In Wuarska, one of the most remote corners of the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Reserva del Hombre y la Biosfera del Río Plátano, RHBRP), a team of specialists and community members recorded 24 species of amphibians and reptiles during a research expedition that included hours of river navigation and hikes over rugged terrain in this region of eastern Honduras.
The activity combined biological monitoring and SMART patrolling—a digital tool that allows systematic recording of biodiversity and threats—with the goal of documenting local herpetofauna and generating information to support ecosystem conservation.
Photos by Manfredo Turcios-Casco (WCS Honduras)
Among the most notable records are the runner snake (Mastigodryas alternatus), helmeted chameleon (Corytophanes cristatus), ringed forest turtle (Rhinoclemmys annulata), broad-handed salamander (Bolitoglossa mexicana), short-nosed vine snake (Oxybelis brevirostris), and large-eyed snail-eating snake (Sibon longifrenis).
Amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, serve as true ecosystem thermometers, because their permeable skin and water-dependent life cycle make them sensitive to pollution, climate change, and habitat degradation. Some frogs, for example, also help control insect populations that could affect crops or transmit diseases.
Reptiles, such as snakes and turtles, play essential roles: they regulate populations of rodents and small amphibians, and their eggs and young serve as food for birds and mammals. Additionally, certain turtles help disperse seeds, aiding forest regeneration.
These species face growing threats, including deforestation, the expansion of cattle ranching, and illegal hunting, which jeopardize the stability of ecosystems in Honduras’ most important protected area. The records obtained expand scientific knowledge and support the conservation of the Rio Plátano Biosphere, recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site, a key refuge for Mesoamerican biodiversity.
“With more expeditions, we could discover even more species,” said Gerson Casco, a native of the RHBRP buffer zone and paratechnician at the Forestry Conservation Institute (ICF).
For Manfredo Turcios-Casco, a specialist at WCS Honduras, these findings also highlight the urgency of protecting the area: “Each expedition reveals new species, but it also reminds us that deforestation and extensive livestock farming remain persistent threats.”
The research was made possible thanks to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Management Fund (FAPVS), with support from the Government of Honduras, through the Forestry Conservation Institute (ICF), and in collaboration with WCS Honduras.
Text by Manfredo Turcios-Casco, Claudia Novelo Alpuche y Bianca Padilla