Title
A review of amphibian fauna of Sri Lanka: distribution, recent taxonomic changes, and conservation
Author(s)
Batuwita, Sudesh;Udugampala, Sampath;De Silva, Madura;Diao, Jiaojiao;Edirisinghe, Udeni
Published
2019
Publisher
Journal of Animal Diversity
Abstract
Amphibian fauna of Sri Lanka comprises 120 species, including 108 (~90.0%) of endemic species. They belong to five families: Bufonidae, Dicroglossidae Ichthyophiidae, Microhylidae, and Rhacophoridae. Based on distribution, we recognized five zoogeographic zones for them, Central Hills, Dry Zone, Knuckles Range, Lowland Wet Zone, and Rakwana Hills. Fifty three species are reported from the Central Hills (48 endemics [90.6%] and 35 [66.0%] threatened species). 47 species are recorded from the Lowland Wet Zone, including 36 (76.6%) endemics and 28 (59.6%) threatened species. The Knuckles Range has 25 species, of which, 19 (76.0%) are endemics and 15 (60.0%) are threatened species. 19 species are reported from Dry Zone including seven endemics (36.8%) and four threatened species (21.1%). Out of 29 species inhabit in the Rakwana Hills, 26 are endemics (~89.7%) including 24 (82.8%) threatened species. Species diversity along the elevational gradient was also observed with the highest species richness in the mid-elevational localities. The family Ichthyophiidae can be considered as the least studied family. Recent rediscoveries and studies have helped to reduce the number of extinct species from 21 to 18. We speculate that some of the other extinct species may be rediscovered or probably were misidentified as other species. About 90% of Sri Lankan amphibians occur in the regions with the highest human populations where there are established agricultural lands. Loss of habitats, competition due to anthropogenic species and invasive species, pollution (cause for malformations, parasites, and other diseases), and climate change appear to be major threats.
Keywords
Climate change;conservation;endemic;extinct;threatened;Sri Lanka
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PUB24975