The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states
Situated in the topographically complex transition between the Neotropics and the temperate biomes of North America,the state of Sonora, Mexico, has an extraordinarily diverse herpetofauna. Surprisingly little research has been conductedon the state’s amphibians and reptiles and many systematic and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2009-01-01
|
| Series: | Check List |
| Online Access: | http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?SL122-08 |
| _version_ | 1819049989424283648 |
|---|---|
| author | Enderson, E. F. Quijada-Mascareñas, A. Turner, D. S. Rosen, P. C. Bezy, R. L. |
| author_facet | Enderson, E. F. Quijada-Mascareñas, A. Turner, D. S. Rosen, P. C. Bezy, R. L. |
| author_sort | Enderson, E. F. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Situated in the topographically complex transition between the Neotropics and the temperate biomes of North America,the state of Sonora, Mexico, has an extraordinarily diverse herpetofauna. Surprisingly little research has been conductedon the state’s amphibians and reptiles and many systematic and biogeographic questions remain unanswered. Tofacilitate future research, we provide a checklist of Sonora’s herpetofauna, documenting species presence based onmuseum specimens, our fieldwork, and published research. Sonora’s herpetofauna is placed in a regional biogeographicperspective via a checklist for the six adjoining states together with faunal analyses. A total of 402 species ofamphibians and reptiles are recorded from these seven states. Sonora has the greatest species richness (187 species),followed by Chihuahua (169 species), and Sinaloa (146 species). Sonora's herpetofauna is most similar to that ofChihuahua, with which it shares a long border. Eleven biogeographic affinity-based faunal groups are recognized. Ofthese, three are dominant in Sonora: a core group classified as "Sonoran" demonstrates strong affinity to SonoranDesertscrub and Sinaloan Thornscrub communities; a Tropical group - with many species reaching their northerndistributional limits in the state; and a Madrean group consisting largely of montane species. Our state-level faunalanalysis provides some evidence of peninsular depauperization of the herpetofauna on the Baja California peninsula duein part to the small number of Neotropical species present in Baja California Sur. Our faunal analysis points towarddistinctive mainland and peninsular Sonoran Desert herpetofaunas centered on Sonora and the Baja CaliforniaPeninsula, respectively, each with about 50 non-insular species, and each with species-level endemism nearing 50%. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:40:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d4cf5a7e9624741b12c9962322bc001 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1809-127X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T11:40:55Z |
| publishDate | 2009-01-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Check List |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d4cf5a7e9624741b12c9962322bc0012022-12-21T19:05:18ZengPensoft PublishersCheck List1809-127X2009-01-0153632672The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining statesEnderson, E. F.Quijada-Mascareñas, A.Turner, D. S.Rosen, P. C.Bezy, R. L.Situated in the topographically complex transition between the Neotropics and the temperate biomes of North America,the state of Sonora, Mexico, has an extraordinarily diverse herpetofauna. Surprisingly little research has been conductedon the state’s amphibians and reptiles and many systematic and biogeographic questions remain unanswered. Tofacilitate future research, we provide a checklist of Sonora’s herpetofauna, documenting species presence based onmuseum specimens, our fieldwork, and published research. Sonora’s herpetofauna is placed in a regional biogeographicperspective via a checklist for the six adjoining states together with faunal analyses. A total of 402 species ofamphibians and reptiles are recorded from these seven states. Sonora has the greatest species richness (187 species),followed by Chihuahua (169 species), and Sinaloa (146 species). Sonora's herpetofauna is most similar to that ofChihuahua, with which it shares a long border. Eleven biogeographic affinity-based faunal groups are recognized. Ofthese, three are dominant in Sonora: a core group classified as "Sonoran" demonstrates strong affinity to SonoranDesertscrub and Sinaloan Thornscrub communities; a Tropical group - with many species reaching their northerndistributional limits in the state; and a Madrean group consisting largely of montane species. Our state-level faunalanalysis provides some evidence of peninsular depauperization of the herpetofauna on the Baja California peninsula duein part to the small number of Neotropical species present in Baja California Sur. Our faunal analysis points towarddistinctive mainland and peninsular Sonoran Desert herpetofaunas centered on Sonora and the Baja CaliforniaPeninsula, respectively, each with about 50 non-insular species, and each with species-level endemism nearing 50%.http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?SL122-08 |
| spellingShingle | Enderson, E. F. Quijada-Mascareñas, A. Turner, D. S. Rosen, P. C. Bezy, R. L. The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states Check List |
| title | The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states |
| title_full | The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states |
| title_fullStr | The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states |
| title_full_unstemmed | The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states |
| title_short | The herpetofauna of Sonora, Mexico, with comparisons to adjoining states |
| title_sort | herpetofauna of sonora mexico with comparisons to adjoining states |
| url | http://www.checklist.org.br/getpdf?SL122-08 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT endersonef theherpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT quijadamascarenasa theherpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT turnerds theherpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT rosenpc theherpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT bezyrl theherpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT endersonef herpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT quijadamascarenasa herpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT turnerds herpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT rosenpc herpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates AT bezyrl herpetofaunaofsonoramexicowithcomparisonstoadjoiningstates |