Amphibians and reptiles of C. E. Miller Ranch and the Sierra Vieja, Chihuahuan Desert, Texas, USA.

Drew R Davis,Travis J Laduc

doi:10.3897/zookeys.735.22200

Abstract

We report the occurrence of 50 species of amphibians and reptiles recently collected on C. E. Miller Ranch and the Sierra Vieja in the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas, USA and describe their perceived distribution and abundance across various habitat associations of the region. Our recent surveys follow intense, historic sampling of amphibians and reptiles from this region in 1948. Of the 50 species detected in recent surveys, six were not collected in 1948 and an additional three species documented in 1948 have yet to be detected in a 14-year period of recent surveys. Combining data from both historic and recent surveys, a total of 53 species of amphibians and reptiles are known from the ranch (11 amphibians, 42 reptiles). Land stewardship and conservation practices have likely contributed to the persistence of the majority of these species through time. Additionally, we discuss the status of amphibians and reptiles not collected during recent surveys and comment on potential species that have not yet been detected.

Highlights

The Chihuahuan Desert is a large arid region in North America that is home to high levels of biodiversity and is considered among the world’s most valuable ecoregions (Olson and Dinerstein 1998)
The species composition of amphibians and reptiles encountered during recent years has remained remarkably similar to that observed during the historic 1948 survey
Out of the 47 species of amphibians and reptiles detected in 1948, 44 species (93.6%) have been collected during recent surveys, and many of the localities where specimens were collected in 1948 remain similar to localities where species have been collected in recent years

Summary

Introduction

The Chihuahuan Desert is a large arid region in North America that is home to high levels of biodiversity and is considered among the world’s most valuable ecoregions (Olson and Dinerstein 1998). F. Blair from the University of Texas at Austin travelled to the Sierra Vieja to conduct biological surveys of plants and vertebrates from June–July 1948. Blair from the University of Texas at Austin travelled to the Sierra Vieja to conduct biological surveys of plants and vertebrates from June–July 1948 This expedition collected a large number of specimens, all of which were deposited into the Texas Natural History Collections ( Biodiversity Collections; vertebrates) and the TEX Herbarium At that time, many of these specimens were among the first to be collected for several species (i.e., Bogertophis subocularis, Lampropeltis alterna, Trimorphodon vilkinsonii; Jameson and Flury 1949)

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Results

Conclusion