Herpetofaunal Diversity in the Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State

The Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, within Nigeria's North East geopolitical zone, is a montane grassland and forest mosaic of exceptional biodiversity value, supporting numerous endemic and montane-adapted wildlife species. Herpetological surveys of the plateau are limited, with most documentation dating from colonial-era collections. This study presents updated field survey data on amphibian and reptile diversity across five habitat sites on the Mambilla Plateau, including montane grassland, stream margin, forest remnant, tea plantation, and rural settlement zones. Standard herpetological survey methods, including Visual Encounter Surveys, acoustic monitoring, and pit-fall trapping, were employed over 10 survey nights and days during the rainy season. A total of 39 herpetofaunal species were recorded, comprising 22 amphibian and 17 reptile species. Three species are potentially new to science or represent significant range extensions, warranting further taxonomic investigation. The montane stream margin habitat supported the highest species richness. Tea plantation monoculture zones were notable for extremely low herpetofaunal diversity. The study identifies drainage alteration for tea farming and grassland burning for cattle management as primary threats to amphibian populations on the plateau. Recommendations include biodiversity-sensitive land management guidelines for the plateau's agricultural sector, protection of remaining forest fragments, and taxonomic follow-up for potentially novel species. Keywords: herpetofauna, Mambilla Plateau, montane diversity, Taraba State, North East Nigeria