Herpetofaunal richness and beta diversity between an offshore archipelago of the Eastern Tropical Pacific and adjacent mainland

Coiba Island National Park (CNP), an offshore archipelago separated from the mainland around 12,000–14,000 years ago, exhibits distinct herpetofaunal communities compared to adjacent mainland Panama. While reptile richness is similar between CNP and the mainland (maximum 21 vs. 25 species), amphibian diversity is notably lower in CNP (maximum 5 spp.) than on the mainland (maximum 13 spp.). The study, combining visual surveys, pitfall traps, and existing data, suggests that reptile richness may be underestimated due to limited sampling. Two new records—Oscaecilia sp. and the Turniptail gecko Techadactylus rapicauda—were identified for CNP. The findings imply that herpetofaunal diversity in CNP is influenced by heterogeneous vegetation, small-island effects, and possibly historical anthropogenic factors, warranting further investigation.

Flores, E. E. (2026). Herpetofaunal richness and beta diversity between an offshore archipelago of the Eastern Tropical Pacific and adjacent mainland. The Herpetological Journal, 36(3), 158–168. https://doi.org/10.33256/36.3.158168