Reptile, amphibian, and lemur diversity of the Malahelo Forest, a biogeographical transition zone in southeastern Madagascar

Ambatorongorongo Mountain lies at the historical intersection betweenhumid, spiny, and littoral forests in southeastern Madagascar. We report theresults of surveys of the herpetofauna and lemurs occurring in Malahelo Forest,a small (<25 ha) forest fragment lying on the western slope ofAmbatorongorongo Mountain. There are at least 41 reptile, 11 amphibian, and 7lemur species in this forest, including several that are endemic to southeasternMadagascar and are at severe risk of extinction. The species richness of theMalahelo fauna is comparable to that of even the largest forest reserves in theregion. We also evaluate the similarity of the Malahelo herpetofauna to that ofnearby humid, spiny, and littoral forests to assess the biogeographic affinitiesof its amphibians and reptile assemblages. Both groups contain speciescharacteristic of each of the three surrounding forest types, but thebiogeographic patterns appear to differ for amphibians and reptiles. Overall,the herpetofauna and lemurs of the Malahelo Forest indicate that it is a remnantof a biogeographic transition zone between the major forest types ofsoutheastern Madagascar. The combination of high species richness, regionalendemics, and unique herpetofaunal and lemur assemblages should make MalaheloForest a high conservation priority, and we give recommendations for protectingwhat remains of this important transitional forest.     

Amphibians and Reptiles of Luzon Island,Philippines: the Herpetofauna of Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed,Nueva Ecija Province,Caraballo Mountain Range

We present detailed species accounts for fifty-nine(59) species of amphibians and reptiles(17 frogs, 14 skinks, 3 agamids, 6 gekkonid lizards, 2 varanids, and 17 snakes) from Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed, which lies within the Caraballo Mountain Range, whose biota is poorly-known. This was also the first extensive survey of herpetofauna within the watershed. Together with data from previous literature reviews, our records bring the total number of species of amphibians and reptiles for the Caraballo Mountain Range to 66. Forty-two(42) species from the area were Philippine endemics, with 25 species recorded only from Luzon faunal region. Seven species of herpetofauna are associated with unresolved taxonomic issues(new species and species complexes needing taxonomic partitioning, e.g. splitting of species groups). Two species recorded from the area were rarely represented in museum collections. Major distributional and elevational range extensions were recorded for several species. Comparison with Luzon's other mountain ranges showed that the Caraballo Mountain Range is similar, in terms of species composition, to the northern Sierra Madre and Cordillera Mountain Ranges. The result of this survey showed the Caraballo Mountain Range and its mountains as a possible new center of herpetofaunal diversity and endemicity within Luzon. The importance of the Caraballo Mountain Range as an important biogeographic link merits further study.     

Distribution of endemic and threatened herpetofauna in Mt. Malindang,Mindanao, Philippines

Mt. Malindang is one of the upland ranges where biodiversity has been severely threatened due to forest loss. Fieldwork was conducted from October 2003 to December 2004 in 14 sampling sites from an elevation of 120 to over 1,700 m above sea level to assess the distribution of endemic and threatened herpetofaunal species. Twenty-six species of amphibians and 33 species of reptiles were observed for all sampling sites. The level of endemism for amphibians was 42% where 7 of the 11 recorded species are found only in Mindanao. Nine species were in the threatened category, 8 vulnerable and 1 endangered. For the reptiles, 48% endemicity was observed. No threatened species was found. Field observations show that the major threat to the herpetofauna is habitat destruction, particularly the conversion of the forest to agricultural farms by the local people. It was also observed that endemic and threatened species were distributed in high elevation sites (submontane, dipterocarp, almaciga, and montane forests). Despite habitat loss in Mt. Malindang, 18% of the recorded herpetofaunal species recorded in the Philippines were found in Mt. Malindang, indicating the conservation importance of this mountain range.     

Factors influencing herpetofauna abundance and diversity in a tropical agricultural landscape mosaic

Agricultural intensification and the associated factors, including land transformation, are among the major global threats affecting biodiversity especially herpetofauna. However, little information is available about how different factors shape herpetofauna species assemblages in agricultural landscape at different spatial scales from patch (125 – 250m) to the landscape (500 – 1000m). We assessed the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in areas under low and high degrees of agricultural intensification and explored different factors regulating diversity at different spatial scales using four sampling methods. Diversity and abundance of amphibians varied significantly between the two zones, but not for reptiles. Agricultural intensification index (AII), calculated based on agrochemical use and area under agriculture at 250m scale, seemed to affect amphibians both at patch as well as at 500m and 1000m landscape scales. The AII influenced reptilian diversity only at patch and 500m scales. Vicinity of natural forest had a stronger influence on reptilian abundance. Seminatural vegetation impacted herpetofauna diversities at larger spatial scales. The extent of water bodies influenced the reptilian abundance at 250m patch scale and amphibian abundance both at 250m and 1000m scale. Fallow lands affected only reptilian diversity at all spatial scales. Plantation affected amphibian at all scales but reptiles only at the landscape scale. Habitat heterogeneity regulated only amphibian diversity. These results highlight the fact that different patch and landscape-scale factors regulate the diversity of reptiles and amphibians differentially. Such scale-specific information will crucially inform future conservation action for the herpetofauna in the agricultural landscape.     

Species richness of helminth parasites in Mexican amphibians and reptiles

Abstract. Amphibians and reptiles represent an important group of vertebrates in Mexico; on a global scale 10% of the biodiversity of these groups is found in the country, attaining extraordinarily high levels of endemism (60.7% and 53.7%, respectively). However, fewer than 20% of the known species of amphibians and reptiles in Mexico have been surveyed for helminths, so the inventory is far from complete. We assembled a data base that includes a total of 1246 records (entries) of which 460 correspond to helminths in amphibians and 786 to helminths in reptiles. In total, only 41 species of amphibians (14% of those occurring in Mexico) and only 118 species of reptiles (17% of those occurring in Mexico) have been studied for helminth parasites. From amphibians, 119 species of helminths belonging to 60 genera have been recorded, while 239 species of helminths representing 113 genera have been described from Mexican reptiles. One feature of the distribution of helminths of Mexican amphibians and reptiles is its asymmetry, as seen in representation of helminth groups, host groups and geographical range. However, such statistical asymmetry might be an artefact of sampling effort. Based on our data, we estimate that if all the herpetofauna of Mexico could be studied in the following years, approximately 827 additional species of helminths from amphibians and approximately 1403 from reptiles would be described.     

Systematics, speciation and biogeography of the dwarf chameleons (Brookesia; Reptilia, Squamata, Chamaeleontidae) of northern Madagascar

Brookesia dwarf chameleons, endemic to Madagascar, were surveyed at the following localities in northern Madagascar (north of 16°S): Montagne d'Ambre, Ankarana, Manongarivo, Tsaratanana, Marojejy and Masoala. A total of 15 species occur in this region. Six new species are described and five new synonyms are identified. The genus Brookesia , the most speciose chamaeleontid genus in Madagascar, contains 23 species.
Almost all the northern Brookesia species are restricted to rainforest and occupy a relatively narrow elevational range. Although the northern rainforests represent just one-third of the total rainforest and about 5% of the total island area, 65% of the Brookesia species occur in this region, and 52% are endemic to the northern rainforest. Five new biogeographic regions of the northern rainforest are identified based on centres of Brookesia endemicity: Montagne d'Ambre, Northwest, Tsaratanana, Northeast and East. Speciation is thought to have been facilitated in the north through geographic isolation, with the Tsaratanana mountain range and the dry forests south of Montagne d'Ambre forming barriers to dispersal, and the Tsaratanana mountains acting as a centre of isolation. The fragmented distribution of several Brookesia species of low altitude rainforest suggests a period in Madagascar's history when the climate was wetter and low altitude rainforest much more widespread.     

两栖和爬行类生长及生长激素分泌活动的调节

根据生长内分泌学,综述了近年来两栖和爬行类生长激素（ＧＨ）分泌活动的调节及生长激素在两栖爬行类生长中作用这一研究领域所取得的主要成就和研究进展,研究结果表明：在脊椎动物的进化过程中,ＧＨ的化学结构和功能是相当保守的;ＧＨ对两栖爬行类的生长起促进作用;类胰岛素生长因子（ＩＧＦｓ）也能冰分传递ＧＨ促进两栖类的生长;在两栖爬行类,下丘脑对ＧＨ分泌的调控较哺乳类缺乏特异性,利用外源ＧＨ促进两栖爬行类的生长     

湖南小溪国家级自然保护区两栖爬行动物多样性与区系特征

本底资源是保护区建设与发展的基础,也是生物多样性深入研究与保护重要的参考资料。湖南小溪国家级自然保护区是我国中南地区具有代表性的原始次生林区,生物资源相对丰富。自2014年以来,对区内的两栖爬行动物资源、多样性及区系进行了较为系统的调查与研究。结果表明:区内现有两栖爬行动物2目16科40属63种,其中两栖动物1目7科15属33种,爬行动物1目9科25属30种;无声囊泛树蛙Polypedates mutus和老山树蛙Rhacophorus laoshan是湖南省两栖动物新记录;核心区的物种多样性指数和均匀度指数均高于缓冲区和实验区;动物区系成分缺乏古北界种类,以东洋界种类为主(48种,占76.2%),广布种有15种(23.8%);平均动物区系相似性比较发现,其与湖南省内其他6个保护区(森林公园)属于周缘关系。鉴于保护区两栖爬行动物资源的丰富性、典型性与代表性,应加强研究和保护。     

江西武功山两栖爬行动物资源调查及评价

2001年7月中旬～8月上旬,对江西武功山国家森林公园进行了20多天的野生动植物资源野外考察.公园内现已记录两栖类2目7科25种和爬行类3目9科37种,本次调查增加安福县爬行动物新记录7种：多疣壁虎、中国石龙子、黑背白环蛇、铅色水蛇、灰鼠蛇、乌梢蛇、银环蛇;增加武功山爬行动物新记录23种.动物地理区划属东洋界华中区东部丘陵平原亚区,动物区系组成以东洋界华中区与华南区共有种为主.两栖类东洋界种类占92.00%;生态类型以流水型9种和陆栖-静水型7种占优势.数量优势种为黑斑蛙、中华蟾蜍、黑斑肥螈、泽蛙、棘胸蛙、花臭蛙、华南湍蛙、三港树蟾、镇海林蛙和饰纹姬蛙.爬行类东洋界种类占75.68%,广布种占24.32%.数量优势种有石龙子、蓝尾石龙子、铜蜓蜥、赤链华游蛇、王锦蛇、虎斑颈槽蛇、赤链蛇、红点锦蛇、乌梢蛇、灰鼠蛇、尖吻蝮、竹叶青蛇等.公园内野生动物及其生境受人类干扰破坏大,当地群众保护意识有待增强,就此提出了保护对策.     

四川美姑大风顶自然保护区两栖爬行动物资源调查

20 0 2年 8月 1日～ 17日对四川美姑大风顶自然保护区的两栖爬行动物进行了调查。结合前人的工作 ,该保护区共有两栖爬行动物 2 2种 ,其中两栖动物 11种 ,隶属于 9属 7科 2目 ,爬行动物 11种 ,隶属于 9属 4科 2亚目 1目。区系特点为 :(1)物种组成较丰富 ;(2 )都属于东洋界物种 ,没有古北界的成分 ;(3)区系组成较简单 ,以喜马控雅 -横断山区型和南中国型为主 ;(4 )特有种所占比例高。 (5 )既古老又具年轻的特点。美姑县新纪录 6种 ,大凉疣螈为国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物 ,横斑锦蛇为四川省重点保护野生动物。美姑大风顶自然保护区两栖爬行动物物种多样性和生境多样性较高 ,对于生物多样性保护和研究横断山脉两栖爬行动物物种组成及区系特征具有一定意义。     

Assessing DNA Barcodes for Species Identification in North American Reptiles and Amphibians in Natural History Collections

BackgroundHigh rates of species discovery and loss have led to the urgent need for more rapid assessment of species diversity in the herpetofauna. DNA barcoding allows for the preliminary identification of species based on sequence divergence. Prior DNA barcoding work on reptiles and amphibians has revealed higher biodiversity counts than previously estimated due to cases of cryptic and undiscovered species. Past studies have provided DNA barcodes for just 14% of the North American herpetofauna, revealing the need for expanded coverage.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study demonstrates that DNA barcodes can effectively flag errors in museum collections, while BIN splits and merges reveal taxa belonging to deeply diverged or hybridizing lineages. This study is the first effort to compile a reference library of DNA barcodes for herpetofauna on a continental scale.     

Amphibians and Reptiles of Cebu,Philippines:The Poorly Understood Herpetofauna of an Island with Very Little Remaining Natural Habitat

Despite its proximity to other well studied islands, Cebu has received little attention from herpetologists, most likely because of early deforestation and the perception very little natural habitat remains for amphibians and reptiles. In this study, we present a preliminary assessment of island's herpetofauna, focusing our field work on Cebu's last remaining forest fragments and synthesizing all available historical museum distribution data. We surveyed amphibians and reptile populations using standardized methods to allow for comparisons between sites and assess sufficiency of sampling effort. Fieldwork resulted in a total of 27 species recorded from five study sites, complementing the 58 species previously known from the island. Together, our data and historical museum records increase the known number of Cebu's resident species to 13 amphibians(frogs) and 63 reptiles(lizards, snakes, turtle, crocodile). We recorded the continued persistence Cebu's rare and endemic lizard(Brachymeles cebuensis) and secretive snakes such as Malayotyphlops hypogius, and Ramphotyhlops cumingii, which persist despite Cebu's long history of widespread and continuous habitat degradation. Most species encountered, including common and widespread taxa, appeared to persist at low population abundances. To facilitate the immediate recovery of the remaining forest fragments, and resident herpetofauna, conservation effort must be sustained. However, prior to any conservation interventions, ecological baselines must be established to inform the process of recovery.     

Spatial Biodiversity Patterns of Madagascar's Amphibians and Reptiles

Madagascar has become a model region for testing hypotheses of species diversification and biogeography, and many studies have focused on its diverse and highly endemic herpetofauna. Here we combine species distribution models of a near-complete set of species of reptiles and amphibians known from the island with body size data and a tabulation of herpetofaunal communities from field surveys, compiled up to 2008. Though taxonomic revisions and novel distributional records arose since compilation, we are confident that the data are appropriate for inferring and comparing biogeographic patterns among these groups of organisms. We observed species richness of both amphibians and reptiles was highest in the humid rainforest biome of eastern Madagascar, but reptiles also show areas of high richness in the dry and subarid western biomes. In several amphibian subclades, especially within the Mantellidae, species richness peaks in the central eastern geographic regions while in reptiles different subclades differ distinctly in their richness centers. A high proportion of clades and subclades of both amphibians and reptiles have a peak of local endemism in the topographically and bioclimatically diverse northern geographic regions. This northern area is roughly delimited by a diagonal spanning from 15.5°S on the east coast to ca. 15.0°S on the west coast. Amphibian diversity is highest at altitudes between 800–1200 m above sea-level whereas reptiles have their highest richness at low elevations, probably reflecting the comparatively large number of species specialized to the extended low-elevation areas in the dry and subarid biomes. We found that the range sizes of both amphibians and reptiles strongly correlated with body size, and differences between the two groups are explained by the larger body sizes of reptiles. However, snakes have larger range sizes than lizards which cannot be readily explained by their larger body sizes alone. Range filling, i.e., the amount of suitable habitat occupied by a species, is less expressed in amphibians than in reptiles, possibly reflecting their lower dispersal capacity. Taxonomic composition of communities assessed by field surveys is largely explained by bioclimatic regions, with communities from the dry and especially subarid biomes distinctly differing from humid and subhumid biomes.     

Mitochondrial DNA diversity and historical biogeography of a wet forest-restricted frog (Litoria pearsoniana) from mid-east Australia

MtDNA sequencing was used to investigate the genetic population structure of Litoria pearsoniana, a wet forest-restricted hylid frog, endemic to southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales, Australia. L. pearsoniana is regarded as endangered under Queensland legislation. Significant genetic divergence among populations of frogs from different rainforest isolates was identified, but the lack of reciprocal monophyly among adjacent isolates suggests this is the result of a relatively recent disruption to gene flow. A paired catchment study within a single rainforest isolate, the Conondale Range, revealed no substantial genetic structuring, indicating the occurrence of terrestrial dispersal among nearby streams either in the recent past or currently. Two major reciprocally monophyletic clades of mtDNA alleles were identified. These corresponded to two geographical regions separated by the Brisbane River valley; one consisting of the Conondale and D’Aguilar Ranges, and the other of the southern isolates in the Main, Border and Gibraltar Ranges. Sequence divergence between the two regions was more consistent with a late Miocene or Pliocene rather than late Pleistocene separation, and is similar to that found among phylogeographic divisions of rainforest reptiles and amphibians in north Queensland rainforests. The molecular evidence for long-term separation of these two regions is corroborated by the pattern of species turnover in the distributions of species of rainforest-restricted amphibians and reptiles. Bioclimatic modelling suggests that appropriate conditions for L. pearsoniana would have been restricted to isolated refuges in each phylogeographic division under cooler and drier climates, such as predicted for the last glacial maximum. Currently isolated montane areas may have been connected transiently during the past 2000 years. Identification of long-term zoogeographic divisions among southeast Queensland rainforest herpetofauna has important implications for conservation and management. Conservation management of L. pearsoniana should be applied at the scale of major rainforest isolates and the conservation status of the species should be assessed independently north and south of the historical division.     

Impacts of climate change on the amphibians and reptiles of Southeast Asia

Amphibians and reptiles will be adversely affected by projected rapid changes in climate in the next decades. Here, we review the known and potential impacts of climate change on the Southeast Asian amphibians and reptiles and make mitigation recommendations for both research and policy. Current amphibian and reptile distributions and ecologies mirror climate patterns, and we expect that adaptation to changes in these parameters will be too slow relative to their rate of expected change, and that pervasive changes will occur to species assemblages, communities, and ecosystem functioning and services. Southest Asia is a network of islands with relatively few mountains, effectively preventing most herpetofauna from migrating away from the effects of climate change. Reflecting specific known and hypothesized physiological and ecological thresholds, we estimate that in <50 years, amphibians and reptiles in Southeast Asia will have reached or exceeded most limits in their abilities to adapt to the effects of climate change and that temperature dependent sex determination, higher metabolic rates, and less bio-available water will have severe and irreversible effects on these organisms. We suggest that human decision-making and policy development have already lagged and that societal change is happening too slowly for effective mitigation. If we are to avert devastating loss of biodiversity and a complete meltdown of ecosystem services, we must quickly change our attitudes and thinking about how we interact with and use biological systems.     

Estimating the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Species Richness within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Evidence for significant losses of species richness or biodiversity, even within protected natural areas, is mounting. Managers are increasingly being asked to monitor biodiversity, yet estimating biodiversity is often prohibitively expensive. As a cost-effective option, we estimated the spatial and temporal distribution of species richness for four taxonomic groups (birds, mammals, herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), and plants) within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks using only existing biological studies undertaken within the Parks and the Parks'' long-term wildlife observation database. We used a rarefaction approach to model species richness for the four taxonomic groups and analyzed those groups by habitat type, elevation zone, and time period. We then mapped the spatial distributions of species richness values for the four taxonomic groups, as well as total species richness, for the Parks. We also estimated changes in species richness for birds, mammals, and herpetofauna since 1980. The modeled patterns of species richness either peaked at mid elevations (mammals, plants, and total species richness) or declined consistently with increasing elevation (herpetofauna and birds). Plants reached maximum species richness values at much higher elevations than did vertebrate taxa, and non-flying mammals reached maximum species richness values at higher elevations than did birds. Alpine plant communities, including sagebrush, had higher species richness values than did subalpine plant communities located below them in elevation. These results are supported by other papers published in the scientific literature. Perhaps reflecting climate change: birds and herpetofauna displayed declines in species richness since 1980 at low and middle elevations and mammals displayed declines in species richness since 1980 at all elevations.     

The insular herpetofauna of Mexico: Composition,conservation, and biogeographic patterns

We compile a Mexican insular herpetofaunal checklist to estimate endemism, conservation status, island threats, net taxonomic turnover among six biogeographic provinces belonging to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, and the relationships between island area and mainland distance versus species richness. We compile a checklist of insular herpetofaunal through performing a literature and collection review. We define the conservation status according to conservation Mexican law, the Red List of International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Environmental Vulnerability Scores. We determine threat percentages on islands according to the 11 major classes of threats to biodiversity. We estimate the net taxonomic turnover with beta diversity analysis between the Nearctic and Neotropical provinces. The Mexican insular herpetofauna is composed of 18 amphibian species, 204 species with 101 subspecies of reptiles, and 263 taxa in total. Endemism levels are 11.76% in amphibians, 53.57% in reptiles, and 27.91% being insular endemic taxa. Two conservation status systems classify the species at high extinction risk, while the remaining system suggests less concern. However, all systems indicate species lacking assessment. Human activities and exotic alien species are present on 60% of 131 islands. The taxonomic turnover value is high (0.89), with a clear herpetofaunal differentiation between the two biogeographic regions. The species–area and species–mainland distance relationships are positive. Insular herpetofauna faces a high percentage of threats, with the Neotropical provinces more heavily impacted. It is urgent to explore the remaining islands (3,079 islands) and better incorporate insular populations and species in ecological, evolutionary, and systematic studies. In the face of the biodiversity crisis, islands will play a leading role as a model to apply restoration and conservation strategies.     

Herpetofaunal communities at Muni Lagoon in Ghana

A herpetofaunal survey of Muni-Pomadze Lagoon, during the main rainy season (May–June), recorded a total of 32 species (13 amphibians and 19 reptiles). Three species are the first records for coastal habitats in Ghana: Kinixys homeana, Calabaria reinhardti, and Bothrophthalmus lineatus. None of the surveyed species are restricted to Ghana. The most diverse herpetofaunal community occurs in grassland thicket, with 26 species (81% of the sampled herpetofauna). Freshwater ponds include 12 species, while only three species (all amphibians) occur in brackish lagoons. Herpetofaunal conservation efforts at these sites should focus on protecting and monitoring grassland coastal thicket and freshwater ponds. Currently, freshwater pond habitats appear to be stable, but coastal thicket is being lost to provide new agricultural land at Muni. Hyperolius reedfrogs, pythons (Python regius) and monitor lizards (Varanus exanthematicus and V. niloticus) appear to offer the greatest potential for undertaking long-term monitoring of the coastal lagoon herpetofauna, because they can be more readily surveyed, and are likely to be sensitive to a broad range of environmental stressors.     

Distributional patterns of herpetofauna in monsoon rainforests of the Northern Territory,Australia

Abstract The herpetofauna of 50 monsoon rainforest patches in the Top End of the Northern Territory was surveyed during the dry season of 1990. This fauna contains few obligate monsoon rainforest species, many species which favour this habitat as part of a broad habitat range and a large number of species (indeed most of the regional species pool) that occasionally occur within monsoon rainforests. The taxonomic composition of species favouring monsoon rainforests is a non-random selection from the regional pool, with relatively few species in the families Agamidae and Scincidae occurring commonly in monsoon rainforests. Environmental variation among the rainforest patches sampled was portrayed by ordination, with the first axis corresponding to an environmental gradient from coastal sites to inland rocky rainforests and the second a gradient from relatively dry thickets to tall dense rainforests close to water. The distributions of herpetofauna species were depicted on this ordination space. Most frog species occurred in relatively wet rainforests and most gecko species were relatively restricted to drier rainforests. A substantial component of the herpetofauna was associated with rainforests on rocky substrate. In contrast to this relatively good association with these defined gradients, there was little apparent influence of patch size or level of disturbance on the distribution of individual species of herpetofauna. Sampling month was related to the abundance of many species, with many frog species and some snake and skink species declining (but some skink and one frog species increasing) in abundance in rainforest patches during the late dry season. This seasonal change in abundance is not due to movements from rainforest patches to adjacent vegetation types (or vice versa) but rather to total landscape (cross-habitat) changes in abundance (or detectability). The species composition of patches tended to be idiosyncratic, with substantial variability in composition, even between nearby patches of like environment. Hence it is not possible to nominate a representative rainforest herpetofauna, and indeed a classification of all quadrats (including those from rainforests, rainforest edges and adjacent habitats) based on herpetofauna species composition grouped many non-rainforest quadrats with those from rainforests. There was no rainforest edge herpetofauna assemblage. The herpetofauna from rainforests of the Northern Territory was similar to but somewhat richer than that recorded from the even more attenuated monsoon rainforest area of the Kimberley of northwestern Australia, but shared relatively few species with a sampling from monsoon rainforests from western Cape York. Frog species were more likely to be recorded across these three regions than were snake species. The number of herpetofaunal species per patch was low compared to tropical forests in northeastern Australia, Asia and central America. The long dry season of the Top End may contribute to this impoverishment. However, the small total area of monsoon rainforests in this region, the current scattered network of patches and historical fluctuations in extent and distribution of this habitat are probably at least as important.     

Arboreal tropical forest vertebrates: current knowledge and research trends

We review the ecology and specialized methods required for studying arboreal mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and use faunal checklists from 12 tropical wet forest sites and an analysis of all articles published during the past ten years in 14 major journals to assess current knowledge and general research trends for these groups. The percentage of arboreal vertebrates was remarkably similar at the different sites (76.2 ± 3.9%). Birds were the most arboreal group and amphibians and reptiles the least. The review of journals showed that primates were overwhelmingly the most studied group (336 papers), followed by bats (105), passeriform birds (73) and rodents (55). Judging by their portion of the arboreal vertebrate community and the number of papers surveyed, birds and amphibians and reptiles are vastly understudied compared to mammals, but this is largely due to the great number of primate studies. The number of publications on arboreal vertebrates has remained relatively stable over the last 10 years for all taxa except primates, which have seen a growth in publications. Canopy vertebrates from Brazil had by far the most publications (120), followed by Madagascar (61), Costa Rica (55) and Indonesia (42). We conclude by highlighting the priorities we see for future studies on tropical canopy vertebrates.