Mongabay.com Open Access Journal - Tropical Conservation Science Vol.7 (1):1-25 2014 Review Article Distribution and conservation status of amphibian and reptile species in the Lacandona rainforest, Mexico: an update after 20 years of research Omar Hernández-Ordóñez1, 2, *, Miguel Martínez-Ramos2, Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez2, Adriana González-Hernández3, Arturo González-Zamora4, Diego A. Zárate2 and, Víctor Hugo Reynoso3 1Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Av. Universidad 3000, C.P. 04360, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico. 2 Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Ex Hacienda de San José de la Huerta, 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. 3Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico. 4División de Posgrado, Instituto de Ecología A.C. Km. 2.5 Camino antiguo a Coatepec No. 351, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico. * Corresponding author: Omar Hernández Ordóñez, email:
[email protected] Abstract Mexico has one of the richest tropical forests, but is also one of the most deforested in Mesoamerica. Species lists updates and accurate information on the geographic distribution of species are necessary for baseline studies in ecology and conservation of these sites. Here, we present an updated list of the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the Lacandona region, and actualized information on their distribution and conservation status. Although some studies have discussed the amphibians and reptiles of the Lacandona, most herpetological lists came from the northern part of the region, and there are no confirmed records for many of the species assumed to live in the region.