title: Diversity, natural history and conservation of amphibians and reptiles from the San Vito Region, southwestern Costa Rica.
abstract: We present an inventory of the amphibians and reptiles of the San Vito de Coto Brus region, including the Las Cruces Biological Station, in southern Costa Rica, which is the result of a survey of the herpetofauna occurring in mountain forest fragments, pastures, coffee plantations, and other disturbed areas. We found 67 species, included 26 species of amphibians and of 41 of reptiles. We describe the distribution patterns of the community on the basis of the life zones, elevation, fragmentation, and degree of anthropogenic impact. We also provide some nouvelle data on the systematics of some select taxa, their geographical ranges, microhabitats, activity, and other relevant ecological and natural history features. Finally, we comment on the present conservation status of the herpetofauna in the region. Previous literature and collection records indicate a higher number of species occurring in this area, which suggests that some declines have occurred, especially of amphibians, in last decades.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Ciencias, Museo de Zoología, A.P. 70-399, C.P. 04510, DF México. gsantos@miranda.ecologia.unam.mx
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santos-Barrera
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Quijano
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolaños
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cháves
authors.forename: Gretchen C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Daily
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceballos
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003364:Costa Rica; D011156:Population Density; D012104:Reptiles / Q000145:classification*