An annotated checklist of the herpetofauna of the Sibiloi National Park in northern Kenya based on field surveys

The xeric Lake Turkana area in northern Kenya is often referred to as the "Cradle of Mankind" due to the abundance of hominin fossils. Sibiloi National Park in the Turkana Basin has been well studied for its fossils, but the extant biodiversity of the park remains largely under-surveyed. Today, the ecosystem is threatened by climate change, increasing human population pressure, poaching pressure, overgrazing by domestic stock, and a series of major hydropower dams and irrigated agricultural schemes (particularly the Gilgel Gibe III Dam) in Ethiopia, which may have a negative impact on the water supplies of the lake. The Turkana Basin has a high diversity of arid land herpetofauna, particularly terrestrial geckos. However, due the region's remoteness many expected species have never been recorded within the National Park. Here we provide an annotated list of the rich reptile and amphibian fauna based on two recent field surveys, including multiple first records for Sibiloi National Park. The surveys yielded records for 34 species, including six amphibians and 28 reptiles (one fresh water turtle, one crocodile, 18 lizards, and eight snakes). In total, 49 species of herpetofauna are currently known for Sibiloi National Park, including eight amphibians and 41 reptiles (three fresh water turtles, one crocodile, 25 lizards, and 12 snakes). Of those, five species are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES; Appendices I, II, or III), i.e., Trionyx triunguis, Crocodylus niloticus, Varanus albigularis, Varanus niloticus, and Eryx colubrinus (all Appendix II). Three species are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (Vulnerable, Data Deficient), i.e., Sclerophrys turkanae, Trionyx triunguis, and Pelusios broadleyi. Two species (one toad, Sclerophrys turkanae, and one terrapin, Pelusios broadleyi) are endemic to Kenya and most likely endemic to the vicinity of Lake Turkana. Overall, the herpetofauna of the Sibiloi National Park already seems to be negatively affected and is further threatened by climate change and land use activity. Furthermore, the area comprises a number of CITES listed and IUCN Red List species other than the herpetofauna, including endemics, that warrant protection and conservation measures to prevent further defaunation.