Anfibios y reptiles de la Reserva Ecológica “Los Pretiles”, Pinar del Río, Cuba

Abstract

The lists of species constitute the baseline for biological studies in any area. Pinar del Rio is the province with the largest area in protected areas, with 22%. The Cuban herpetological diversity includes approximately 225 species, where 20.2% are endemic to the westernmost region. The Ecological Reserve Los Pretiles located at northwest of Pinar del Rio, is considered one of the most important areas in terms of richness and endemism of its flora. Little is known about terrestrial vertebrates in this area, especially herpetological diversity. An inventory of amphibians and reptiles is carried out and actions aimed at threatened species are proposed. Ten species of amphibians and 22 of reptiles were observed, representing 45.1% of the province's total herpetofauna. The ecosystem with the greatest richness of species was the semideciduous forest and those of the lowest were the pine forest, the savanna and the mangrove. The presence of introduced species and deforestation could influence the decline of the herpetofauna of its area, on which considerations are issued.