Species Diversity and Elevational Patterns of Reptiles in the Leigongshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China

Exploring elevational patterns of species richness within a region is a key focus of community ecology research. Leigongshan National Nature Reserve ranks among the areas with the highest reptile diversity in Guizhou Province. However, the elevational distribution and conservation status of reptile species in this region remain unclear. Based on extensive field surveys and historical records, this study updated the species list of reptiles in the Leigongshan Reserve. The reserve has a total of 63 species, belonging to 15 families and 39 genera, including three endangered species. Additionally, the elevational patterns of both total species richness and threatened species richness showed a decrease monotonically with increasing elevation. The results of this study enhance our understanding of the elevational distribution and conservation status of reptiles and provide a scientific foundation for the management and protection of threatened species in the Leigongshan National Nature Reserve.