World Journal of Zoology 7 (4): 306-311, 2012 ISSN 1817-3098 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjz.2012.7.4.6572
Status of Amphibians and Reptiles of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India
11M. Bubesh Guptha, P.V. Chalapathi Rao, 2 G. Ramalingam, 33S. Kishore, M. Rajasekhar and 4 Amol Kumbhar
1Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati- 517 507, Andhra Pradesh, India 2Indira Gandhi, Zoological Park, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India 3Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India 4TATR, Tiger Conservation Foundation, Chandrapur -442 401, Maharashtra, India
Abstract: Nelapattu Bird sanctuary is one of the biggest Pelicanary sanctuary in south East Asia, located in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India. A detailed herpetofauna survey was conducted from November 2008 to June 2009 in Nelapattu in and around the sanctuary. Totally 42 field days were spent to rapidly assess the present distribution and presence of the herpetofauna species. Data collection will be carried out by using Visual Encounter Survey Method. A total of 12 species of amphibians belonging to 9 genera, distributed in five families, Ranidae, Microhylidae, Dicroglossidae, Bufonidae, Rhacophoridae and 30 species of reptiles of 25 genera belonging to 11 different families were recorded. The snake belonging to five families, Colubridae, followed by Boidae, Elapidae, Viperidae and Typhlopidae The lizards are members of six families Gekkonidae, followed by Agamidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Chamaeleonidae and Trionychidae were recorded. Occurrence of some frog like Painted Kaloula Kaloula taprobanica and Balloon Frog Uperodon globulosus is also interesting. Out of 30 species of reptiles, Lower Risk near threatened (LR-nt) 53% (16 species), Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) 40% (12 species) and Vulnerable (VU) 7% (2 species) under IUCN status and all species of amphibians Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) (12 species) category This report indicated that the area rich and must contain many more species of herpetofauna.
Key words: Amphibians Reptiles Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Status Andhra Pradesh
INTRODUCTION information about their occurrence and habitat information for proper management and conservation of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is the biggest pelicanary these species. in Southeast Asia, located in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh (Fig. 1). The sanctuary is about 458.92 ha, Study Area: Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is the biggest comprising Kalluru Reserve Forest of 376.37 ha and pelicanary in Southeast Asia, located in Nellore district of Nelapattu tank of 82.56 ha. The sanctuary receives an Andhra Pradesh (Fig. 1). The sanctuary is about 458.92 annual rainfall of about 1000 mm. The temperature ranges ha, comprising Kalluru Reserve Forest of 376.37 ha and from 27° c to 35° c. In peak summer, the mercury rises up Nelapattu tank of 82.56 ha. With dominance of to 45° c. A detailed reptiles survey was conducted from Barringtonia acutangula trees and very few Prosopis November 2008 to June 2009 in Nelapattu in and around juliflora thorny plants which grow in the water body, the sanctuary. Earlier there is no herpetofaunal study of Prosopis juliflora is more on the tank bund where the Nelapattu sanctuary adjoining the reserve forest. This birds roost. This study was undertaken to assess the paper is a result of the study carried out as part of a presence of reptiles with special emphasis on reptile project “Biodiversity study of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary” population. The tank portion has “ Barringtonia Swamp undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. Forest “ while the Reserve Forest portion has “Southern Now the present herpetofauna studies give the precise Dry Evergreen Scrub” type of forest with species like
Corresponding Author: M. Bubesh Guptha, Wildlife Biologist,Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati-517 507, Andhra Pradesh, India. 306 World J. Zool., 7 (4): 306-311, 2012
Fig. 1: Map showing the different habitat of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary
Manilkara hexandra, Maba buxifolia, Memecylon edule, using Visual Encounter Survey Method. The sanctuary Buchnania angustifolia, Terminalia bellerica, Zizyphus area was different zones like, Road, water bodies, scrub xylopyrus, Acacia leucophloea etc. jungle and tank bund, each zone was randomly explored on the basis of habitat structure and, possibility and Methodology: Totally 42 field days were spent to rapidly availability of the herpetofauna species. All important assess the Herpetofauna during November 2008 to June major and minor water bodies, including seasonal rivulets 2009 with the objective to determine the present were extensively explored for aquatic species, especially distribution and presence of the herpetofauna species. amphibians. All collected herpetofaunal specimens were Preliminary information on habitat and IUCN status was examined and carefully identified by using the diagnostic also gathered [1, 2]. Data collection will be carried out by keys [3-13].
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (18 species of snakes and 12 species of lizards) belonging to 25 genera, distributed in 11 families have been recorded So for 12 species of amphibians belonging to 9 from the study area (Table 2). The snake belong to five genera, distributed in five families, Ranidae (5 species), families, more number of snakes recorded from the family followed by Microhylidae (4 species), Dicroglossidae (1 Colubridae (11 species) followed by Boidae (2 species), species), Bufonidae (1 species) and Rhacophoridae (1 Elapidae (2 species), Viperidae (2 species) and species) (Table 1) the all amphibians species families wise Typhlopidae (1 species) (Fig. 3). The lizards are members have been analyzed (Fig. 2) and 30 species of reptiles of six families have been recorded in the study area,
Table 1: Species of Amphibians in Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Sl.No Common Name Scientific Name Family IUCN Status 1 Cricket Frog Fejervarya limnocharis Ranidae LR-lc 2 Indian Burrowing Frog Sphaerotheca breviceps Ranidae LR-lc 3 Skittering Frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis Ranidae LR-lc 4 Indian Pond Frog Euphlyctis hexadactylus Ranidae LR-lc 5 Indian Bull Frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Ranidae LR-lc 6 Marbled Balloon Frog Uperodon systoma Microhylidae LR-lc 7 Painted Kaloula Kaloula taprobanica Microhylidae LR-lc 8 Red Narrow- mouthed Frog Microhyla rubra Microhylidae LR-lc 9 Indian Balloon Frog Uperodon globulosus Microhylidae LR-lc 10 Jerdon’s Bull Frog Hoplobatrachus crassus Dicroglossidae LR-lc 11 Common Indian Toad Bufo melanostictus Bufonidae LR-lc 12 Common Tree Frog Polypedates maculates Rhacophoridae LR-lc
Table 2: Species of Reptiles (Snakes and Lizards) in Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Sl.No Common Name Scientific Name Family IUCN Status 1 Common India Krait Bungarus caeruleus Elapidae LR-nt 2 Indian Cobra Naja naja Elapidae LR-nt 3 Green Vine Snake Ahaetulla nasuta Colubridae LR-nt 4 Buffstriped keelback Amphiesma stolata Colubridae LR-nt 5 Indian Cat snake Boiga trigonata Colubridae LR-lc 6 Dumeril’s Black- headed snake Sibynophis subpunctatus Colubridae LR-nt 7 Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus Colubridae LR-lc 8 Russell’s Kukri Snake Oligodon taeniolatus Colubridae LR-nt 9 Common Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis Colubridae LR-nt 10 Indian Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Colubridae LR-nt 11 Tree Snake Dendrelaphis tristis Colubridae LR-lc 12 Chichred Keelback Xenochrophis piscator Colubridae LR-lc 13 Common Trinket Snake Coelognathus helena Colubridae LR-nt 14 John's Earth Boa Eryx johnii Boidae LR-lc 15 Red Sand Boa Eryx conicus Boidae LR-nt 16 Russell's Viper Daboia russelii Viperidae LR-nt 17 Saw- Scaled viper Echis carinata Viperidae LR-nt 18 Common Worm Snake Ramphotyphlops braminus Typhlopidae LR-nt 19 Indian Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis Varanidae VU 20 Indian Chameleon Chamaeleon zeylanicus Chamaeleonidae VU 21 Common Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor Agamidae LR-nt 22 Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana Agamidae LR-lc 23 Forest Lizard Calote rouxi Agamidae LR-lc 24 Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschnaultii Gekkonidae LR-lc 25 Termite Gecko Hemidactylus triedrus Gekkonidae LR-lc 26 Wall lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis Gekkonidae LR-lc 27 Brooks Gecko Hemidactylus brookii Gekkonidae LR-lc 28 Common Skink Mabuya carinata Scincidae LR-nt 29 Snake Skink Lygosoma punctatus Scincidae LR-lc 30 Indian flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata Trionychidae LR-nt LR-nt = Lower Risk near Threatened; LR-lc = Lower Risk least Concern; VU = Vulnerable;
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Fig. 2: Amphibians Families wise observed in the study area
Fig. 3: Snakes Families wise observed in the study area
more number of species recorded from the family Gekkonidae (4 species) followed by Agamidae (3 species), Scincidae (2 species), Varanidae (1species), Chamaeleonidae (1 species) and Trionychidae (1 species) were recorded (Fig. 4). Out of 30 species of reptiles, Lower Risk near threatened (LR-nt) 53% (16 species), Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) 40% (12 species) and Vulnerable (VU) 7% (2 species) under IUCN status of reptiles were gathered (Fig. 5) and all species of amphibians Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) (12 species) category. Painted Kaloula Kaloula taprobanica were Fig. 4: Lizards Families wise observed in the study area found to be night, present in a reserve forest area, near tank bund. Indian Burrowing Frog Sphaerotheca breviceps mostly recorded in a trail path. Tree Frog Polypedates maculates and Pond Frog Euphlyctis hexadactylus quite common in this reserve forest area. Common Trinket snake Coelognathus helena and Black- headed Sibynophis subpunctatus snake are rarely sighted in my study period. Indian Rat snake Ptyas mucosus, Tree snake Dendrelaphis tristis and Common Garden Lizard Fig. 5: IUCN Status of Reptiles in the Study area Calotes versicolor quite common in this reserve.
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Indian flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata mostly recorded ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS morning time at tank bund area. Noctornal species like Termite gecko Hemidactylus triedrus very common in this The authors are very much thankful to reserve. Common Sand Boa Eryx johnii and Red Sand Boa Sri S.V. Kumar, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator Eryx conicus are recorded once in my study period. of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, Andhra This report indicates that the area is rich and must Pradesh. Special thanks to Sri Ch. Parthananda contain many species of amphibians and reptiles. Prasad, SFS, Divisional Forest Officer, WLM Occurrence of some frog species like Painted Kaloula Division, Sullurpet for encouragement. We thank Kaloula taprobanica and Balloon Frog Uperodon Mrs Vamsee Priya for valuable suggestion and globulosus is also interesting. Also everyone should comments for this paper. Finally, we would like to realise that the protection of habitat is an important aspect thank all forest staff from Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary for in conservation of such species. helping our field trips.
SOME REPTILES OF NELAPATTU BIRD SANCTUARY
© Photos taken by M.Bubesh Guptha
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REFERENCES 7. Das, I., 1994. The reptiles of south Asia-Checklist and distribution summary. Hamadryad, 19: 15-40. 1. Molur, S. and S. Walker, 1998. Reptiles of India. 8. Dutta, S.K., 1997. Amphibians of India and Sri Lanka Biodiversity Conservation Prioritisation Project (Checklist and bibliography). Odyssey Publication (BCPP) India, Endangered Species House, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, pp: 342. Project-Conservation Assessment and Management 9. Smith, M.A., 1943. The Fauna of British India, Plan (C.A.M.P.) workshops. Zoo Outreach Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Organisation and CBSG, India, Coimbatore, India, Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Reptilia and pp: 175. Amphibia-3 (Serpent’s). 2. IUCN., 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 10. Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, Version 2010.4.
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