Amphibians and Reptiles of Margarita, Coche and Cubagua

15Gabriel Ugueto and Gilson Rivas offer the next generation research of herpetology, not only of the delightful Margarita Island, but also as an example for carrying out comprehensive herpetological research on any larger discrete ecological area of the mainland. We know of the importance of island biodiversity for understanding the biological processes of speciation and evolution, as well as of ecology and biogeography. As on the continent, so on the island, but on a much smaller, manageable scale. For example, on Isla de Margarita the cloud forest is at an altitude of about 900 meters, or lower, while on the South American continent, say, in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia), a discreet massif mega-ecological "continental island", it appears at about 2,000 meters and up. To explore the biological dynamics of several dozens of species is much easier than of hundreds, even a thousand species.In addition to the herpetological survey of the island, and it is a good one; they al15so express a concern about the degradation of almost all ecological associations of the Island, due to the encroaching human activities. Extinction and endangerment of species are common phenomena on all Caribbean islands and, lamentably, also on Isla de Margarita. []The "next generation research" also alludes to the two authors of this report. They are part of a growing group of able next generation Venezuelan zoologists- herpetologists who are dedicating their interests and professional skills to explore amphibians and reptiles and to transmit the information about the exceptionally diverse herpetofauna of the country. May they have many opportunities to keep exploring and reporting on the remarkable natural environment of Venezuela.Janis Roze