THE REPTILES OF SINALOA: NEW MUNICIPAL RECORDS AND LIST OF RARE SPECIES

Abstract

The state of Sinaloa in Mexico is a region with little field work in the study of herpetofauna. Here we present four new municipal records of Coniophanes lateritius, Mastigodryas cliftoni, Salvadora deserticola and Tantilla yaquia for the municipality of Cosalá. In addition, we provide a list of rare species with no records for more than 50 years in Sinaloa. Of the 122 species of reptiles registered in Sinaloa, 19 (15%) require verification of their presence in the state to clarify their conservation status. To be successful in searching for these species, field effort alone is not enough, therefore, we suggest that field work should be appropriately directed in consideration of the species' geographic range or historical search of localities, preferences of habitat, reproductive phenological dynamics or unexplored sites with similar habitats that can potentially support populations of the species.