The reptiles of the Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve (USFR): an updated checklist with notes on daggertooth vine snake Xyelodontophis uluguruensis

Abstract

Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve (USFR) is one of the largest continuous forests within the Eastern Arc Mountains that has not been surveyed adequately from a herpetological perspective. A herpetological survey was carried out in the USFR at the beginning of the wet season, from December 2014 to February 2015. Bucket pitfall traps, night surveys and opportunistic search methods were conducted in six sites. Of 21 reptile species recorded during the survey, five are reported for the first time in the USFR. The checklist of reptiles for the area is updated from thirty three to thirty eight species. The study also provided notes on reproduction and extension in distribution for Xyelodontophis uluguruensis, a snake that was only discovered in 2002 and is known to be restricted to the Uluguru, Nguru and Mahenge mountains. These findings add to the conservation importance of the USFR and calls for more long term surveys especially in the least explored areas.

Keywords: Herpetofauna, biodiversity, conservation, Eastern Arc Mountains, Udzungwa