Herpetofauna of the corregimiento Botillero (El Banco, Magdalena) in the depresion momposina of the Colombia Caribbean Region

Abstract

A list of the amphibian and reptilian species is registered from a highly disturbed lowland area, adjacent to the marsh of Chilloa that is part of a system of large water bodies connected with the Magdalena River in the Colombian Caribbean region. Visual encounter surveys were made during the day and night in six field trips from April 1999 to January 2000. We found 20 amphibians and 26 non avian reptiles. Most of the registered species have a wide range of geographical distribution in the lowlands of Central and South America, thus β (beta) diversity is low. Of those species, 17 are considered indicative of disturbed habitats while the others are characteristic of gallery forests or forest fragments. The obtained species list contributes to the known data for the herpetofauna of the lowlands of the Colombian Caribbean. The comparative analysis with other known herpetofaunas at low altitudes showed that Botillero has more common species with that of the Llanos Centrales of Venezuela and Barro Colorado in Panama than with other Central and South American areas in concordance with suggested biogeographic patterns. Given the characteristics of the study area and the registered herpetofauna, it is suggested to connect the tropical dry forest fragments with gallery forests around the marshes and other water bodies to maintain the diversity of species associated with these habitats.