Amphibian and reptile records from around the Betsiboka delta area in North-Western Madagascar

This study summarizes amphibian and reptile records from ad-hoc surveys in a series of localities in the North-West of Madagascar, largely centered around the delta of the Betsiboka river. Approximately 11 amphibian and 32 reptile species were found, with taxonomic uncertainties remaining for some of them. Among the most relevant findings, we report on range extensions northwards of Aglyptodactylus laticeps (verified by DNA sequencing), and of an enigmatic skink of the Trachylepis aureopunctata group, possibly close to T. dumasi, T. tandrefana, or T. volamenaloha. We furthermore provide anecdotal information on habitat and natural history of several rare and regionally endemic burrowing skinks, i.e., Voeltzkowia mira, V. yamagishii, and Pygomeles petteri