Melanesia holds the World’s most Diverse and Intact Insular Amphibian Fauna

Abstract

Identifying hotspots of biological diversity is a key step in a conservation prioritisation. Melanesia centred on the vast island of New Guinea - is increasingly for its exceptionally species rich and endemic biota. Here we show that Melanesia has the world's most diverse insular amphibian fauna, with over 7% of recognised global fog species in less than 0.7% of the world's land area and over 97% of species endemic.