Reptiles from central Patagonia, Argentina: richness, diversity, conservation status and geographic distribution maps

Abstract

An accurate estimation of species and population geographic ranges is essential for species-focused studies and conservation and management plans. Knowledge of the geographic distributions of reptiles from Patagonian Argentina is in general limited and dispersed over manuscripts from a wide variety of topics. We completed an extensive review of reptile species of central Patagonia (Argentina). We compiled and checked geographic distribution records from published literature and museum records, including extensive new data from the LJAMM-CNP (CENPAT-CONICET) herpetological collection. Our results show that there are 52 taxa recorded for this region and the highest species number were presented by Liolaemidae and Dipsadidae families, with 31 and 10 species respectively. The Provincia Patagonica was the phytogeographic province most diverse in species and was the genus most committed to its conservation status. We present a detailed species list with geographical information, richness species, diversity analyses with comparisons across phytogeographical provinces, conservation status, taxonomic comments and distribution maps for all of these taxa.