Endemism in Herpetofauna

In 2015, Randy McCranie, one of the leading researchers of Honduran herpetofauna, published the most recent checklist to date of Honduras’ amphibians and reptiles. A total of 401 species were included (137 amphibians and 264 reptiles), of which 111 are endemic to the country.

Since then, several publications have reported new species, including Craugastor castanedai, Laemanctus julioi, Sceloporus esperanzae, Anolis caceresae, and the most recently added species, Bolitoglossa copinhorum (March 2020), bringing the total to 424 species. This makes Honduras one of the countries with the highest levels of endemism in Central America (Wilson & Johnson, 2010). At Honduras Neotropical, we look forward to sharing more posts on Honduran herpetofauna.

Figure 1:Duellmanohyla salvavida, Pico Bonito National Park

Figure 2: Atlantihyla spinipollex, Pico Bonito National Park

Figure 3: Metlapilcoatlus indomitus, La Botija Nature Reserve.

Figure 4: Plectrohyla exquisita, Cusuco National Park.

Figure 5: Plectrohyla dasypus, Cusuco National Park.

All images are of species endemic to Honduras. Please credit the author.

By: Luis Zúniga, Biologist