Preliminary Report on the Anurans of Mount Hilong-hilong,Agusan Del Norte,Eastern Mindanao,Philippines

Mount Hilong-hilong is a key biodiversity area, spanning several municipalities in the provinces of the Caraga Region(Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur), northeastern Mindanao Island, southern Philippines. The Hilong-hilong massif remains one of the most significant forested areas in Mindanao, threatened with habitat modification(forest removal, degradation) and other anthropogenic disturbances related to renewable resource extraction. Amphibians are key indicator species for environmental quality and are useful focal taxa for conservation efforts. Relying on historical museum database information and new survey work on Mount Hilonghilong, we provide species accounts and describe microhabitat preferences of the anurans(frogs and toads) present in the area. Twenty-seven species representing seven anuran families were studied in detail at elevations between 700 to 1300 meters above sea level; 16 of these species are Mindanao faunal region endemics. Qualitative overlap in microhabitat use was observed, suggesting that, for the species recorded, intact forest may ensure species persistence to some levels of anthropogenic disturbance. A more extensive herpetofaunal survey is needed to fully estimate the herpetofaunal diversity of Mount Hilong-hilong. Because amphibians represent fine-scale indicators of environmental quality and microendemism, we recommend appropriate fine-scaled regional strategies geared towards the conservation of amphibians in the Caraga area, northeast Mindanao Island.