African biodiversity hotspots: The reptiles of Mt Nlonako, Cameroon

Abstract

The reptiles of Mt Nlonako, a mountain at the southeastern edge of the Cameroon mountain range ("Dorsale camerounaise"), were inventoried continually over a six year period from 1998 to 2004. This area encompasses 150 km2 of lowland, submontane and montane rainforest with an elevation up to 1,825 m. Accounts of 89 species are provided based on collected and photo-documented material. This inventory proved Mt Nlonako to be the most species rich single-locality area in reptilian fauna in Africa. With 63 snake species Mt Nlonako exhibits the greatest number of species in Africa and possibly worldwide. Analysis showed the reptilian species composition to be most similar within Cameroon with that of Korup National Park followed by the Dja Faunal Reserve in the south. Relative to the snake composition the Korup NP and the Dimonika region in Congo-Brazzaville show the highest resemblance. In an African context the reptile fauna of Mt Nlonako is characterized by species which occur in both West and Central Africa as opposed to the mountain's amphibian species which more closely resemble Central African fauna. The high species richness and endemicity is discussed from a paleoclimatic perspective. Conservation status and threats to the reptiles are noted.