Herpetofauna del refugio de vida silvestre El Zarza y su zona de amortiguamiento

Abstract

Abstract:The Refugio de Vida Silvestre El Zarza (RVSEZ) is located in one of the least explored regions of Ecuador, the Cordillera del Cóndor; for this reason, it has a great information gap regarding its herpetofauna. The objective of this work was to carry out an inventory of the herpetofauna present in the RVSEZ and its influence zone. For this, diurnal and nocturnal samplings were carried out applying survey methods such as visual encounters and auditory records, as well as morphological and molecular identification methods. Furthermore, information was compiled from different databases. The inventory gathered 51 species of amphibians and reptiles, generating the first herpetofauna baseline for the protected area. New records for the area and seven new species to science are included. This will allow to improve the management strategies for the conservation of these taxonomic groups in the RVSEZ and its influence zone.