The herpetofauna of Chihuahua, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation status

Authors

• Ana B. Gatica-Colima, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
• Louis W. Porras
• Vicente Mata-Silva, The University of Texas at El Paso
• Dominic L. DeSantis, Georgia College & State University
• Arturo Rocha, El Paso County Community College
• Jerry D. Johnson, The University of Texas at El Paso
• Larry David Wilson, Universidad Zamorano

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Publication Title

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Abstract

The herpetofauna of the Mexican state of Chihuahua presently consists of 186 species, including 35 anurans, five salamanders, 133 squamates, and 13 turtles. The members of the herpetofauna are distributed among nine physiographic regions, ranging from 58 species in the Sierras y Llanuras de Durango to 128 in the Gran Meseta y Cañones Chihuahuenses. The number of species shared between the areas ranges from 14 to 70. The Coefficient of Biogeographic Resemblance values range from 0.23 to 0.83. A UPGMA dendrogram indicates that the closest relationships among the nine physiographic regions are those adjacent to one another, in a series of swaths of two to three regions generally oriented in a northwestern to southeastern direction from the southwestern to the northeastern sectors of the state. The level of endemism in Chihuahua is relatively limited and consists of 61 country endemics and one state endemic species. The distributional categorization of the entire herpetofauna consists of 61 country endemics, one state endemic, 121 non-endemics, and three nonnative species. We placed the 121 non-endemic species in the following distributional categories: MXUS (108), USCA (six), MXCA (three), MXSA (three), and USSA (one). The principal environmental threats to the herpetofauna of Chihuahua are land conversion and habitat loss, water management (quality and quantity), invasive species, climate change, fires, illegal trade, diseases and parasites, on and off-road activities, mining, pollution, human consumption, animal grazing and agriculture, fear and confusion by people, and miscellaneous threats. We evaluated the conservation status of each native species by using the SEMARNAT, IUCN, and EVS systems, of which the EVS proved to be the most useful. We used the Relative Herpetofaunal Priority method to rank the physiographic regions and found that the Gran Meseta y Cañones Chihuahuenses is of the greatest importance. Finally, we provide a set of conclusions and recommendations to help improve the future protection of the herpetofauna of Chihuahua.

Volume Number

18

Issue Number

1-2

First Page

107

Last Page

186

Recommended Citation

Gatica-Colima, Ana B.; Porras, Louis W.; Mata-Silva, Vicente; DeSantis, Dominic L.; Rocha, Arturo; Johnson, Jerry D.; and Wilson, Larry David, "The herpetofauna of Chihuahua, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation status" (2024). Faculty and Staff Works. 1081.
https://kb.gcsu.edu/fac-staff/1081