An updated herpetofaunal species inventory of Iona National Park in southwestern Angola

• Published in: Check list (Luís Felipe Toledo) Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 289 - 321
• Main Authors: Lobón-Rovira, Javier, Vaz Pinto, Pedro, S. Becker, François, Tolley, Krystal A., Measey, John, Bennet, Bruce, Boon, Bastiaan, de Sá, Sango, Conradie, Werner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pensoft Publishers 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Amphibians; biodiversity; checklist; conservation
• ISSN: 1809-127X; 1809-127X
• DOI: 10.15560/18.2.289

Angola has experienced an incredible increase of the knowledge of its herpetofauna over the past decade. However, accurate biodiversity inventories remain deficient for certain regions of particular conservation interest. We therefore provide an updated checklist of Iona National Park's herpetofauna, with 75 recorded species, including five amphibians and 70 reptiles, 40 of these recorded for the first time in Iona National Park. These species comprise ~80% of the reptile diversity of Namibe Province. Therefore, this work recognises Iona National Park as the most reptile-diverse protected area in Angola and is potentially one of the richest in southern Africa. Consequently, this work enhances the importance of specific conservation plans in the area and the need for further investigation into the hidden biodiversity of this region.