Patterns of amphibian and reptile diversity at Berara Forest (Sahamalaza Peninsula), NW Madagascar

Amphibians and reptiles were surveyed at Berara, a forest on the Sahamalaza Peninsula, NW Madagascar. Visual methods and pitfalls were used, leading to the discovery of 12 amphibian and 30 reptile species. The herpetofaunal community appeared as a mosaic of dry forest species and species from the more humid Sambirano Domain. The comparatively low amphibian diversity may be correlated with the ecological characteristics of Berara, in particular with the scarcity of permanent water bodies and strong seasonality. The survey provided new records of Aglyptodactylus securifer and Heterixalus luteostriatus, further north than hitherto known. The encountered specimens of the treefrog Boophis albilabris displayed characters typical for the subspecies occidentalis, resulting in a substantial range extension. Boophis jaegeri proved to be abundant at Berara, which is the second known locality for this treefrog. The reptile fauna included taxa of special interest, such as a new Pseudoacontias burrowing skink, a new Amphiglossus, the aquatic skink Amphiglossus reticulatus, and many geckos. Presence of several taxa known only from restricted western localities (e.g., Aglyptodactylus securifer, Amphiglossus reticulatus) or from a few protected areas (e.g., B. jaegeri), as well as of several regional endemics emphasises the importance for conservation of the Sahamalaza transitional forest which should urgently be included in the network of protected areas in Madagascar.