Herpetofaunal Richness and Conservation Status of the Chiapas Highlands Biogeographic Province in Mexico

The Chiapas Highlands of Mexico represent a critical center of herpetofaunal diversity and endemism within Mesoamerica. This study provides the first comprehensive inventory of amphibians and reptiles in the Mexican part of this biogeographic province, documenting 354 species, 112 amphibians, and 242 reptiles. Amphibian richness is highest in the families Hylidae, Plethodontidae, and Craugastoridae, whereas reptile richness is highest in the families Dipsadidae and Colubridae. Ninety-eight species are endemic to the Chiapas Highlands, with forty restricted to its Mexican portion. The herpetofauna of the Chiapas Highlands shows a high level of endemism. A higher proportion of reptile species are shared with neighboring provinces than amphibians. Conservation assessments reveal that 64 species are listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, 39 species are classified as Threatened (A) or Endangered (P) under Mexican environmental legislation, and 98 species are considered high-risk according to the Environmental Vulnerability Score (EVS), with habitat loss and chytrid fungi identified as principal threats. Our summary and synthesis of its amphibian and reptile species highlights the Chiapas Highlands as a biogeographic and ecological hotspot deserving urgent conservation attention.