Rio Canandé

Trachyboa boulengeri Photo by James H. Muchmore Jr.

A recent biological survey of Jocotoco's Rio Canandé Reserve has unveiled many new species of reptiles and amphibians never before documented on the reserve. These new findings make the reserve “the most herpetologically diverse area in the world outside of the Amazon" says Rainforest Trust who supported the expeditions. It is also another example of why we must work to protect what is left. Great work by Fundacion Jocotoco, Tropical Herping, and Rainforest Trust.

 To learn more goo.gl/5nquKy

Feature: Lucas M. Bustamante

Today we are featuring Lucas M. Bustamante who is one of the founders of Tropical Herping, a biologist, and a conservation photographer. He is an Ecuadorian who has spent the last eight years exploring his country and documenting the country’s wildlife. I hope you enjoy these comments and photographs from Lucas:

“Tropical regions hold the vast majority of biodiversity on Earth. Among all of the tropical countries, one of the jewels is Ecuador. Smaller than the state of Arizona, this tiny nation holds many ecosystems: the Amazon, Andes, Chocó, Dry forest, and Galápagos. This, in addition to its eternal spring weather, makes it easy to find tons of species throughout the country.

Among vertebrates, the most threatened group are the amphibians: climate change, emerging diseases, pollution, introduction of alien species, and lost habitat are the most important factors for their declines. Ecuador holds 8% of all amphibian diversity, but also has the highest number of endangered species - the vast majority of them are amphibians.

Ecuador has two of the best places in the world to find amphibian diversity. One of them is the famous Yasuni National Park in the Amazon, which arguably is the most biodiverse area on Earth. The second is the western side of the Andes - the Chocó region, one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots. There are many threats to both regions: Yasuni: oil exploitation, wildlife trafficking, deforestation, and colonization; in the case of the Chocó: palm oil, crops, lumber companies, and slash and burn agriculture. 

With this quick intro, I want to introduce you to some of the magical amphibians and reptiles that blew my mind and touched my heart during my last 8 years working in Ecuador as a biologist and a conservation photographer. All of these photographs are from the Ecuadorian Chocó region, where less than 5% of the forest remains intact. This small world is not featured very often in newspapers, videos, or news about conservation or biodiversity, mainly because the region is unknown and the wildlife is elusive. Nevertheless, amphibians and reptiles are the core of all ecosystems and possibly the best indicators of well-preserved habitats.

Hyalinobatrachium valerioi

Trachyboa boulengeri

Hypsiboas picturatus

Enyalioides oshaughnessyi

Cochranella litoralis

Bothrops punctatus

Leptodactylus peritoaktites

Basiliscus galeritus

Oophaga sylvatica

Anolis lyra

Bolitoglossa biseriata

Sachatamia ilex

Can you imagine those forests without all these colorful critters jumping all over? I cannot. It will not only be a loss for Ecuadorians but for mankind. We can always find a light at the end of the tunnel: some conservation organizations, universities, and NGOs are trying to do their best to preserve what we have left. Among them, Jocotoco, Otonga, Ceiba, Mashpi, Itapoa and Anfibios Web Ecuador are the most recognized working in the area along with Save The Choco.

Conservation is not just an organization’s responsibility, it can start with each of us taking a look where our wood comes from, not purchasing exotic animals, trying to avoid products with palm oil, educating the new generations about the importance of rainforests, supporting governments that believe in conservation and environmental issues... Small things and changes can create huge differences, making us directly or indirectly actors of the conservation of tropical areas. We have to act now; we are already late… but with enough time to change the course of what we left!”

Somebody's Watching Me

I always feel like somebody's watching meeeeee. When I'm hiking at night. #savethechoco

Sachatamia albomaculata

Incilius coniferous

Hypsiboas picturatus

Cochranella mache

Cochranella mache habitat.

Chocó Birds

Birding in the Chocó is some of the most challenging. It's remote, really wet, muddy, and always misting. Silhouettes are common. But with the challenges come rewards. Here are some of the more common birds you'll see on the forest edge.

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii)

Rose-faced Parrot (Pyrilia pulchra)

Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)

Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza)

Choco Tyrannulet (Zimmerius albigularis)

Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera)

Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis)

Little Devil

One of my favorite species of amphibians in the Chocó is Oophaga Sylvatica or commonly referred to as diablito, little devil. The genus Oophaga is made up of nine species and translates to "egg eater".  The name is referring to the tadpole’s diet. The female will deposit an unfertilized egg into the water for her tadpole to eat. It's always fun to find O. Sylvatica because their color morphs differ from site to site. Here are some of the variations I've been able to photograph in the wild.

Habitat