Biodiversity and conservation of the reptiles of the mount Cameroon area

Abstract

A survey of reptiles was undertaken in the Mt. Cameroon region. We recorded 74 species of reptiles from 49 genera and 14 families. An additional 12 species have been found in the area but were not detected during our research at Mt. Cameroon. The total of 86 species represents more than one third of the reptilian fauna known in Cameroon, making this site among the richest in the country. Lowland forest had the greatest number of species (58) followed by submontane forest (45) montane forest (21) and marine (4) species. A number of rare or little known reptiles were encountered in the region including: the skink Lacertaspis gemmiventris and the blind snake Typhlops decorosus. Mt. Cameroon appears not to have any strictly endemic reptile species. The high number of reptiles recorded at this site highlights its significance in terms of biological diversity. Sound conservation measures through the erection of the proposed areas to forest reserves could maintain this high diversity while integrating the needs of agricultural companies and local people farming around the area.