A Preliminary Herpetofauna of the Sierra La Púrica, Sonora, Mexico

We documented four species of amphibians and 25 species of reptiles from the Sierra La Púrica, a sky island in northeastern Sonora, Mexico, that has been infrequently visited by herpetologists and other biologists. Most of our records come from expeditions we made in 2013 and 2025, but we also draw upon literature, museum records, the Madrean Discovery Expedition faunal database, and iNaturalist. Notable records include an elevational maximum (1,657 m) for the Mexican Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata) in Sonora, an elevational maximum (1,722 m) and 22 records of Ditmars’ Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma ditmarsi), and the fourth Sonoran record for the Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake (Gyalopion canum). This is a preliminary herpetofauna because we did not visit the west side of the Sierra La Púrica where several southern species associated with the Río Sonora valley may occur. Some montane species likely eluded detection as well.