visual como auditiva, realizando muestreos diurnos y nocturnos. Como resultado se encontraron 20 especies, de las que nueve correspondieron a anfibios y once a reptiles, representando 12.7% y 6.9% de los totales de especies de Cuba, respectivamente. Se registran seis anfibios y cinco reptiles endémicos cubanos, así como dos especies de anfibios incluidas en la categoría Vulnerable de la Lista Roja de UICN. De las ocho formaciones vegetales estudiadas, cinco mostraron una riqueza total de 6–7 especies, en las otras tres se detectaron 3–5 especies y en dos de estas últimas no se registraron anfibios. En las dos plantaciones (de Eucalyptus sp. y de Pinus caribaea) solo se encontraron 1–2 especies de anfibios. La mayor riqueza de reptiles (cinco especies) se obtuvo en las vegetaciones con porte boscoso, las que presentaron los tres estratos vegetales bien desarrollados: arbóreo, arbustivo y herbáceo. La información obtenida en este estudio podrá servir como punto de partida para otros estudios y como base para la planificación de acciones de manejo de las áreas naturales de la meseta.

Even though the reptiles and amphibians of Cyprus are of scientific and conservation importance and although several books, guides and scientific reports have been published the past 30 years, there is a clear absence of a systematic recording and archiving scheme of all available data in a structural database. Towards this end, the Cyprus Herp (= reptiles and amphibians) Atlas has been developed. The Atlas constitutes the first effort to collect all existing locality data of the herpetofauna species of the island (i.e. scientific reports, books, journals, grey literature) in a single database and simultaneously promote a citizen-science approach in order to collect and constantly update the database with new records.The website of the Atlas contains basic educational and informational material for the public, along with the visibility tool of the database in the form of occurrence maps, in 5 km x 5 km grid cells, openly available for download in kmz format. The Atlas is a powerful tool for citizens, scientists and decision-makers, aiming to contribute to the study and conservation of the reptile and amphibian species of Cyprus. In this short communication, we give details on the structure of the Atlas.

Hemiphyllodactylus typus Bleeker, 1860 is a small, nocturnal, scansorial, unisexual gecko having a wide distribution throughout the archipelagos of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In Peninsular Malaysia, it was previously reported from seven localities. Since then, H. typus has been reported from several new localities based on observations from recent field surveys. The updated distribution records of H. typus in Peninsular Malaysia are compiled here, where it is now known from 18 localities.

Amphibians and reptiles are important ecological indicators of ecosystem status and play significant ecological roles. However, their populations are declining globally due to factors such as climate and land-use change. To effectively manage these species, it is crucial to study their distribution in protected areas. In this study, we provide new information on the distribution and ecology of amphibians and reptiles in the “Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni” (CVDA) National Park in southern Italy. We used a comprehensive dataset consisting of 2465 records obtained from fieldwork, citizen science, and literature to evaluate species’ rarity, habitat preferences and community assemblage. We investigated whether differences in species richness across different habitat types and elevations resulted from species selection of different environmental conditions. We quantified species probability of observation in different habitat types and estimated the significance of species-habitat associations. Species rarity was assessed by considering geographic range, population abundance, and habitat breadth. Collected data substantially improved knowledge of the distribution of numerous species compared to published data. Our findings are generally consistent with the species’ ecological information available in Italy, but we also found some species’ peculiar ecological aspects that are little-known. The CVDA National Park emerges as an effective protected area that ensures good conservation status of the herpetofauna, also in the case of species showing population and range declines at the national scale.

DNA metabarcoding is widely used for diet characterization and is becoming increasingly important for biodiversity conservation, allowing the understanding of trophic networks and community assemblies. However, to our knowledge, few studies have used this approach to investigate trophic interactions for whole communities and none for reptiles. In particular, few studies have examined the diet composition of Saudi Arabian reptiles, and all have used classical methods only. Therefore, in this work, a non-invasive approach using DNA metabarcoding of faecal pellets was implemented to investigate the diet composition of the reptile community of Wadi Ashar, in AlUla County, north-western Saudi Arabia Kingdom. In the overall diet composition of the community, arthropods were present in 90% of the samples, and plants were present in 63%, revealing the unforeseen importance of plants to this community as a secondary, but also a primary dietary item. For some species, this is the first time that plants have been reported in their diet. A significant effect of reptile body size on diet composition was also demonstrated, indicating its strong influence on prey selection and resource partitioning in the community. This study highlights the importance of community assessments and the power of combining these with non-invasive DNA metabarcoding to accurately assess biodiversity and feeding habits, revealing unknown ecological interactions of often neglected groups. This revolutionary tool for conservation and management provided rapid and holistic information at relatively low costs, allowing to inform local authorities about which elements are central to the sustainable management of the Wadi Ashar community.

Abstract A series of specimens of an unidentified species of the genus Lygodactylus from Fernando de Noronha Island were found in the herpetological collections of the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). No species of this genus were known to occur in the archipelago. A review of the historical reports regarding the herpetofauna of the island failed to provide evidence regarding the presence of the species in the last centuries. Morphological comparisons with the two other species of the genus occurring in South America, L. klugei and L. wetzeli, allowed us to confidently confirm that the Fernando de Noronha population belonged to a putatively new species. Here we describe this population as a new species and discuss its possible extinction causes in the archipelago. We also debate the importance of historical natural history collections to the study of biodiversity.

IntroductionDesigns for safe and effective road crossing structures for small animals are typically under-road microtunnels and culverts which have varying levels of effectiveness reported in the scientific literature. Many species, particularly migratory amphibians, may have limited ability to find and use passages if they are too far apart, resulting in substantial barrier effects.MethodsWe designed a novel open elevated passage (elevated road segment: ERS), similar to a low terrestrial bridge, that could theoretically be built to any length based upon species needs and movement characteristics. A 30 m length prototype ERS was installed along a forest road with a history of amphibian road mortality in Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, CA, USA. From 2018 to 2021, we monitored small animal activity under the ERS in relation to surrounding roadside and forest habitats using active infrared cameras.ResultsWe documented a total of 8,815 unique use events, using species specific independence criteria, across 22 species of amphibians (3), reptiles (4), and small mammals (15). Poisson regression modeling of taxonomic group activity under the ERS, roadside and forest, showed that amphibian activity was highest in the forest habitat, no differences were observed for reptiles, and small mammal activity was highest under the ERS. However, mean activity estimates under the ERS were equal to or greater than the open roadside habitat for all 22 species, suggesting that adding cover objects, such as downed logs and vegetation may further enhance passage use.DiscussionOverall, results showed that the design of the ERS crossing has potential to provide high connectivity for a wide range of amphibian, reptile, and small mammal species while reducing road mortality. ERS systems can also be used in areas with challenging terrain and other hydrological and environmental constraints. Incorporating current road ecology science, we provide supplemental ERS concept designs for secondary roads, primary roads and highways to help increase the options available for road mitigation planning for small animals.

RESUMEN. Introducción: En años recientes ha habido un incremento en el número de especies de reptiles consideradas amenazadas por presiones emergentes en El Salvador. Las características corporales son rasgos observables que ayudan en la evaluación de su estado de conservación, pero poco se ha hecho en El Salvador sobre este tema. Objetivo: Evaluar el estado de conservación, sexo y tamaño corporal de los reptiles de Santiago Nonualco, El Salvador. Métodos: Comparamos el estado de conservación en listados oficiales con el Índice de Vulnerabilidad Ambiental. Resultados: Identificamos 36 especies, 14 en alguna categoría de conservación, seis amenazadas y una en riesgo de extinción en El Salvador. Los individuos de tamaño corporal medio y los adultos fueron los más abundantes. Los machos fueron más grandes y abundantes, excepto en las tortugas. Conclusión: Santiago Nonualco brinda refugio a varios reptiles, incluidas especies amenazadas. Las tortugas se diferencian de otros reptiles en las diferencias sexuales; y los individuos pequeños se vieron con menos frecuencia en este censo.

En este trabajo se presenta el listado actualizado de anfibios y reptiles de Ica, las especies son comentadas, acompañadas de mapas de distribución y claves de identificación para reptiles y anfibios. Se recopiló información de registros en colecciones científicas, artículos científicos, informes de agencias gubernamentales de vida silvestre y bases de datos taxonómicas especializadas. Adicionalmente, entre los años 2019 y 2020 se realizaron evaluaciones de campo en zonas con vacíos de información. Se encontraron un total de 22 especies (anfibios 3 y reptiles 19). Los nuevos registros de reptiles para Ica incluyen la lagartija Liolaemus evaristoi y la serpiente Incaspis tachymenoides en la provincia de Chincha a 4200 y 3200 m de altitud respectivamente, la lagartija Stenocercus ornatissimus y la serpiente ciega Epictia tesselata en la provincia de Pisco a 3500 y 2800 m respectivamente. Los nuevos registros de anfibios incluyen a Pleurodema marmoratum en la provincia de Chincha (3900 m) y Telmatobius rimac en las provincias de Chincha y Palpa a 3900 y 2350 m respectivamente. La mayor riqueza y endemismos locales se encontraron en el desierto costero, mientras que, las ampliaciones de distribución y endemismos regionales se registraron en la vertiente occidental de los Andes. También, se observa que las familias Leptotyphlopidae y Viperidae, y los géneros Dicrodon, Stenocercus y Oxyrophus terminan su distribución en la vertiente occidental y la zona costera de los departamentos de Ica y Arequipa sin representantes en el extremo sur del Perú y norte de Chile.

The history of collecting and cataloging Thailand’s diverse herpetofauna is long-standing, with many specimens housed at the Thailand Natural History Museum (THNHM). This work aimed to assess the diversity of herpetofauna within the THNHM collection, ascertain conservation status of species, and track the geographical coverage of these specimens within the country. The THNHM collection boasts an impressive inventory, numbering 173 amphibian species and 335 reptile species. This collection reflects the substantial biodiversity within these taxonomic groups, rivaling the total number of herpetofauna species ever recorded in Thailand. However, the evaluation of their conservation status, as determined by the IUCN Red List, CITES, and Thailand’s Wild Animal Preservation and Protection Act (WARPA), has unveiled disparities in the degree of concern for certain species, possibly attributable to differential uses of the assessment criteria. Notably, the museum houses a number of type specimens, including 27 holotypes, which remain understudied. Sampling efforts have grown considerably since the year 2000, encompassing nearly all regions of the country. This extensive and systematic collection of diverse herpetofauna at the THNHM serves as a valuable resource for both research and educational purposes, enriching our understanding of these species and their significance in the broader context of biodiversity conservation.

Psammophis indochinensis Smith, 1943 was reported in the eastern Java and Bali of Indonesia despite its primary geographic range being in the Indochina region. We confirm its presence in Bali based on a newly collected specimen and provide morphological and genetic data. The specimen was found in a lowland, urban areas near open grassland habitat, which confirms the distribution of P. indochinensis along the northern coast of Bali. We note some character aberrations in the supralabials compared to Thailand specimens, suggesting an extended character. The basal clade position of P. indochinensis raises the possibility of an intercontinental dispersal scenario of this African-origin snake.

This publication is one in a series of UF/IFAS numbered publications summarizing general knowledge about Florida's introduced reptiles.

This publication is one in a series of UF/IFAS numbered publications summarizing general knowledge about Florida's introduced reptiles.

This paper contains information on the records of bottom macroinvertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles collected during a fi eld expedition to the valley of the river Tskhenistskali (in the vicinities of town of Lentekhi and village of Sasashi) in April 2018. According to the results of the study, three fish species (Actinopterigii) of three families (Salmonidae, Cyprinidae and Nemacheilidae) inhabits three studied rivers (Kheledula, Devashi and Tskhenistskali Rivers). Seven species of reptiles (Squamata: Anguidae — 1, Colubridae — 1, Viperidae — 1, Lacertidae — 4), and five species of amphibians (Anura: Hylidae — 1, Bufonidae — 1, Ranidae – 2; Caudata: Salamandridae — 1) were registered within the investigated area. Around Lentekhi town three species of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1999, namely Darevskia rudis svanetica (Darevsky & Eiselt, 1980), Darevskia brauneri brauneri (Mehely, 1909) and Darevskia derjugini abchasica (Bischoff , 1982) were found to live almost sympatrically, with only river serving as a natural barrier between the species. The paper also contains descriptions of habitats characteristic of the region for the species found and the results of route surveys with D. d. abchasica and P. ridibundus being the most numerous species of herpetofauna (sensu lato) — up to 35 and 20 individuals per 100 m of route. In order to illustrate the feeding base of the registered vertebrates, the study of species composition (n = 114) of bottom macroinvertebrates, that form the main component of food source for them. The recorded invertebrates belong to 16 taxonomic groups of the higher rank (up to 98.1 % of all benthic invertebrates appeared to be insects, including Ephemeroptera — 51 %, Plecoptera — 17.4 % Сhironomidae — 14.2 %, Trichoptera — 11.5 %, Diptera — 3 %). Other groups, namely Turbellaria, Nematoda, Oligochaeta, Araneida, Acarina, Collembola, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, in total form a little less than 3 % of all recorded species. Registrations of fauna from mountain regions will help to update actual maps of natural ranges of the species within the country and tend to be a valuable addition to the data that can be potentially used in GIS-modelling of species’ distribution according to predicted climate changes.

Amphibian and reptile species face numerous threats including disease, habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, and global climate change. However, effective management and conservation of herpetofauna largely depends upon resource-intensive survey methodologies. Recent research has shown promise in the use of camera trapping techniques, but these methods must be tested alongside traditional methods to fully understand their advantages and disadvantages. To meet this research need, we tested two herpetofauna survey methods: a modified version of the Adapted-Hunt Drift Fence Technique, which combines a drift fence with camera traps; and a traditional method of visual encounter surveys (VES) with cover boards. Between June and August 2020, we conducted two VES and installed one drift fence with camera traps at ten sites in Monterey County, CA, USA. The drift fence/camera setup outperformed the VES in terms of numbers of observations and herpetofauna species detected. Drift fences with cameras produced a mean of 248 images of three to six species per site, while VES and cover objects produced a mean of 0.6 observations of zero to one species per site. Across all sites, we detected seven reptile and one amphibian species with the drift fence/camera setup, while VES resulted in identifications of two reptile and one amphibian species. In addition, drift fence/camera setups recorded a minimum of nine non-herpetofauna species including small mammals, birds, and invertebrates. Our research supports that drift fences combined with camera traps offer an effective alternative to VES for large-scale, multi-species herpetofauna survey efforts. Furthermore, we suggest specific improvements to enhance this method’s performance, cost-effectiveness, and utility in remote environments. These advances in survey methods hold great promise for aiding efforts to manage and conserve global herpetofauna diversity.

Abstract Aim To investigate whether the frequently advocated climate‐matching species distribution modeling approach could predict the well‐characterized colonization of Florida by the Madagascar giant day gecko Phelsuma grandis. Location Madagascar and Florida, USA. Methods To determine the climatic conditions associated with the native range of P. grandis, we used native‐range presence‐only records and Bioclim climatic data to build a Maxent species distribution model and projected the climatic thresholds of the native range onto Florida. We then built an analogous model using Florida presence‐only data and projected it onto Madagascar. We constructed a third model using native‐range presences for both P. grandis and the closely related parapatric species P. kochi. Results Despite performing well within the native range, our Madagascar Bioclim model failed to identify suitable climatic habitat currently occupied by P. grandis in Florida. The model constructed using Florida presences also failed to reflect the distribution in Madagascar by overpredicting distribution, especially in western areas occupied by P. kochi. The model built using the combined P. kochi/P. grandis dataset modestly improved the prediction of the range of P. grandis in Florida, thereby implying competitive exclusion of P. grandis by P. kochi from habitat within the former's fundamental niche. These findings thus suggest ecological release of P. grandis in Florida. However, because ecological release cannot fully explain the divergent occupied niches of P. grandis in Madagascar versus Florida, our findings also demonstrate some degree of in situ adaptation in Florida. Main conclusions Our models suggest that the discrepancy between the predicted and observed range of P. grandis in Florida is attributable to either in situ adaptation by P. grandis within Florida, or a combination of such in situ adaptation and competition with P. kochi in Madagascar. Our study demonstrates that climate‐matching species distribution models can severely underpredict the establishment risk posed by non‐native herpetofauna.

Abstract Controlled low‐intensity fires are commonly used in ecosystem management for both habitat restoration and wildfire management. Animals in those ecosystems may respond to fire by shifting energy allocation away from reproduction and growth, and toward maintenance. Stress‐induced shifts in energy allocation may affect the expression of condition‐dependent sexual signals, which are sensitive to energetic and physiological trade‐offs mediated by glucocorticoids. Here, we examine the effect of fire on ornament expression, corticosterone, and other phenotypic traits in a population of striped plateau lizards, Sceloporus virgatus, affected by the Horseshoe 2 Fire in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA. The condition‐dependent female ornament was significantly smaller the month following the fire than 2 years prior and was both smaller and less orange on the burned site relative to a nearby unburned site. These patterns are similar to those found in a previous experimental study examining the response of the ornament to corticosterone manipulations. Yet, in the current study, corticosterone levels were not different in lizards on the burned and unburned sites. Perhaps glucocorticoid levels already returned to baseline, or do not adequately track environmental change. Females tended to be smaller and lighter on the burned site than the unburned site; however, the year after the fire, body condition was higher for females on the burned site, indicating a rapid recovery and potential long‐term benefits in response to low‐intensity fires in this fire‐adapted ecosystem. We found that the lizards adjusted energy allocation away from sexual signaling and growth in response to low‐intensity fires. As fires and fire management are likely to increase in response to changing fire regimes across the globe, it will be important to consider behavioral and physiological responses of impacted species, as well as population‐, community‐, and ecosystem‐level responses.

Abstract In landscape genetics, it is largely unknown how choices regarding sampling density and study area size impact inferences upon which habitat features impede vs. facilitate gene flow. While it is recommended that sampling locations be spaced no further apart than the average individual's dispersal distance, for low‐mobility species, this could lead to a challenging number of sampling locations, or an unrepresentative study area. We assessed the effects of sampling density and study area size on landscape genetic inferences for a dispersal‐limited amphibian, Plethodon mississippi, via analysis of nested datasets. Microsatellite‐based genetic distances among individuals were divided into three datasets representing sparse sampling across a large study area, dense sampling across a small study area, or sparse sampling across the same small study area. These datasets were a proxy for gene flow (i.e., the response variable) in maximum‐likelihood population effects models that assessed the nature and strength of their relationship with each of five land‐use classes (i.e., potential predictor variables). Comparisons of outcomes were based on the rank order of effect, sign of effect (i.e., gene flow resistance vs. facilitation), spatial scale of effect, and functional relationship with gene flow. The best‐fit model for each dataset had the same sign of effect for hardwood forests, manmade structures, and pine forests, indicating the impacts of these land‐use classes on dispersal and gene flow in P. mississippi are robust to sampling scheme. Contrasting sampling densities led to a different inferred functional relationship between agricultural areas and gene flow. Study area size appeared to influence the scale of effect of manmade structures and the sign of effect of pine forests. Our findings provided evidence for an influence of sampling density, study area size, and sampling effort upon inferences. Accordingly, we recommend iterative subsampling of empirical datasets and continued investigation into the sensitivities of landscape genetic analyses using simulations.

Abstract Background Mexico harbours one of the greatest biocultural diversities of the world, where multiple social and natural elements and systems form complex networks of interactions in which both culture and nature are mutually influenced. Biocultural states and processes are studied by ethnosciences, among them ethnoherpetology, which seeks understanding material and non-material expressions of the interactions between humans, amphibians, and reptiles. Herpetofauna has been part of the magic–religious world and source of goods for Mesoamerican cultures. This study aims to document and analyse the complex body of knowledge, beliefs, and practices on these vertebrates in the Nahua culture, the factors that have influenced progressive risk and loss of culture, habitat, and species, and the potential contribution of contemporary Nahua knowledge to biocultural conservation. Methods Through 15 workshops with children and young people, and 16 semi-structured interviews to people 27 to 74 years old, we documented the contemporary Nahua knowledge in the communities of Aticpac and Xaltepec in the Sierra Negra, Puebla, central Mexico. Biological and ecological knowledge, use, management practices, legends, and perceptions on herpetofauna were emphasised in the study. Results We obtained an ethnoherpetological checklist, grouping species into four general classificatory categories: kohuatl (serpents), kalatl (frogs and toads), ayotsi (turtles), and ketzo (lizards and salamanders), which included 21, 10, 1, and 11 ethnocategories respectively, based on the local Nahua knowledge of herpetofauna. Serpents, used as medicine, are the most culturally relevant. Due to perceptions of danger, beliefs, and actual snake bites, the main interaction with serpents is their elimination; however, some snakes are tolerated and maintained in captivity. The remaining species of local herpetofauna recorded are tolerated. Cultural aspects of reptiles and amphibians in the Nahua worldview were documented to influence the regulation of interactions of people with these vertebrates, but for younger generations, such aspects are less frequent or absent. Conclusions Interactions and cultural relationships between the Nahua people, amphibians and reptiles are complex, maintaining some aspects of the local worldview but also influenced by external factors and being constantly recreated and re-signified. Documenting and understanding the contemporary relations is essential to generate strategies in biocultural conservation of herpetofauna.

We conducted a long-term inventory of the herpetofauna of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary in the eastern part of the Napo Province in Ecuador. This private preserve is about 500 ha in size and is located on the southern slopes of Volcán Sumaco. The preserve contains primary forest, secondary forest, and pasture habitats. Based mostly on nocturnal transect sampling we documented 39 species of amphibians including one species of salamander, two species of caecilians, and 36 species of frogs. Rain frogs (Pristimantis Jiminez de la Espada, 1871) were diverse with 14 species documented. A diverse species assemblage of 45 reptile species was also documented on the preserve. Six amphibian species found were listed by the IUCN Red List. At least three species exhibited substantial geographic range extensions and seven species showed elevational range extensions. We discovered several undescribed species including one salamander, three frogs, one lizard, and one snake.

Se presenta una lista y descripción morfológica de 11 especies de saurios que se registraron en la Estación Científica Pedro Franco Dávila, ubicada en el recinto de Jauneche, en la provincia de Los Ríos. El trabajo de campo se realizó en el periodo comprendido entre mayo hasta septiembre del 2015. Se utilizó la metodología de la técnica de búsqueda directa y observación visual en todo tipo de microhábitats y vegetación como árboles, troncos secos, hojarascas, entre otros. Como resultado se recolectaron un total de 68 individuos distribuidos en seis familias, seis géneros y 11 especies. Considerando la diversidad, los siguientes géneros han sido registrados: Anolis (Dactyloidae) con tres especies, Gonatodes (Sphaerodactylidae), Holcosus (Teiidae) y Stenocercus (Tropiduridae) cada uno con dos especies, en tanto que Alopoglossus (Gymnophthalmidae) e Iguana (Iguanidae) presentaron una especie respectivamente. Gonatodes es el género más abundante debido a la presencia de G. caudisculatus y G. concinatus con el 44 y 22 %, respectivamente en el interior del bosque, mientras que en la zona externa del mismo Holcosus septemlineata lo fue con 40 %, evidenciándose además en esta área una mayor diversidad de sauria.

Abstract Estimating and planning for the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of protected areas is a major challenge for conservation managers. When these areas are topographically heterogenous and contain species' entire ranges, this challenge is exacerbated because the coarse spatial scales of Global Circulation Model projections provide limited information for within‐park management. South Africa's Table Mountain National Park, home to three endemic amphibian species in just ~24,500 hectares, provides a case study for identifying conservation needs under climate change. Selecting the park's herpetofauna as pilot taxa, we identified life history and demographic characteristics believed to make species more sensitive and less able to adapt to climate change. We organized these into assessment frameworks and, through a combination of literature review and expert elicitation, reviewed and used them to assess climate change vulnerability of 18 amphibian and 41 reptile species. The assessment highlighted that 73% and 67% of the park's reptile and amphibian species, respectively, had at least one high‐sensitivity and low‐adaptive capacity trait. Using ordinal and additive scoring methods, we identified the species most vulnerable to climate change and highlight the park areas containing their highest concentrations. These areas will be used to inform landscape‐scale management priorities and park use zones. The current IUCN Red List assessments for these species do not incorporate climate change vulnerability. Considering some species appear to be threatened by climate change, their conservation needs might be underestimated. Identifying the most vulnerable species and the mechanisms underpinning their vulnerability can guide the identification and prioritization of conservation needs, while the highlighted knowledge gaps inform priorities for monitoring and research. While comprehensive climate change adaptation planning for Table Mountain National Park requires additional assessment of other taxonomic groups, this trait‐based assessment example highlights a viable tool for assessing climate change vulnerability in protected areas.

Roadkills are a major threat to the wildlife in human-modified landscapes. Due to their ecology, relatively small size, and slow movement, amphibians and reptiles are particularly prone to roadkill. While standardized roadkill surveys provide valuable data for regional roadkill trends, such surveys are often resource-intensive and have limited geographic coverage. Herein, we analyzed a roadkill dataset of the Korean herpetofauna derived from the citizen science database iNaturalist and compared the overall roadkill trends detected in the iNaturalist data with standardized survey-based literature data. Our results show that the overall citizen science data provide a good picture of roadkill trends for the Korean herpetofauna in terms of recorded species. We detected both similarities and notable differences between the iNaturalist and literature data. The most notable differences between the two datasets were found in the number of recorded species, distribution across habitat types, and distribution across elevational ranges. Even with spatially biased sampling, the iNaturalist data had a considerably broader geographic coverage compared to standardized surveys. In addition, we related the presence of roadkills of amphibians and reptiles to the presence of agricultural lands, forests, and grassland. While the unstandardized nature of the citizen science data can be criticized, we argue that this feature also acts as an advantage for this type of data, as citizen science can better detect roadkills of rare species or seasonal events, such as mass migration of amphibians, and inform population trends and threats. Thus, our results highlight the importance of spatially biased and unstandardized citizen science data for roadkill detection. This study builds on previous studies demonstrating citizen science as a viable method of roadkill surveys.

The present study is the first review of the recent herpetofauna of the Greater Caucasian caves. Also, it is worth noting some phossylous material on amphibians and reptiles (mainly Pleistocene remains) from the caves in this area. The goal of the study is to fill knowledge gaps and to present long-term data on the cave herpetofauna of the Greater Caucasus. In 1992–2019, amphibians and reptiles were found in 61 Greater Caucasian caves located in an altitude range from 55 m a.s.l. to 1300 m a.s.l. in Russia, Abkhazia, and Georgia. A total of 272 specimens representing ten species have been found. The most frequently observed species were Rana macrocnemis (39.0% of all recorded specimens), Pelodytes caucasicus (17.3%), Bufo verrucosissimus (11.0%), Darevskia brauneri (8.8%), Hyla orientalis (8.1%). The total proportion of the remaining five species (Ommatotriton ophryticus, Hyla savignyi, Pelophylax ridibundus, Anguis colchica, and Darevskia derjugini) was 15.8%. As a rule, representatives of the herpetofauna in the Greater Caucasian caves are quite rare and only single or few individuals are usually found. Exceptions were Fyodorovskaya Cave (Black Sea Region near the city of Sochi), Akshasha Cave, Abshdza Cave and Marshania Verkhnyaya Cave (last three in Abkhazia) where 141 specimens of amphibians and reptiles were observed, i.e. more than half (51.8%) of the totally recorded specimens. They belong to eight species (80.0% of all species found). The caves of the Greater Caucasus foothills, where the vast majority of amphibians and reptiles were observed, are usually characterised by a rich faunal diversity of invertebrate animals – their potential food. Amphibians were recorded from both twilight and deep parts of the caves, whereas lizards were found mainly close to the entrances, where the light penetrates and a relatively high air temperature is observed in the warm period of the year. Probably, some of the Greater Caucasian amphibians and reptiles enter the caves purposefully for wintering, and/or for feeding. The other animals occur accidentally in the caves (especially on the bottom of vertical pits), becoming «prisoners of circumstances». Judging by the length of time spent in the caves and, as a consequence, the change in body pigmentation (lighting of the main colouration tone) and good external condition of many individuals, these amphibians can be considered subtroglophiles. Rana macrocnemis, capable of laying eggs in caves, shows a tendency for eutroglophily.

We present new records of Ichthyophis elongatus Taylor, 1965 in West Sumatra. These records extend the known distribution of the species which was previously only known from the type locality in Padang, West Sumatra. We assess the morphology and habitats of this species and estimate its distribution. Predicted distribution based on maximum entropy modeling suggests a highly suitable habitat for the species throughout the Barisan Mountains at 500–1000 m above sea level. Our models suggest swamps, paddy fields, and secondary forests that are 100–150 m from rivers as the highest possible habitats for the species. Further surveys in two predicted areas based on the models discovered new populations of the species.

Actualmente, en La Reserva Natural El Caduceo, San Martín, Meta, se han registrado cerca de 18 especies de anfibios y 27 de reptiles. Sin embargo, los registros existentes no son suficientes para determinar el estado de sus comunidades, lo que hace cada vez más difícil continuar con la labor de conservación y protección de estos organismos. Este trabajo buscó identificar de manera preliminar algunas de las familias y especies de herpetofauna asociadas a esta reserva natural tomando como referencia las unidades paisajísticas del bosque de galería y la subcuenca del río Camoa, las cuales han estado bajo presión de actividades antrópicas. Allí, se realizaron recorridos longitudinales y capturas directas en dos puntos de muestreo durante jornadas diurnas y nocturnas. Se registraron nueve especies de las familias Ranidae, Hylidae, Bufonidae, Testudinidae, Dipsadidae, Colubridae, Teiidae, Sphaerodactylidae y Gekkonidae. Además, se reporta por primera vez la presencia de geckos invasores del género Hemidactylus, por lo que se debe continuar con monitoreos sobre el estado actual de esta posible población invasora y su impacto sobre las poblaciones nativas, así como generar reportes sobre el estado de la comunidad de herpetofauna en esta zona, especialmente durante diferentes épocas del año.

The Nantu Forest in Gorontalo Province, Sulawesi, Indonesia holds one of the few remaining pristine habitats in the island. The reserve is surrounded by human habituation which provide opportunity to study the impact of forest lost on biodversity. In addition, data on Nantu mostly focused on big mammals, as there is no previous herpetofauna survey at the area. Sampling of amphibian and reptile was conducted in June 2013 and in May–June 2014 using Visual Encounter Survey method, glue traps and transect sampling in seven different sites at the eastern part of Nantu. We categorized four habitat types based on human disturbances: high disturbed habitat (HDH), moderate disturbed habitat (MDH), low disturbed habitat (LDH) and pristine habitat (PH). A total of 680 individual amphibians (4 families; 17 species) and 119 individual reptiles (9 families; 29 species) were recorded. Species richness and species composition for amphibians and reptiles differs according to the level of human disturbances. Low level disturbances habitat demonstrated the highest diversity of amphibians and reptiles, whereas as expected, high distubed habitat showed the lowest diversity. Anthropogenic pressures in forest will decrease species richness of amphibian and reptiles. Although most amphibian and reptiles will be able to persist in low disturbances habitat, forest-dependent species will be lost when pristine forests are disturbed.

The Tirimbina Biological Reserve is located in the lowlands on the Atlantic versant of Costa Rica. We provide an updated comprehensive herpetofauna species list and summarize the results of all the herpetofauna research conducted at Tirimbina over the last 10 years (2009–2019) across a variety of microhabitats. We also added historical records from occasional sightings and reports from researchers, staff, visitors, interns, fellows, and volunteers since the 1990s. We found 52 amphibian and 78 reptile species on the reserve, including a few species considered at-risk according to the IUCN Red List. We conclude that Tirimbina is a herpetofauna biodiversity hot spot in Costa Rica because it provides unique habitat characteristics for a variety of species, including habitat for both forest and forest-edge specialists.

Reptiles and amphibians are experiencing declines across the globe. In Monteverde, Costa Rica, these declines and their underlying causes have been relatively well studied since the early 1990s, and many protected areas have been set aside to conserve these species. However, thorough surveys of the herpetofaunal diversity in these areas have been scarce over the last 20 years. We conducted a survey of all reptile and amphibian species at the University of Georgia Costa Rica (UGACR), a field station in San Luis de Monteverde. Herein, we present an annotated checklist of the 48 species (35 reptiles and 13 amphibians) that we encountered. While we did not find any exceptionally rare or endangered species, the number of species we encountered is disproportionately high given the small plot of land occupied by UGACR. This underscores the importance of conducting regular diversity surveys in biodiversity hotspots as a means to better inform conservation efforts.

Abstract One of the most evident and direct effects of roads on wildlife is the death of animals by vehicle collision. Understanding the spatial patterns behind roadkill helps to plan mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of roads on animal populations. However, although roadkill patterns have been extensively studied in temperate zones, the potential impacts of roads on wildlife in the Neotropics have received less attention and are particularly poorly understood in the Western Amazon. Here, we present the results of a study on roadkill in the Amazon region of Ecuador; a region that is affected by a rapidly increasing development of road infrastructure. Over the course of 50 days, in the wet season between September and November 2017, we searched for road‐killed vertebrates on 15.9 km of roads near the city of Tena, Napo province, for a total of 1,590 surveyed kilometers. We recorded 593 dead specimens, predominantly reptiles (237 specimens, 40%) and amphibians (190, 32%), with birds (102, 17%) and mammals (64, 11%) being less common. Recorded species were assigned to three functional groups, based on their movement behavior and habitat use (“slow,” “intermediate,” and “fast”). Using Ripley's K statistical analyses and 2D HotSpot Identification Analysis, we found multiple distinct spatial clusters or hotspots, where roadkill was particularly frequent. Factors that potentially determined these clusters, and the prevalence of roadkill along road segments in general, differed between functional groups, but often included land cover variables such as native forest and waterbodies, and road characteristics such as speed limit (i.e., positive effect on roadkill frequency). Our study, which provides a first summary of species that are commonly found as roadkill in this part of the Amazon region, contributes to a better understanding of the negative impacts of roads on wildlife and is an important first step toward conservation efforts to mitigate these impacts.

We report the range expansion of the Gulf Coast Toad, Incilius valliceps (Wiegmann, 1833), from tropical moist forests to tropical wet forests and towards southeastern Costa Rica. We evaluated erroneous reports of this species in databases on the web. Also, we discussed that movements to areas with wet conditions for a species known from humid and xeric habitats can be explained by the trends in deforestation and increments of the dry conditions during recent decades in the country.

Banyu Nibo Waterfall is located near Nglanggeran, Gunung Kidul that well known for its eco-tourism development. The geographical and ecosystem condition could be providing unique habitat for herpetofauna. Herpetofauna has important role in the ecosystem as food chain components and even as environment bioindicator.The aim of this research is to asses the herpetofauna diversity in Banyu Nibo Waterfall as preliminary biodiversity data. The research was conducted using VES (Visual Encounter Survey) assisted by 500 meters transect line. As a result, 15 species were found, mainly distributed on area with tree coverage.

Abstract Background The study of human-nature relationship has made possible to understand the life dynamics of the communities and the biodiversity with which they cohabit. Although there has been a rise of ethnobiological studies over the last decade, little is known about human interaction with herpetofauna in South America and Colombia. In this work, we analyzed the knowledge, perception, and interaction of a local community located in the forest reserve of Quininí (RFPCQ) in Cundinamarca (Colombia), concerning to the herpetofauna that inhabits the area. Methods We performed semi-structured surveys containing 30 questions categorized into three groups: academic knowledge (1), use and cultural beliefs (2), and interactions (3) related to the herpetofauna that occurs in the region. The obtained data in question groups 1 and 2 are presented as a qualitative summary. For the question group 3, we assigned the answers to a hostility value according to the possible reaction of each individual interviewed in a hypothetical encounter with the herpetofauna and built tendency charts in order to see the positive or negative reactions due to the birthplace (urban/rural) and gender (male/female). Results The community recognized the presence of amphibians and reptiles that cohabit their space, as well as their potential habitats. Besides, the role of herpetofauna was recognized in the magical/religious traditions for some inhabitants of the region, mainly associated with the fate and cure of chronic diseases. In general, the perception of amphibians and reptiles varied according to the origin and gender of the people, which tend to have a more positive perception of reptiles than compared to amphibians in most cases. Conclusions Although there was a general lack of knowledge on the part of the inhabitants of the RFPCQ about the biological and ecological aspects of herpetofauna, the population recognized the basic information about the habitats of these animals within the reserve area. There is a wide variety of uses of amphibians and reptiles in traditional medicine. Greater efforts should be made in the transmission and dissemination of knowledge about the ecological functions of herpetofauna.

Abstract Increasing threats to amphibian and reptile species raise the urgency of their conservation. However, relative to other vertebrate groups at risk, amphibians and reptiles have low and more variable social capital; they are not generally high‐priority natural goods and services valued by people. Consequently, relative to other groups such as birds, mammals, and economically important fish, they garner fewer conservation resources. With increasing risks, their situation degrades. We examine five societal sectors with herpetofaunal conservation interests in the United States (local communities, people in defined geographies and jurisdictions, species and threat specialists and advocates, associated researchers, managers, and policy makers) to understand challenges of low and variable social capital for herpetofauna. With current trends of US public values changing from traditionalist consumerism of wildlife to mutualist coexistence philosophies, a refocus of outreach and inreach efforts could help reframe priorities toward species at greatest risk, rather than broad taxonomic biases. Integrated teams of engaged natural resource managers, researchers, and the interested public can help promote species‐ and issue‐based programs to forestall losses, hence programmatically raising social capital. Heightened recognition of the importance of human relationships and herpetofaunal diversity among researchers, managers, policy makers, educators, artists, authors, citizens, and children could provide inertia to reframe conservation program effectiveness at local‐to‐national scales.

This data article presents the composition of selected physico-chemical water parameters, phytoplankton, flora and fauna in Sungai Kertih, Terengganu, Malaysia. Sungai Kertih is surrounded by mangrove forest and located nearby to a coastal hill namely Bukit Labohan that supports vast biological resources to its adjacent inhabitants. Therefore, a biodiversity and environmental assessment was conducted in Sungai Kertih from 19–21 August 2019 to document the biodiversity and physico-chemical water parameters of the river. The dataset show that Sungai Kertih is occupied by 14 tree mangrove species, 43 phytoplankton species, 21 bivalve species, 10 crustacean species, five amphibian species and eight reptilian species. The obtained physico-chemicals water parameters data were the value of pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and electrical conductivity. Understanding the influence of physical and chemical properties on biological resources in coastal ecosystem is one of important in river conservation and management practices. Thus, this baseline dataset can be utilized for further reference and monitoring the health of the environment in the mangrove ecosystem.

Despite a recent shift towards sustainable practices to support the conservation of traditional olive groves, little is known about their potential threats to herpetofauna species. On the island of Lesvos, one of the main olive-growing islands in the Mediterranean, olive cultivation often prioritizes the expeditious harvesting of olives with minimal or no supplementary intervention, resulting in their generally suboptimal management, a component of which also pertains to the olive nets that, in many cases, remain dispersed and unfurled throughout the groves. This particular practice affects the species living in the olive groves, making them more prone to risks related to their accidental trapping. In this study, we report the first case of a Grass snake being inadvertently trapped in an olive net laid out on an olive grove. The position of the snake under the net, within a folded tipping, made it difficult for it to escape, and it became increasingly entangled. Based on this incident, it is plausible to assume that similar cases may occur in areas where nets are used in olive groves, both in Greece and other olive-growing countries. Further systematic research is necessary to determine the extent of this issue.

The central mountain region of Veracruz is one of the richest areas of herpetofauna in Mexico. The steep topographic gradient of this region is associated with climatic gradients that enable the occurrence of highly diverse herpetofauna communities. We tested differences among habitats to herpetofauna in an urban area, pine forest, oak forest, and riparian forest of municipality Camerino Z. Mendoza, Veracruz, Mexico. We conducted two-day monthly surveys between 2015 and 2017 in 69 sites from fragments of an urban area, riparian forest, Quercus forest, and Quercus-Pinus forest and tested for differences in herpetofauna species among these fragments. We found a total of 11 amphibian and 33 reptile species, and a high composition dissimilarity and species replacement among the sites. Our results amplified significantly the species-records within Camerino Z. Mendoza, and showed a great variation of amphibian and reptile composition among sites, highlighting the current role of these forests as a reservoir for herpetofauna and their importance for future conservation strategies in the region.

In the current scenario of environmental changes, anthropic pressures on biodiversity are in constant increase, stressing the importance of assessing the distribution and occurrence of organisms in natural regions, especially in protected areas. Here we surveyed the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Assis State Forest and updated the existing species list. Reptiles were sampled using pitfall traps and active search, birds by transects and listening points, while terrestrial mammals were sampled using camera traps, linear transect census, active search, pitfall and live traps. Four samplings were conducted, totaling 28 days of sampling effort. We recorded a total richness of 230 terrestrial vertebrate species: 21 amphibians, 17 reptiles, 164 birds, 23 medium and large-sized mammals and 25 small mammals. Of these, seven species are considered endangered at the state and / or federal level. Our results led to the inclusion of 78 bird species and six medium- and large-sized mammals to the species list of ASF’s Management Plan, in addition to three new species of herpetofauna that were not reported by other fauna surveys carried out in the region. Our data shows that the area is highly diverse, with some differences in species composition between sampled phytophysiognomies. These data can also be used to update the management plan for the area, as well as for the zoning of the unit.

One specimen of Ptychoglossus brevifrontalis Boulenger, 1912 was found during a field survey in the core area of the Amazonian National Park of French Guiana in the southern part of the country. Despite intensive herpetological surveys in French Guiana during the last three decades, this is the first record of the species for this country. This new locality extends the distribution of the species and draws attention to the need for more study of litter-dwelling lizards in French Guiana.