Reptilian exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and associated effects

Reptiles are an underrepresented taxon in ecotoxicological literature, and the means by which toxicants play a role in population declines are only partially understood. Among the contaminants of interest for reptiles are the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of organic compounds that is already a concern for numerous other taxa. The objectives of this review are 1) to summarize the existing literature on reptilian exposure to PAHs and synthesize general conclusions, 2) to identify knowledge gaps within this niche of research, and 3) to suggest future directions for research. Results confirm a relative scarcity of information on reptilian exposure to PAHs, although research continues to grow, particularly after significant contamination events. Orders Testudines and Squamata are better represented than Crocodilia and Rhynchocephalia. For the taxonomic orders with relevant literature (all but Rhynchocephalia), some species are more frequently represented than others. Few