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.
This study wore on the diversity and distribution of ophidians in a few protected areas in the Oriental Province (DR. Congo). The harvest data were performed at Tshuapa Lomami Lualaba Park (TL2), in the Yoko Forest Reserve (RFY) and in the Rubitele hunting area (RBTL). The collections come from the missions of Tshuapa Lomami Lualaba Park (TL2), the Yoko Forest Reserve (FRY) and Rubitele hunting area (RBTL). The Ophidians specimens were captured in actively prospecting night with a snake cane; some specimens of Ophidians were purchased from villagers. In total 91 biopsies were taken from the specimens examined belonging to 7 families 25 genera and 28 species. Using a unique method of catching sight in the three protected areas we find that the dominant species was the horned viper Bitis nasicornis (12.09%), followed by the species Boaedon olivaceus (10.99%) while Grayia smithii, Lycophidion laterale, Dendroaspis jamesoni, Causus maculatus, Natriciteres olivacea, Dasypeltis fasciata, Thrasops jacksonii, Rhamnophis aethiopissa, Thelotornis kirtlandii, Toxicodryas pulverulenta et Hapsidophrys lineatus were less represented with 1.10% for each of them. The index of Shannon - Weiner (H) show that the Yoko Forest Reserve (RFY) (H = 3,898) present a higher diversity of Ophidians than that other protected areas. The Simpson index was 0.81 for Tshuapa Lomami Lualaba park (TL2), 0.918 for Yoko Forest Reserve (RFY) and 0.907 for the Rubitele hunting area (RBTL). The equitability is 0.97; 0.917 and 0.944 respectively for the Tshuapa Lomami Lualaba Park (TL2) for the Yoko Forest Reserve (RFY) and the Rubitele hunting area (RBTL). The Species richness (RS) is 19 for the Yoko Forest Reserve (RFY), 15 for Rubitele hunting area (RBTL) and 6 for Tshuapa Lomami Lualaba Park (TL2).