The amphibians and reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines, VIII: the herpetofauna of Cagayan and Isabela Provinces, northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author’s publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.We provide the first report on the herpetological biodiversity (amphibians and reptiles) of the northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range (Cagayan and Isabela provinces), northeast Luzon Island, Philippines. New data from extensive previously unpublished surveys in the Municipalities of Gonzaga, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Ana, and Baggao (Cagayan Province), as well as fieldwork in the Municipalities of Cabagan, San Mariano, and Palanan (Isabela Province), combined with all available historical museum records, suggest this region is quite diverse. Our new data indicate that at least 101 species are present (29 amphibians, 30 lizards, 35 snakes, two freshwater turtles, three marine turtles, and two crocodilians) and now represented with well-documented records and/or voucher specimens, confirmed in institutional biodiversity repositories. A high percentage of Philippine endemic species constitute the local fauna (approximately 70%). The results of this and other recent studies signify that the herpetological diversity of the northern Philippines is far more diverse than previously imagined. Thirty-eight percent of our recorded species are associated with unresolved taxonomic issues (suspected new species or species complexes in need of taxonomic partitioning). This suggests that despite past and present efforts to comprehensively characterize the fauna, the herpetological biodiversity of the northern Philippines is still substantially underestimated and warranting of further study

A brief odonatological survey in Palawan and in Cuyo Island, the Philippines

An odonatological survey, based on sighting and photographic documenting, was conducted in Palawan and in Cuyo Island. Ten species were found in Cuyo Island raising the number of known species from five to eleven. There are six additions to the Cuyo Island fauna: Agriocnemis f. femina, Ischnura senegalensis, Pseudagrion microcephalum, Brachydiplax c. chalybea, Neurothemis fluctuans and Neurothemis t. terminata. The occurrence of Coeliccia boettcheri, known from Cuyo, but not recorded during this survey, is discussed in some detail. Forty species were recorded in Palawan. Four new additions to the Palawan fauna were recorded: Lestes p. praemorsus, Pseudagrion microcephalum, Xiphiagrion cyanomelas, and Anax guttatus. Neurobasis daviesi, a rare calopterygid damselfly endemic in Palawan, was encountered at the northern side of Cleopatra Needle during the survey