Herpetological Survey of Avellaneda and Quilmes Counties (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to characterize the fauna of amphibians and reptiles of Avellaneda and Quilmes districts, a suburban sector of the northeast coast of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The area was visited sporadically between 2005 and 2014, and with systematized visits between this year and 2017. The study area was divided into four major environmental units (1-beach, 2-forest and wetlands, 3-slope, and 4- high terrace) noting in which of them was found each species. A total of 32 species were found (12 are amphibians and 20 reptiles), most of them in forests and wetlands. All of the amphibians are native, while among the reptiles there are two exotic species. The amphibians and reptiles of the coastal area of Quilmes and Avellaneda expose the faunal link between the forests and the wetlands of the Paranaense province with the Río de la Plata. The forests and wetlands of Avellaneda and Quilmes function as a “stepping stone” in this biogeographic dispersion route. Finally, highlight out the low representation of grassland species which have been recorded in nearby areas but not in the study area. Probably, this is because the anthropic activities in the region irreversibly affected the original grasslands.