Biogeography of anurans and squamates in the Cerrado hotspot: coincident endemism patterns in the richest and most impacted savanna on the globe

Abstract

AbstractAimTo analyse ranges of endemic squamates and anurans in the Cerrado hotspot, searching for coincident distributional patterns in two ecologically distinct clades, and proposing a testable and comprehensive regionalization scheme for the richest and most threatened savanna on the planet.LocationCerrado region, central South America.MethodsWe updated previous point‐locality compilations for endemic species of the Cerrado herpetofauna, gathering 4588 unique occurrence records. Using a 1° grid cell, we compared regionalization results of biotic element (BE) and endemicity analyses. To search for a unified regionalization pattern, we compared analyses with a combined dataset (anurans + squamates) with those obtained in single‐group analyses.ResultsThe analysis with the combined dataset recovered more complete results than those in taxon‐specific analyses. We found 13 main biogeographical units formed by anurans and squamates that were recovered in both analyses with the combined dataset, and formed our general regionalization scheme. In general, biogeographical units defined by BEs correspond to those recovered by endemicity analysis with the combined dataset. Most recovered biogeographical units were formed both by anurans and squamates, with fewer areas determined solely by one group.Main conclusionsCommon regionalization processes operated on both anurans and squamates, shaping general biogeographical patterns for the Cerrado. The general regionalization pattern recovered with anurans and squamates may be valid for other taxa, and should be tested in future studies. As in previous results, most biogeographical units are found over ancient plateaus, separated by peripheral depressions. These major topographical barriers may explain major coincident patterns, linking the evolution of Cerrado biotas to the geomorphological history of the Brazilian shield.