A comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles in the extreme north of Madagascar

Abstract

We surveyed the western dry forest and coastal forest of the Ampombofofo area in the extreme north of Madagascar for its herpetofauna. We recorded a total of nine amphibian and 46 reptile species via opportunistic searching and pitfall trapping. This is the first such survey and consequently providing new records for the area for all of the species found. For those species endemic to Madagascar, these records also represent the northernmost limit of their known range. We also surveyed the coastal forest of Orangea and recorded a total of three amphibian and 22 reptile species. Furthermore, we provide new additions to the species list for Montagne des Francais. We discovered several species in this massif during our relatively short surveys that were not previously known from this site: Reptiles include Gehyra mutilata, Leioheterodon modestus, and Paracontias hildebrandti. Amphibians include an unidentified speces of Cophylinae and two additional species of Stumpffia . The results of this and other surveys in surrounding areas have now demonstrated that many of the species previously considered to be endemic to Montagne des Francais are in fact regionally endemic to the north of Madagascar. However, the forested areas located in the extreme north are subject to numerous human induced environmental problems resulting in habitat destruction and remain a high conservation management priority. Therefore we strongly recommend that Montagne des Francais should be granted full-protected status so that it is able to function as a biological refuge. Herein, we provide additional conservation and development recommendations for the other terrestrial ecosystems surveyed.