Corresponding author: Marites B. Sanguila (
Academic editor: A. Bauer
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 We present species accounts for all taxa, comment on unresolved taxonomic problems, and provide revisions to outdated IUCN conservation status assessments in cases where our new data significantly alter earlier classification status summaries.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.
Sanguila MB, Cobb KA, Siler CD, Diesmos AC, Alcala AC, Brown RM (2016) The amphibians and reptiles of Mindanao Island, southern Philippines, II: the herpetofauna of northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands. ZooKeys 624: 1–132. doi:
Recent efforts to conduct comprehensive herpetological surveys of the various islands of the Philippines have provided near-complete estimation of the amphibian and reptile diversity and endemism of several islands, mountain ranges, or other conspicuous geographical subcenters of diversity in the northern reaches of the archipelago (
Map of Mindanao Island in relation to the remaining Philippine archipelago (inset). Numbered study sites correspond to those listed in Table
The perception that southern portions of the Philippine archipelago are sufficiently studied and/or reasonably understood may derive in part from proximity-based expectations of faunal similarity between Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan versus the islands of Sundaland and Wallacea (
Our prevailing perspective on patterns of endemism and subdivision of terrestrial biodiversity in the archipelago includes a general acceptance of a model of diversification based on late Pleistocene sea level oscillations and the generation of periodic land connectivity; this has been termed the Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex
Mindanao was formed by the accretion of the island-arc related to the eastern-central block and the western continental Zamboanga peninsula block, separated by the active Sindangan-Cotabato-Daguma lineament (
Previous studies have described the possibility of an “island-hopping” mode of dispersal across paleoislands to explain colonization of the eastern Philippine island arc (
Because of obstacles to biologists’ access to parts of Mindanao, our current understanding of the island’s herpetofauna comes in large part from the historical works of
In this paper, we take what we hope will be a first step towards ameliorating Mindanao’s herpetological information shortage, by initiating the second study in a series of attempts towards a comprehensive review of the herpetofauna of the island. In this paper, we focus on the regional diversity and endemism of amphibians and reptiles from one subcenter (northeast Mindanao) of the biogeographically distinct Mindanao
We surveyed amphibian and reptile diversity at four major sites in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur provinces (Camiguin Sur, Dinagat and Siargao islands; Table
Northeast Mindanao faunal region sites included in this study (where herpetological specimens have been collected and/or observations have been recorded). Numbered sites correspond to Figure
Site | Province | Municipality | Locality | Elevation (masl) | GPS Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Agusan del Norte | Cabadbaran | West of Mt. Hilong-hilong Peak, San Antonio & Balang-balang | 91–518 |
|
1a | Agusan del Norte | Cabadbaran | Mt. Hilong-hilong W and SW of peak | 610–853 |
|
1b | Agusan del Norte | Cabadbaran | Mt. Hilong-hilong SW and S side of peak | 1067–1417 | |
1c | Agusan del Norte | Cabadbaran | Mt. Hilong-hilong, Taguibo and Dalaydayan River, S side of peak | 1067–1524 | |
1d | Agusan del Norte | Cabadbaran | Mt. Hilong-hilong, S side of peak | 1524–1829 | |
2 | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | Mt. Magdiwata, Mt Hilong-hilong, Balang-balang | 101 |
|
2a | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | Agay River, Barangay San Antonio; Bato-batohon | 320 |
|
2b | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | Coconut Plantation, Mt. Hilong-hilong | 170 |
|
2c | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | Eye Falls, Intersection of Dayhopan and Agay Rivers, Mt. Hilong-hilong | 470 |
|
2d | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | May Impit, Mt. Hilong-hilong | 900 |
|
2e | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | May Impit, Mt. Hilong-hilong | 1130 |
|
2f | Agusan del Norte | Remedios T. Romuladez | May Impit, Mt. Hilong-hilong | 1150 |
|
3 | Agusan del Norte | Butuan City | Butuan City | 6 |
|
4 | Agusan del Norte | Buenavista | Barrio Matabao | 4 |
|
5 | Agusan del Norte | Nasipit | Along Highway between Barangay Libertad and Amontay | 12 |
|
6 | Agusan del Sur | Bunawan | Agusan Valley, Bunawan | 68 |
|
6a | Agusan del Sur | Bunawan | Barangay San Marcos | 23 |
|
7 | Agusan del Sur | San Francisco | San Francisco | 30 |
|
7a | Agusan del Sur | San Francisco | Barangay Bayugan II, Mt. Magdiwata | 300–600 |
|
7b | Agusan del Sur | San Francisco | Barangay Kaimpugan, Agusan Marsh | 33 |
|
8 | Agusan del Sur | Talacogon | Talacogon | 24 |
|
9 | Camiguin | Catarman | Mt. Mambajao, SW side of peak | 0–494 | |
9a | Camiguin | Catarman | Mt. Mambajao, SW side of peak | 518–975 | |
9b | Camiguin | Catarman | Mt. Mambajao, SW side of peak | 1036–1372 | |
9c | Camiguin | Catarman | Tuasan Falls |
|
|
10 | Camiguin | Mahinog | Mahinog Town | 0 |
|
10a | Camiguin | Mahinog | Barrio Benone, Sitio Malabon | 0 |
|
11 | Camiguin | Mambajao | Mambajao town, along roadside | 0–369 |
|
11a | Camiguin | Mambajao | 0.6 km NE of Katibawasan Falls | 375–853 |
|
11b | Camiguin | Mambajao | Mt. Hibok-hibok, NW side of Nasawa Crater | 518–1113 |
|
11c | Camiguin | Mambajao | Balintawak St., Cabua-an Resort | 43 |
|
11d | Camiguin | Mambajao | Barangay Balbagon | 0 |
|
11e | Camiguin | Mambajao | Barangay Pandan, Sitio Kampana | 1050 |
|
11f | Camiguin | Mambajao | Barangay Pandan, Sitio Pamahawan | 707 |
|
11g | Camiguin | Mambajao | Ardent Hotspring | 202 |
|
12 | Camiguin | Guinsiliban | Barangay Cabuan | 0–150 |
|
13 | Dinagat Islands | Loreto | Loreto, Kawayanan | 255 |
|
13a | Dinagat Islands | Loreto | Barangay Esperanza | 5–116 |
|
13b | Dinagat Islands | Loreto | Barangay San Juan | 26–72 |
|
13c | Dinagat Islands | Loreto | Barangay Santiago, Mt. Cambinlin |
|
|
14 | Misamis Oriental | Cagayan de Oro | Cagayan de Oro City | 5 |
|
15 | Misamis Oriental | Gingoog | Barangay Civoleg, Mt. Lumot, Camp 2 | 1236 |
|
15a | Misamis Oriental | Gingoog | Barangay Civoleg, Mt. Lumot, Haribon | 1741 |
|
15b | Misamis Oriental | Gingoog | Barangay Civoleg, Mt. Lumot, Shrine site | 1168 |
|
15c | Misamis Oriental | Gingoog | Barangay Lumotan, Sitio San Isidro, Boy Scout Camp, Mt. Balatukan Natural Park | 400–2060 |
|
15d | Misamis Oriental | Gingoog | Sitio Kibuko-boundary with Barangay Lawaan | 420 |
|
16 | Misamis Oriental | Initao | Initao National Park | 8 |
|
17 | Surigao del Norte | Surigao | Surigao City | 22 |
|
18 | Surigao del Norte | Carrascal | Barangay Adlay | 11 |
|
19 | Surigao del Sur | Hinatuan | Hinatuan | 8 |
|
20 | Surigao del Sur | Lanuza | Barrio Sibahay | 152 |
|
21 | Surigao del Sur | Tandag | Tandag | 11 |
|
University of Kansas Smithsonian Carnegie Harvard
The northeast Mindanao herpetological fauna summarized by family, geographical region, current conservation status ( Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Camiguin Sur Dinagat Island Misamis Oriental Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur = historical record only = new species geographical record = species known from historical record(s) and additional new locality records, reported here
Species | Distribution records by province | Status –> revised | Additional notes | |||||||
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SIA |
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N | H | N | Priority for taxonomic research; subsequent conservation status assessment needed | ||||||
N |
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N | H | N |
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N |
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H |
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Priority for taxonomic research | |||||
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N | H | N | Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||
N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
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N |
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N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
N | N | N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||
N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
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H | H | H |
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Lowland endemic, possibly threatened by invasive species; Conservation status assessment needed | ||||||
H |
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N |
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Lowland endemic, possibly threatened by invasive species; Conservation status assessment needed | ||||||
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N | N | ||||||||
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H | N | N | H |
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H | N | H | Priority for taxonomic research; subsequent conservation status assessment needed | ||||
N | ||||||||||
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H | H | N |
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N | N | N |
NA–> |
New assessment | ||||||
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H | N | |||||||
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H | N |
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N |
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N | H |
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N | H | Priority for taxonomic research; subsequent conservation status assessment needed | |||||||
Lowland endemic, possibly threatened by invasive species; Conservation status assessment needed | ||||||||||
N | ||||||||||
N | N/H | N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||
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H | N | H |
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N | |||||||||
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N | H | N | H |
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N | N | ||||||||
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N | |||||||||
H | N |
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N | EN–> |
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H |
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Priority for taxonomic research (Mindanao populations unstudied) | ||||||||
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N | |||||||||
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H | N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||
N | N |
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N | Priority for taxonomic research; subsequent conservation status assessment needed | ||||||
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N | N | N | |||||||
N |
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H |
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N |
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H | H | N |
NA–> |
New assessment | ||||
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H | H | N |
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N |
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N |
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H | N | H |
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H | H |
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N | N |
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N |
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N |
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H | N | H |
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H | N |
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N | N |
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N | H |
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N |
NA–> |
New assessment | ||||||||
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N |
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N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
N | N |
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H | H |
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H |
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N |
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H | H | H |
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N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
H | H |
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H | N | |||||||||
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H | N |
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H | ||||||||||
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N |
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N |
NA–> |
New assessment | ||||||||
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N | H | N | N | H |
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N | N |
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H | ||||||||||
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H |
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H | H | H | N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||
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N | N | N | Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||
N | H | N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||
N | N |
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H |
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N | N |
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H | H |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||
H |
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H | N | H |
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N | H |
NA–> |
New assessment; Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||
N | H |
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N | N | H |
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N | H | N | N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||
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N |
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H | N | H |
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N | H |
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N | N |
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H |
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H | N |
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Conservation status assessment needed | ||||||
H | N | H |
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H | H |
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Conservation status assessment needed | |||||||
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H | N |
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H | N |
NA–> |
New assessment | ||||
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N | N |
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N | H |
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N | N | H | N |
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H | N |
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H |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||||
H | ||||||||||
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N |
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N |
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H | N | H |
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H |
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N |
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H | NA | Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||
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H | N | H |
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N | H |
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N |
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H | H |
NA–> |
New assessment | |||||
H | H |
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N |
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N | H |
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N | N |
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N | H |
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N | N | N | N |
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N | H | N |
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N | H | N |
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N |
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H | N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | |||||
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N | N |
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H | N |
NA–> |
New assessment | ||||
N | Priority for taxonomic research | |||||||||
H |
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H |
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H | ||||||||||
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H | ||||||||||
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H |
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H | N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | |||||
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N | N | H | H | N | |||||
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N |
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N |
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N | NA | Conservation status assessment needed | ||||||||
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N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||||
H |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||||
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N | N | H | N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | |||||
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N | N |
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Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||
N | NA | Priority for taxonomic research | ||||||||
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H |
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H | H |
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We document at least 126 species of amphibians and reptiles from northeast Mindanao and adjacent islands, including 40 species of frogs, one species of caecilian, 49 species of lizards, 35 species of snakes, one species of freshwater turtle, and one species of crocodile (Table
We provide accounts for each species, provide notes on their habitat and natural history, and draw attention to many unresolved taxonomic problems (involving ~40% of the species included) relevant to particular taxa. We also comment on the conservation status of individual species when our new data suggest that existing conservation status assessments (
This species (Fig. evolutionarily significant units
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
As currently understood, this species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
We frequently observe this common introduced species in the vicinity of human habitations and in agricultural areas on Mindanao. It may have originally been introduced to the Philippines during the industrial revolution and the major sugar cane agricultural production boom on the central Philippine island of Negros (
Sites and specimens: MO 6:
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
As currently understood, this common, widespread species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
We collected four specimens of what appears to be a morphologically distinctive arboreal
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
We collected a single specimen of a morphologically distinctive arboreal
Site and specimens: MO 2:
Considered “Vulnerable” (
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
Several specimens of a morphologically distinctive terrestrial (leaf litter) species of
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
This suspected new species of
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
We collected this morphologically and acoustically distinctive undescribed species of
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
Two specimens of an acoustically unique
Sites and specimens: MO 5:
This endemic species, formerly considered conspecific with
Sites and specimens: AN 8:
The first endemic Philippine species known to science,
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
Recent collections of this species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
The Leyte Swamp Frog,
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Commonly encountered and locally abundant in central, southern, and western Mindanao, this species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
Yellow-bellied Puddle Frogs are widespread, aquatic, non-endemic species found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats from streams, rivers, swamps, and flooded rice fields at low elevation, to cascading mountain streams in montane environments. This species’ conservation status is “Least Concern” (
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Widespread throughout Mindanao and Basilan, but not Dinagat, Siargao, Leyte, Samar or Bohol (
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
This species conservation status has been listed as “Vulnerable” (
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Known only from Mindanao, Jolo, and Palawan in the Philippines, but also from Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and central Borneo, this species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
Until recently,
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
The curious, patchy, and unpredictable distribution of the Mindanao
Sites and specimens: AS 2:
Distributed throughout the Philippines and formerly quite commonly encountered in dense aggregations in rice fields and temporary bodies of water in the rainy season,
Sites and specimens: AS 4:
An undescribed species of forest cavity-dwelling (tree hole)
Sites and specimens: none.
Described from Camiguin Sur Island (
Sites and specimens: AS 6:
This species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Previously considered a subspecies of “
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Common throughout the Mindanao faunal region,
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
This somewhat rarely encountered species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
This small shrub frog (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 3:
This high elevation Mindanao endemic shrub frog (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 6:
Described originally from Dapitan Peak (10 km from Masawan, Misamis Occidental Province), this species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: MO 2:
The presence of
Sites and specimens: AN 3:
Sites and specimens: AN 4:
Common and distributed throughout the archipelago,
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
The frog
Previously classified as a species of
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
This common tree frog (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
This swamp- and ephemeral pond-breeding species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
A single specimen putatively identified as
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
This species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
This species occurs throughout the Mindanao and Sulu faunal regions (
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
This species was quite common in coconut plantations and, like
Sites and specimens: AN 15:
This species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
Known from Mindanao, Dinagat, Samar, Leyte and Bohol islands (
Sites and specimens: D 5:
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
An inhabitant of lowland riparian corridors, coastal forests, and mangroves ( Evolutionarily Significant Unit
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
We collected one specimen (Fig.
Sites and specimens: MO 6:
Formerly part of a species complex known from Mindanao, Leyte, Dinagat and Siargao islands (
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Occurring in sympatry with
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Formerly recognized as part of the
Sites and specimens: D 2:
This species of house
Sites and specimens: C 10:
A recent phylogeographic (
Sites and specimens: C 10:
This species occurs throughout Southeast Asia and has been recorded at most well surveyed sites throughout the Philippines with the exception of the Batanes and Babuyan Island Groups (
Sites and specimens: C 12:
Sites and specimens: C 6:
We observed this human commensal species in nearly every site we have surveyed in northeast Mindanao and off shore islands. Considered “Least Concern” (
Sites and specimens: AS 2:
Like its congener,
Sites and specimens: AS 2:
In response to
Sites and specimens: AS 6:
This Mindanao
Sites and specimens: C 6:
This previously considered common and “Least Concern” (
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
This rare forest-obligate species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: MO 6:
Formerly considered conspecific with
Sites and specimens: C 1:
One juvenile of undetermined sex (
Sites and specimens: MO:
Like
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
This common species of semi-fossorial slender skink (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
The southern Philippine common sunskink traditionally known as
Sites and specimens: AN 3:
Sites and specimens: AS 1:
This relatively common Philippine sunskink has been reported as occurring throughout the southern portion of the archipelago (
Sites and specimens: AS 6:
This geographically widespread habitat generalist species (
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
This species is widely distributed throughout the archipelago and locally abundant in coastal and agricultural areas (
Sites and specimens: AN 15:
Sites and specimens: AN 3:
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
Sites and specimens: AS 6:
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
Described from high elevation forested plateaus of Bukidnon Province, central Mindanao (
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
Members of the large, geographically structured, genetically diverse taxon
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Originally described from Dinagat Island (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
Originally described from central-western Mindanao,
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
Unlike the taxonomically confused and highly polyphyletic “species”
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
This unusual small-bodied species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
An ecologically unique and morphologically highly distinctive species, “
Sites and specimens: AN 5:
Member of
Sites and specimens: AN 6:
Unrelated to other Philippine scincids,
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Unrelated to other Philippine scincid lizards,
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
This Philippine endemic species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 1:
Also a Philippine endemic,
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
This Mindanao faunal region endemic monitor lizard recently was distinguished, at the level of full species, from its closest known relative
Sites and specimens: AN 2:
Sites and specimens: AN 10–
Sites and specimens: D 5:
One of the most common fossorial Philippine snakes,
Sites and specimens: AN 13:
Ontogenetic color and pattern variation in juvenile (
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
This widespread, non-endangered (“Least Concern;”
Sites and specimens: D 1:
Composed of four currently recognized subspecies, this Philippine rat snake has three distinctive phenotypes in the Philippines, corresponding to named taxa:
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
Reported first by
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
An extremely common, widespread Philippine arboreal snake,
Sites and specimens: AS 4:
Previously considered part of a widespread polytypic species complex (
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Reported at numerous localities throughout the Philippines, this widespread but relatively infrequently collected arboreal rat snake (Fig.
Sites and specimens: D 5:
This common snake (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 9:
This frequently encountered northeast Mindanao faunal region endemic has been reported from Mindanao and Samar (Taylor 1922e;
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
Described by
Sites and specimens: SS 3:
Presumably because of the common species epithet, this species has been erroneously confused in taxonomic literature with
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
A widespread and exceptionally abundant species
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Another extremely common and widespread Mindanao faunal region species (
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Described from Zamboanga, western Mindanao (
Sites and specimens: AS 5:
This species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 9:
We collected single specimen of a new species of elapid snake, tentatively assigned to the genus
Sites and specimens: D 5:
This venomous cobra species is known throughout Mindanao, Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Dinagat, and Camiguin Sur islands (Taylor 1922e;
Sites and specimens: AN 7:
This extremely widely distributed sea snake is most likely found throughout the Philippines (
Sites and specimens: SN 1:
Like the closely-related Luzon
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
This non-endemic, very widespread species has not been assessed by
Sites and specimens: AN 12:
This widely distributed slug-eating snake (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
Caraga region reticulated pythons are quite common in various habitats, including agricultural plantations, and even residential areas—localities where humans have subsidized their prey base by inadvertently increasing rodent populations. We received numerous reports of pythons from residents around disturbed forests patches in the foothills of Mt. Hilong-hilong, Mt. Balatukan, Mt. Magdiwata, and Mt. Lumot. Hunted for meat (
Sites and specimens: AN 9:
This common, parthenogenetic, and presumably introduced species were collected from beneath all kinds of forest floor debris (leaf litter, logs, rocks, etc.) and on the edge of forests, in agricultural and residential areas. Frequent around human dwellings, this common “flower pot snake” is “Least Concern” (
Sites and specimens: C 13:
Owing to the near complete lack of information on the distribution of
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
Collected in 1971 above 700 m on the west side of Mt. Hilong-hilong on approach from the Municipality of Cabadbaran,
Sites and specimens: AN 3:
Sites and specimens: AN 11:
This common and widespread Luzon and West Visayan pit viper (Fig.
Sites and specimens: AN 10:
As discussed above,
Sites and specimens: D 2:
This common geomydid freshwater turtle species (Fig.
Sites and specimens: D 2:
This species, a saltwater and estuarine crocodile, is found distributed from Southeast Asia up to northern Australia (Iskandar 2000; Lewis et al. 2013). In the Philippines, Indo-pacific crocodiles are found throughout the archipelago and in north-central Mindanao; their presence previously has been documented inland at Agusan Marsh. The species inhabits inland lakes, swamps and marshes, as well as coastal brackish waters and tidal sections of rivers; terrestrial nest sites and basking areas are frequently observed along many Mindanao freshwater bodies of water. This species has an IUCN status of “Least Concern” (
Sites and specimens: D 1:
Our collective knowledge of the herpetological diversity of Mindanao Island (and, in general, the southern Philippines) relies on important mid- to late-19th Century historical European museum collections and a few recent surveys, mostly concentrated at one region: northeast Mindanao (e.g., collections of E. H. Taylor, W. C. Brown and ACA;
Because of our continued uncertainty regarding the true herpetological biodiversity of the southern Philippines, we strongly urge continued survey work aimed at providing accurate estimates of species richness in other subcenters of high-diversity within the Mindanao faunal region. Updated and continued assessment of the conservation status of Mindanao species (
To augment the record provided by published literatutre and publically served museum data, we surveyed isolated islands (Camiguin Sur and Dinagat) and mountain ranges spanning several provinces (Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur) of northeastern Mindanao (Table
High estimates of regional herpetofaunal diversity in the Philippine archipelago have been confirmed in well-studied biogeographically distinct island groups such as Luzon (
From our surveys, we note new Philippine records for native but non-endemic widespread species (those with a portion of their distributions outside the Philippines). These include
Although we did not explicitly analyze archipelago-wide distributional data, our new survey data (consisting of intensive elevational transects sampling, covering differing habitat types) corroborate the expectation of regional herpetofaunal diversity of Mindanao (
In this study, we have taken a simple, but important first step, aimed at identifying similar issues on Mindanao. Future work necessarily will involve the resolution of species complexes with taxonomic clarifications, via species descriptions and revisionary work. This will provide an important source of data for use in future studies focused on ecology, conservation, and diversity of many Mindanao amphibian and reptile species complexes.
Our current review of Mindanao amphibians and reptiles also serves as a template to address broader conservation issues. Hosting a large percentage of the remaining forested areas in the archipelago, the forests of Mindanao are threatened by commercial (legal) and illegal logging (deforestation), land conversion for agricultural and commercial purposes (Conservation International 2014;
The entire Mindanao landscape, particularly lower elevation forests, has been heavily impacted by widespread deforestation, and climate change has become a particular concern for some Mindanao forest and shrub frogs (
Although conservation status assessment efforts attempt to address these factors in current assessments (
Our newly revised conservation reassessment of Mindanao species is based on novel species distribution data, combined with all available historical data (Table
We have attempted to provide a summary of all available information on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles of northeast Mindanao. This work both presents a state-of-the-art picture of the region’s herpetofauna, but also identifies areas now sorely in need of additional survey work. Prioritization of remaining areas for field-based surveys (pockets of Data Deficient species like those of western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago) has not been been critically evaluated in past conservation assessments (
Support for fieldwork was provided by the funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (earlier grants to W. C. Brown and ACA), the Research Office of Fr. Saturnino Urios University (financial and logistical support of field work on Mts. Lumot and Hilong-hilong), and, more recently, an NSF Biotic Surveys and Inventories grant (DEB 0743491) to RMB. We thank the Biodiversity Monitoring Bureau (BMB) of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), for their continued support of our field research program. We thank R. G. Dahonog and R. M. Tawantawan (DENR Region X), R. Igot and M. Mendoza (DENR Region XIII) and DENR CENRO Cabadbaran City for logistical support. Our recent field surveys were conducted under a Gratuitous Permit to Collect Biological Specimens (GP) permit nos. 201, 210 and 212, provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Biodiversity Monitoring Bureau (BMB). In particular, we appreciate the efforts of our partners in fieldwork: J. Plaza, M.G. Medrano, J. Fernandez, W. Bulalaco, J. Cantil, N. Antoque, M. Tuto, B. Paulson, K. Ingenloff, M. Janra, E. DiBlasi, M. Pabillore, R. Edma, and V. Yngente. K. Andam and B. Pascual provided invaluable logistical support on Mts. Balatukan and Lumot. During the Mt. Lumot surveys, we especially appreciated the enthusiastic efforts of our dedicated field assistant, Baba, who secured several important species records (e.g.,