The diversity of the Trinidad and Tobago herpetofauna is exceptional. Both islands contain more species of frogs, lizards and snakes that would be expected given their geographic areas. The islands on the x axis are arranged by area in kilometers squared. The explanation for the exceptionally rich fauna remains to be determined, but given that they are the only continental islands associated with mainland South America it seems likely that this situation is at least in part responsible for the greater diversity of the herpetofauna.
Data for the graph was obtained from Murphy (unpublished data and this website), the CaribHerp Website, Feunmayor et al. 2005. Caribbean J. Sci. 41:346-351.
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