A Preliminary Study on the Batraco-herpetological Fauna in the Forest Refuge of Albertine Rift, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Franck Masudi Muenye Mali *
Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, Kisangani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Anne Laudisoit
Eco Health Alliance, 460 West 34th Street, Ste. 1701, New York, NY 10001, USA.
Michel Komba Yendema
Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, Kisangani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gabriel Badjedjea Babangenge
Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, Kisangani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Morgan Mukobya
University of Moyen Lualaba, UML, Kalima, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Corneille Ewango
Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Pionus Katuala
Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dudu Akaibe
Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, Kisangani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gédéon Ngiala Bongo
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Justin Asimonio Anio
Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, Kisangani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jean Paul Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gembu Tungaluna
Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, Kisangani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Amphibians and reptiles of the Albertine Rift in the Congolese part of the country are poorly documented. The objective of this research was to perform a preliminary inventory of the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the region.
Study Design: This study was designed following scientific expeditions related to studies on chimpanzees. Litterature search revealed that amphibians and reptiles are poorly documented in these habitats.
Place and Duration of Study: Amphibians and reptiles were collected in 12 days between April and May 2017 in Dzu (N01.94753°; E030.88848°), Dzoo (N01.92742°; E030.89179°), Nzerku 3 (N01.94119°; E030.90612°) and Nzonzo (N01.90352°; E30.91030°).
Methodology: To collect amphibians and reptiles, we used the most minimally invasive method. This method consists of capturing 1 specimen for a known species and a maximum of 5 specimens for those for an unknown species. The surplus specimens were released into their environment. During the night between 7 pm and 9 pm, amphibians were captured by hand using a flashlight. Snakes had been captured using the snake stick. All captured specimens were scanned with a camera and then identified using amphibian and snake species identification keys. Necropsies (tongue and muscle tissue) stored in Eppendorf tubes containing alcohol (90-75%). Specimens had been fixed with formaldehyde (10%), before being preserved in alcohol (75%) in the long term. Tissues were shipped for molecular analysis to the University of Texas (United States).
Results: In the four study sites, 149 amphibian specimens were collected, consisting of 19 species, 9 genera and 8 families. According to the reptiles, 27 specimens divided into 21 species grouped into 19 genera and 11 families were recorded.
Conclusion: The batraco-herpetological fauna in the Albertine Rift in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich and diversified, hence this deserves the attention of other researchers.
Keywords: Rift Albertine, amphibians, reptiles, batraco-herpetofauna, RAFALE landscape, The Democratic Republic of the Congo