Effect of fire on the herpetofauna of the Koanaka Hills, Ngamiland, Botswana

By

Kennedy, Alicia M.
Marais, Johan
Bauer, Aaron M. (Aaron Matthew), 1961-
Lewis, Patrick J.
Thies, Monte L.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2012-8-1

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

8

Series / Issue

Issue: 4

Pages

666--674

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/8.4.666

 

Abstract

Ngamiland is one of the most remote regions in Botswana, and its herpetofauna is largely under-surveyed. This study documents the herpetofauna of the Koanaka Hills (KH) in Ngamiland in 2009 following extensive fire destruction and compares it to the pre-fire herpetofauna collected in 2008. We also provide new records for the region for three amphibian and six reptile species, and document vouchers for two taxa that were sighted but not collected in 2008. During 2009, 14 reptile and three amphibian species were collected, bringing the total number of confirmed herpetofaunal taxa near the KH to three amphibian and 19 reptile species. For seven species this is the first published occurrence in quarter degree square 2021 Aa. Analyses measuring changes in the KH herpetofauna following the fire are inconclusive due to differences in collection effort and weather conditions. However, these data suggest that fire impact was minimal.