WWW.IRCF.ORG/REPTILESANDAMPHIBIANSJOURNALTABLE OF CONTENTS IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANSIRCF REPTILES • VOL15, &NO AMPHIBIANS 4 • DEC 2008 189 • 27(1):36–41 • APR 2020
IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS CONSERVATION AND NATURAL HISTORY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURE ARTICLES Rapid Assessment. Chasing Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) in ofWisconsin: Amphibians at Milonchari On the Road to Understanding the Ecology and Conservation of the Midwest’s Giant Serpent ...... Joshua M. Kapfer 190 Area. The Shared in History Bandarban of Treeboas (Corallus grenadensis) and Humans District, on Grenada: Bangladesh A Hypothetical Excursion ...... Robert W. Henderson 198 1,3 2 RESEARCH ARTICLESFaysal Ahmad and Ebtisamul Zannat Mim . The Texas1 HornedDepartment Lizard inof CentralZoology, and JagannathWestern Texas University, ...... Dhaka, Emily BangladeshHenry, Jason Brewer, ([email protected]) Krista Mougey, and Gad Perry 204 . The Knight Anole (Anolis equestris2Department) in Florida of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh ...... Brian J. Camposano,3World Kenneth Vision L. Krysko, International Kevin M. Enge, Ellen M. Donlan, and Michael Granatosky 212 CONSERVATION ALERT Photographs by the senior author. . World’s Mammals in Crisis ...... 220 . More Than Mammals ...... 223 . The “Dow Jones Index” of Biodiversity ...... 225
angladesh is aHUSBANDRY global biodiversity hotspot in tropical vidual of every species encountered and photographed them BAsia with a unique. Captive and Care diverse of the Central biota Netted in Dragona wide ...... variety of in daylight. We subsequently Shannon Plummer released 226 most of them but poorly unexploredPROFILE habitats. Situated at the junction of the Indo-Himalayan and. KraigIndo-Chinese Adler: A Lifetime Promoting Sub-regions Herpetology (Stanford ...... Michael L. Treglia 234 1991), it has 25 recognized bioecological zones based on tem- COMMENTARY perature, precipitation, soil quality, hydrological conditions, . The Turtles Have Been Watching Me ...... Eric Gangloff 238 and the diversity of flora and fauna (Nishat et al. 2002). Over 1,600 animal speciesBOOK have REVIEW been documented in Bangladesh, . Threatened Amphibians of the World edited by S.N. Stuart, M. Hoffmann, J.S. Chanson, N.A. Cox, including 138 mammals,R. 566 Berridge, birds, P. Ramani, 167 and reptiles, B.E. Young 49...... amphib- Robert Powell 243 ians, 253 freshwater fishes, 141 crustaceans, and 305 species of butterflies (IUCN CONSERVATIONBangladesh 2015). RESEARCH REPORTS: Summaries of Published Conservation Research Reports ...... 245 NATURAL HISTORY RESEARCH REPORTS: Summaries of Published Reports on Natural History ...... 247 Forty-nine species NEWBRIEFS of amphibians ...... have been recorded ...... 248 in Bangladesh (Hasan EDITORIAL et al. 2014). INFORMATION Two are ...... listed by IUCN ...... 251 Bangladesh (2015) FOCUSas Critically ON CONSERVATION Endangered: A Project (CR), You Canthree Support ...... 252 as Endangered (EN), five as Vulnerable (VU), six as Near Threatened (NT), six as Data Deficient (DD), and the remaining 27 as species of Least Concern (LC). Front Cover. Shannon Plummer. Back Cover. Michael Kern Amphibians play vital roles in Totatnatural et velleseque ecosystems, audant mo often Totat et velleseque audant mo functioning to control biological pestsestibus (e.g., inveliquo Matthews velique rerchil et al. estibus inveliquo velique rerchil erspienimus, quos accullabo. Ilibus erspienimus, quos accullabo. Ilibus 2002; Whiles et al. 2006). However,aut dolorlocation-specific apicto invere pe dolum infor - aut dolor apicto invere pe dolum mation on amphibian diversity andfugiatis habitat maionsequat preferences eumque in fugiatis maionsequat eumque Bangladesh is insufficient. Herein moditiawe present erere nonsedis the maresults sectiatur of moditia erere nonsedis ma sectia- ma derrovitae voluptam, as quos tur ma derrovitae voluptam, as a rapid assessment of amphibian diversityaccullabo. and habitat prefer- ences in the Milonchari Area of the Bandarban District in Bangladesh. This area is covered by highly diverse, mostly intact, and poorly explored forests that extend into Myanmar and northeastern India. Rapid Assessments are accelerated, targeted, and flexible studies of biodiversity that focus on spe- cies related to specific vegetation types or topographical char- acteristics (Sayre et al. 2000). At 1800–0100 h over three nights from 24–26 May 2017, we conducted visual-encounter surveys in the Milonchari Area of the Bandarban District (21°48'N, 92°24'E) using headlamps and flashlights while following a transect and emphasizing amphibian habitats that included Fig. 1. Map of the Bandarban District showing the location of the Milonchari Area, where we conducted a rapid assessment of amphibian small permanent and intermittent pools and streams and diversity and habitat preferences (adapted from Banglapedia: The National areas with dense vegetation. We captured at least one indi- Encyclopedia of Bangladesh).
Copyright © 2020. Faysal Ahmad. All rights reserved. 36 IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians ISSN 1098-6324 AHMAD AND MIM IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 27(1):36–41 • APR 2020
Fig. 2. Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus; left), Marbled Toad (Duttaphrynus stomaticus; center), and Skipper Frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis; right). preserved a few cryptic specimens in 60% ethanol for fur- lowing species accounts, AOO = Area of Occupancy, EOO = ther examination. With the exception of frogs in the genus Extent of Occurrence. Fejervarya, which are cryptic and require genetic analyses to distinguish, we identified frogs to species with the assistance Bufonidae of Drs. Kaushik Deuti (Zoological Survey of India), Abhijit Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Asian Common Toad). N > 80 Das (Wildlife Institute of India), and Mohammad Abdul (breeding chorus). EOO = 222,509 km2 and AOO = 132,741 Wahed Chowdhury (University of Chittagong, Bangladesh). km2 (Rahman 2015a). Globally, this species is found in We found 17 of the 49 species of anurans known Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, from Bangladesh, one of which is Endangered, three Near Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Threatened, and 13 of Least Concern (Table 1). In the fol- Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam (van Dijk et
Table 1. List of species found during a rapid assessment of amphibian diversity and habitat preferences in the Milonchari Area of the Bandarban District in Bangladesh with national and global conservation status. Some species listed herein as Fejervarya sp. might be more accurately assigned to the genus Minervarya (Sanchez et al. 2018; Köhler et al. 2019). Feihyla vittata was until recently (Li et al. 2013) placed in the genus Chiromantis (as C. vittatus). Theloderma andersoni has recently been considered to be in the genus Philautus, but the taxonomy is not fully resolved (e.g., Hou et al. 2017).
Conservation Status Family Species Bangladesh Global
Bufonidae Duttaphrynus melanostictus LC LC Duttaphrynus stomaticus LC LC Dicroglossidae Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis LC LC Fejervarya spp. LC LC Hoplobatrachus tigerinus LC LC Ingerana borealis NT VU Occidozyga lima LC LC Megophryidae Megophrys parva NT LC Microhylidae Kaloula pulchra NT LC Microhyla berdmorei LC LC Microhyla ornata LC LC Ranidae Clinotarsus alticola LC LC Hylarana leptoglossa LC LC Rhacophoridae Feihyla vittata LC LC Polypedates leucomystax LC LC Rhacophorus bipunctatus LC LC Theloderma andersoni EN LC
37 AHMAD AND MIM IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 27(1):36–41 • APR 2020
Fig. 3. Four Cricket Frogs (Fejervarya spp.) not assigned to species. Note that some species listed herein as Fejervarya sp. might be more accurately assigned to the genus Minervarya (Sanchez et al. 2018; Köhler et al. 2019). al. 2004a). This species is the most frequently encountered as Fejervarya sp. might be more accurately assigned to the genus amphibian in Bangladesh, where it occurs in a variety of habi- Minervarya (Sanchez et al. 2018; Köhler et al. 2019). tats, including the hill country and all terrestrial forest ecosys- Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Indian Bullfrog). N > 60. EOO tems, throughout the mainland into coastal areas and onto = 222,509 km2 and AOO = 139,772 km2 (Sultana 2015). offshore islands (M.A.R. Khan 1982, 1987, 2015; M.M.H. Globally, this frog is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Khan 2008; Pratihar et al. 2014; Rahman 2015a). Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan (Padhye et al. 2008). In Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Marbled Toad). N > 30. EOO Bangladesh, this species probably is the most widely distrib- = 82,486 km2 and AOO = 17,528 km2 (Rahman 2015b). uted of the larger anuran species (M.A.R. Khan 1982, 1987, Globally, this species is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, 2015; Hasan et al. 2014; Sultana 2015). India, Iran, Nepal, Oman, and Pakistan (Stöck et al. 2009). Ingerana borealis (Northern Frog or Boreal Floating In Bangladesh, these toads are distributed through central and Frog). N > 120. EOO = 41,602 km2 and AOO = 10,626 km2 southwestern parts of the country, particularly the chars of the (Hasan 2015a). Globally, this species is found in Bangladesh, Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River Systems; the species also Bhutan, and India (Lau et al. 2004a). In Bangladesh, this spe- has been recorded from Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sundarbans cies is found in the mixed evergreen forests in the hilly areas (A.B.M.S. Alam et al. 2012; Pratihar et al. 2014; Hasan et al. of the northeastern and southeastern parts of the country 2014; M.A.R. Khan 2015; Rahman 2015b). (Hasan et al. 2014; Sarker and Lovlu 2014; Hasan 2015a) and is particularly abundant in and around Madhabkunda Dicroglossidae (M.A.R. Khan 2015). Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Skipper Frog or Skittering Frog). Occidozyga lima (Puddle Frog). N > 5. EOO = 41,602 km2 N > 15. EOO = 222,509 km2 and AOO = 139,772 km2 and AOO = 10,626 km2 (Hasan 2015c). Globally, this species (Chowdhury 2015a). Globally, this species is found in occurs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Myanmar, PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam (van Dijk Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam (M.S. Khan et al. et al. 2004b). In Bangladesh, these frogs inhabit mixed ever- 2009). In Bangladesh, this species has the widest distribution green forests and surrounding areas in the southeastern part of of all anurans, ranging from coastal areas into the hilly terrain the country (Hasan et al. 2014; Hasan 2015c). of the Bandarban District (M.A.R. Khan 1987, 2015; M.S. Alam et al. 2008; Mahony and Reza 2008; Mahony et al. Megophryidae 2009; Chowdhury 2015a). Megophrys parva (Concave-crowned Horned Frog, Mountain Fejervarya spp. (Cricket Frogs). N > 200. These species Horned Frog). N > 150. EOO = 13,320 km2 and AOO = are widely distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent 2,722 km2 (Chakma 2015a). Globally, this species is found (IUCN Bangladesh 2015). Note that some species listed herein in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar,
Fig. 4. Indian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus; left), Northern Frog (Ingerana borealis; center), and Puddle Frog (Occidozyga lima; right).
38 AHMAD AND MIM IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 27(1):36–41 • APR 2020
Fig. 5. Concave-crowned Horned Frog (Megophrys parva; left), Asian Painted Frog (Kaloula pulchra; center), and Berdmore’s Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla berdmorei; right).
Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam (van Dijk et al. 2004c). Sri Lanka (Dutta et al. 2008). In Bangladesh, these frogs are In Bangladesh, this species has been reported from the widely distributed and occur in a variety of habitats (Hasan et Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chittagong, and Greater Sylhet; al. 2014; Hasan 2015b; M.A.R. Khan 2015). it is particularly abundant in the Madhabkunda Eco-park (Chakma 2015a; M.A.R. Khan 2015). Ranidae Clinotarsus alticola (Point-nosed Frog). N > 25. EOO = Microhylidae 41,602 km2 and AOO = 10,624 km2 (Rahman 2015c). Kaloula pulchra (Painted Bullfrog or Asian Painted Frog). Globally, this species is found in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, N > 50. EOO = 41,602 km2 and AOO = 10,623 km2 and Thailand (van Dijk et al. 2004e). In Bangladesh, this spe- (Ahsan 2015). Globally, this species is found in Bangladesh, cies is found in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, country (M.M.H. Khan 2008; Mahony et al. 2009; M.A.R. Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam Khan 2015; Rahman 2015c). (Kuangyang et al. 2004). In Bangladesh, it is found in and Hylarana leptoglossa (Cope’s Assam Frog). N > 8. EOO = around mixed-evergreen forests in the eastern, northeastern, 55,093 km2 and AOO = 1,626 km2 (Ahmed. 2015). Globally, and southeastern parts of the country and near human habi- this frog is found in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and tations in the hill districts (M.A.R. Khan 1982, 1987, 2015; Thailand (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2016). In Hasan et al. 2014; Ahsan 2015). Bangladesh, these frogs are widely distributed throughout the Microhyla berdmorei (Berdmore’s Narrow-mouthed country, where they appear to be rather partial to deciduous Frog). N > 20. EOO = 93,049 km2 and AOO = 36,293 and mixed evergreen forests, as well as other well vegetated km2 (Chowdhury 2015b). Globally, this species is found in habitats (Romer 1949; Asmat et al. 2003; Hasan et al. 2014; Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ahmed. 2015; M.A.R. Khan 2015). Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, and Vietnam (van Dijk et al. 2004d). In Bangladesh, these frogs are found in the deciduous Rhacophoridae and mixed evergreen forests of the central, eastern, northeast- Feihyla vittata (Striped Asian Treefrog). N > 10. EOO = 41,602 ern, and southeastern parts of the country (Asmat et al. 2003; km2 and AOO = 10,626 km2 (Hasan 2015d). Globally, these Hasan et al. 2014; Chowdhury 2015b; M.A.R. Khan 2015). frogs are known to occur in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Microhyla ornata (Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog, Ant India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam (Lau et Frog). N > 100 (breeding chorus). EOO = 222,509 km2 and al. 2004b). In Bangladesh, this species occupies mixed ever- AOO = 136,929 km2 (Hasan 2015b). Globally, this species green forests and surrounding areas in Chittagong and Sylhet is found in Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Divisions (Hasan et al. 2014; Hasan 2015d).
Fig. 6. Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla ornata; left), Point-nosed Frog (Clinotarsus alticola; center), and Cope’s Assam Frog (Hylarana leptoglossa; right).
39 AHMAD AND MIM IRCF REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS • 27(1):36–41 • APR 2020
Fig. 7. Striped Asian Treefrog (Feihyla vittata; left), Common Asian Treefrog (Polypedates leucomystax; center left), Twin-spotted Treefrog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus; center right), and Anderson’s Bush Frog (Theloderma andersoni; right).
Polypedates leucomystax (Common Asian Treefrog). N > Literature Cited 100 (breeding chorus). EOO = 221,137 km2 and AOO = Ahmed, A. 2015. Hylarana leptoglossa, p. 259. In: IUCN Bangladesh, Red List of 2 Bangladesh Volume 4: Reptiles and Amphibians. IUCN (International Union 136,929 km (Hasan 2015e). Globally, this species is found for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh. in Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Ahsan, M.F. 2015. Kaloula pulchra, p. 234. In: IUCN Bangladesh, Red List of India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh Volume 4: Reptiles and Amphibians. IUCN (International Union the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Alam, M.S., T. Igawa, M.M.R. Khan, M.M. Islam, M. Kuramoto, M. Matsui, A. (Diesmos et al. 2004). In Bangladesh, these frogs are widely Kurabayashi, and M. Sumida. 2008. Genetic divergence and evolutionary distributed throughout the country, ranging from coastal relationships in six species of genera Hoplobatrachus and Euphlyctis (Amphibia: areas to the hilltops (M.A.R. Khan 1982, 1987, 2015; Hasan Anura) from Bangladesh and other Asian countries revealed by mitochondrial gene sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 515–527. et al. 2014; Hasan 2015e). Alam, A.B.M.S., M.S.M. Chowdhury, and I. Sobhan. 2012. Biodiversity of Tanguar Rhacophorus bipunctatus (Twin-spotted Treefrog). N > Haor – A Ramsar Site of Bangladesh, Volume I: Wildlife. IUCN-Bangladesh, 20. EOO = 35,483 km2 and AOO = 10,549 km2 (Chakma Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2015b). Globally, this species is found in Bangladesh, China, Asmat, G.S.M., Q. Banu, M.A. Islam, M.F. Ahsan, and S. Chakma. 2003. Amphibian fauna from Chittagong and Chittagong Hill-tracts, Bangladesh. India, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand (Ohler et al. 2008). University Journal of Zoology, Rajshahi University 22: 141–143. In Bangladesh, these frogs occur in mixed evergreen forests, Chakma, S. 2015a. Xenophrys parva, p. 233. In: IUCN Bangladesh, Red List of including secondary forests, in the northeastern and south- Bangladesh Volume 4: Reptiles and Amphibians. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh. eastern parts of the country (Ali Reza and Mukul 2009; Chakma, S. 2015b. Rhacophorus bipunctatus, p. 266. In: IUCN Bangladesh, Red List Chakma 2015b; M.A.R. Khan 2015). of Bangladesh Volume 4: Reptiles and Amphibians. IUCN (International Union Theloderma andersoni (Anderson’s Bush Frog, Anderson’s for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bubble-nest Frog). N = 1. EOO = 312 km2and AOO = 95 Chowdhury, M.A.W. 2015a. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, p. 246. In: IUCN Bangladesh, Red List of Bangladesh Volume 4: Reptiles and Amphibians. IUCN 2 km (M.M.H. Khan 2015). Globally, this species is found (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country in Bangladesh, China, India, and Myanmar (van Dijk et Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh. al. 2004f). In Bangladesh, these frogs occur in and around Chowdhury, M.A.W. 2015b. Microhyla berdmorei, p. 255. In: IUCN Bangladesh, Red List of Bangladesh Volume 4: Reptiles and Amphibians. IUCN (International Kaptai National Park in the Rangamati District (M.A.R. Union for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Khan 2012); although not found elsewhere, they likely occur Bangladesh. in other suitable habitats in the southeastern part of the coun- Diesmos, A.C., A. Alcala, R. Brown, L.E. Afuang, G. Gee, J. Sukumaran, N. Yaakob, L. Ming, Y. Chuaynkern, K. Thirakhupt, I. Das, D. Iskandar, try (M.M.H. Khan 2015). Mumpuni, R.F. Inger, R. Stuebing, P. Yambun, and M. Lakim. 2004. Polypedates leucomystax (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T58953A86477485.
for Conservation of Nature), Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Species 2008: e.T58301A11760496.