A Contribution to the Herpetology of Northern
Pakistan: The Amphibians and Reptiles of MargallaHills National Park and Surrounding Regions
By Rafaqat Masroor
Published by Society for the
Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York, USA,
ISBN: 978-0-916984-83-0, 20 April
2012, 217pp. (14x22 cm), Price $ 45
Book reviewed by Raju Vyas
505, KrishnadeepTower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara,
Gujarat, India
Email: razoovyas@hotmail.com
Date of publication (online): 26 June 2012
Date of publication (print): 26 June 2012
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Manuscript
details:
Ms # o3218
Received 26 May 2012
Copyright: © Raju Vyas2012. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 UnportedLicense. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this
article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by
providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.
In this book Rafaqat Masroor focuses on the herpetofaunaof Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). Located at the foothills of Himalaya,
the MHNP is an important protected area, sharing a common boundary with the
cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in northern Pakistan. This book is the first regional field
guide from Pakistan with colored pictures and illustrations since the
compilation by Khan (2006); its title is reminiscent of Minton (1966). There is a foreword by Prof. Wolfgang
Bohme and the book is dedicated to the renowned herpetologist the late Dr.
Khalid Javed Baig.
The author has published extensively on the subject, with
much of the work derived from an extensive study conducted from 2003–2009
in MHNP. He describes nine species
of amphibians (from three families and eight genera) and 33 species of reptiles
(from 13 families and 30 genera) inhabiting the park, and also provides general
information on their distribution throughout Pakistan. The detailed information provided in
eight chapters covers diagnostic features, descriptions, habits and habitats
and distribution (including regional distribution maps). Color pictures are provided for each
species and recent updated information is contained at the end of each account.
Chapter 1 presents a systematic list of amphibians and
reptiles in the park. Chapter 2
deals with specific identification, presenting line drawings and figures of key
characters such as sole and hind foot of frogs, bone and scutesof turtle shells, basic scale types found on the bodies of lizards and snake scalation. Regrettably, the author did not include a diagram depicting the body
characters of a typical frog, potentially confusing some readers.
Chapter 3 covers toads and frogs. Of note, Duttaphrynus melanosticusis only found in northern Pakistan (especially in the hilly region), and not in
the plains of Punjab and Sind Province. This is an interesting observation given that this species is present in
the adjoining border areas of India, especially in the states of Gujarat and
Rajasthan (GEER 2009). The
distribution of Microhyla ornatain Pakistan is interesting, as it also occurs only in northern Punjab. The author notes that ‘Sarkar (1984) has found them at Bhuj,
Gujarat, India, very close to the southern Sind Province’. Uperodon systomais a very rare species in Pakistan, and is only recorded from Shakarparian Hills, Islamabad (Baig& Gvozdic 1998). M. ornata is
recorded from two border districts of Gujarat; Katchchh(Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Wildlife
Sanctuary and Kachchh Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary:
Daniel 1963; Vyas 2002, 2007, 2008) and Banaskantha (Jassore Wildlife
Sanctuary: GEER 2009). These
protected areas are close (0 –160 km) to Pakistan border areas with
similar biogeography and habitats. U. systoma has been
recorded at Ajmer, Rajasthan (Sharma & Sharma 2009) and Banaskantha,
Gujarat (GEER 2009). Thus, it
remains possible that both the Microhylidae species
may occur on/along the border of Pakistan, especially in Sind Province. The record of a single species of Fejervaryafrom MHNP is F. limnocharis, is a species complex. Recently a number of new cryptic
species has been described from the complex from South East Asia. Therefore a statement should have been
rephrased as “a number of cryptic species containing the F. limnocharisspecies complex”. While only two
species of Fejervarya (F. limnocharis and F. syhadrensis) are reported to inhabit
Pakistan, there may be others present that could be detected by molecular
studies.
Chapter 4 covers turtles and tortoises. Three species of turtles are found in
MHNP of the eight species of freshwater turtles recorded from all of
Pakistan. Chapter 5 covers the
lizard fauna, discussing a total of 13 species six families: Agamaidae (three species), Euplepharidae(one species), Geckkonidae (three species), Lacertidae (two species), Scincidae(three species) and Varanidae (one species). Lizards are the second most dominant
group in area, after snakes. In
the distribution note on Eublepharis macularius, the author quotes the
species distribution up to ‘… Rajputana and Khandesh districts of India’. There are no such districts in independent
India. The Rajputana and Khandeshprovinces are the old monarch states named before
India gained freedom; Rajputana now is a part of
Rajasthan and Khandesh is now a part of
Maharashtra. Das (1997) elevated
the subspecies (E. m. fascus) to species rank as E. fascus. The
population from Gujarat (Bhatt et al. 1999) and Maharashtra is considered as E. fascusspecies (Mirza & Upadhye2010). The E. maculariuspopulation is restricted to Pakistan and north-westIndia (Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu), Das (1997) speculated that the Rann of Kachchh could be a
barrier separating E. macularius and E. fuscus.
The snakes of MHNP are presented in Chapter 6, covering
17 species from five families, dominated by the Colubridaewith nine species. The rare record
of Dendrelaphis tristisfrom MHNP is accompanied with the author’s quote in ‘Remarks’ that ‘The
Zoological Survey of India has also not found it in the states of Gujarat or
Rajasthan, both bordering states of Sind’, which comes out as a big surprise
from the author in the book. This
is vague statement from the author is a result of lack of referral of any
literature for this particular species. There are half a dozen publications on the record of the species, which
show that the species is widely distributed in Gujarat (Gayen1999; Vyas 1998, 2000, 2006; Sharma 2000) and
Rajasthan (see: Whitaker & Captain 2004).
Over all distribution and habitat preferences of species
inhabiting the park is discussed in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 discusses various threats and suggestions for herpetofauna conservation in general, and particularly
within the park. The book also
contains an excellent glossary covering technical terminology and a
comprehensive bibliography.
The book concludes with an updated list of 210 species of
amphibians (21 species) and reptiles (179 species) in Pakistan with common
English names (author should have mentioned the local vernacular name along
with province distribution of each species). The author has not clarified why some amphibians and
reptiles have been omitted (see Table 1) that were listed in the earlier works
of Minton (1966) and Khan (2004; 2006). Such information would be beneficial to readers and subsequent studies.
Khan (2006) provided a list of 23 species (three
amphibians and 20 reptiles) as unconfirmed amphibians and reptiles from
Pakistan in literature, of which three species are snakes; Dendrelaphis tristis, Coelognathus helana and Natrix tessellata are now incorporated in the
present list by the author and therefore, it states a valid and confirmed
record.
There are very minor and negligible spelling mistakes
(see on page 148: B. aeruleus) and some technical taxonomic
errors where the author is not aware of or has not accepted recent taxonomic
changes. The author should refer
the taxonomic position of Pythonmolurus with family Boidae. In the
present taxonomic chart of P.molurus, the species has been
removed from the family Boidae and now all old world
pythons from subfamily (Pythoninae) are elevated to a
family known as Pythonidae. The Old World pythons are now considered distinct from Boidae and are widely recognized as a separate family
(Vidal & Hedges 2004).
Overall, this book is handy in size and easy to carry
during field work. It is a worthwhile read for students and experts alike, and
the best available reference on the herpetofauna of
Pakistan in general and certainly of the herpetofaunaof Margalla Hills National Park.
References
Baig,
K.L. & L. Gvozdic (1998). Uperodon systoma: Record of a new microhylid frog from Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology30(2): 155–156.
Bhatt, K.,
R. Vyas & M. Singh (1999). Herpetofauna of Gir protected area. Zoos’ Print Journal 14(5): 27–30.
Daniel, J.C.
(1963). Field guide to the amphibians of western India. Part II. Journal of the Bombay
Natural History Society 60(3): 690–702.
Das, I. (1997). Resolution of the systematic status ofEublepharis macularius fuscus Borner, 1981 (Eublepharidae: Sauria: Squamata), Hamadryad22: 13–20.
Frost, D.R. (2011). Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.5 (31 January, 2011). Electronic
Database accessible at http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology /amphibia/. Accesses on 23rd May
2012
Gayen, N.C. (1999). A synopsis of the reptiles of Gujarat,
western India. Hamadryad 24(1): 1–22.
GEER (2009). The status of Biodiversity of Jessore Wildlife Sanctuary (A comprehensive ecological and
socio-Economic study). Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, Gandhinagar and Forest Department, Government of Gujarat,
March 2009, 167pp. (Published Report).
Khan, M.S. (2004). Annotated checklist of amphibians and
reptiles of Pakistan. Asiatic Herpetological Research 10:
191–121.
Khan, M.S. (2006). Amphibian and Reptiles of Pakistan. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida, 311pp.
Minton, S.A.
(1966). A contributions to the herpetology of West Pakistan, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural
History 134: 27–184.
Mirza,
Z. & R. Upadhye (2010). On the distribution and natural history of the endemic Eublepharid Gecko Eublepharis fuscus Borner, 1981 in India. SAURIA, Berlin 32(3):
15–23.
Murray, J.A.
(1884). The vertebrate zoology of Sind: A
Systematic Account, with Descriptionof all the known
Mammals, Birds and Reptiles inhabiting the Province; Observation on the habit,
and a Table of their Geographical Distribution in Persia, Beloochstan,
and Afghanistan; Punjab, North-west Province, and Peninsula of India generally. Education Society’s Press, Byculla,
Bombay, and Richardson and Co., London, 424pp.
Murray, J.A.
(1886). The Reptiles of Sind: A systematic
account with description of all the species inhabiting the Province and a Table
of their Geographical Distribution in Persia, Beloochstan,
and Afghanistan; Punjab, North-west Province, and Peninsula of India generally,
with woodcut, lithographs, and colored illustrations. Education Society’s Press, Byculla,
Bombay, and Richardson and Co., London, 92pp.
Sarkar, A.K. (1984). Ecological studies on the amphibians
of Gujarat. Bulletin
of the Zoological Society of India 6(1–3): 87–93.
Sharma, K.K. & V. Sharma (2009). Records of two Microhylids:
Ornate Narrow Mouthed Frog (Microhyla ornata) and Marbled Balloon Frog (Uperodon systoma)
from Ajmer district, central Rajasthan, India. Cobra 3(3): 11–15.
Sharma, R.C.
(2000). Reptilia, 243–297. In: State Fauna Series 8: Fauna of Gujarat, Part - I.Zoological Survey of India.
Smith, M.A. (1935). The
Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and amphibia. Vol. II: Sauria.Taylor and Francis Ltd. London, 440pp.
Vidal, N. & S.B. Hedges (2004). Molecular evidence for a terrestrial
origin of snakes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B Supplement271, S226–S229.
Vyas, R. (1998). The reptiles of Gujarat State: Updated distribution. TigerPaper 25(1):
8–14.
Vyas, R. (2000). Herpetofauna of Hingolgadh Nature Education
Sanctuary, Gujarat. Zoos’ Print Journal 15(6): 285–286.
Vyas, R. (2002). Preliminary survey of herpetofaunaof Narayan SarovarSanctuary, Gujarat. Zoos’ Print Journal 17(6): 812– 814.
Vyas, R. (2006). Reptilian diversity of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat. Tigerpaper33(1): 20–23
Vyas, R. (2007). Present conservation scenario of reptile fauna in
Gujarat State, India. The Indian Forester 133(10): 1381–1394.
Vyas, R. (2008). Review of the current diversity and
richness of amphibians of Gujarat, India. The Indian Forester134(10): 1381–1392.
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain (2004). Snakes
of India: The Field Guide. Draco Books, Chennai, India,
xiv+481pp.