A Preliminary Study of Herpetofauna and their Microhabitats in Pagatpatan Wetland Center, Caraga Region, Philippines

Abstract

Estuarine wetlands harbor a unique set of organisms that can tolerate a mixture of saltwater tides diluted with freshwater run-offs from the terrestrial habitats. This study surveyed amphibians and reptiles of the Pagatpatan Wetland Center (PWC), Caraga Region, to account the different species of herptiles. Employing the rapid extensive opportunistic diurnal and nocturnal surveys in all PWC habitats collected a total of 641 individuals belonging to five species of amphibians and 13 species of reptiles. Limnonectes magnus was the most abundant amphibian species (n=283, 44.5%), and Cerberus schneiderii was the most abundant reptile species (n=84, 13.10%). Most of the species (38.89%) utilized terrestrial microhabitats. The tolerance of the amphibians and reptiles recorded in the brackish water environment will add to the habitat range these species could occupy. Species accounts with an emphasis on distinctive characters and morphometrics are provided in this study. Conservation priority should be given to PWC since several habitat fragmentations are observed due to the expansion of agriculture and developments for urbanization.