An annotated checklist of the amphibians and terrestrial reptiles of the Grenadines with notes on their local natural history and conservation

Abstract

The Grenadine islands, located on the Grenada Bank, are known to have seventeen species of amphibians and terrestrial reptiles. Of three species of amphibians, two are recent introductions and the third ( Leptodactylus validus ) may be a native remnant that survived the deforestation that initially transformed these islands in the 18th and 19th centuries. The indigenous reptiles, many of which remain relatively common, may not be able to survive the extensive and unregulated tourism development now taking place on these small islands. Of special interest is the recent discovery of a new species of gecko, Gonatodes daudini , on Union Island.