Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Coahuila, Mexico, with comparison with adjoining states.

Julio A Lemos-Espinal,Geoffrey R Smith

doi:10.3897/zookeys.593.8484

Abstract

We compiled a checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the state of Coahuila, Mexico. The list comprises 133 species (24 amphibians, 109 reptiles), representing 27 families (9 amphibians, 18 reptiles) and 65 genera (16 amphibians, 49 reptiles). Coahuila has a high richness of lizards in the genus Sceloporus. Coahuila has relatively few state endemics, but has several regional endemics. Overlap in the herpetofauna of Coahuila and bordering states is fairly extensive. Of the 132 species of native amphibians and reptiles, eight are listed as Vulnerable, six as Near Threatened, and six as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. In the SEMARNAT listing, 19 species are Subject to Special Protection, 26 are Threatened, and three are in Danger of Extinction. Coahuila is home to several species of conservation concern, especially lizards and turtles. Coahuila is an important state for the conservation of the native regional fauna.

Highlights

Coahuila is the third largest state of Mexico, encompassing 151,571 km2, between latitudes 24°32'S and 29°53'N and between longitudes 99°51'E and 103°58'W
We modified the list provided by Valdez-Lares et al (2013) to be able to compare it with the list of the rest of the states. These modifications were the following: we regarded the population of Barisia imbricata (Wiegmann) as Barisia ciliaris (Smith); 2) we regarded Sceloporus edbelli Smith et al as part of Sceloporus consobrinus Baird & Girard; 3) we regarded Sceloporus lineolateralis Smith as part of Sceloporus jarrovii couchii Baird Spea multiplicata (Cope); and 4) we regarded Aspidoscelis scalaris (Baird & Girard) as part of Aspidoscelis gularis (Baird & Girard)
Coahuila has a high diversity of lizards in the genus Sceloporus (19 species)

Summary

Introduction

Coahuila is the third largest state of Mexico, encompassing 151,571 km, between latitudes 24°32'S and 29°53'N and between longitudes 99°51'E and 103°58'W It is bordered by the Rio Grande of Texas to the north, by the states of Durango, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí to the south, Chihuahua to the west, and Nuevo León to the east (Fig. 1). It represents 7.74% of the total area of Mexico. One set lies between Estación Sabaneta and an area east of Jaco (Chihuahua), a part of the Bolsón de Mapimí Another is on the plains of Aguanaval east of the Sierra de Tlahualilo (Dunas Magnéticas), part of the Zona del Silencio. At present this valley is known as the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin

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