The Natural History Journal of University 2(1):25-30, February 2002 ©2002 by Chulalongkorn University

Reptile and Amphibian Diversity in Phang-nga Province, Southern

OLIVIER S.G. PAUWELS 1*, ONG-ARJ LAOHAWAT 2, WIROT NAAKTAE 2, CHATE PUANGJIT 3, THEERA WISUTHAROM 4, CHUCHEEP CHIMSUNCHART 5 AND PATRICK DAVID 6

1 Department of Recent Vertebrates, Institut Royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, BELGIUM 2 Phang-nga Wildlife Breeding Station, Petchkasem Rd., Mueang, Phang-nga 82000, THAILAND 3 Ao Phang-nga National Park, Amphoe Mueang, Phang-nga, THAILAND 4 Sanang Mahnora Forest Park, Phang-nga, THAILAND 5 65 M. 1, T. Tumlu, Amphoe Ban Lat, Phetchaburi 76150, THAILAND 6 Laboratoire des et Amphibiens, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 25 rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, FRANCE

ABSTRACT.–A list of the and amphibian recorded to date from Phang-nga Province, southern Peninsular Thailand, is provided. Six species are here added to its fauna: Amyda cartilaginea, Typhlops muelleri, fasciolata, Oligodon purpurascens, fusca and Maticora intestinalis lineata. The list thus presently includes 39 Amphibian species (38 toads and frogs, one caecilian) and 110 Reptile species (13 turtles, one crocodile, 36 , 60 ), and is by far the longest one currently established for any province in Thailand. Nevertheless, the number of species will undoubt- edly still much increase with future field studies.

KEY WORDS: Biodiversity; herpetofauna; Phang-nga; Thailand

In the frame of our own project, we here INTRODUCTION add six original new records, based on our field trips conducted in 2000. Furthermore, new The long-term research project on the batra- references have been examined, which contain- cho- and herpetofaunas of Phang-nga Province ed previously overlooked data on the fauna of was initiated in 1997 by two of us (OL and the province. OSGP). In a short period, this project has al- As a consequence, the species list for Phang- ready brought amazing results, which were nga Province has recently been subject to a reported by Pauwels et al. (1999, 2000a-c). dramatic increase during the last years. Before Independently from our research project, a additional field work is undertaken, we feel it German team has since worked in Khao Lak appropriate to publish here a synthesis of our National Park and added some new species results so that they become easily available to records for the province (Grossmann and Til- Thai researchers and students. In the present lack, 2000, 2001a-b). paper, a complete, up to date list of the Reptile and Amphibian species is thus given hereafter. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] 26 NAT. HIST. J. CHULALONGKORN UNIV. 2(1), FEBRUARY 2002

MATERIALS AND METHODS bengalensis nebulosus and V. s. salvator from those two parks and Ao Phang-nga N. P., and The list is based on field observations, that of Prathumthong (2001) recording Cuora examination of museum collections, available amboinensis from Phra Thong Island, Amphoe literature data, and new material collected in Khura Buri. The mention of Leptobrachium the course of our official research project pullus (sic) by Grossmann and Tillack (2000) sponsored by the Royal Forest Department based on Inger (1983) has been corrected to L. (RFD) and the National Research Council of smithi according to Matsui et al. (1999: 24). Thailand (NRCT). For details concerning the institutions where the voucher material was New material deposited, please consult Pauwels et al. (1999, The new material collected or examined 2000a and c). The five new records are during the 2000 field study period of our re- based on specimens collected by us during the search project contains the following specimens, rainy season (August-September) of the year representing new species records for Phang-nga 2000. These specimens are presently included Province: the softshell turtle Amyda cartilagi- in the zoological collection of the RFD in nea (several specimens of which being included . The specimens are identifiable by the in the zoological collection of the Phang-nga label with their field number. Agriculture and Technology College, PATC), and the snakes Typhlops muelleri (1 specimen collected in Phang-nga Wildlife Breeding Sta- RESULTS tion, Amphoe Mueang, field number P237; another specimen observed at Raman Forest Recent additions are based both on new Park), Ahaetulla fasciolata (1 specimen collect- bibliographical references and on recent field- ed in Raman Forest Park, field number P268), work, which are detailed below. Oligodon purpurascens (1 specimen from Sa- nang Mahnora Forest Park, Amphoe Mueang, Literature field number P245), Ptyas fusca (1 specimen To the bibliographies presented by Pauwels from Raman Forest Park, field number P243), et al. (2000a) and Grossmann and Tillack and Maticora intestinalis lineata (1 specimen (2001), some references must be added. Gross- from Phang-nga Wildlife Breeding Station, field mann and Tillack (2000) and Pauwels et al. number P280). Moreover, we here mention a (2000) overlooked the record of Leiolepis bel- second provincial record for Dendrelaphis cau- liana belliana from Ko Yao Noi (Amphoe Ko dolineatus (1 specimen from Raman Forest Park, Yao) by Mertens (1961), and that of Bungarus field number P240). flaviceps from Sri Phang-nga N. P. by Round The specimen of Ptyas fusca, collected at and Treesucon (1989). Grossmann and Tillack about 15.00 h on a steep wooded slope border- (2000, 2001b) overlooked the records of Limno- ing the stream of Raman Forest Park, Amphoe nectes cancrivorus, L. limnocharis and Polype- Takua Thung, represents the first precise dates leucomystax by Anonymous (1996) and locality for this species in Thailand. that of Kaloula pulchra by Schmidt (1978). Furthermore, four recent Thai works could not Systematic list be included in the previous list by Pauwels et We provide the current list of Amphibians al. (2000a): that of Niyomwan (1999) mention- and Reptiles of Phang-nga Province, classed by ing Ramphotyphlops albiceps from the Similan family. This list must be considered to be up to Islands, those of Lauprasert (1999) and date as of January 1st, 2002. Lauprasert and Thirakhupt (2001) mentioning Furthermore, as an indicator for future Varanus rudicollis from Sri Phang-nga N. P. researches, we give between brackets, for each and Khao Lak Lamru Marine N. P., and V. family, firstly the number of species recorded PAUWELS ET AL. – REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN DIVERSITY IN PHANG-NGA PROVINCE 27 to date from Phang-nga Province, then the Cuora amboinensis kamaroma, Cyclemys approximative total number of species which oldhami, Heosemys spinosa, Siebenrockiella we expect to occur in southern Peninsular crassicollis. Thailand. Expected Reptile species and the number thereof were discussed by Pauwels et Cheloniidae (4/4 species): al. (2000a). Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmo- chelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea. Amphibians Anura Dermochelyidae (1/1 species): Bufonidae (5/9 species): Dermochelys coriacea. Ansonia malayana, Bufo asper, Bufo macro- tis, Bufo melanostictus, Bufo parvus. Testudinidae (2/3 species): Indotestudo elongata, Manouria emys phay- Microhylidae (8/9 species): rei. Kalophrynus pleurostigma, Kaloula baleata, Kaloula pulchra, Microhyla berdmorei, Micro- Trionychidae (2/4 species): hyla butleri, Microhyla heymonsi, Microhyla Amyda cartilaginea, Dogania subplana. ornata, Micryletta inornata. Crocodylia Pelobatidae (4/8 species): Crocodylidae (1/3 species): Leptobrachium smithi, Megophrys aceras, Crocodylus porosus. Megophrys longipes, Megophrys sp. (see Gross- mann and Tillack, 2000, 2001b). Lacertilia Agamidae (8/20 species): Ranidae (19/30 species): Acanthosaura crucigera, Bronchocela cri- Amolops larutensis, Hoplobatrachus rugulo- statella, Calotes emma emma, Calotes versi- sus, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Ingerana tasa- color, Draco blanfordii, Draco maculatus, Dra- nae, Limnonectes blythii, Limnonectes cancri- co t. taeniopterus, Draco volans sumatranus. vorus, Limnonectes doriae, Limnonectes lim- nocharis, Occidozyga lima, Phrynoglossus lae- Gekkonidae (13/24 species): vis, Phrynoglossus martensii, Rana alticola, Cnemaspis siamensis, Cosymbotus platyu- Rana chalconota, Rana erythraea, Rana hosii, rus, Cyrtodactylus oldhami, Cyrtodactylus pe- Rana miopus, Rana nicobariensis, Rana nigro- guensis zebraicus, Cyrtodactylus pulchellus, vittata, Taylorana hascheana. Dixonius siamensis, Gehyra mutilata, Gekko gecko, Gekko monarchus, Gekko smithii, Hemi- Rhacophoridae (2/13 species): dactylus frenatus, Hemiphyllodactylus typus, Nyctixalus pictus, Polypedates leucomystax. Ptychozoon lionotum.

Gymnophiona Lacertidae (1/1 species): Ichthyophiidae (1/4 species): Takydromus sexlineatus ocellatus. Ichthyophis aff. supachaii (see Grossmann and Tillack, 2001b). Scincidae (10/18 species): Dasia olivacea, Lipinia vittigera, Lygosoma Reptiles quadrupes, Mabuya macularia, Mabuya multi- Chelonii fasciata, Riopa bowringi, Riopa herberti, Sphe- Bataguridae (4/10 species): nomorphus maculatus, Sphenomorphus tersus, Tropidophorus robinsoni.

28 NAT. HIST. J. CHULALONGKORN UNIV. 2(1), FEBRUARY 2002

Uromastycidae (1/2 species): Uropeltidae (1/1 species): Leiolepis belliana belliana. Cylindrophis ruffus.

Varanidae (3/4 species): Viperidae (6/11 species): Varanus bengalensis nebulosus, Varanus ru- Calloselasma rhodostoma, Trimeresurus dicollis, Varanus s. salvator. borneensis, Trimeresurus hageni, Trimeresurus popeiorum, Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus, Serpentes Tropidolaemus wagleri. Acrochordidae (1/2 species): Acrochordus granulatus. Xenopeltidae (1/1 species): Xenopeltis unicolor. (37/76 species): Ahaetulla fasciolata, Ahaetulla prasina, Aplopeltura boa, Boiga cyanea, Boiga cynodon, CONCLUSION Boiga dendrophila melanota, Boiga drapiezii, Boiga jaspidea, Boiga nigriceps, Cerberus The above list of Amphibians and Reptiles rynchops, Chrysopelea ornata ornatissima, is by far the largest one ever recorded for any Chrysopelea paradisi, Dendrelaphis caudoli- province in Thailand. Although several of the neatus, Dendrelaphis cyanochloris, Dendre- snake species predicted by Pauwels et al. laphis formosus, Dendrelaphis pictus, Dendre- (2000a) as occurring in Phang-nga Province laphis striatus, Dryocalamus subannulatus, have now been confirmed (Dendrelaphis caudo- Elaphe flavolineata, Elaphe radiata, Elaphe lineatus, Enhydris plumbea, Oligodon purpu- taeniura ridleyi, Enhydris plumbea, Gonyosoma rascens, Maticora intestinalis lineata, Naja oxycephalum, Homalopsis buccata, Lycodon sumatrana), many others remain to be found, capucinus, Lycodon laoensis, Lycodon subcinc- among them numerous Colubridae and marine tus, Oligodon purpurascens, Ptyas carinata, Elapidae. The same is also true for toads and Ptyas fusca, Ptyas korros, Rhabdophis chry- frogs, and turtles and lizards. We estimate the sargos, Rhabdophis nigrocinctus, Rhabdophis total number of Amphibian species occurring in s. subminiatus, Sibynophis melanocephala, southern Peninsular Thailand to be about 73, Xenochrophis flavipunctatus, Xenochrophis and that of Reptile species about 220 (Dibami- trianguligerus. dae included). This represents for each group about the double of the number of species that Elapidae (9/26 species): we already recorded for Phang-nga Province Bungarus candidus, Bungarus flaviceps, (i.e., 39 Amphibians and 110 Reptiles). Hydrophis ornatus, Hydrophis spiralis, Lati- The actual number of species to be found in cauda colubrina, Maticora intestinalis lineata, Phang-nga Province may be not so high. We Naja kaouthia, Naja sumatrana, Ophiophagus nevertheless believe that we certainly still have hannah. to find several dozens of species (among them maybe some new to Science), mainly due to the Pythonidae (2/2 species): fact that, thanks to the admirable efforts of the Python brongersmai, Python reticulatus. RFD, many protected areas exist in the province, subject to various microclimates and Typhlopidae (3/6 species): hence covering very various biotopes, from Ramphotyphlops albiceps, Ramphotyphlops coral reefs and mangroves to dense hill rain- braminus, Typhlops muelleri. forest, where a high diversity of species could find refuge until present times.

PAUWELS ET AL. – REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN DIVERSITY IN PHANG-NGA PROVINCE 29

⎯⎯⎯ 2001b. Bemerkungen zur Herpetofauna des ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Khao Lak, Phang Nga, thailändische Halbinsel. Teil III: Ergebnisse der Jahre 1999 und 2000. We are very grateful to Mrs. Juntai Muk- Sauria 23(3): 21-34. gaow and Mr. Hin Mukgaow (Raman Forest Inger, R. F. 1983. Larvae of Southeast Asian species Park), Mr. Dipl. Ing. Chaiwat Chindachot, Mr. of Leptobrachium and Leptobrachella (Anura:

Wattana Ditsataan (Phang-nga), Mr. Adam Phan- Pelobatidae). In: A. Rhodin and K. Miyata (eds.), phut (RFD officer at Ko Boi Yai), Mr. Witoon Advances in Herpetology and Evolutionary Bio- logy, pp. 13-32. Museum of Comparative Zoo- Boonsop (subheader of Proonai Subdistrict, logy, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Amphoe Ko Yao), Mr. Manoch Jaroenying, Lauprasert, K. 1999. Species Diversity, Distribution Mr. Jamriang Kaewta, Mr. Chan Nildbodee, and Morphological Differences of Monitor Li- Mr. Bancha Numkhong and Somjai Petmunee zards (family Varanidae) in . (Phang-nga Police Station) for their kind as- Master’s Thesis, Department of Biology, Faculty sistance in the fieldwork. Research and collect- of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. ing permits were obtained with the much appre- Lauprasert, K. and K. Thirakhupt. 2001. Species ciated help of Dr. Chaweewan Hutacha-reon, diversity, distribution and proposed status of mo- Mr. Sanal Lienphayboon, Dr. Wirot Pimanrot- nitor lizards (Family Varanidae) in southern Thai- land. Nat. Hist. J. Chulalongkorn Univ. 1(1): 39 chanakoon, Dr. Plodprasop Surasawadee and -46. Dr. Schwann Tunhikorn (RFD), Mrs. Tuenchai Matsui, M., J. Nabhitabhata and S. Panha. 1999. On Niyamangkoon and Mr. Warapan Wicharn Leptobrachium from Thailand with a description (NRCT), and Dr. Pote Chumsri (Office of Agri- of a new species (Anura: Pelobatidae). Jpn. J. of cultural Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy, Brus- Herpetol. 18(1): 19-29. sels). We warmly thank Dr. Kumthorn Thira- Mertens, R. 1961. Die Rassen der Schmetterling- khupt (Chulalongkorn University) and Mr. Savai sagame, Leiolepis belliana. Senck. biol. 42(5/6): Kongkarak, Mr. Sompon Siliprapa, Mr. Kom- 507-510. grit Achariyabout and Mr. Pornchai Ardharn Niyomwan, P. 1999. Species Diversity, Morphology and Habitat Types of Blind Snakes (Family (PATC) and Mr. Somporn Siriboonyong (Ko Typhlopidae) in Thailand. Master’s Thesis, De- Panyi School) for working facilities, and Dr. partment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chula- Georges Lenglet (IRSNB) for useful comments longkorn University, Bangkok. (in Thai with on the manuscript. English summary) Pauwels, O. S. G., O.-A. Laohawat, P. David, R. Bour, P. Dangsee, C. Puangjit and C. Chimsun- LITERATURE CITED chart. 2000a. Herpetological investigations in Phang-Nga Province, southern Peninsular Thai- Anonymous. 1996. Ao Phang-Nga National Park, land, with a list of reptile species and notes on Phang-nga Province. Marine National Parks Di- their biology. Dumerilia, Paris 4(2): 123-154. vision, Natural Resources Conservation Office, Pauwels, O. S. G., O.-A. Laohawat, P. David, P. Royal Forest Department. Interpretation and Re- Dangsee, C. Puangjit, C. Chimsunchart and R. creation Subdivision, Bangkok. (Bilingual Thai- Bour. 2000b. Zoogeographical affinities and rich- English Tourist leaflet) ness of the Herpetofauna of Phang-Nga Province, Grossmann, W. and F. Tillack. 2000. Bemerkungen southern Peninsular Thailand. Abstracts. Fourth zur Herpetofauna des Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Asiatic Herpetological Conference, p. 137. July thailändische Halbinsel. Teil I: Einführung; Am- 16-20, 2000. Chengdu, China. phibia; Reptilia: Sauria. Sauria 22(4): 23-38. Pauwels, O. S. G., A. Ohler, A. Dubois, J. Nabhi- ⎯⎯⎯ 2001a. Bemerkungen zur Herpetofauna des tabhata, O.-A. Laohawat and C. Chimsunchart. Khao Lak, Phang Nga, thailändische Halbinsel. 1999. Kaloula baleata (Müller, 1836) (Anura: Teil II: Reptilia: Serpentes; Testudines; Diskus- Microhylidae), an addition to the batrachofauna sion. Sauria 23(1): 25-40. of Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 47(2): 261-264. 30 NAT. HIST. J. CHULALONGKORN UNIV. 2(1), FEBRUARY 2002

Pauwels, O. S. G., V. Wallach, O.-A. Laohawat, C. Round, P. D. and U. Treesucon. 1989. A record of Chimsunchart, P. David and M. J. Cox. 2000c. the Red-headed Krait, Bungarus flaviceps, in Ra- Ethnozoology of the «ngoo-how-pak-pet» (Ser- nong Province, southern Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. pentes: Typhlopidae) in southern peninsular Siam Soc. 37(2): 255. Thailand. Hamadryad 25(1): 29-37. Schmidt, A. A. 1978. Erst-Nachzucht des Indischen Prathumthong, D. 2001. Kwadjapen Uthayanheng- Ochsenfrosches Kaloula pulchra (Amphibia: Sa- chat Moo Ko Ra - . Advanced lientia: Microhylidae). Salamandra 14(2): 49-57. Thailand Geographic 47: 187-213. (in Thai) Accepted: 12 February 2002