Herps

In recent years, amphibians and reptiles have been observed in Sonora, Mexico, on Madrean Discovery Expeditions (MDE) to Sky Island mountain ranges, MDE wildlife camera studies, MDE student herpetological inventories, and personal field trips. Additional observations are from iNaturalist, the University of Arizona Herpetological Collection, final reports, and regional herpetofauna publications. Here, we present noteworthy and additional selected records of one amphibian and nine reptiles from Sonora, Mexico, with discussion of their significance.

The northeastern corner of Sonora, Mexico, is lightly populated and contains some spectacular natural landscapes. Among its gems is Sierra El Tigre, a large and high mountain range surrounded on three sides by the Río Bavispe. The range is part of the Sky Islands, also known as the Madrean Archipelago for its relation to Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental. The herpetofauna of Sierra El Tigre region has never been described previously but early collecting efforts there have played an important part in the understanding and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Sonora and Arizona.