# BioWeb Ecuador | Reptiles of Ecuador

> database that provides information of reptiles species of Ecuador

**Wikidata**: [Q111711075](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111711075)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bioweb-ecuador-reptiles-of-ecuador

## Summary
BioWeb Ecuador | Reptiles of Ecuador is a specialized biological database and web portal providing comprehensive information on reptile species native to Ecuador. Launched in 2017, this open-access resource serves the field of herpetology by aggregating data on taxonomy, evolution, and conservation biology. The platform is maintained by researchers Omar Torres-Carvajal and David Salazar-Valenzuela in collaboration with the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.

## Key Facts
- **Formal Name:** BioWeb Ecuador | Reptiles of Ecuador
- **Aliases:** BWR
- **Launch Date:** 2017
- **URL:** https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/
- **Language:** Spanish
- **Instance Type:** Biological database, online database, web portal, image database, and bibliographic database.
- **Content Volume:** Catalogs 498 reptile items (Reptilia) as of May and August 2022.
- **Field of Work:** Herpetology
- **Main Subjects:** Reptilia, Ecuador, evolution, taxonomy, conservation biology.
- **Access Status:** Open access; unrestricted access status.
- **Legal License:** Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted; dedicated to the public domain by the copyright holder (status noted in source).
- **Country of Origin:** Ecuador

## FAQs
**Who maintains and supports the BioWeb Ecuador reptile database?**
The database is maintained by Omar Torres-Carvajal and David Salazar-Valenzuela. Institutional support and maintenance are provided by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and the Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.

**What specific types of information and media does the database contain?**
The resource functions as a biological, image, and bibliographic database. It focuses on the taxonomy, evolution, and conservation biology of reptiles, specifically cataloging items within the class Reptilia.

**What are the usage rights for content found on BioWeb Ecuador?**
The content is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license. While the database is copyrighted, it is designated as open access and unrestricted for users.

## Why It Matters
BioWeb Ecuador plays a critical role in the digitization and democratization of biodiversity data for Ecuador, a country with significant reptilian diversity. By centralizing taxonomic, evolutionary, and conservation data into a single, open-access portal, it bridges the gap between specialized academic research and public accessibility. The database supports the work of biologists and conservationists by providing verified data on 498 distinct reptile items, facilitating the study and protection of these species within the region.

## Notable For
- Being a comprehensive, multi-functional platform that combines features of an image database, bibliographic database, and taxonomic index.
- Maintaining an up-to-date catalog of reptile species (verified at 498 items in 2022) specific to the Ecuadorian region.
- Operating under a "hard-copy" style Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which allows sharing but restricts commercial use and derivatives, ensuring data integrity.
- Receiving backing from major Ecuadorian educational and governmental bodies (PUCE and SENESCYT).

## Body

### Operational Structure and Support
BioWeb Ecuador functions as a collaborative project spearheaded by individual researchers and major institutions. The primary maintainers of the database are Omar Torres-Carvajal and David Salazar-Valenzuela. The project operates under the auspices of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), which serves as a key institutional pillar. Additionally, the database receives support from the Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, highlighting its integration into the national scientific infrastructure of Ecuador.

### Content Scope and Classification
The database is strictly defined by its focus on the class Reptilia within the geographic boundaries of Ecuador. It acts as a central repository for several distinct types of data:
*   **Taxonomic Data:** It provides a structured index of species.
*   **Evolutionary and Conservation Data:** The portal offers insights into the evolution and conservation status of local fauna.
*   **Multimedia and Literature:** Technically classified as both an image and bibliographic database, it offers visual references alongside academic citations.

As of 2022, the catalog contained **498 items** dedicated to Reptilia, a figure verified on two separate occasions (May 5, 2022, and August 8, 2022).

### Technical and Legal Profile
The platform was established in 2017 and is accessible globally via the URL `https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/`. It is designed as a Spanish-language resource (language of work: Spanish) to serve the local and regional population.

Legally, the database operates under a specific copyright framework. It utilizes the **Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International** license. This stipulates that while users can copy and redistribute the material, they must give appropriate credit, cannot use the material for commercial purposes, and cannot distribute remixed or transformed versions of the material. Despite the copyright status being noted as "copyrighted" and "dedicated to the public domain" in some metadata contexts, the practical usage is governed by the explicit CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. The resource is listed on focus lists for Biosciences databases.

## References

1. [Source](https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/)
2. [Source](https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/Agradecimientos)
3. [Source](https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/UsoDatos/)
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/2021*/https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/)
5. [Source](https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/reptiliaweb/IndiceTaxonomico)