Journal of Animal Diversity
Volume 4, Issue 4 (2022)
Online ISSN
2676-685X
Short Communication http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/JAD.2022.4.4.3
This article is published with open access on www.jad.lu.ac.ir | © Lorestan University Press 15
Rapid assessment of anurans of Panigan-Tamugan watershed, Davao
City, Mindanao Island, Philippines
Marian Dara T. Tagoon
1*
, Joshua L. Donato
2
, Treaseur B. Susulan
3
, Karyn
Chrislene A. Vitor
4
, Samuel Herbert T. Mamora
5
and Elsa May Delima-Baron
1,6
1
School of Business Management, Education, Arts and Sciences, San Pedro College, Davao City 8000,
Davao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines
2
EGIP Foundation Inc, # 14 Alaminos St., Rolling Hills Subdivision, Bacaca, Davao City 8000, Davao del
Sur, Mindanao, Philippines
3
GIS Practitioner, Barangay Tibungco, Davao City 8000, Davao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines
4
Department of Arts and Sciences Education, University of Mindanao Tagum College, Tagum City, Philippines
5
Natural Science Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Southeastern Philippines – Obrero,
Davao City 8000, Davao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines
6
Research, Publication, and Innovation Center, San Pedro College, Davao City 8000, Davao del Sur,
Mindanao, Philippines
*
Corresponding author : marian.tagoon@gmail.com
Citation: Tagoon, M. D. T., Donato, J. L., Susulan, T. B., Vitor, K. C. A., Mamora, S. H. T. and Delima-Baron, E. M. (2022).
Rapid assessment of anurans of Panigan-Tamugan watershed, Davao City, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Journal of Animal
Diversity, 4 (4): 15–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.52547/JAD.2022.4.4.3
Received: 27 January 2022
Accepted: 20 November 2022
Published online: 31 December 2022
Abstract
Data on anurans in Davao City watersheds remains depauperate. This study
provides the first account of anurans of the Panigan-Tamugan watershed using
visual encounter survey (VES) and microhabitat searches along fifteen 10 × 10
m belt transects. A total of 14 species belonging to 11 genera and five families
were recorded for all three sampling sites in the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed.
Eleven out of 14 anurans species documented in this survey are endemic to the
Philippines. Anuran families recorded during the survey included Bufonidae
Gray (n= 3), Dicroglossidae Anderson (n= 4), Megophryidae Bonaparte (n= 2),
Ranidae Batsch (n= 1), and Rhacophoridae Hoffman (n= 4). Additional records
of anurans from this study, namely Fejervarya vittigera (Wiegmann),
Occidozyga laevis (Günther), Pelophryne brevipes (Peters), and Philautus
worcesteri (Stejneger), increased the number of species known from watershed
areas of Davao City, as they were not reported in previous inventories conducted
in the city. Species richness data may not necessarily reflect the true number of
species in the site. Future studies should include an increased number of
transects and man hours. Although the list comprises the limited information on
this taxon in watersheds, more inventories are necessary for a full understanding
of anuran composition in the city's several watersheds.
Key words: Anuran species checklist, Mindanao endemic anurans, Philippine wildlife, watershed anuran inventory
The Philippines is part of the Indomalayan region
that comprises the Indian subcontinent, Southeast
Asian forests, and Malaysia to Indonesia ecoregions
(Bain et al., 2006). Anurans known from the country,
based on the most recent list in the Amphibian
Species of the World Database, included 113 species
represented by 9 families and 31 genera (Frost,
2021). Although the number of anuran species in the