Amphibians and reptiles of Samar Island Natural Park, Philippines, with an updated checklist, a rediscovery, and new records for Samar Island
The Philippine archipelago is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and high endemism, particularly among amphibians and reptiles. Samar Island, the third largest in the country and a key element of the Greater Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex, still harbors swathes of old-growth forest and limestone karst systems, making it a critical site for understanding biogeographic and evolutionary patterns in the Philippines. The herpetofaunal diversity of Samar remains poorly documented, with data scattered and woefully outdated. Early collections date back to the mid-19th century, and while recent efforts have incrementally improved species inventories, a comprehensive and updated assessment remains lacking. Here, we present the results of recent intensive surveys conducted within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) and adjacent protected areas. Our study reports 79 species from SINP and a total of 104 species from Samar Island, including three new island records, and confirms the continued presence of historically documented taxa. The rediscovery of Ramphotyphlops marxi is reported and the most updated checklist of the island’s amphibian and reptile species provided. These findings highlight the importance of sustained biodiversity assessments across the Philippine archipelago to inform conservation strategies.
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