Snake (Serpentes, Reptilia) diversity in Mera, Ecuador: a citizen‑science approach to surveying a biodiversity hotspot of the western Amazon
Mera County is located in the eastern lowlands of the Llanganates–Sangay Connectivity Corridor (CELS) and is considered a priority conservation area due to the high degree of endemism and existing biological diversity. In the present study, we analyzed snake records from three databases as well as preserved specimens from two local informal collections, four formal collections, and five international collection databases with the participation of numerous students and citizen scientists. Collectively, we examined 85 years’ worth of material—666 individual records, representing seven families, 31 genera, and 66 species. We report seven species previously unrecorded in the study area and 14 new size and elevation records. Our results place this small county among the most snake‑diverse areas in the world. Our citizen‑science approach highlights the value of collaborative work and regional initiatives to involve local people and organizations (private, government, and universities) in scientific efforts.
Authors
- Eric C.K. Gren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2299-0079)
- Mario H. Yánez‐Muñoz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3224-1987)
- Jaime Culebras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2211-6605)
- Arley Benjamin Hidalgo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1842-3389)
- Javier Larrea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4056-4316)
- Diego Almeida‐Reinoso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6100-561X)
- Alessandro G. Franchini
- Daniel Moreno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1540-1590)
- Alexander Griffin Bentley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5740-1775)
- Juan Pablo Reyes-Puig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0730-9356)
- J. A. Sáenz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0224-4298)
- M. A. GUERRA (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4548-8279)
- Manuel Flores (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-5855)
- Emma Carlson
- D. J. Best
- Philip M. Yoder
- Ricardo Sebastián Vizcarra Vásconez
- Ian Smitherman
- Josselin Alejandra Hernández Altamirano
- María Elena Barragan-Paladines
- Jhony Arboleda
Institutions
- Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (EC)
- Rainforest Alliance (US)
- Amazon (United States) (US)
- Southwestern Adventist University (US)
- Community Medical Center (US)
- National Archives of Ecuador (EC)
- Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios (EC)
- Universidad Estatal Amazónica (EC)
- Gobierno de Chile (CL)
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (EC)
- Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw (PL)
- Fundacion Centro De Investigacion De Enfermedades Neurologicas (ES)
- Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM (EC)
- University of Montana (US)
- National Polytechnic School (EC)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Check List
- Published
- 2025-10-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.945
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.44
Funders
- World Wildlife Fund
- Rainforest Trust
- Ministerio del Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica