Filling the gaps - amphibian and reptile records from lowland rainforests in eastern Madagascar

Abstract

We report on the results of a survey of amphibians and reptiles at several primary and secondary lowland habi - tats along Madagascar's east coast. The survey yielded a total of 106 species (61 amphibians and 45 reptiles). Comparisons of mitochondrial DNA sequences of selected amphibian and reptile species confirmed their identification and in some cases allowed to assign them to particular intraspecific genetic lineages. The highest species diversity was found in the pri - mary lowland rainforests of Ambodiriana and Sahafina. The littoral forests of Tampolo and Vohibola held overall a higher species diversity than the anthropogenic secondary forest formations of Vatomandry and Mahanoro. Structural differ - ences between lowland forests and littoral forests seem to cause a difference in species composition, especially relevant for the amphibian species assemblages. Besides a number of undescribed species, the most remarkable records were those of Mantidactylus majori, Uroplatus lineatus and Blaesodactylus antongilensis in the Sahafina forest at Madagascar's central east coast, which constitute significant range extensions for these species. Four new unconfirmed candidate species (specimens of high genetic divergences that require further study to assess their possible species status) were recorded: