Diversidad de la herpetofauna en el Valle del Cauca (Colombia): un enfoque basado en la distribución por ecorregiones, altura y zonas de vida

Abstract

This paper is an update to the knowledge on the diversity of this departmentâs herpetofauna and an analysis of the distribution of species richness according to Holdridge´s ecological life zone system, altitudinal ranges and ecoregions. To meet this aims, records were taken by researchers from the available literature, biological collections, observations and field recordings. Based on the obtained data, analyzes of eta richness and diversity were performed. There were a total of 333 species recorded (187 amphibians and 146 reptiles). We found that the greatest species richness of herpetofauna is concentrated in the Pacific region. Species richness of both reptiles and amphibians decreased with increasing altitude range. Furthermore, the life zone with the highest species richness was the Premontane rain forest with warm transition. The areas that presented the highest species richness have features that enable a high diversity of species; however, it must also be taken into account that these areas are the ones with the biggest land extension within Valle del Cauca (Colombia), and that they are where most studies have been focused