Volume 44, Issue 1, August 2019, Pages 10–21
Masudi Muenye Mali Franck1, Anne Laudisoit2, Michel Komba Yendema3, Badjedjea Babangenge Gabriel4, Morgan Mukobya5, Ewango E.K. Corneille6, Katuala G.B. Pionus7, Dudu Akaibe M.8, Gambalemoke Mbalitini Sylvestre9, and Gembu Tungaluna10
1 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
2 EcoHealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street, Ste. 1701, New York, NY 10001, USA
3 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
4 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
5 Université du Moyen Lualaba, UML, Kalima, RD Congo
6 Université de Kisangani, Faculté des Ressources Naturelles Renouvelables, BP 2012 Kisangani, RD Congo
7 Université de Kisangani, Faculté des Sciences, BP 2012 Kisangani, RD Congo
8 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
9 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
10 Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, RD Congo
Original language: English
Copyright © 2019 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
In the relict forest shreds located in Ituri in the territory of Djugu, on the shores of Lake Albert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a preliminary study on herpetofauna was carried out. According to this research, 19 amphibian species and 21 reptile species were harvested in 12 days between April and May 2017. Samples were taken from four research sites: Dzu (N01.94753°; E030.88848°), Dzoo (N01.92742°; E030.89179°), Nzerku 3 (N01.94119°; E030.90612°) and Nzonzo (N01.90352°; E30.91030°). The principal objective of this study was to inventory the herpetological fauna of the Relict Altitude Forest of the Albert Lake Escarpment (RAFALE) landscape. During the night, amphibians were captured by hand by using headlight. A herpetological stick was used to collect reptiles. These biopsies consisted essentially of tissue from the tongue and muscle. Specimens were photographed alive then fixed with formalin (10%), before being preserved in alcohol (70%). Results are interesting and show that the habitats are very rich and diversified. There were more diverse reptiles than amphibians. Considered as a 'red area' where studies are known to be hostile, through this research, it is appropriate to point out that the potential for further in-depth research and focusing efforts for the sustainable conservation of this area is both possible and still urgent.
Author Keywords: Rift Albertin, amphibians, reptiles, Democratic Republic of the Congo, herpetofauna, RAFALE.
Masudi Muenye Mali Franck1, Anne Laudisoit2, Michel Komba Yendema3, Badjedjea Babangenge Gabriel4, Morgan Mukobya5, Ewango E.K. Corneille6, Katuala G.B. Pionus7, Dudu Akaibe M.8, Gambalemoke Mbalitini Sylvestre9, and Gembu Tungaluna10
1 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
2 EcoHealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street, Ste. 1701, New York, NY 10001, USA
3 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
4 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
5 Université du Moyen Lualaba, UML, Kalima, RD Congo
6 Université de Kisangani, Faculté des Ressources Naturelles Renouvelables, BP 2012 Kisangani, RD Congo
7 Université de Kisangani, Faculté des Sciences, BP 2012 Kisangani, RD Congo
8 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
9 Université de Kisangani, Centre de Surveillance de la Biodiversité, RD Congo
10 Faculté des Sciences, Université de Kisangani, RD Congo
Original language: English
Copyright © 2019 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
In the relict forest shreds located in Ituri in the territory of Djugu, on the shores of Lake Albert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a preliminary study on herpetofauna was carried out. According to this research, 19 amphibian species and 21 reptile species were harvested in 12 days between April and May 2017. Samples were taken from four research sites: Dzu (N01.94753°; E030.88848°), Dzoo (N01.92742°; E030.89179°), Nzerku 3 (N01.94119°; E030.90612°) and Nzonzo (N01.90352°; E30.91030°). The principal objective of this study was to inventory the herpetological fauna of the Relict Altitude Forest of the Albert Lake Escarpment (RAFALE) landscape. During the night, amphibians were captured by hand by using headlight. A herpetological stick was used to collect reptiles. These biopsies consisted essentially of tissue from the tongue and muscle. Specimens were photographed alive then fixed with formalin (10%), before being preserved in alcohol (70%). Results are interesting and show that the habitats are very rich and diversified. There were more diverse reptiles than amphibians. Considered as a 'red area' where studies are known to be hostile, through this research, it is appropriate to point out that the potential for further in-depth research and focusing efforts for the sustainable conservation of this area is both possible and still urgent.
Author Keywords: Rift Albertin, amphibians, reptiles, Democratic Republic of the Congo, herpetofauna, RAFALE.
How to Cite this Article
Masudi Muenye Mali Franck, Anne Laudisoit, Michel Komba Yendema, Badjedjea Babangenge Gabriel, Morgan Mukobya, Ewango E.K. Corneille, Katuala G.B. Pionus, Dudu Akaibe M., Gambalemoke Mbalitini Sylvestre, and Gembu Tungaluna, “A preliminary study on the herpetological fauna in the forest refuge of Dzu, Dzoo, Nzerku 3 and Nzonzo in Relict Altitude Forest of the Albert Lake Escarpment (RAFALE), (Djugu territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo),” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 10–21, August 2019.
