Philippine Journal of Science
152 (1): 1-34, February 2023
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 20 Jan 2022

Species Accounts, Assemblage,
and Microhabitats of Amphibians and Reptiles
of Northeastern Leyte, Philippines

Syrus Cesar P. Decena*, Dionesio R. Macasait Jr., and Michael S. Arguelles

College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Visayas State University
Alangalang Campus, Brgy. Binongto-an Alangalang, Leyte 6517 Philippines

*Corresponding author: syrus.decena@vsu.edu.ph

[Download]
Decena SC et al. 2023. Species Accounts, Assemblage, and Microhabitats of
Amphibians and Reptiles of Northeastern Leyte, Philippines. Philipp J Sci 152(1): 1–34.
https://doi.org/10.56899/152.01.01

 

ABSTRACT

Leyte Island is part of a large biogeographic region of the Philippines called the Mindanao Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex, which is home to many endemic amphibian and reptile species. Studies on these particular groups of vertebrates on the island remained very scarce, despite the fact that these are being threatened by various anthropogenic activities. In this present study, preliminary accounts, occurrence, and habitat and microhabitat of amphibians and reptiles are provided from the northeastern portion of the island, particularly in the Leyte Cordillera Mountain Range and Babatngon Range. The study yielded a total of 50 species (20 amphibians and 30 reptiles) from various habitats such as montane forest, dipterocarp forest, selectively logged dipterocarp forest, agroecosystem, and pasture. It was found that the study sites have high endemicity, where 65% (n = 15) and 70% (n = 21) of the documented amphibians and reptiles, respectively, are endemic to the island or country. The forest habitats were dominated by forest specialist species – primarily, Platymantis guentheri, Philautus leitensis, Limnonectes magnus, Occidozyga laevis, Pulchrana grandocula, Staurois natator, Cyrtodactylus annulatus, and Pinoyscincus llanosi. On the other hand, highly degraded habitats (pastures) were dominated by open-habitat specialists (e.g. Hylarana erythraea, Fejervarya moodiei, and Eutropis multifasciata). In addition, it was also found that many amphibians had an overlapping microhabitat (mainly terrestrial and aquatic), whereas many of the reptile species inhabited arboreal microhabitats. Finally, the study implies that actions must be taken to maintain this high diversity of amphibians and reptiles, as well as their persistence by conserving especially the remaining forested areas of the island.