Herping Tour
Colombia:
Explorations
of Amphibians
& Reptiles

While we showcase Colombia’s rich diversity of reptiles and amphibians, it is important to know that some species are so rare or elusive that we won’t specifically seek them out, especially those not seen in years. We mention them to educate and share insights into Colombia’s incredible biodiversity, but our tours focus on realistic, achievable sightings. Nature is unpredictable, and while we cannot guarantee specific encounters, each tour offers the excitement of exploring these extraordinary habitats. Whether you are a seasoned herper or simply curious, the journey is about learning and discovery, not chasing the rarest finds.

Colombia is considered home to rare and endemic amphibians and reptiles, taking second place after Brazil, in the richness of endemic species of amphibians. Endemic genera of frogs include Walker’s Sierra Frog Geobatrachus, the Sonson Frog Atopophrynus, the Palm Rocket Frog Rheobates, and the Magdalena Giant Glass Frog Ikakogi. Harlequin frogs include Atelopus eusebianus, Atelopus ebenoides, and Atelopus spurrelli. Also endemics, are the Golden Poison Frog, the Red-banded Poison Frog Oophaga lehmanni, the Yellow-striped Poison Frog, Boulenger’s Backpack Frog, the Pandi Mushroomtongue Salamander, the San Gil Mushroomtongue Salamander, and El Centro Caecilian Microcaecilia pricei.

Reptiles unique to Colombia include the Magdalena River Turtle Podocnemis lewyana, the Dahl’s Toad-head Turtle, the Colombian Mud Turtle Kinosternon dunni, the Chocoan Toad-headed Pitviper, a snail-eating snake Dipsas sanctijoannis, the San Andres Snake Coniophanes andresensis, the Santa Marta Ground Snake, Daniel’s Keelback, the Gambote Mock Viper Thamnodynastes gambotensis, the Santander Coral Snake, Miyata’s Scaly-eyed Gecko, Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard, the Blue Anol, a largescale lizard Alopoglossus romaleos, Anadia bogotensis, the Providencia Skink, the Malpelo Galliwasp, the Santander Whorltail Lizard, and a worm lizard Amphisbaena elbakyanae. Magdalenasaura is an endemic genus of lizards recently described.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to an incredible diversity of amphibians and reptiles that inhabit this unique ecosystem. The area is classified as a Key Biodiversity Area, which appears to be the only place in the Americas with a stable population of high-altitude harlequin toads – the world’s most threatened genus of amphibians. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to 5 threatened endemic species of Athelopus, including the Critically Endangered Starry Night Toad (Atelopus laetissimus), and other 17 endemic species of amphibians rarely spotted.

After the peace agreement in Colombia, the frontiers for scientific exploration have expanded, and new species have recently been discovered. This is the case of Bothrocophias myrringae sp. nov. and Bothrocophias tulitoi sp. nov., two new species of toadheaded pitvipers from the highlands of the Colombian Andes recently discovered; to date, hardly anything is known about these venomous snakes. Another interesting example for Colombia is the very recent discovery of four species of Bothriechis known as Eyelash Pitvipers, from which three species: Bothriechis rasikusumorum, Bothriechis klebbai and Bothriechis khwargi, are endemic to the eastern Cordillera of Colombia in cloud forests and coffee plantations, while Bothriechis rahimi stands out for occurring in the remote and pristine Choco rainforest at the border between Colombia and Ecuador.