New Distribution Records of Amphibians and Reptiles in Tinuy-an Falls Protected Landscape, Southeastern Mindanao, Philippines

The Tinuy-an Falls Protected Landscape (TFPL), located south of the Diwata Range, was established as a protected area (PA) under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018. In contrast to the well-documented herpetological diversity of its neighboring northeastern Caraga, what we know about herpetofauna of southern Caraga is based on historical records distributed across various localities of Surigao del Sur. To address this gap, we conducted surveys for herpetofauna in low-elevation (100–200-m above sea level) forests of Tinuy-an Falls Protected Landscape during Jun 10–12 and Sep 1–5, 2022. We employed visual survey and opportunistic approaches to capture amphibians and reptiles were done during diurnal (0900–1100 h) and nocturnal walks (1900–2200 h) along a two-km line transect established between advanced secondary forest and cultivated land. We recorded specimens’ natural history data (e.g., body weight, snout to vent length, microhabitat) and utilized standard preparation techniques for voucher specimens. Here, we highlight augmented knowledge of Surigao del Sur’s herpetofaunal diversity and present 20 new distribution records of amphibians and reptiles in Tinuy-an Falls Protected Landscape, Bislig, Surigao del Sur, southeastern Mindanao, representing a subset (16%) of Caraga Region’s herpetological diversity. We suggest a more exhaustive biotic inventory to document herpetological diversity in the area, augment knowledge about species presence and richness using distribution records, and supplement our current understanding of the biodiversity of the Caraga Region.