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

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, Ialtris 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

The tadpoles of the hylid frogs (Anura: Hylidae: Hypsiboas and Osteopilus) of Hispaniola

Hispaniolan hylid frogs are represented by four endemic species: Hypsiboas heilprini, Osteopilus dominicensis, O. pulchrilineatus and O. vastus. There are two tadpole ecomorphs represented in the hylid frogs of Hispaniola: lentic (O. dominicensis and O. pulchrilineatus) and lotic (H. heilprini and O. vastus). Tadpoles of the four species may be found sympatrically, but in different microhabitats. Hispaniolan hylid tadpoles reach a moderate size (up to 57 mm in total length is recorded in H. heilprini), and differ from those of Peltophryne, Rhinella, Leptodactylus and Lithobates (the other genera with free-living larvae present on the island), by having the oral discs not emarginated and, from the first three taxa, by a dextral vent opening. Oral deformities observed in most tadpoles of H. heilprini from Ébano Verde, Cordillera Central, were caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. An identification key is also provided

A new frog of the Eleutherodactylus abbotti species group (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae) from Hispaniola, with bioacoustic and taxonomic comments on other species

A new species of frog, Eleutherodactylus geitonos sp. nov., is described from the southeastern slope of the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. The new frog is closely related to E. haitianus and both species share a small size. They differ in some morphological proportions and other external features, coloration, advertisement calls and DNA sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. Morphological and bioacoustic comparisons with other species in the  E. abbotti species group are also provided. Our preliminary genetic data suggest that the taxonomic status of E. neodreptus (a synonym of E. audanti) and E. melatrigonum need to be re-evaluated

Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats

Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action1,2. Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment3,4. Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. We find that amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class (40.7% of species are globally threatened). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating globally, particularly for salamanders and in the Neotropics. Disease and habitat loss drove 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Ongoing and projected climate change effects are now of increasing concern, driving 39% of status deteriorations since 2004, followed by habitat loss (37%). Although signs of species recoveries incentivize immediate conservation action, scaled-up investment is urgently needed to reverse the current trends