The Reptiles of Bega Watershed of the Province of Agusan Del Sur in the Philippines

Reptiles are important components of the food webs in most ecosystems where they fill a critical role both as predator and prey species. This study was conducted in Bega Watershed, Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur to document species diversity, richness, and endemism of reptiles using a combination of cruising and pitfall trapping methods. Sixteen reptile species comprising 13 (81.25%) endemic species with one Mindanao endemic were recorded in Bega Watershed. A moderate species diversity (H’=2.514) with a more or less even distribution was also documented. Sampling Site 1 (Bega Falls) had the highest species richness. Bray-Curtis cluster analysis showed that site 1 (Bega Falls) and site 4 (Malipaga area) had the highest similarity index (40%) while Detrended Correspondence Analysis showed that site 1 is the most diverse among the four sampling sites. Results indicate the need for conservation action since despite low elevation, small land area, and relatively high disturbance, Bega Watershed still supports diverse assemblage of reptiles.