DISCOVERY OF THE RICHEST FROG FAUNA IN THE WORLD—AN EXPLORATION OF THE FORESTS TO THE NORTH OF LETICIA

Vouchers of 97 species of frogs and toads were obtained in a small section of primary rainforest and flooded forest approximately 10 kms north of Leticia in early 2003. In addition to the 97 species captured, there is good reason to suspect that the actual local fauna consists of no fewer than 123 species of frogs and toads. This local fauna is much larger than previous reports for the western part of the Amazon Basin but probably its size reflects the new methodologies employed rather than a biological “hotspot.”