Herpetological surveys in two proposed protected areas in Liberia, West Africa

Abstract

In March and April 2018 we surveyed amphibians and reptiles in two Proposed Protected Areas (PPAs) in Liberia. In the Krahn-Bassa Proposed Protected Area (KBPPA) in eastern Liberia 36 species of amphibians and 13 species of reptiles were recorded. In the Foya Proposed Protected Area (FPPA) in western Liberia 39 species of amphibians and 10 species of reptiles were recorded. The encountered herpetological communities in both sites were typical for West African rainforests. However, some species indicated disturbances, in particular at the edges of the study areas, the surrounding villages and plantations, and old artisanal gold mining sites within forests. Of particular conservation interest was the discovery of a high percentage of typical rainforest specialists with ranges restricted to the western part of the Upper Guinea rainforest biodiversity hotspot. Outstanding discoveries in KBPPA were two new species of puddle frogs, and the first country record for the arboreal, parachuting lizardHolaspisguentheri. Remarkable records in FPPA comprise a new species of stiletto snake, a new puddle frog and records of various frog species typically breeding in undisturbed rainforest streams, such asOdontobatrachusnatatorandConrauaalleni. Both study areas comprise an important proportion of the remaining rainforests in the Upper Guinea forest zone. The new discoveries indicate that within this biogeographic area, southeastern and western Liberian rainforest may still hold various undiscovered species and species of conservation concern. Further surveys in KBPPA and FPPA and nearby forests should clarify the distribution and conservation status of the new taxa.This study also emphasizes that the western part of the Liberian forests comprise at least partly a herpetofauna which differs from that of the East of the country. The recorded threatened amphibian species are all specialized on relatively undisturbed rainforests and they all have only small geographic ranges. The remaining parts of undisturbed or little disturbed forests thus have high importance for the long-term survival of these species. In conclusion the study areas have a high conservation potential and should be urgently protected from any further forest loss degradation and uncontrolled hunting.

Anuran diversity in a West African Valley

“…Diversity hotspots in anuran species are commonly found in forests that offer a very rich ecosystem for arboreal species (Nago et al 2006; Rödel and Ernst 2003; Rödel et al 2007; Rödel and Glos 2019); this was confirmed by our data. The forests in this region show very weak or almost non-existent human influence; and if conserved, provide ideal environments for anuran species.…”

“…A large portion of the litter and leaves were wet on the ground, making it possible to observe a large number of anurans living on the ground in the litter, in the stilt roots of the trees, and on the wet tree trunks near the ground. Diversity hotspots in anuran species are commonly found in forests that offer a very rich ecosystem for arboreal species (Nago et al 2006;Rödel and Ernst 2003;Rödel et al 2007;Rödel and Glos 2019); this was confirmed by our data. The forests in this region show very weak or almost non-existent human influence; and if conserved, provide ideal environments for anuran species.…”

“…This band is broad at the beginning and thin at the end. This band indicates that they are similar to the P. mascareniensis -complex (Rödel and Glos 2019). Ptychadena oxyrhynchus (Smith 1849) is a large frog with SVL between 40 cm and 60 cm.…”

“…They are known to spend their entire lives in aquatic environments, only moving to migrate from one aquatic habitat to another (Onadeko and Rödel 2009). As the water temperature in meadows and marshes is generally low at all sampling areas during the night, these species migrate from the bottom of the ponds to the surface of the water where they rest and can easily be found in pools (Razzetti and Msuya 2002; Rödel and Glos 2019). Species of the genera Ptychadena and Amnirana were found in large numbers near water bodies at the Aguégués and Dangbo sampling areas.…”

“…They shelter a great diversity of anuran species (terrestrial, arboreal and aquatic species). The agricultural habitats were the cultivated areas of the Ouémé Valley, sheltering savannah species (Figure 2) (Leaché et al 2006; Hillers and Rödel 2007; Rödel and Glos 2019; Gansa et al 2022).…”