List of amphibians and reptiles of Dominica explained

This is a list of amphibians and reptiles found on Dominica, a Caribbean island-nation in the Lesser Antilles. Dominica is one of the few islands in that chain that has retained its original amphibian and reptile fauna over the last 200 years, and reptiles in particular form a significant part of its fauna.[1]

Amphibians

There are four species of amphibians on Dominica, all from the frog family Leptodactylidae. Three are native, and one, Eleutherodactylus amplinympha, is endemic to Dominica.

Frogs (Anura)

Tropical frogs (Leptodactylidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Eleutherodactylus amplinympha Gounouj Endangered.[2] Endemic. First described in 1994. Most abundant in transition zone between montane rainforest and elfin woodland, but range also extends over broader range of altitudes, coexisting with E. martinicensis.
Eleutherodactylus johnstonei Lesser Antillean whistling frog, coqui antillano, Johnstone's whistling frog Least concern. Recently introduced. Widespread throughout the Lesser Antilles.
Eleutherodactylus martinicensis Tink frog, Martinique robber frog Near threatened. Regional endemic. Abundant in rain forest; uncommon in dry coastal forest. Local populations are being displaced by E. johnstonei along part of the west (Caribbean) coast.[3]
Leptodactylus fallax Giant ditch frog, mountain chicken Critically endangered. Regional endemic. Natural range on the western (Caribbean) side of Dominica from sea level to 400 m elevation. Populations are infected with chytridiomycosis and are in severe decline. Widely eaten in Dominica as a novelty food prior to its legal protection in 2002.[4]

Reptiles

Two of the four extant orders of reptile are represented on Dominica: Squamata and Testudines. Including marine turtles and introduced species, there are a total of 19 confirmed species of reptiles.

Endemic reptile species include the Dominican anole (Anolis oculatus), the Dominican ground lizard (Ameiva fuscata) and the Dominica skink (Mabuya dominicana). The Dominican blind snake (Typhlops dominicanus or T. d. dominicanus) and the Dominican clouded boa (Boa constrictor nebulosis) may also be designated as endemic, though their status as distinct subspecies is unresolved.

Turtles (Testudines)

Tortoises (Testudinidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Geochelone carbonaria Red-footed tortoise Likely recent introduction, though possibly as long ago as Amerindian settlement of Dominica.[5] Rarely seen in the wild.
Scaly sea turtles (Cheloniidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Caretta caretta Loggerhead turtle, channel turtle (local name) Endangered. Rare in Dominican waters; mainly recorded around Soufriere Bay and from Martinique and Guadeloupe Channels. Not recorded nesting on Dominica.
Chelonia mydas Green turtle Endangered. Regularly seen in coastal waters; nests on both coasts (though mainly on northern beaches), primarily from June to October.
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill turtle Critically endangered. Regularly seen in coastal waters; nests on both coasts (though mainly on northern beaches), primarily from May to October.
Leathery sea turtles (Dermochelyidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback turtle Critically endangered. Fairly rare, mainly recorded from Martinique and Guadeloupe Channels. Nesting recorded from April to June, primarily on south and east (Atlantic) coast beaches.

Lizards and snakes (Squamata)

Geckos (Gekkonidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Hemidactylus mabouia House gecko Introduced. Widespread, usually around human populations.
Sphaerodactylus fantasticus Fantastic least gecko Found at scattered locations along west (Caribbean) coast. Regional endemic; Dominica population has been described as subspecies S. f. fuga.
Sphaerodactylus vincenti Vincent's least gecko Confined to wet high elevations. Endemic to the Windward islands.[6]
Thecadactylus rapicauda Tree gecko, turnip-tailed gecko Widespread
Iguanas and Anolids (Iguanidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Anolis cristatellus Puerto Rican crested anole Recent introduction (between 1997 and 2002); range limited to southwest (Caribbean) coast around capital of Roseau.[7]
Anolis oculatus Dominican anole, eyed anole, tree lizard Endemic. Four subspecies described (A. o. oculatus, A. o. cabritensis, A. o. montanus, A. o. winstoni) now recognized as ecotypes. Widespread and abundant in all areas below 900 m elevation. South Caribbean ecotype is being displaced by competition from invasive A. cristatellus.
Iguana delicatissima Lesser Antillean iguana, West Indian iguana Vulnerable. Regional endemic. Common on Dominica in certain areas on both east (Atlantic) and west (Caribbean) coasts; occasionally seen in rain forest.
Whiptails (Teiidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Pholidoscelis fuscatus Dominican ground lizard, Dominican ameiva Endemic. Found in dry coastal woodland and associated cultivated areas below 300 m elevation.
Microteiids (Gymnophthalmidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Underwood's spectacled tegu Very similar to G. pleii known to be extant on Dominica; variability of scale counts of collected specimens suggest G. underwoodi (or other Gymnophthalmus species) is also present. Presence confirmed 2008 by Turk, Wyszynski, Powell, and Henderson at Batali Beach[8]
Gymnophthalmus pleii Martinique spectacled tegu Officially recorded only at Cabrits National Park and Dominica Botanical Gardens in Roseau, but likely more widespread, and probably with other Gymnophthalmus species present.[9]
Skinks (Scincidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Mabuya dominicana Dominica skink Island endemic. Widespread in coastal regions and in cultivated areas at higher elevations.[10]
Worm snakes (Typhlopidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Typhlops dominicanus Dominican blind snake, worm snake Local population either described as endemic species, or endemic subspecies T. d. dominicana, with sister subspecies present on Guadeloupe.
Boas (Boidae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Boa constrictor Boa constrictor; Dominican clouded boa Local population sometimes described as endemic subspecies B. c. nebulosa. Widely distributed in Dominica, though vulnerable to persecution, road accidents, and hunting for snake oil derived from its fat.
Colubrids (Colubridae)
width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Alsophis antillensis Antilles racer, island racer, leeward racer, Dominican racer Regional endemic. Local population described as endemic subspecies A. a. sibonius or as separate species, A. sibonius. Present everywhere except highest elevations; most abundant in dry woodland on west (Caribbean) coast.
Liophis juliae Julia's ground snake, grove snake Present everywhere except highest elevations. Local population described as endemic subspecies L. j. juliae, with two sister subspecies present on islands of Guadeloupe.

Unconfirmed or disputed reptile species

width=200pxSpecies !width=150px Common name(s) !Notes width=175pxImage
Clelia errabunda Underwood's Mussurana A species from Saint Lucia originally recorded on Dominica (as C. clelia) due to a cataloguing error.[11] Reported sightings are most likely melanistic forms of boa.[12]
Sphaerodactylus microlepis Little-scaled least gecko Main range is on St. Lucia; only record for presence on Dominica consists of a single specimen with no precise locality.[13]

References

Note: Species listed above are presumed to be supported by all references unless otherwise cited.

Notes and References

  1. Malhotra 2007, p. 177.
  2. [Conservation status]
  3. Malhotra 2007, p. 181.
  4. Malhotra 2007, p. 180-81.
  5. Malhotra 2007, p. 182. The authors previously doubted there was a viable natural population, attributing its presence to escaped pets. Malhotra 1999, p. 49.
  6. . www.reptile-database.org.
  7. Malhotra 2007, pp. 182, 187-88.
  8. Turk 2010.
  9. Malhotra 2007, p. 183.
  10. Hedges and Conn 2012, pp. 98-101 revised the taxonomy to M. dominicana and restricted its distribution to Dominica as an island endemic. Formerly referred to as M. bistriata by Malhotra 1999, p. 35, and later called M. mabouya in Evans 1997, p. 20, and Malhotra 2007, p. 183 (listing M. mabouya as the only skink on Dominica).
  11. Malhotra 2007, p. 184.
  12. Malhotra 1999, p. 50; Evans 1997, p. 20.
  13. Malhotra 2007, p. 185; Malhotra 1999, p. 50. Evans 1997, at p. 18, merely states that its "present Dominican status remains unclear."

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of amphibians and reptiles of Dominica".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.