A conservation checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the State of Mexico, Mexico with comparisons with adjoining states

Abstract

The State of Mexico has a unique combination of geographic characteristics and topography that promotes a high biodiversity. Unfortunately, continued human population growth of the metropolitan areas of Mexico City and Toluca have degraded the environment of the State of Mexico, which threatened its wildlife. An updated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the State of Mexico is provided and their conservation status summarized. The State of Mexico has 49 species of amphibians and 101 species of reptiles. The majority of the amphibians (73.5%) and reptiles (70.3%) found in the State of Mexico are endemic to Mexico. Of the amphibian and reptile species in the State of Mexico, 20.1% are IUCN listed (i.e., Vulnerable, Near Threatened, or Endangered), 18.4% are placed in a protected category by SEMARNAT (excluding NL and Pr, this last category is equivalent to the LC category of IUCN), and 34.9% are categorized as high risk by the EVS. The importance of forested habitats for the protected amphibians and reptiles in the State of Mexico suggest that management of these habitats to maintain or expand them needs to be considered.