In 2000, I spent six weeks running all
over El Salvador collecting wherever I could. During this
time, I collected over 500 specimens representing 64 species of
amphibians and reptiles. I was surprised to find that even though
much of the natural forest has been converted to coffee plantations,
an incredible diversity of herpetofauna remains. I continue to
collaborate with Salvadorans on small projects related to El
Salvador. Below are pictures of several species of amphibians
and reptiles that I collected on the 2000 trip.
I described the salamander to the left
in 2004 as Bolitoglossa heiroreias. This critically
endangered species is restricted to the Montecristo (mountain of
Christ) highlands in northwestern El Salvador, which is an area
also shared with Honduras and Guatemala. Massive
deforestation in the lowlands surrounding the protected
highlands has resulted in a decrease in humidity in the cloud
forests where this species occurs. Its future, along with
many other species of amphibians, is uncertain. The adult
female individual in the photograph is the holotype.
Ollotis coccifer
Ollotis luetkenii
Corytophanes percarinatus
Conophis lineatus
Ptychohyla
salvadorensis
Scaphiodontophis
annulatus
Scolecophis atrocinctus
Thamnophis proximus