The amphibians and reptiles of Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, II: the herpetofauna of northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands.
We summarize all available amphibian and reptile species distribution data from the northeast Mindanao faunal region, including small islands associated with this subcenter of endemic vertebrate biodiversity. Together with all publicly available historical information from biodiversity repositories, we present new data from several major herpetological surveys, including recently conducted inventories on four major mountains of northeast Mindanao, and adjacent islands of Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, and Siargao. We present species accounts for all taxa, comment on unresolved taxonomic problems, and provide revisions to outdated IUCN conservation status assessments in cases where our new data significantly alter earlier classification status summaries. Together, our comprehensive analysis of this fauna suggests that the greater Mindanao faunal region possesses distinct subcenters of amphibian and reptile species diversity, and that until this area is revisited and its fauna and actually studied, with on-the-ground field work including targeted surveys of species distributions coupled to the study their natural history, our understanding of the diversity and conservation status of southern Philippine herpetological fauna will remain incomplete. Nevertheless, the northeast Mindanao geographical area (Caraga Region) appears to have the highest herpetological species diversity (at least 126 species) of any comparably-sized Philippine faunal subregion.
Biodiversity Informatics and Research Center, Father Saturnino Urios University, San Francisco St., 8600 Butuan City, Philippines.
Marites B
MB
Sanguila
Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-7561, USA.
Kerry A
KA
Cobb
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA.
Cameron D
CD
Siler
Herpetology Section, Zoology Division, Philippine National Museum, Rizal Park, Burgos St., Ermita 1000, Manila, Philippines.
Arvin C
AC
Diesmos
Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management, Silliman University, Dumaguete City 6200, Philippines.
Angel C
AC
Alcala
Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-7561, USA.
Rafe M
RM
Brown
Agusan del Norte; Agusan del Sur; Balatukan; Biodiversity; Camiguin Sur; Conservation; Dinagat; Hilong-hilong; Lumot; Magdiwata; Misamis Oriental; Siargao; Surigao del Norte; Surigao del Sur