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FMNH), Chicago, Illinois, (Ref 1 Historic catchup A herpetologist in the making Herpetological Laboratory Story and records 1965-2016 Muhammad Sharif Khan Herpetological Laboratory, 306 N. Morton Avenue, Morton, PA 19070, USA 2016 2 ُاﶵﺪ ِ All Thanks to Allah Almighty Acknowledgements Since 1963, when I started working in field of herpetology, I enjoyed support of my family. None except me, were lovers of frogs and lizards, especially my late wife Rashida Tasnim (Professor of Persian language), with neat and clean habits, tolerated the smell of formalin, scattered jars and papers at my table, and dust everywhere in my study; over several years of our relationship. She generously Okayed devoting much of my time in the field and laboratory, taking care of four kinds single handedly. Her protests have always been short-lived. I am thankful for her immense understanding and meticulous care. Nobody in the family objected to live under the same roof, in the neighborhood of a herp collection. Thank you all very much! My special thanks go to my mentor late Professor Dr. Ahsan ul Islam (1927-1974), my university professor and guide, who suggested herpetology of Pakistan for my lifelong project. And also to late Professor Dr. Robert Mertens (1894-1975), curator Natur-Museum and Forschungs-Institute Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and to late Professor Dr. Sherman A. Minton, Jr. (1919- 1999), Department of Microbiology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA, for their help with literature and identifications and understanding of various morphological terms used in herpetological studies. They taught how to tread safely through maze of synonymy, and identify amphibians and reptiles correctly. I specially acknowledge support of my countless students in field collections, translations, typing of manuscripts and for valuable gifts, all were always so ready to help, thank you very much you all. Muhammad Sharif Khan Morton, PA 19070, USA 4 September, 2016 About myself 1939- Born to Pakistani parents, in East Africa Tanzania, where my Father Dr. Habib Ullah Khan, I.M.D., served in health department. 1941- Moved with family in Qadian, India, started early education. 1947- Migrated to Pakistan. 1955- Completed school. 1956- F.Sc. pre-med from Talim ul Islam College, Rabwah, 3 Pakistan. 1959- BS, Islamia College (c.l), Lahore, Pakistan. 1963- MS in Zoology, University of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan. 1996- Ph.D. University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 1963-1999- Professor of Zoology, Talim ul Islam College, Rabwah, Pakistan. 1999, 11th August: Retired from service. Honors and Awards 1963- Islamia College (c. l), Lahore: College medal and Roll of Honor for topping in subject of Zoology in BS examination. 1964- “Sir. William Roberts Gold medal” for topping in MS Zoology, Exam, 1963. 2002- “Zoologist for the year 2002” award, Zoological Society of Pakistan. 2014- “Life time Achievement” award, Zoological Society of Pakistan. <<>> 1999-August 11th . Retired from service in Pakistan. 1999-September 11th Immigrated to USA. <<>> 4 Mission statement Herpetological Laboratory (15/6 Darul Saddar N. Rabwah, Pakistan) was established in 1973 to introduce my research results to interested herpetologists in the subcontinent herpetology. I personally had been involved from collections, preservation, tagging maintaining record in the logbook by recording tag-numbers of the specimens, studying, defining new taxa, writing and submitting papers for publication; receiving/returning loans and depositing type specimens in museums all over the world. When I immigrating to USA in September 1999, I carried with me the written records. Since then it has been lying with me. As time passes, wear and tear has started by eating corners of the documents. Since the herpetological Laboratory is now internationally known, type-specimens described are deposited in museums all over the world. Fearing losing important depository records, I have transferred the data in the present document, for future consultation. Copies of communications with museums are being appended. Muhammad Sharif Khan, 306 N. Morton Avenue, Morton, PA 19070, USA. http://muhammadskhan.wildlifeofpakistan.com <<>> 5 My induction into school of herpetology Prof. Dr. Robert Mertens Prof. Dr. Ahsan ul Islam Prof. Dr. Sherman A. Minton, M.D. 1894-1975 1927-1974 Mrs. Madge Minton 1919-1999 The story of my initiation in the study of amphibians and reptiles (herpetology-a long neglected field in Pakistan) dates back to1965. For my Master degree in zoology (1961-63), I studied external morphological changes a fertilized amphibian egg undergoes during its subsequent normal development undergoes till four-legged creature. I used egg of the common toad Bufo stomaticus. The work was supervised by Professor Dr. Ahsan ul Islam (Government College Lahore, Pakistan) who identified the toad as Bufo melanostictus. It was published in 1965 under the title “A normal table of Bufo melanostictus based on external morphological criteria.” Biologia (Lahore), 11:1-39. The first response to the publication, came from world’s renowned German herpetologist Prof. Dr. Robert Mertens (Forschungsinstitut, Natur-Museum Senckenberg, Frankfurt em main, Germany), he corrected name of the toad as Bufo stomaticus Lűtken. The revelation came to me as a sort of shock, thinking perhaps I did something big wrong! Checking from key and description in the Amphibia Reptilia volume (Fauna of British India series), found Mertens was correct. Answering my question regarding status of our knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles in Pakistan, Dr Ahsan told me “Yet nobody in Pakistan has worked in this field.” He suggested, “Since you are just starting your carrier in zoology, I wish you to initiate in this field.” He promised, “Whatever assistance you may need I will help.” Acknowledging his scholarship and hard work that he did in shaping me into an ardent biologist, I named a new species of snake in his honor: Indotyphlops (Typhlops) ahsani Khan, 1999, (Ahsan’s Blind-snake). (Two new species and a subspecies of blind snakes of genus Typhlops from Azad Kashmir and Punjab, Pakistan (Sepentes: Typhlopidae). Russian J. Herpetol., 6(3):231-240. 6 Talim ul Islam College Rabwah, Pakistan Meanwhile, I joined Talim ul Islam College Rabwah, as lecturer in Zoology, determined to work in herpetology, I started figuring what I needed to start: 1. Pertinent literature, and 2. Working material from the field. Literature quest Explored libraries in the town (about six), found few volumes of Proceedings of the Asiatic Society Bengal and Journal of Bombay Natural History Society in Fazal-a-Omar Research Institute library, I copied the relevant material. A friend in the Punjab University Library, helped to get Amphibian and Reptile volume in the Fauna of British India series, which proved of immense value in laying foundations of my knowledge in the herpetology of the subcontinent. Dr. Mertens, provided me with a bunch of his papers on Pakistan herpetology. Unfortunately all were in German language. I tried to learn the language, soon I realized I am very bad in learning languages, despite efforts with the dictionary I could not progress beyond “und.” Dr. Mertens introduced me to Dr Sherman A. Minton, Indiana University, USA. (Who was advisor and visiting professor in newly established Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Karachi), a physician, as hobby collected amphibians and reptiles from around Karachi, later expanding his interest to all over the country. He wrote first ever papers exclusive on Pakistan herpetology. His papers, updated my knowledge. We extensively corresponded, exchanging ideas on different herpetological issues I was facing in Pakistan, guided me with the identifications and understanding scientific terms used in herpetological descriptions. As my sphere of acquaintances grew in the herpetological community, literature came pouring from several sources, in different languages including German, French, Russian, Italian etc. Thus my literature library grew fast, all thanks to the generosity of the herpetological community. Translations Now the big big issue was getting papers in German translated in English. One of my BSc students, Malik Zubair Ahmad came as God’s help (he learned German language from his German mother). I found him so fluent in the language that he would hold the paper in hands and start dictating in fluent English as if reading directly from an English document, I diligently went on putting down word by word as he uttered. Later Mr. Zubair astounded me with his exceptional talent with several other languages, a real natural multi-linguist, Italian, Russian etc. He could have translated French papers, however, not to burden him more, the job was done by students from Mauritius: Dr. Mahmood Bhunno, Mr. Din, and a student in missionary college, Ahmad Shamir Sukhia. 7 Field work - getting working material Rabwah town, is located on the right bank of the River Chenab, in temperate central Punjab, Pakistan (31° 32′ 59″ N, 74° 20′ 37″ E). It covers an area of about 24 km2, is situated at an elevated platform from the low-lying surrounding country. The terrain is arid, stony, salt-petri, surrounded by low rocky, barren hills. The river circumvallates the town from East to South; (thus the raised location of the town is aptly reflected in its name "Rabwah" - meaning raised area). Its elevation protects the town from floods, when river flows at its highest level during monsoons, every year. Several lizard species were seen scurrying from bush to bush during day
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