CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF HERPETOFAUNA IN AN AREA OF ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: BOSQUE PROTECTOR CERRO BLANCO, GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

The Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, one of the last relics of tropical dry forest and the largest in the province of Guayas, Ecuador, presents a biodiversity that requires continuous and precise documentation to understand its current state. Among the previous studies, the one that reported the largest number of species identified 22 species in total, including seven amphibians and 15 reptiles. However, our study between October 2014 and January 2024, using both systematic and non-systematic sampling methods, has identified a total of 57 species, including 20 species of amphibians and 37 reptiles. Of these, nine species are endemic to Ecuador, five amphibians and four reptiles. Unlike previous studies that focused mainly on easily accessible areas with high tourist traffic, our sampling covered both frequently visited areas and less explored and difficult-to-access areas. This allowed us to overcome the limitations of previous research and provided a more complete picture of the herpetofauna in the BPCB, where the wide range of habitats present facilitated the observation of a remarkable richness of species, contributing significantly to the updating of herpetological records, which have been scarce in the last 30 years.