Baseline studies of Herpeto-fauna of Riverine Forest Reserves of District Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan
Sustainable Forest Management Project (March 2018)
By; Tahir Mehmood
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Acknowledgements
I am grateful to the management of Sustainable Forest Management program in general and particularly to Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Khan (National Project Manager) and Najam-ul-Huda (Manager, SFM) who provided and extended their support and resources to finalize these studies. My work will not be produced without the help and restless field support by all of my colleagues especially team Incharge Dr. Khalid Mehmood (PMNH). I am also much indebted to all members of the project team for providing support of any kind in the field in gathering the required information.
Tahir Mehmood Consultant
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List of Abbreviations
SFM Sustainable Forest Management PMNH Pakistan Museum of Natural History WWF World Wildlife Fund IUCN International Union of Nature Conservation CITIES Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna DD Data Deficient LC Least Concerned EN Endangered NE Not Evaluated Ha Hectares m Meters Km Kilometers EPA Environmental Protection Act
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List of tables and figures
Tables
Table No. Description Page No.
Table 1 Amphibians and Reptiles of Riverine Forests of District 17 Sukkur, Sindh Pakistan Table 2 Amphibians and Reptile Species Abundance and 21 Diversity by Habitat Type, Survey Conducted March 2018 Figures
Figure No. Description Page No.
Figure 1 Layout map of Sukkur Riverine Forests Landscape, Sindh 9 Pakistan
Figure 2 Survey Sites in Sukkur Riverine Forest Reserves, March 10 2018
Figure 3 Indus valley toad (Duttaphrynus stomaticus) 23
Figure 4 Fat-tailed Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) 24 Figure 5 Brown mud turtle (Pangshura smithii) 25 Figure 6 Tuberculate gecko (Cyrtopodion scabrum) 26 Figure 7 Saw Scale Viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) 28
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Summary
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Project" is a joint venture of the Government of Pakistan, UNDP, and GEF. SFM aims at promoting sustainable forest management in Pakistan's forests for mitigating climate change and securing ecosystem services. This report is an outcome of the field survey carried out in March 2018 to explore the amphibians and reptilian diversity in the six riverine forests i.e., Bindi Dheraja, Kadirapura, Keti Shah, Keti Abad II, Keti Shahu and S K Shahu forest reserves in district Sukkur, Sindh Pakistan.
The information about the amphibians and reptilian diversity, ecology and other related aspects are based on the review of related literature, communication with the local people, their experience in the study area and field observations and collection during the field studies.
Since the available time for present studies was extremely limited (the herpeto-faunal species assessment always needs extended time, may be in years, for precise determination of numbers), previous literature citations from the nearby areas has also been used to prepare a consolidated list of the species.
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Sustainable Forest Management: Project Brief
Project Title: Sustainable forest management to secure multiple benefits in Pakistan's high conservation value forests Duration: Five years (January 2017 to December 2021) Project Areas: i). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Temperate forest) ii). Sind (Riverine forest) iii. Punjab (Scrub forest and Riverine forest) Project objective: The objective of the proposed project is to promote sustainable forest management in Pakistan's Western Himalayan Temperate coniferous, Sub-tropical broadleaved evergreen thorn (Scrub) and Riverine forests for biodiversity conservation, mitigation of climate change and securing of forest ecosystem services. In particular, it aims at implementation of three inter-related and mutually complementary components that are focussed at addressing the barriers of inadequate planning, regulatory and institutional frameworks to integrated forest resource management, and enhancing the limited experience among key government and civil society stakeholders in developing and implementing SFM practices on the ground.
Project outcomes: Outcome 1: Embedded sustainable forest management into landscape spatial planning;
Component/Outcome 2: Biodiversity conservation strengthened in and around High Value Conservation Forests; and
Component/Outcome 3: Enhanced carbon sequestration in and around HCVF in target forested landscapes
Description The objective of the proposed project is to promote sustainable forest management in Pakistan's Western Himalayan Temperate Coniferous,
Sub-tropical broadleaved evergreen thorn (Scrub) and Riverine forests for biodiversity conservation, mitigation of climate change and securing of forest ecosystem services. In particular, it aims at implementation of
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three inter-related and mutually complementary components that are focussed at addressing the barriers of inadequate planning, regulatory and institutional frameworks to integrated forest resource management, and the limited experience among key government and civil society stakeholders in developing and implementing SFM practices on the ground. Component 1 will support the incorporation of sustainable forest management objectives and safeguards in forest management planning, forestland allocation and compliance of monitoring systems at the local level. Component 2 will identify, demarcate and implement on-the- ground approaches to improving management of high conservation value forests within seven landscapes covering an area of 67,861 ha with the aim of meeting the life requisites of the target species, and habitats such as breeding areas, feeding areas, water sources, dispersal and connectivity corridors, etc. Component 3 will develop practical approaches to enhancing carbon sequestration through restoring degraded and former forested areas (LULUCF activities) by a combination of restoration and reforestation of 10,005 ha of degraded conifer forests; 3,400 ha of degraded scrub forests, and reforestation of 13,099 ha of Riverine forests with native species.
The project is funded by GEF and UNDP and implemented by jointly by UNDP Pakistan and Minstry of Climate Change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sind, and Punjab. Project Outputs 1.1 Forest resources and ecosystem services inventory and mapping informs forest management planning, implementation and monitoring at the landscape level
1.2 Updated guidelines, planning tools and regulations facilitate harmonization and mainstreaming ecosystem, climate risk mitigation and biodiversity considerations into forest management planning
Output 1.3. Landscape level forest plans integrates considerations of biodiversity, ecosystem services, climate mitigation and community resource use
Output 1.4 Stakeholders’ benefits of current unsustainable and
[7] sustainable forest practices and status of forest resources assessed
Output 1.5 System for effective monitoring and enforcement of forest management plans, including clear delineation of roles and responsibilities of key partners and management of participatory processes informs forest management and development
Output 1.6 Forest resource use conflict management and resolution processes established in multiple use zones
Output 1.7 Capacity building for provincial and district level forest agencies, local communities and other stakeholders, including (i) training workshops and courses (ii) vocational training modules (iii) on- the-ground demonstration and training and (iv) patrolling skills and forest fire controlling training enhances capacity for sustainable land and forest management within key agencies and communities.
1.8 Recommendations for facilitating adoption (institutionalising), scaling up and replication of sustainable forest management practices promoted
Output 2.1 Avoided deforestation of High Conservation Value Forests with forest use regime change from unsustainable use to biodiversity conservation and non-exhaustive community forest management instituted Output 2.2 Community-Managed Conservation Area model of community governance and management system operational
Output 2.3 Biodiversity conservation and capacities in and around high conservation value forests reinforced through training, enhanced enforcement, guidelines and strengthening with community managed conservation forests and involvement of communities in state managed forests
Output 3.1 Restoration of degraded Temperate Conifer forests and Sub-
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tropical Broadleaved Evergreen Thorny forests with indigenous species, realizing carbon benefits Output 3.2 Reforestation of degraded Riverine forests with indigenous species, realizing carbon benefits and biodiversity conservation
Output 3.3 Best practice silvicultural approaches to forest restoration and reforestation documented, and capacities enhanced through training and local language guidelines.
Output 3.4 On-the-ground application of Nationally-tailored methodology for measuring carbon stocks (to be developed under a parallel REDD Readiness Preparation Project) applied, demonstrated and validated for the target areas.
The present study site of Sindh Riverine Forest Landscape consists of two blocks of three contiguous reserved forests each in Sukkur District. Block I include Bindi Dheraja, Kadirapura and Keti Shah forest reserves while in Block II Keti Abad II, Keti Shahu and S K Shahu forest reserves are included. Block I cover an area of 11,145 ha, while 11, 413 ha is covered by Block II. Total area of the Sukkur riverine landscape is 30,000 ha, out of which 22,558 ha is covered by these forest reserves.
Figure 1 Layout map of Sukkur Riverine Forests Landscape, Sindh Pakistan
This landscape is best placed in terms of inundation of forests due to storage of water at Sukkur Barrage and back flows into the forests. The highest population of Indus dolphin is found in this section of the river. However, there are issues of encroachment of forest lands and non-compliant
[9] agro-forestry leases in this landscape, as elsewhere in the riverine forests of Sindh. This is one of the three riverine landscapes out of four, leaving out the Southern Punjab Riverine Forests landscape that has comparatively better carbon stock. The terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity is also high. The number of households and human population in and around forests in Sukkur riverine forest landscape is around 12,000 and 72,000, respectively.
Figure 2 Survey Sites in Sukkur Riverine Forest Reserves, March 2018
Flora: Climax vegetation of these forest reserves consists of Acacia arabica, Tamarix dioica, Populus euphratica with grasses Erianthus munja, Saccharum munja and S. spontaneum.
Fauna: The dominant fauna of the area include Chinkara (Gazella gazelle), Wolf (Canis lupus), Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus), Red Fox (Canis vulpus), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis), Yellow Throated Marten (Martes flavigula), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Cape Hare (Lepus capensis), Fruit Bat (Pteropus giganteus), Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix), Black Partridge (Melanoperdix niger), Indian Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor), Skittering Frog
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(Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis), Yellow-bellied House Gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis), Punjab Snake-eyed Lacerta (Ophisops jerdonii), Rope Snake (Ptyas mucosus) and Black Cobra (Naja naja).
1.2 Objectives of the Study
This study was carried out to provide a comprehensive ecological and systematic account of the amphibians and reptiles of Riverine forests of District Sukkur, Pakistan. The prime objectives of the study were to:
a) Collect and review secondary data on the reptile and amphibian species of the study area, using the available literature and local inhabitants.
b) Collect data from the field on amphibian and reptilian species occurrence, abundance and diversity in the study areas.
c) Prepare a taxonomical checklist of all the species with their English and local names.
d) Identify threatened amphibian and reptile species in the study sites, if any and recommend measures to improve the situation.
e) Assessment of impacts from environmental changes and human population pressure on potential reptilian and amphibian species and their habitats and to suggest associated mitigation steps.
f) Provide photographs, where possible, of the amphibians and reptiles species.
g) Compile a report on the consultancy addressing all the above-mentioned issues.
1.3. Scope of the study
Herpeto-fauna, reptiles and amphibians are the important vertebrate. Amphibians are found both in aquatic and terrestrial habitat. Reptiles are the first vertebrates to adopt the terrestrial life. The have successfully adopt a variety of habitats from marine to fresh waters and from rain forests to hot deserts. Amphibian and reptile species may occupy similar habitats and are similarly vulnerable to habitat degradation and other threats. They cannot travel long distances to avoid
[11] the drastic changes in the environment at local level. These are recognized as key biological indicators of environmental health and critical members of healthy functioning ecosystems.
Amphibians and reptiles play a vital role in food web. These are the mid-level consumers, feed on small invertebrates and vertebrates and, on the other hand, are the prey of larger vertebrates like birds and mammals. Their presence or absence in ecological niche has a vital impact on energy cycle.
Approximately, 6500 amphibians (Frost 2008; Frost et al 2006) and 10,038 reptiles species (Uetz, 2014) have been described so far. The amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan are represented by 219 species including 24 amphibians and 195 reptiles. Of them nine amphibians and 13 reptilian species are endemic to Pakistan. Despite of their key role in ecological niche, unfortunately negligible attention had been paid to these creatures in Pakistan. The main reason of this attitude is because of lack of expertise and awareness in this field. In Pakistan major part of our society is of view that all reptiles, specially snakes and lizards are harmful, and are afraid of them. This present study will enable us to know about the reptile and amphibian species of riverine forests of district Sukkur (Bindi Dheraja, Kadirapura, Keti Shah, Keti Abad II, Keti Shahu and S K Shahu). Furthermore, the status of all the species of amphibians and reptiles will be evaluated so that in any adverse circumstances the conservation strategies shall be suggested.
1.4. Literature Review on Amphibians and Reptiles of Riverine Forests of District Sukkur, Sindh Pakistan.
Because of the colonial history, scientists initiated herpetological studies in southern Asia. The first general work was The Reptiles of British India by Albert Günther (1864), followed by George Boulenger’s volume in Fauna of British India series (1890). Malcolm Smith later revised it in three volumes (1931, 1935, 1943). The revision updated the herpetological knowledge, but it fell short of the coverage of the area. Large parts of land in the subcontinent are even nowadays unknown in respect of the herpetofaunal composition. William Blanford (1874, 1876), James A. Murray (1886) and Ferdinand Stoliczka (1872) are among those who published herpetological papers prior to 1900 on the region that became Pakistan. After 1947, Minton (1962, 1966) and Mertens (1969, 1970, 1974) were the only contributors to the herpetology of Pakistan, covering large areas not covered by previous work. Minton’s collections were made mainly in lower Sind
[12] and Balochistan, while Mertens’s were of wider scope. Since then, several reports have been published on herpetological collections from different parts of Pakistan, adding much to our knowledge about the composition of herpetological assemblages in different parts of Pakistan. The bulk of that work was produced by only two of the eminent herpetologist including Khalid Javed Baig and Muhammad Sharif Khan (Baig, 1988a,b,c, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998a,b; Baig & Böhme, 1991, 1996; Baig & Masroor, 2006; Dubois & Khan, 1979; Khan, 1968 a, 1972, 1979, 1980a, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991c, 1992, 1993a,c, 1997, 1999 a, b, 2001, 2004, 2006; Khan & Ahmed, 1987; Khan & Baig, 1988, 1992; Khan and Tasnim, 1990). Several species have been recorded for the first time from Pakistan (Baig, 1988c, 2005; Baig & Gvozdik, 1998; Khan, 1974, 1977, 1984a,b, 1985b, 1986, 1989, 1992) and new species of frogs, geckoes and snakes have been described (Baig 1989, 1992a, 1998b, 1999; Baig & Böhme, 1996; Baig & Masroor, 2006; Dubois & Khan, 1979; Khan, 1980a, 1985b, 1988, 1991a,b, 1993a, 1997a,b, 1998, 1999c,d; Khan & Tasnim, 1989, 1990; Khan & Baig, 1992; Khan & Khan, 1997; Khan & Khan 2000).
The work on distribution and current status of Testudine species of Pakistan was published by Khan M S. The work on herpeto-fauna of nearby areas is very small. In 2014 Abeda Begum et. al published about the current status of amphibian from Sindh province. According to this work, in Sindh Province, five species of frogs and two species of toads have been recorded. These include Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Common Skittering Frog), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Tiger Frog), Sphaeroteca breviceps (Burrowing Frog), Limnonectes limnocharis (Indian Cricket Frog), Fejervarya sahyadrensis (Southern Cricket Frog), Bufo stomaticus (Indian Valley Toad) and Bufo melanostictus (Common Asian Toad).
No other recent work is available about the herpeto-fauna of these study areas. Due to lack of experts in the field of herpetology in general and particularly with no previous ecological long- term studies on the herpetofauna of the riverine forests, the present report will help to encompass the systematics of amphibians and reptiles from the study areas. Although no baseline is available on the amphibians and reptiles of the present study area yet as per earlier works from the nearby regions and the possible distribution range of several amphibians and reptiles, not only the results of present studies were counted for but also those from earlier reports were also included in this report.
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2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Methods of fieldwork The activities of amphibians and reptiles are highly seasonal and are influenced by the variation of weather even on a daily basis due to their ectothermic and cryptic nature. It is more fruitful to survey them during their active period which is quite obvious in the summer and monsoon season. Amphibians are usually most active just after dusk during their breeding seasons while many diurnal reptiles such as skinks or other lizards are active in mid-morning. However, many other nocturnal reptiles such as certain snakes and geckos would only be active at night. Most amphibians and reptiles go into hibernation during winter. They would be under-estimated if surveys were carried out during this time. As such, it would be essential to survey herpetofauna at appropriate timings in order to collect a representative baseline for assessment. Indeed, many reptiles such as snakes and lizards are timid, secretive, fast-moving and cryptically colored which render survey on reptiles difficult and therefore reptiles tend to be under- represented in ecological surveys in general. More intensive surveys with appropriate survey methodologies would rectify such limitation. There are standard methods for the studies of Amphibians and Reptiles (Foster and Gent, 1996; Heyer et al., 1994; Hayek and Martin, 1997). All these techniques have been summarized in the EIAO Guidance Note, 2004. In the present study, however, only active searching in selected line transects was used as a standard method for the maximum observation. Line transects: For the observation and or collection of amphibians and reptiles, active searching in twelve line- transects, each of 500 m long and 20 m wide were carried out at the selected habitats in Dhingano and Lakhat riverine forests. Besides the general observations on the presence of the amphibians and reptiles, presence of signs like impression of body, tail or footprints, fecal pellets, tracks, dens and egg laying excavations were also recorded. The observed/collected specimens were identified with the help of most taxonomic recent keys available in the literature. Other parameters like density and diversity of sampling transect in terms of amphibians and reptiles were calculated for different habitat type i.e. agriculture land, forest, riverside etc.
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An effective way to survey amphibians and reptiles is by active searching, particularly during the daytime. This method is equally applicable for both nocturnal and diurnal species. The study areawas actively searched for potential breeding areas of amphibians (e.g. marsh, small water pools, water channels) and suitable microhabitats for both amphibians and reptiles (e.g. stones, pond bunds, crevices, leaf litter/debris, rotten log). These places were deliberately uncovered to search for the eggs and tadpoles of amphibians in aquatic habitats or to reveal the presence of the amphibians and reptiles hiding under these covers. Active searching was carried out in the whole sites with focus on suitable microhabitats. Searching for the nocturnal species of amphibians and reptiles was carried out in exposed areas of their potential habitats on the ground, along the path or the pond/stream bank Collection Hand picking (through bare hands or with the help of long forceps or snake clutch), which has been adopted for the present studies, has always been the most efficient way of collecting different species of amphibians and reptiles. However, for larger species like monitor lizard and rock-agama, noose traps or other appropriate techniques were used. For handling snakes, especially poisonous ones, snake clutches/ sticks were used. In addition to Hand picking, “Scoop nets” for shallow water and “cast nets” in large water bodies were used for aquatic reptiles and amphibians. For frogs and toads, auditory detection of mating calls at the breeding sites is considered as an efficient method to find out the species, particularly the more vocal species and therefore a large number of toads were spotted with this method.
Data Records The species collected or observed during the survey were photographed with a digital camera and necessary field data were recorded. The coordinates and elevations were recorded with the help of GPS. The voucher specimens collected were subsequently transported to the PMNH laboratory for future reference. 2.2. Methods of laboratory work Preservation The amphibians and reptile species were killed instantly by injecting absolute ethanol in their head. Samples of tissue of all the specimens collected from the study areas were preserved in 95% ethanol for further detailed DNA studies in future. The amphibian or reptile specimens were
[15] arranged in a tray or ice-cream container in a position, which showed those features important for identification, e.g. mouth wedged open, one hind leg extended, and fingers and toes spread. Preservative such as 10 % formalin solution or 50-70 % alcohol or methylated spirits solution in water was added to just cover the specimens, and the container was then covered and left until the specimens were set. In case of larger specimens, the author made a slit in the belly and injected preservative to preserve the internal organs. This step was omitted in case of frogs as they have thin and permeable skins, but in case of reptiles, the preservative was injected into their bodies as their skin is impermeable and does not allow any solution to get into. For this purpose, regular syringes were used. After that, the specimen was stored in the same preservative in a watertight jar. A waterproof label was added to the jar, giving details of place, date and collector’s name. A label was tied to the specimen written with permanent Indian ink or simple carbon pencil. The same details were stored with tadpole specimens, which don’t need to be set, just dropped into preservative.
Identification of species The specimens were identified with the help of most recent keys available in literature (Khan, 2003, 2006; Masroor, 2012).
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3. Results and Discussion
Sixty-nine line transects in six riverine forests viz., Bindi Dheraja, Kadirapura, Keti Shah, Keti Abad II, Keti Shahu and S K Shahu forests were surveyed from 10th to 17th March 2018 to study the amphibian and reptile species. Both diurnal and nocturnal surveys were carried-out and the mentioned methods were employed for the observation and collection of amphibians and reptiles.
Out of 50 amphibians and reptiles possibly occurring in the two riverine forests, 12 species were observed/collected during the present survey. The other species included in the report are confirmed through secondary data, interviewing local people and previous literature. Table 1 represent the list of amphibian and reptile species observed/collected during present study and those from literature, reported earlier from the nearby areas.
Table-1: Amphibians and Reptiles of Riverine Forests of District Sukkur, Sindh Pakistan
Sr. Taxonomic Position Zoological Common Feeding IUCN Endemic No. Name Name Habit Status
Frogs and Toads
1 Duttaphrynus Indus valley toad Insectivore LC x stomaticus* Class: Amphibia (Lütken, 1862) 2 Order: Anura Duttaphrynus Common Asian Insectivore LC x Family:Bufonidae melanostictus Toad hazarensis* (Khan, 2000) 3 Euphlyctis Skittering Frog Insectivore LC x cyanophlyctis cyanophlyctis* (Schneider, 1799) 4 Class: Amphibia Hoplobatrachus Tiger Frog / Bull Insectivore LC x Order: Anura tigerinus** Frog Family: Dicroglossidae (Daudin, 1803) 5 Sphaeroteca Burrowing Frog Insectivore LC x breviceps** (Schneider, 1799) 6 Limnonectes Indian Cricket Frog Insectivore LC x limnocharis** (Boie, 1834)
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7 Fejervarya Southern Cricket Insectivore LC x sahyadrensis** Frog (Annandale, 1919)
Turtles and Tortoises
8 Geoclemys Yellow-spotted Insectivore/ VU x hamiltonii** mud turtle Carnivore Class: Reptilia (Gray, 1831) 9 Order: Testudine Hardella thurjii* Common mud Herbivore VU x Family: Geoemydidae (Gray, 1831) turtle 10 Pangshura smithii* Brown mud turtle Herbivore / LC x (Gray, 1863) carnivore 11 Pangshura Sawback turtle Herbivore / NE x tectum** carnivore (Bell in: Gray, 1831) 12 Nilssonia Indian soft-shell Omnivore VU x gangeticus** Class: Reptilia (Cuvier, 1825) 13 Order: Testudine Nilssonia hurum** Peacock soft-shell Omnivore VU x Family:Trionychidae (Gray, 1831) 14 Chitra indica** Narrow-head soft- Carnivore EN x (Gray, 1831) shell 15 Lissemys Flapshell turtl Herbivore / NE x punctate** carnivore (Bonnaterre, 1789) Lizards and Geckos
16 Calotes versicolor Garden lizard Insectivore LC x versicolor** Class: Reptilia (Daudin, 1802) 17 Order: Sauria Brachysaura Short-tail agama Insectivore NE x Family:Agamidae minor** (Hardwicke and Gray, 1827) 18 Laudakia Black Rock Agama Insectivore NE x melanura melanura** (Blyth, 1854) 19 Class: Reptilia Chamaeleo Ceylonese Insectivore NE x Order: Sauria zeylanicus** chameleon Family:Chamaeleonidae (Laurenti, 1768) 20 Crossobamon Yellow-tail sand Insectivore NE x orientalis** gecko (Blanford, 1876) 21 Class: Reptilia Cyrtopodion Tuberculate gecko Insectivore NE x Order: Sauria scabrum* Family:Geckonidae (Heyden, 1827) 22 Hemidactylus Yellow-belly gecko Insectivore NE x flaviviridis** (Rüppell, 1835) 23 Hemidactylus Common House Insectivore NE x
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frenatus* Gecko (Schlegel, 1836) 24 Hemidactylus Spotted barn gecko Insectivore NE x brookii** (Gray, 1845) Hemidactylus Blue-tail Sand Insectivore NE x persicus** (J. Lizard Anderson, 1872) 25 Class: Reptilia Eublepharis Fat-tail spotted Insectivore NE x Order: Sauria macularius* gecko Family: Eublepharidae (Blyth, 1854) 26 Class: Reptilia Mesalina Spotted Sand Insectivore NE x 27 Order: Sauria watsonana** Lizard Family:Lacertidae (Blanford, 1874) 28 Mesalina Short-snout Sand Insectivore NE x brevirostris** Lizard (Stoliczka, 1872) 29 Novoeumeces Striped mole skink Insectivore NE indothalensis** (M.S. Khan and Class: Reptilia M.R.Z.Khan, Order: Sauria 1997) 30 Family: Scinidae Eurylepis Common mole Insectivore NE x taeniolatus skink taeniolatus** (Blyth, 1854) 31 Eutropis Striped grass skink Insectivore NE x dissimilis** (Hallowell, 1860) 32 Class: Reptilia Varanus Bengal monitor Carnivore NE x Order: Sauria bengalensis* Family: Varanidae (Daudin, 1802) Snakes
33 Eryx conicus** Sindh sand-boa Carnivore NE x (Schneider, 1801) 34 Class: Reptilia Eryx johnii** Red sand-boa Carnivore NE x Order: Serpents (Russell, 1801) 35 Family: Boidae Python molurus** Rock python Carnivore NT x (Linnaeus, 1758) 36 Class: Reptilia Myriopholis Sindh thread snake Decompose NE x Order: Serpents blanfordi** Org. matter Family: Leptotyphlopidae (Boulenger, 1890) 37 Class: Reptilia Ramphotyphlops Brahminy worm- Decompose NE x Order: Serpents braminus** snake Org. matter Family: Typhlopidae (Daudin, 1803) 38 Amphiesma Striped keel-back Carnivore NE x stolatum** (Linnaeus, 1758) 39 Argyrogena Banded racer Carnivore NE x fasciolata** (Shaw, 1802) 40 Boiga trigonata** Brown cat snake Carnivore NE x (Schneider, 1802)
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41 Lycodon aulicus Common wolf Carnivore NE x aulicus** snake Class: Reptilia (Linnaeus, 1758) 42 Order: Serpents Lytorhynchus Sindh awl head Carnivore NE x Family: Colubridae paradoxus** snake (Günther, 1875) 43 Ptyas mucosus Rat snake Carnivore NE x mucosus** (Linnaeus 1758) 44 Spalerosophis Diadem snake Carnivore NE x diadema diadema** (Schlegel, 1837) 45 Xenochrophis Checkered Carnivore NE x piscator piscator* keelback (Schneider, 1799) 46 Bungarus Common krait Carnivore NE x caeruleus Class: Reptilia caeruleus** Order: Serpents (Schneider, 1801) 47 Family: Elapidae Bungarus sindanus Sindh Krait Carnivore NE x sindanus** (Boulenger, 1847) 48 Naja naja* Black Cobra Carnivore NE x (Linnaeus, 1758) 49 Duboia russelii Russel Chain Viper Carnivore NE x Class: Reptilia russelii** (Shaw Order: Serpents and Nodder, 1797) 50 Family: Viperidae Echis carinatus Saw Scale Viper Carnivore NE x sochureki* (Stemmler, 1964)
(*) = ------Species observed/collected during study
(**) = ------Species from secondary data
(LC) = ------Least Concern
(NE) = ------Not Evaluated
(DD) = ------Data Deficient
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Table 2 Amphibians and Reptile Species Abundance and Diversity by Habitat Type, Survey Conducted March 2018
Habitat Type No. of Sampling Total Density (Sightings No. of Transect Sightings per sampling Species Transect) (Diversity) Bindi Dheraja
River/Streambed habitat 03 07 2.33 03
Agricultural habitat 04 04 1.00 02 Forest Habitat 03 02 0.67 01 Total 10 13 03 Kadirpura River/Streambed habitat 04 06 1.5 03
Agricultural habitat 06 03 0.5 02 Forest Habitat 02 02 1.0 01 Total 12 11 04 Keti Shahu River/Streambed habitat 04 04 1.0 02
Agricultural habitat 04 03 0.8 01 Forest Habitat 02 04 2.0 02 Total 10 11 02 Keti Abad II River/Streambed habitat 03 02 0.7 01
Agricultural habitat 04 01 0.22 01 Forest Habitat 02 01 0.5 01 Total 09 04 02 Keti Shah River/Streambed habitat 03 03 1.0 02
Agricultural habitat 05 01 0.2 01 Forest Habitat ------Total 08 04 02 S K Shahu River/Streambed habitat 02 03 1.5 01
Agricultural habitat 06 02 0.33 01 Forest Habitat 02 ------Total 10 05 02 Total 69 46 12
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A total of 46 amphibian and reptile species were sighted belonging to twelve species during the survey in March 2018, in six riverine forests reserves of district Sukkur. The sightings along the transect lines were too low to calculate the density and diversity, so the sightings were divided according to habitat type in each forest reserve viz. River/streambed habitat, Agriculture habitat and forest habitat. The highest density was shown in river/streambed habitat, followed by agriculture habitat and forest habitat. The highest diversity was seen in river/streambed habitat, followed by agriculture and forest habitat. The highest diversity of herpeto-fauna was seen in Kadirpura reserve forest followed by Bindi Dheraja reserve forest.
The most common amphibian of the area was Indus valley toad Duttaphrynus stomaticus followed by skittering frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis cyanophlyctis. The IUCN status of all amphibian species of the area was Least Concerned (LC). The most common Chelonian species of the area was Brown mud turtle (Pangshura smithii) followed by Common mud turtle (Hardella thurjii). The most common lizard of the area was common house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus, followed by Fat-tailed spotted gecko (Eublepharis macularius) and bengal monitor Varanus bengalensis. All the saurian species of the area still not evaluated in IUCN red-list. Three snake species sighted in the area saw-scaled viper, checkered keelback and black cobra. Recent activity of black cobra Naja naja was confirmed in Kadirpura reserve forest. Most common snake species of the area was saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus sochureki. Photographs and ecological notes for some of common amphibian and reptile species found in the Project Area are shown below.
Indus Valley Toad
Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Lütken, 1862)
[22]
Diagnosis and Description: No cranial crests present. Interorbital space is little broader than the upper eyelid. Tympanum is distinct, round, its diameter two thirds that of eye. First and second fingers are subequal. Toes have single subarticular tubercles. A tarsal with spinulated ridge is present. Figure 3 Indus valley toad (Duttaphrynus The parotoid gland is longer than stomaticus) broad. A distinct tibial gland is present. Snout-vent length is 67-70 mm. Fingers free, first finger longer than second; small inner and larger outer palmar tubercles. Subarticular tubercles on fingers and toes small, tips of digits rounded. Webbing to base of terminal phalanx of first, second, third, and fifth toes, to distal subarticular tubercle on fourth toe. Two small, rounded metatarsal tubercles. Tarsal ridge present. Dorsum tuberculated with flat tubercles and spiny warts. Male with sub-gular vocal sac and nuptial pads on dorsal surface of first and second fingers.
Color: Dorsum light gray or olive to almost black, with dark mottling or gray to dark reticulation; upper lip cream. Ventrum dirty white, dark mottling on throat, 3 dark transverse bands on anterior aspect of forearm. Tips of digits dark brown.
Food: This is a species specialist on small prey. Daniel (1963) states that in captivity they refuse all prey except termites. However, Sarkar (1984) shows that 75 % of the preys are ants. They also eat earwigs, small beetles and caterpillars.
Habitat: Usually solitary, but in captivity a group may rest in a jumbled pile. Burry in burrow in wet soil or sand very easily with the metatarsal tubercle (Daniel 1963); remain active from March to October over most of Pakistan. Adults readily
[23] enter water and are often seen floating; during the monsoon season they often enter houses. Generally nocturnal, spending the day in dark, damp holes or crevices; apparently with a strong attachment for their retreat, for Khan (1979) found them returning to the same spot on successive days after nightly feeding forays.
Range: Duttaphrynus stomaticus is widely distributed throughout the Indo- Pakistan subcontinent, from Bangladesh through the Ganges Plain, peninsular India, upper and lower Indus Valleys, Balochistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Muscat. It does not extend beyond Mumbai along the west coast of southern India (Daniel 1963a). Duttaphrynus stomaticus has been collected from the plains to an elevation of 1800 m in the northern and western hilly tracts of Pakistan, where it occurs sympatricly with Bufo melanostictus and B. viridis. Annandale (1907) expresses the possibility of occurrence of this toad at 2330 m of elevation in the Himalayas.
It is the most widely distributed amphibian species of Pakistan and is present almost all over the country at relatively lower elevations.
Fat-tailed Gecko
Eublepharis macularius (Blyth, 1854)
Diagnosis and Description: Head large, wide, distinct from neck; tail shorter than snout-vent length; dorsal tubercles conical, irregularly arranged on body; ventral scales in 22 to 30 rows at mid-body. Single row of broad subdigital lamellae. Body has granular scales, interspersed with round tubercles. Un- regenerated tail plump, distinctly broader than body, small subcaudal scale are present. Male have 9-14 preanal pores. Snout-vent length is 120-158 mm, tail length is 89-93 mm.
[24] Figure 4 Fat-tailed Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
Color: Body in juvenile is light brown, yellowish or pinkish with broad crossbars, sometimes with intervening dark brown spots. Head brown, tail ringed with light and dark; older specimens the bars on body are broken into spots. Head spotted, sometimes a U-shaped mark on the nape.
Food: This gecko is carnivorous, and its diet includes beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, scorpions etc and other geckos.
Habitat: Common in stony country sides; inhabits rocky stony terrain, mudflats with sparse grass and bushes, in mesic to xeric conditions. Gregarious: several lizards live in colonies in holes in the ground, under stones, and crevices among rocks, especially in stone walls demarcating fields or houses.
Range: From Rajputana and Khandesh District of India, in Pakistan recorded from Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Punjab, Balochistan, and lower Sindh.
Brown mud turtle
Pangshura smithii (Gray, 1863)
Diagnosis and Description: Carapace is depressed, oval, strongly arched, highest at midpoint, margin flared, spine feeble. Vertebrals are longer than wide, except second and fifth which are wider than long, third quadrangular to pentagonal,2-4 marginals. Plastron is truncated anteriorly but notched posteriorly. Forehead has large irregular scales. Snout projected anterior to lower jaw, upper jaw serrated, anteriorly notched. Shell length is 23-24 cm. Male are smaller than female, male has a longer tail with thick base.
Figure 5 Brown mud turtle (Pangshura smithii)
[25]
Color: Iris pale green to blue. Carapace brown olive with black or dark brown vertebral stripe; a single, large black blotch on each plastral scute. Head olive, with a reddish-brown blotch behind the eyes. Neck and limbs with yellowish blotches.
Habitat: Characteristic turtle of flowing waters, however it has usually stay in lentic waters. A shy species, never attempts to bite.
Range: Lower Sindh and Indus Delta, Pakistan.
Tuberculate Gecko
Cyrtopodion scabrum (Heyden, 1827)
Diagnosis and Description: Subcaudal scales are in a single series of broad scales. Scales across mid-abdomen are not more than 25. Snout-vent length is 43-44 mm. Tail length is 43-45 mm.
Color: Light gray to light brown dorsum, with regular brown spots, tail barred with dark brown.
Habitat: A common ground gecko, it inhabits dry scrublands, and dry stony Figure 6 Tuberculate gecko (Cyrtopodion scabrum) hillsides with typical sparse xerophytic vegetation. Crevices, holes, and fissures in soil with sparse grass are inhabited by this gecko. Near human habitations, it lives in crevices in boundary walls of inhabited houses, occasionally venturing inside the buildings attracted by the photophilic insects: however, it avoids confrontation with common house geckos Hemidactylus flaviviridis and H. brookii.
Range: From Egypt to Rajputana, India. In Pakistan, it has been reported from the upper and lower Indus Valleys, and along the eastern edge of the Thar Desert. It is widely distributed in Balochistan and Waziristan.
[26]
Bengal Monitor
Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802)
Diagnosis and Description: Naris is a little nearer to orbit than tip of the snout. Scales on head are longer than nuchals, which are round and not keeled. Supraoculars scales are small and subequal. Abdominal scales are smooth, in 90-110 transverse rows. Digits are elongated. Tail is strongly compressed with a double toothed dorsal crest. Lateral caudal scales are keeled and are little smaller than subcaudal scales. Snout-vent length is 815-900 mm. The length of tail is 1230 mm.
Color: Dorsum is olive to brown, with dark spots. Ventrum is yellowish, with or without dark spots, especially under the neck.
Food: It has a wide range of food items; arthropods, larvae, worms, frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and mammals. It is known to feed on carrion and killed mammals (Kumar, 1992).
Habitat: Frequents moderately dry forests, and extends into cultivated areas, where it inhabits tracts of barren badlands. It often invades inhabited houses, attracted by poultry and rodents. Essentially a burrower, it is also a good tree climber.
Range: Recorded from Assam, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, throughout India, and Sri Lanka. In Pakistan, it is reported from throughout the plains of Punjab and Sindh, sub-Himalayan tracts, Waziristan and extends westward into southeastern Iran and eastern Afghanistan.
Saw-Scaled Viper
Echis carinatus sochureki (Schneider, 1820)
[27]
Diagnosis and Description: Head short, distinctly wider than neck; Nostrils small, dorsolateral; tail short and abruptly tapering from vent; all dorsal scales keeled, in 24-40 rows at mid- body; ventrals 132-188, subcaudals 23- 39. Head covered with small strongly keeled imbricate scales, 8-12 between supraoculars. Supralabials 8-12, Figure 7 Saw Scale Viper (Echis carinatus sochureki) separated from ocular by 1 or 2 rows of (Tracktor Killed) small scales. Anterior genial broad, followed by three pairs of slightly enlarged scales. Median dorsals large, arranged in straight lines, while 3-7 rows of laterals smaller, oblique, pointing downward with serrated keels. Anal single. Body stocky. No sexual dimorphism. SVL 600-625 mm, tail length 51-56 mm.
Color: Dorsum tan, grayish, or brown, with a median row of 30 whitish (never yellowish) blotches with dark brown edges. Body sides with wide V-shaped ventrally open marks and with distinct dark spots. Ventrum whitish with dark gray spots. Head with light arrowhead, directed toward snout. A light loreal stripe extending to angle of mouth.
Food: Its diet includes common amphibians like, Bufo stomaticus (Indus Valley toad), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Bull-frog), Sphaerotheca breviceps, sand lizards belonging to genera Crossobamon, Acanthodactylus and Ophiomorus, small snakes, birds, eggs, and arthropods.
Habitat: This amazingly adaptable snake occurs on rocky, sandy and alluvial soils, with vegetation varying from sparse xerophytes to moderately dense grass and scrub. This species is nocturnal, but during the cooler weather it is sometimes found sunning in the open.
Range: Echis carinatus is very widely distributed species: from northern Africa to India and Sri Lanka. It ranges to northern India, the whole of Pakistan except high mountains in north, southern Afghanistan, central Iran to the Iranian Gulf coast and Khuzestan. It has been distinguished in more than 10 sub-species. In Pakistan, the three sub-species viz. astolae, multisquamatus and sochureki are present, which according to Auffenberg and Rehman (1991) and Khan (2002) do not validate.
[28]
4. Recommendations
The time span of the present study was very limited, so a small portion of the area was studied. More detailed study is needed in order to survey the whole area. Detailed seasonal studies for the herpeto-fauna of the area is needed to explore the diversity of the fauna in the area. Local inhabitants of the area are considering the snake species as the danger to their life and are killing them to avoid the threat. Proper awareness programs are required to elaborate the importance of these species. Implementation of wildlife/environmental laws is also necessary. The population of amphibians and reptiles is declining due to different anthropogenic and biotic factors. Conservation programs for the conservation of amphibians and reptiles should be conducted. Repeated surveys are needed to access the population dynamics of the amphibians and reptiles of the area. Mandatory steps should be taken for the locally threatened fauna. There is a heavy use of pesticides in the area. This practice has adverse effects on the herpeto-fauna booth directly and indirectly. Awareness should be created among the people to discourage the heavy use of pesticides.
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