Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T23:20:00.920Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Amphibians and reptiles of the Dominican Republic: species of special concern

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Robert Powell ,
José A. Ottenwalder ,
Sixto J. Incháustegui ,
Robert W. Henderson  and
Richard E. Glor
José A. Ottenwalder
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Strategy and Environmental Policy Projects Coordination Unit, National Planning Office (ONAPLAN) and United Nations Development Programme, P.O. Box 1424, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.
Sixto J. Incháustegui
Affiliation:
Grupo Jaragua, El Vergel 33, El Vergel, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.
Robert W. Henderson
Affiliation:
Section of Vertebrate Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wl 53233, USA.
Richard E. Glor
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Dominican Republic faces multiple threats to biodiversity. A list of native species of amphibians and reptiles (excluding sea turtles) is presented. Some may have become extinct recently, substantial populations of others have been extirpated, some have greatly reduced numbers, and others appear to be rare or have restricted ranges. Most of the 13 taxa listed are relatively large, vulnerable to human exploitation or introduced predators, and/or have limited distributions and specific habitat requirements. To be listed, evidence must exist that: (1) populations are dwindling, (2) the range is shrinking, or (3) a species must be vulnerable to exploitation and historically rare. Two iguanas (Cyclura cornuta, C. ricordii), two turtles (Trachemys decorata, T. stejnegeri vicina), and one crocodilian (Crocodylus acutus) have been exploited extensively and have long been recognized as threatened or endangered. The ranges of Cyclura ricordii and T. decorata are very localized and the previously widespread ranges of the others have shrunk or become fragmented. A toad (Bufo fluviaticus), a large galliwasp (Celestus anelpistus), and a snake (Alsophis melanichnus) have not been collected recently. Only a few specimens of another galliwasp (C. carraui) and a dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus cochranae) have been taken recently. In addition, extensive portions of the habitats of these species have been severely altered. Three other snakes (Alsophis anomalus, laltris agyrtes, I. dorsalis) are rare and may never have been common. Their size and habits render them vulnerable to predation by the introduced mongoose and to decimation by humans who fear and dislike them.

Keywords

AmphibiansconservationDominican Republicthreatened speciesreptiles
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 2000 , pp. 118 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 2000

References

Alberts, A. (ed.) (2000) West Indian Iguanas. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN—the World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Aquino, A.T. (1983) Anfibios y reptiles de la Hispaniola en peligro de extinción. Conferencias, Revista Cientifica de Divulgación, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, 1, 26–30.Google Scholar
Bickham, J.W. (1980) Chrysemys decorata. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 235, 1–2.Google Scholar
Bowler, J.K. (1996) Taxon management account: rhinoceros iguana, Cyclura cornuta cornuta. In American Zoo and Aquarium Association Lizard Advisory Group, Taxon Management Accounts (ed. Hammack, S. H.), pp. 1–10. American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Fort Worth, TX.Google Scholar
Burghardt, G.M. & Rand, A.S. (1982) Section IV. Conservation and management. In Iguanas of the World: Their Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation (eds Burghardt, G. M. and Rand, A. S.), pp. 391–396. Noyes Publishing, Park Ridge, NJ.Google Scholar
Christie, W.D. (1996) Taxon management account: Ricord's iguana, Cyclura ricordi. In American Zoo and Aquarium Association Lizard Advisory Group, Taxon Management Accounts (ed. Hammack, S. H.), pp. 1–7. American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Fort Worth, TX.Google Scholar
Ernst, C.H., Ross, F.D. & Ross, C.A. (1999) Crocodylus acutus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 700, 1–17.Google Scholar
Glor, R.E. (1999) Biodiversity assessment for different land uses: rare dwarf gecko rediscovered. In C1IFAD (Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development) Annual Report 1997–98, pp. 14–15. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Glor, R.E. & Powell, R. (in preparation) Sphaerodactylus cochranae. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles.Google Scholar
Glor, R.E., Powell, R. & Parmerlee, J.S. Jr (1998) Cyclura ricordii. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 657, 1–3.Google Scholar
Glor, R.E., Powell, R. & Parmerlee, J.S. Jr. (2000) Cyclura cornuta. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, in press.Google Scholar
Glor, R.E., Flecker, A.S., Benard, M.F. & Power, A.G. (in review) Lizard diversity and agricultural disturbance in a Caribbean forest landscape. Biodiveristy and Conservation.Google Scholar
Green, D.M. (ed.) (1997) Amphibians in Decline: Canadian Studies of a Global Problem. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Conservation, No. 1, St. Louis, MO.Google Scholar
Groombridge, B. (ed.) (1993) 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Harcourt, C. & Ottenwalder, J. (1996) Hispaniola. In The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests, The Americas (eds Harcourt, C. S. and Sayer, J. A.), pp. 102–111. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Harcourt, C., Billington, C. & Sayer, J. (1996) Introduction. In The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests, The Americas (eds Harcourt, C. S. and Sayer, J. A.), pp. 9–16. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Hedges, S.B. (1996) Historical biogeography of West Indian vertebrates. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 27, 163–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hedges, S.B. (1999) Distribution patterns of amphibians in the West Indies. In Regional Patterns of Amphibian Distribution: A Global Perspective (ed. Duellman, W. E.), pp. 211–254. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.Google Scholar
Henderson, R.W. (1988a) Diploglossus anelpistus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 424, 1.Google Scholar
Henderson, R.W. (1988b) Diploglossus carraui. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 425, 1.Google Scholar
Henderson, R.W. (1992) Consequences of predator introductions and habitat destruction on amphibians and reptiles in the post-Columbus West Indies. Caribbean Journal of Science, 28, 1–10.Google Scholar
Henderson, R.W. & Powell, R. (1999) West Indian herpetoecology. In Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles (ed. Crother, B. I.), pp. 223–268. Academic Press, San Diego.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, R.W. & Sajdak, R.A. (1986) West Indian racers: a disappearing act or a second chance? Lore, 36, 13–18.Google Scholar
Hoppe, J. (1989) Los Parques Nacionales de la República Dominicana. The National Parks of the Dominican Republic. Editoria Corripio, Santo Domingo.Google Scholar
Incháustegui M, S.J. (1972–1973) Las tortugas dominicanas deagua dulce Chrysemys decussata vicina y Chrysemys decorata (Testudinata, Emydidae). Thesis, Licenciatura en Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.Google Scholar
Incháustegui, M., , S.J. (1975) Las tortugas dominicanas deagua dulce Chrysemys decussata vicina y Chrysemys decorata (Testudinata, Emydidae). Anuario Academia de Ciencias de la República Dominicana, 1, 139–278.Google Scholar
Incháustegui, M., , S.J., Schwartz, A. & Henderson, R.W. (1985) Hispaniolan giant Diploglossus (Sauria: Anguidae): description of a new species and notes on the ecology of D. warreni. Amphibia-Reptilia, 6, 195–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Incháustegui, M., , S.J., Gutierrez, W., Rivas, V., Alvarez, V., Nuñez, N. & Bonnelly, I. (1978) Notas sobre la ecología del Lago Enriquillo. In Conservatión y Ecodesarrollo (ed. Calventy, I. Bonnelly de), pp. 307–342. Centro de Investigaciones de Biologia Marina (CIBIMA), Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), Colección Ciencia y Tecnologia No. 8. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.Google Scholar
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) (1996) 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Jenkins, M. & Harcourt, C. (1996) Lesser Antilles. In The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests, The Americas (eds Harcourt, C. S. and Sayer, J. A.), pp. 120–137. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Lenart, L.A., Powell, R., Parmerlee, J.S. Jr, Lathrop, A. & Smith, D.D. (1997) Anoline diversity in three differentially altered habitats in the Sierra de Baoruco, República Dominicana, Hispaniola. Biotropica, 29, 117–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacDonald, J.S. (1992) Contemporary size and distribution of population. In The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2nd edn (eds Collier, S., Skidmore, T. E. and Blakemore, H.), pp. 151–157. Cambridge University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Ottenwalder, J.A. (1994a) Conservation Program for the South Hispaniolan Slider Turtle (Trachemys decorata) in the Dominican Republic, 1994. Summary Progress Report prepared for the 1994 AZA/Chelonian Advisory Group Meeting, at the International Herpetological Symposium, New Orleans, 06.Google Scholar
Ottenwalder, J.A. (1994b) Translocation and Monitoring Program for the Hispaniolan Slider Turtle (Trachemys decorata,). A Proposal for Field Research, Conservation, and Management submitted to the Columbus Zoo's AHSSC Committee.Google Scholar
Ottenwalder, J.A. (2000a) Taxonomic account: Cyclura cornuta cornuta. In West Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and Conservation Action (ed. Alberts, A. C.). IUCN—the World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Ottenwalder, J.A. (2000b) Taxonomic account: Cyclura ricordi. In West Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and Conservation Action (ed. Alberts, A. C.). IUCN—the World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Ottenwalder, J.A. (2000c) Medio ambiente y sostenibilidad del desarrollo en la República Dominicana. United Nations Development Programme (PNUD), Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, in press.Google Scholar
Powell, R. (1993) Comments on the taxonomic arrangement of some Hispaniolan amphibians and reptiles. Herpetological Review, 24, 135–137.Google Scholar
Powell, R. & Henderson, R.W. (1994) Ialtris agyrtes. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 591, 1–2.Google Scholar
Powell, R. & Henderson, R.W. (1996) A brief history of West Indian herpetology. In Contributions to West Indian Herpetology: A Tribute to Albert Schwartz (eds Powell, R. and Henderson, R. W.), pp. 29–50. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Contributions to Herpetology No. 12, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Powell, R. & Henderson, R.W. (1998a) Alsophis anomalus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 659, 1–2.Google Scholar
Powell, R. & Henderson, R.W. (1998b) Alsophis meianichnus. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 660, 1–2.Google Scholar
Powell, R. & Pregill, G.K. (1991) Peltophryne fluviatica. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 507, 1–2.Google Scholar
Powell, R., Henderson, R.W., Adler, K. & Dundee, H.A. (1996) An annotated checklist of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. In Contributions to West Indian Herpetology: A Tribute to Albert Schwartz (eds Powell, R. and Henderson, R. W.), pp. 51–93. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Contributions to Herpetology No. 12, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Powell, R., Ottenwalder, J.A. & Incháustegui, S.J. (1999) The Hispaniolan herpetofauna: diversity, endemism, and historical perspectives, with comments on Navassa Island. In Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles (ed. Crother, B. I.), pp. 93–168. Academic Press, San Diego.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pregill, G.K. (1981) Cranial morphology and the evolution of West Indian toads (Salientia: Bufonidae): resurrection of the genus Peltophryne Fitzinger. Copeia, 1981, 273–285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schubert, A. (1993) Conservation of biological diversity in the Dominican Republic. Oryx, 27, 115–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schubert, A. & Santana, G. (1996) Conservation of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in the Dominican Republic. In Contributions to West Indian Herpetology: A Tribute to Albert Schwartz (eds Powell, R. and Henderson, R. W.), pp. 425–433. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Contributions to Herpetology No. 12, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Schwartz, A. (1972) The native toads (Anura, Bufonidae) of Hispaniola. Journal of Herpetology, 6, 217–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartz, A. (1980) The herpetogeography of Hispaniola, West Indies. Studies of the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands, 61, 86–127.Google Scholar
Schwartz, A. & Henderson, R.W. (1991) Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.Google Scholar
Schwartz, A., Graham, E.D. Jr & Duval, J.J. (1979) A new species of Diploglossus (Sauria: Anguidae) from Hispaniola. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 92, 1–9.Google Scholar
SEA/DVS (Secretaría de Estado de Agricultura/Departamento de Vida Silvestre) (1990) La Diversidad Biologica en la República Dominicana: Reporte Preparado por el Departamento de Vida Silvestre para el Servicio Alemán de Cooperatión Social-Téchnica y Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza (WWF-US). Secretaría de Estado de Agricultura, SURENA/DVS, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.Google Scholar
SEA/DVS (Secretaría de Estado de Agricultura/Departamento de Vida Silvestre) (1993) Estudio y Protección de Cocodrilo Americano (Crocodylus acutus) en la República Dominicana. Secretaría de Estado de Agricultura, Departamento de Vida Silvestre, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana.Google Scholar
Seidel, M.E. (1988) Trachemys stejnegeri. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 441, 1–3.Google Scholar
Seidel, M.E. (1996) Current status of biogeography of the West Indian turtles in the genus Trachemys (Emydidae). In Contributions to West Indian Herpetology: A Tribute to Albert Schwartz (eds Powell, R. and Henderson, R. W.), pp. 169–174. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Contributions to Herpetology No. 12, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Thomas, R. & Schwartz, A. (1983) The difficilis complex of Sphaerodactylus (Sauria, Gekkonidae) of Hispaniola. Part 2. Sphaerodactlylus savagei, S. cochranae, S. darlingtoni, S. armstrongi, S. streptophorus, and conclusions. Bulletin of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 22, 31–60.Google Scholar
Thorbjarnarson, J.B. (1988) The status and ecology of the American crocodile in Haiti. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences, 33, 1–86.Google Scholar
Tolentino, L. & Peña, M. (1998) Inventario de la vegetación y uso de la tierra en la República Dominicana. Moscosoa, 10, 179–203.Google Scholar
Valdez Sierra, G. & Mateo Féliz, J.M. (1992) Sistema de Areas Protegidas de Republica Dominicana. Fondo Pro-naturaleza, Santo Domingo.Google Scholar
Williams, E.E. (1999) Over 300 years of collecting in the Caribbean. In Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles (ed. Crother, B. I), pp. 1–30. Academic Press, San Diego.Google Scholar
World Resources Institute (1994) World Resources 1994–1995. The World Resources Institute, New York.Google Scholar
Zippel, K.C., Parmerlee, J.S. Jr & Powell, R. (1994) laltris dorsalis. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles, No. 592, 1–3.Google Scholar