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| Frogs and Reptiles in |
Fundación Jocotoco Reserves |
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As with so many plants and animals, Ecuador has an astonishing variety of species of amphibians and reptiles, with over 420 species of frogs identified so far, and many more to be found. A preliminary survey of the herpetology of Jocotoco reserves is being done by staff from the National Museum in Quito (MECN) with help from Francisco Sornoza. Rapid assessments have been completed at Cerro Tapichalaca, Buenaventura and Río Canandé.
There is now increasing concern about population trends of frogs, particularly in the tropics. Rapid declines have been seen through Central and South America with mountain stream frogs being most affected. Knowledge of the distribution patterns of many species is very incomplete - quite often a species has only been recorded from one or two locations.
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Cochranella |
Buenaventura Reserve
The rapid assessment by MECN scientists found 14 species of frog, 6 of lizards and 13 of snakes, a total of 33 species, which is 82% of the maximum expected for this area. 17 of these are categorised as endemics, and three globally threatened. More recent studies have revealed two new species, a crystal frog, Cochranella sp nov, and an iguana lizard, Enyalioides sp. These will soon be described.
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Eleutherodactylus |
Tapichalaca Reserve
Although the higher altitude means fewer species, the Tapichalaca reserve contains the highest proportion of endemic and globally threatened species. The MECN survey found 14 species of frog and 3 reptiles, which was 87% of the maximum possible for the site. However one, a crystal frog was Critically Endangered, another 4 Endangered and 3 Vulnerable. In addition to these was the newly discovered Hyla tapichalaca which is not yet evaluated, but only known from a one stream on Tapichalaca. All these species were endemics.
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Dendrobates sylvaticus |
Río Canandé Reserve
This had the most diverse fauna with 53 species, comprising 30 species of amphibians and 23 reptiles. This amounts to 64% of the maximum possible for the area. Four of the species were new for Ecuador. Two salamanders (Pletherodontidae), Bolitoglossa biseriata and B. medemi were previously recorded in Colombia. Two crystal frogs Cochranella ilex, and C luminosa were also known from Colombia. One species is categorised Endangered, 4 are Vulnerable and 2 are Near Threatened.
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