Mobilizing bibliographic, natural history collections and citizen science data for addressing biodiversity biases: A case study with the herpetofauna of an endemic rich island nation

Biodiversity data from African countries, including São Tomé & Príncipe, is often held outside the continent and remain difficult to access. Despite recent data mobilization efforts in Portuguese-speaking regions, significant gaps persist. Addressing these issues is crucial to support research, conservation and decision making. In this study, we compile and consolidate all available data on the herpetofauna of São Tomé & Príncipe from bibliography, natural history collections and citizen science platforms, with the goal of creating the most comprehensive and up-to-date database. We gathered a total of 6185 records of all amphibian and reptile species from the country and provided an overview of current taxonomic and distribution maps for each species, as well as taxonomic, distribution, and temporal sampling biases. Our results highlight the value of combining traditional scientific and citizen science data, while underscoring the continued importance of voucher specimens and historical data. This integrative approach not only advances knowledge of São Tomé & Príncipe’s unique herpetofauna but also provides a model for similar efforts in other under-studied regions and taxonomic groups.