Information on amphibian diversity in Neotropical savannas and in protected areas in the Caribbean is lacking. We evaluated amphibian diversity and species composition in the Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve in Trinidad, in relation to the two major habitat types, savanna and marsh forest. Thirty 200-m-long transects were sampled visually and aurally in 4 periods (total 120 samples), with 10 transects in savanna, and 20 in marsh forest (10 along trails and 10 off trails), at night in the wet season from June to December 2015. We recorded 895 individuals representing 16 species, 11 genera, and 7 families, with greater counts and diversity of amphibians in marsh forest compared to savanna. The three species recorded in savanna (Leptodactylus fuscus, Scinax ruber, and Rhinella beebei) were also found in marsh forest, with no separate savanna amphibian community. Audio detection was more effective at sampling most species, and there were greater counts along trails compared to transects off trails.
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Journal of Herpetology
Vol. 52 • No. 1
March 2018
Vol. 52 • No. 1
March 2018