Amphibians and Reptiles of Guyana
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About the Project
The Guiana Shield region of northeastern South America, of which Guyana is a part, has been recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and other organizations. ROM research has contributed to the documentation of the biodiversity of this important region.
Since 1990, herpetologist Ross MacCulloch has been collecting and studying the amphibians and reptiles of Guyana. Fieldwork has been concentrated in the western part of the country, especially in the tepuis of the Pakaraima Mountains.
Expeditions to the two highest tepuis within Guyana, Mounts Ayanganna and Wokomung, in 2000 and 2004 respectively, were particularly rewarding. Little is known about the higher-elevation fauna (>1500 metres) of the Guiana Shield, and these two mountains are home to many unique animals, especially frogs. Several new species were collected. Other species were collected for the first time in Guyana.
The ROM’s collections from Guyana have contributed to the IUCN Global Amphibian Assessment and to the Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield Program.
This research has been generously supported by the ROM Governors and the ROM Reproductions Fund.
