Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 October 2025 | 17(10): 27594–27610
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9902.17.10.27594-27610
#9902 | Received 05 May 2025 | Final received 26 August 2025 | Finally
accepted 08 September 2025
Amphibians and reptiles of
Chitwan National Park, Nepal: an updated checklist and conservation issues
Santosh Bhattarai 1, Bivek Gautam 2, Chiranjibi
Prasad Pokheral 3 & Ram Chandra Kandel
4
1,3 National Trust for Nature
Conservation, Khumaltar Lalitpur, P.O. Box 3712,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
1 Nepal Conservation and Research
Center, Ratnanagar 06, Sauraha,
Chitwan 44204, Nepal.
2 Biodiversity Research and
Conservation Society, Tarakeshwar-11, Kathmandu, Nepal.
4 Department of National Parks and
Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, P.O Box 860,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
1 santosh.bhattarai@hotmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 bivek.gautam2@gmail.com, 3 chiranpokharel@yahoo.com,
4 rckandel006@gmail.com
Editor: S.R. Ganesh, Kalinga
Foundation, Agumbe, India. Date of publication: 26 October 2025 (online & print)
Citation:
Bhattarai, S., B. Gautam, C.P. Pokheral & R.C.
Kandel (2025). Amphibians and reptiles of Chitwan National Park, Nepal: an
updated checklist and conservation issues. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(10): 27594–27610. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9902.17.10.27594-27610
Copyright: © Bhattarai et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, USA.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Santosh
Bhattarai—conservation biologist at Nepal Conservation and Research
Center, specializing in systematics, ecology, and conservation of reptiles and
amphibians. Bivek Gautam—amphibian biologist and member
of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. Dr.
Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral—conservation
director at the National Trust for Nature Conservation, responsible for
designing and implementing conservation projects in Nepal. Dr. Ram Chandra Kandel—director general
of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, overseeing
protected area management and the implementation of conservation initiatives
nationwide.
Author contributions: SB and BG conducted field
surveys. SB generated funds, prepared manuscript, and submitted. BG, CPP and
RCK reviewed the draft. CPP and RCK acquired necessary permissions for field
surveys.
Acknowledgments: We acknowledge the support received from Chitwan National Park and National Trust for Nature Conservation. We thank wildlife technicians Dip Prasad Chaudhary, Tika Ram Tharu, Om Prakash Chaudhary, Binod Darai, Ramesh Darai, Tirtha Lama, Kapil Pokharel, Harkaman Lama, Suresh Shahi and Lal Bahadur Mahatara from Biodiversity Conservation Center, Sauraha for their support during the field work. We also thank NTNC-BCC team for logistics support. We would like to thank Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, USA to support herpetofauna research and conservation in Nepal.
Abstract: An updated checklist of
amphibians and reptiles of Chitwan National Park and its buffer zone is
presented, which is essential for conservation management decision-making as
the area is experiencing frequent stochastic events in recent years. A total of
89 species is listed from Chitwan National Park including—20 frogs & toads,
42 snakes, 14 lizards, 11 turtles, and two crocodile species. The confirmed
record of Dudhwa Reed Frog Chirixalus
dudhwaensis in Nepal is provided, and the
occurrence of Eastern Bronze-back Tree Snake Dendrelaphis
proarchos from Chitwan National Park,
representing its westernmost known distribution in Nepal. In addition the
presence of Hylarana tytleri
and Sitana sivalensis
is confirmed from Chitwan National Park. These findings contribute to filling
critical knowledge gaps in species richness and offer updated insights into the
taxonomy, natural history, and conservation status of herpetofauna in the park.
Recent IUCN Red List mentions the geographic range of the Torrent Paha Frog Nanorana ercepeae from
Chitwan National Park; based on the absence of verified records, we exclude it
from updated checklist. We also suggest integrative taxonomic and ecological
studies to uncover hidden diversity, and to inform evidence-based conservation
strategies for amphibians and reptiles in Nepal.
Keywords: Chirixalus
dudhwaensis, Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape,
conservation, Dendrelaphis proarchos, diversity, herpetofauna, Hylarana
tytleri, Nanorana
ercepeae, new records, Sitana
sivalensis, Terai-Arc
Landscape.
Introduction
Nepal’s protected area network
was designed and established to safeguard the country’s rich biodiversity,
encompassing species, ecosystems, habitats, and genetic resources (MPFS 1988).
At present, Nepal comprises 20 protected areas, including 12 national parks,
six conservation areas, one wildlife reserve, and one hunting reserve (DNPWC
2025). The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) is
the central authority responsible for the management and conservation of
wildlife and their habitats within these areas. An essential prerequisite for
effective wildlife conservation and management is that park managers possess a
comprehensive understanding of the existing faunal diversity within their
jurisdictional areas. Such knowledge is critical to identify species and
populations that are in urgent need of targeted conservation interventions.
Biodiversity documentation and periodic inventories, supported by validated
scientific information, are foundational to evidence-based conservation
planning (Boone et al. 2005). Conversely, gaps in biodiversity knowledge can
hinder progress toward national and international biodiversity targets (Girardello et al. 2018).
In Nepal, wildlife conservation
efforts have predominantly focused on large charismatic megafauna such as the
Royal Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris, Greater One-horned Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis,
Asian Elephant Elephas maximus in the lowlands, and Snow Leopard Panthera uncia in
the high Himalaya (Bhattarai et al. 2017a; Gautam et al. 2022). The increase in
the population sizes of these species is often cited as indicators of
conservation success (Rawat et al. 2020). Non-charismatic taxa, particularly
herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles), remain comparatively understudied, and
largely neglected in conservation priorities (Bhattarai et al. 2017a, 2020;
Gautam et al. 2020). Despite this general oversight, some targeted conservation
actions have been implemented for select herpetofauna species. For instance,
the conservation of the Gharial Gavialis gangeticus involves both in situ, and ex situ
strategies, and its population status is relatively well documented (Acharya et
al. 2017; Bhattarai et al. 2018; Poudyal et al. 2018;
Yadav et al. 2022).
The present study aims to update
the checklist of amphibians and reptiles of Chitwan National Park (CNP) and its
buffer zone, thereby contributing to the broader understanding of the herpetofauna
diversity in the park. The foundational work on the herpetofauna of CNP was
conducted by Zug & Mitchell (1995), who reported 55 species. Earlier
records, such as those by Fleming & Fleming (1973), and Kramer (1977), also
documented snake species in Chitwan. Subsequent field guides and inventories (Schleich & Kästle 2002; Shah
& Tiwari 2004; Kästle et al. 2013) enriched the
knowledge base by including species with known distributions in the park.
More recently, efforts have been
made to compile species-specific and locality-based lists, particularly of
snakes (Pandey 2012), including the first record of the Siamese Cat Snake Boiga siamensis in
Nepal (Pandey et al. 2018). Additionally, Psammodynastes
pulverulentus was recently recorded for the first
time in CNP (Bhattarai et al. 2017b). Many herpetological surveys have been
locality or taxonomically restricted. For example, Lamsal
(2014) conducted surveys exclusively in the Madi
Valley of Chitwan, while Bhattarai et al. (2017a) focused on the Beeshazar and associated lakes complex – a Ramsar site of international importance. Other notable
contributions include the descriptions of Rana chitwanensis
(now treated as Hylarana chitwanensis)
and Sphaerotheca maskeyi
from the CNP (Das 1998; Schleich & Anders 1998),
life history observations of turtles (Mitchell & Rhodin
1996), studies on turtle distribution (Khadka & Lamichhane
2020), studies on population and determinants of crocodile distribution and
their socioeconomics (Nishan et al. 2023; Pathak et al. 2023) and post release
growth of gharial (Khadka et al. 2022).
Importantly, herpetofauna
taxonomy and nomenclature have undergone significant revisions in recent years.
These changes, have yet to be incorporated into key conservation and management
documents, including the official management plan of the Chitwan National Park
(see CNP 2018). To address this gap, the present study provides an updated,
taxonomically revised checklist of amphibians & reptiles of the CNP, and
its buffer zone. The aim is to deliver up-to-date species list to support
evidence-based management decisions and to highlight emerging conservation
priorities.
Material
and Methods
Study area
Chitwan National Park is the
oldest national park of Nepal (Established in 1973, area 952.63 km2,
buffer zone 730 km2) and designated as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site
in 1984 (under the criteria vii, ix, & x) for its exceptional natural
beauty, supporting outstanding natural & biological systems, and processes,
and for providing natural habitats for endangered fauna & flora (Image 1).
The park comprises a mosaic of physiographic regions, including the Himalayan
foothills, floodplains, Dun valleys, and the Siwalik (Chure)
hills, with elevations ranging 100–900 m. The vegetation is primarily dominated
by Sal Shorea robusta
forests (DNPWC 2020), interspersed with 425 grassland patches that cover about
6.24% of the park’s area (CNP 2016). Additionally, 58 small and large natural
wetlands within the park serve as critical habitats for numerous aquatic and
semi-aquatic species, including a wide range of herpetofauna (CNP 2018). The
landscape of the CNP has been shaped by three river systems: the Narayani, Rapti, and Reu rivers.
Among these, the Narayani River—also known as the
Gandaki and Trishuli Rivers upstream and as Gandak downstream in India—is of Himalayan origin, carrying
a significant volume of meltwater from the Himalayas and serving as a perennial
watercourse with substantial influence on the park’s hydrology, and sediment
dynamics (Dahal et al. 2015). In contrast, the Rapti and Reu rivers originate from the Siwalik, and
mid-hill regions to the east, and south of the park, respectively. These rivers
are primarily rain-fed and exhibit strong seasonal fluctuations in discharge,
particularly during the monsoon period (Gurung & Thapa 2016). Collectively,
these river systems support a mosaic of aquatic and riparian habitats that are critical
for the park’s biodiversity, including the ‘Critically Endangered’ Gharial Gavialis gangeticus
(Bhuju et al. 2007; Poudyal
et al. 2018; Yadav et al. 2022).
In 2003, the Beeshazar
and associated lakes, located within the buffer zone of the CNP, were designated
as a Ramsar Site—a wetland of international
importance—further emphasizing the conservation value of the CNP’s aquatic
habitats.
Methods
The data presented in this study
are derived from a combination of field observations, rescue call records, and
existing literature. Diurnal and nocturnal visual encounter surveys (VES) were
conducted following Heyer et al. (1994) during
multiple field visits across various habitats within both the core and buffer
zones of CNP (Image 2). Surveys were conducted during the following periods:
02–08 August 2018, 17–30 July 2019, 8–15 August 2019, 3–14 September 2019, 2–5
February 2020, 16–24 June 2020, 14–29 July 2020, 10–21 August 2020, 5–15 June
2021, 19–25 July 2021, 11–19 August 2021, and 15–25 July 2023.
Survey teams consisted of three
to four observers, who systematically searched all potential microhabitats that
likely support amphibians and reptiles. This included active searches involving
the turning of logs & stones, inspecting under leaf litter, peeling bark from
fallen dead trees, and examining vegetation near water bodies, and forest
edges. Diurnal surveys were conducted at 0900–1700 h, while nocturnal surveys
were conducted at 1900–2300 h. In addition to systematic surveys, opportunistic
data were also collected from rescue calls, mainly involving snakes, and
crocodiles, received from local communities in the buffer zone. These
opportunistic records contributed to the overall species richness data.
All individuals observed during
surveys and rescue calls were identified to species level based on
morphological characteristics, and photographic documentation, using standard
field guides, and taxonomic literature (Smith 1935; Schleich
& Kästle 2002; Shah & Tiwari 2004; Whitaker
& Captain 2004; Lajmi et al. 2016; Das & Das
2017; David & Vogel 2021; Garg & Biju 2021; Gowande
et al. 2021; Khatiwada et al. 2021; Vogel et al.
2022; Köhler et al. 2023). For taxonomic nomenclature, Frost (2025) for
amphibians, and Uetz et al. (2025) for reptiles was
followed.
Results
Species richness
The herpetofauna of CNP comprises
89 species, including 20 species of amphibians representing 14 genera, and five
families; two species of crocodilians from two genera and two families; 11
species of turtles in seven genera and three families; 14 species of lizards
across eight genera and four families; and 42 species of snakes representing 30
genera and 10 families (Table 1; Images 7–11). The Dhudhwa
Reed Frog Chirixalus dudhwaensis
Ray, 1992, is reported as a new species record for Nepal. Additionally,
confirmed locality records of the Eastern Bronze-back Tree Snake Dendrelaphis proarchos
(Wall, 1909), representing CNP as the westernmost known distribution of the
species in Nepal is provided.
Among the 20 amphibian species
recorded, three are classified as Vulnerable, 15 as Least Concern, one as Data
Deficient, and one remains Not Evaluated, based on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Similarly, among the 69 recorded reptile species, three
species are classified as Critically Endangered, five species as Endangered,
six species as Vulnerable, and four species as Near Threatened according to the
IUCN Red List. Additionally, six species have not yet been evaluated, while the
remaining 45 species are currently listed as Least Concern. These assessments
reflect the varying conservation needs of amphibians and reptiles in the park,
and underscore the importance of targeted conservation actions, especially for
species at risk.
New records from Chitwan National
Park, Nepal
Dhudhwa Reed Frog Chirixalus
dudhwaensis Ray, 1992 is reported as a confirmed
new country record for Nepal based on observation from CNP (Image 3). This
record is located approximately 365 km east (air distance) from its type
locality in Dudhwa National Park in India. The
individual was observed calling in sympatry with Uperodon
globulosus, Uperodon
taprobanicus, and Microhyla
nilphamarensis after a heavy rainfall. Later, we also recorded this frog from Dhangadhi, Kailali in Sudoorpaschim Province.
The occurrence of Eastern
Bronze-back Tree Snake Dendrelaphis proarchos (Wall, 1909) from Chitwan National Park is
documented, representing the westernmost known distribution of the species in
Nepal (Image 4). The D. proarchos were
frequently observed in the Sauraha and Amaltari of the park. The record from CNP is approximately
900 km west of its type locality in Assam, India. D. proarchos
was also observed from eastern Nepal, from Dharan forest, Miklajung,
and Pathari, Morang in Koshi
Province. Furthermore, Hylarana tytleri in Bandevi buffer
zone community forest was also observed, which is a part of Barandabhar
corridor forest (Image 5), and the Siwalik Fan-throated Lizard Sitana sivalensis
from Triveni area of the park connected with Valmiki Tiger Reserve in India
(Image 6).
Discussion
The present study provides an
update in the understanding of amphibian and reptile diversity in the CNP and
its buffer zone. The documentation of 89 species underscores the park and
buffer zone as a critical stronghold for amphibians and reptiles. This update
represents a significant increase from earlier works, notably the 55 species of
herpetofauna reported by Zug & Mitchell (1995), and 32 species of snakes
reported by Pandey et al. (2018), and highlights the need for continuous, and
systematic biodiversity assessments. The documentation of the Dudhwa Reed Frog Chirixalus
dudhwaensis from the CNP as a new country record
for Nepal indicates that suitable habitats for this species may be more
continuous across the lowland Terai. Similarly, the
observations of Eastern Bronze-back Tree Snake Dendrelaphis
proarchos in the park’s Sauraha
and Amaltari extends the known distribution of this
species by nearly 900 km westward from its type locality in Assam, India.
Although the occurrence of D. proarchos in
Nepal was previously mentioned by Das & Das (2017), it lacked specific
locality data; therefore, the observations from Chitwan National Park and from
eastern Nepal provide the confirmed locality records for the species within the
country. Likewise, the observation of Hylarana
tytleri and Sitana
sivalensis in CNP underpins the need for
fine-scale herpetofauna surveys in the region. Hylarana
tytleri, previously reported primarily from
eastern Nepal (Schleich & Kästle
2002; Shah & Tiwari 2004) and with a single record from the Ghodaghodi Lake Complex in far-western Nepal (Shah &
Tiwari 2004), warrants further confirmation to validate its occurrence in the
far-western region.
The record of Sitana
sivalensis from the Triveni area of the CNP is
ca. 105 km east (air distance) from its type locality, Shivapur,
Kapilbastu, Nepal, emphasizing the need for further
targeted surveys along the Siwalik foothills. Given that the Triveni area is
contiguous with the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar, India, species likely to be
S. sivalensis from Valmiki Tiger Reserve was
also observed during the transboundary rhino rescue.
Recently, Mirza et al. (2024)
described a new species of a vine snake, Ahaetulla
longirostris, from adjoining Valmiki Tiger
Reserve. Accordingly, Ahaetulla cf. nasuta can be recognized from Chitwan National Park as A.
longirostris, since the true A. nasuta is now considered restricted to Sri Lanka
(Mallik et al. 2020). Similarly, Gowande et al.
(2021) reassessed the taxonomy of the Calotes
versicolor complex in southern Asia and assigned the populations from the
Gangetic plains to Calotes vultuosus (Harlan, 1825), based on a combination of
morphological characters, including a smaller to medium body size, and a dorsal
crest composed of relatively smaller scales that gradually decrease in size
towards the tail compared to C. versicolor. The observations of Calotes from CNP agree with the diagnostic
characters of C. vultuosus. Therefore, the
Chitwan population is considered to represent C. vultuosus.
Likewise, the Banded Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis is treated as O. russelius,
as suggested by Bandara et al. (2022), for Eutropis macularia
as E. trivittata (Amarsinghe
et al. 2022), Rabdophis subminiatus
as R. helleri (David & Vogel 2021),Hemidactylus brookii
as H. kushmorensis (Lajmi
et al. 2016) and Boiga ochracea
as B. stoliczkae (Köhler et al. 2023). A
detailed specimen-based study is recommended, incorporating both morphological
and molecular approaches, to confirm the taxonomic status of above-mentioned
species in Nepal.
Malhotra et al. (2025) recently
downgraded Trimeresurus salazar
to a subspecies of Trimeresurus septentrionalis, noting that whole genome analyses are
currently underway. The field observations of Trimeresurus
populations from CNP and other lowland regions of Nepal, differ from T. septentrionalis specimens collected from its type
locality in Pokhara, situated in the mid-mountain region of Nepal, and are more
consistent with the description provided by Vogel et al. (2022). Accordingly,
the Chitwan population is treated as T. salazar
(Mirza et al. 2020). Furthermore, earlier literature reports a GenBank
accession number (AF171909) for a specimen collected from Mahottari
District in Madhesh Province located in the lowland Terai region of Nepal (Malhotra & Thorpe 2004),
mentioned as Trimerusurus albolabris. To resolve these uncertainties, a
comprehensive sampling of Trimerusurus from
lowland, mountains, and valleys are needed for a detailed comparative study to
clarify taxonomic status, and evolutionary relationship within Trimeresurus sepentrionalis
complex.
Two frog species, namely, Sphaerotheca maskeyi
(Schleich & Anders, 1998) and Rana chitwanensis (now Hylarana
chitwanensis) (Das, 1998), were described from
CNP, while Narayanghat Whipping Frog Polypedates zed (Dubois, 1987) was described
from Narayanghat, Chitwan; hardly 5 km away from the
CNP, and Barandabhar (Bhattarai et al. 2017a). The
known distributions of H. chitwanensis and Polypedates zed remain restricted to their
respective type localities at Kasara, CNP, and Narayanghat,
respectively. Hylarana chitwanensis
was recorded from the Temple Tiger area and the Bagai
area of the CNP, and observed calling males from Bagai
during the monsoon season. These observations provide additional locality
records for Hylarana chitwanensis,
a species that has been poorly documented since its description. No Polypedates zed were detected during the
survey, although P. maculatus was observed from the area. Given the
significant urban expansion of Narayanghat into a
metropolitan area, it is imperative to conduct targeted surveys combining
fieldwork, and molecular methods, including comparison with the holotype, and
related congeners, to ascertain the continued presence of P. zed in the
wild. As for the dicroglossid frog Minervarya syhadrensis
(Annandale, 1919), current scholarship suggests that it may be restricted to
the hills of Peninsular India, especially the Western Ghats (Phuge et al. 2020). Some publications (Khatiwada
et al. 2021) report M. syhadrensis also from
Nepal, which may require additional re-confirmation. Hence, the sightings are
conservatively represented from Nepal as M. cf. syhadrensis,
requiring additional confirmation of their species identity.
Conservation concerns
This article highlights the
erroneous inclusion of Torrent Paha Frog Nanorana
ercepeae in the CNP and Shuklaphanta
National Park in the recent IUCN Red List assessment. Nanorana
ercepeae was originally described from Bajhang in far-western Nepal. The species is known to
inhabit temperate forests associated with montane streams in the proximity of
coniferous forests; occurring at elevations of 1700–2700 m (Schleich
& Kästle 2002; Shah & Tiwari 2004; Alley et
al. 2013). In contrast, CNP is characterized by sub-tropical forests with a
known elevation of approximately 100–900 m (DNPWC 2020), which likely represent
unsuitable habitats for Nanorana ercepeae. Furthermore, no verified records for the
species exist within the park. This correction is crucial, as inaccurate
species lists can mislead conservation priorities, and management
interventions.
Many reptile species such as
Yellow Tortoise Indutestudo elongata, Three Striped-roofed Turtle Batagur dhongoka
face critical endangerment similar to the gharial Gavialis
gangeticus. These species, unlike the Gharial,
receive no conservation attention in Nepal. This neglect is particularly
concerning for Batagur dhongoka;
for which further verification is needed to confirm its occurrence in Nepal.
Likewise, earlier literature reports the occurrence of Red-crowned Roofed
Turtle Batagur kachuga
from Nepal (Schleich & Kästle
2002; Shah & Tiwari 2004; Aryal et al. 2010). The
known population of Batagur dhongoka and B. kachuga
is not known from Nepal (Das et al. 2019; Praschag et
al. 2019) and the distribution of B. kachuga
in Nepal is erroneous, and unlikely to occur as its
known distribution is only from Chambal River system in India, and Ganga River
is the northern-most distribution limit (S. Singh pers. comm.). Similarly,
‘Endangered’ species such as Chitra indica; Nilssonia gangetica,
N. hurum, and Varanus
flavscens also require urgent conservation
attention due to continuing threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and
illegal exploitation similar to those impacting Gharials (Poudyal
et al. 2018; Yadav et al. 2022).
Conservation implications
The tigers and rhinos are the
nucleus of conservation interventions in the CNP. All the conservation
activities such as grassland management through cutting, slash & burn
practices, and wetland restoration are primarily designed, and implemented to support
these species. Additionally, community engagement activities such as outreach
sessions, and involvement of community-based anti-poaching units, focus mainly
on these priority taxa. These units receive frequent specialized training in
species-specific conservation practices, particularly for tigers and rhinos.
The ‘Critically Endangered’
Gharial has attracted targeted conservation efforts such as population
monitoring, nest monitoring, protection, and nest relocation have been
implemented to safeguard the Gharial population in the rivers of the CNP and at
Gharial Conservation and Breeding Center (GCBC), located at the headquarters of
the CNP at Kasara (Poudyal et al 2018; Khadka et al.
2022a). The GCBC is well managed, with hundreds of Gharials reared annually,
and released into the wild through a head-start program. In contrast,
management efforts at the Turtle Breeding Center (TBC) remain limited, with
only a few documented initiatives, such as the successful nest relocation of Chitra
indica (Khadka et al. 2022b). Despite these
initiatives, the aquatic habitats of the CNP remain under significant
anthropogenic pressure. Both legal and illegal activities, including the
distribution of fishing licenses to selected river-dependent communities, and
the widespread illegal use of gill nets threaten the Gharial’s survival.
Entanglement in fishing nets is among the greatest direct threats, often
resulting in injury or mortality. Given these challenges, it is imperative that
conservation efforts in the CNP adopt more inclusive activities that address
the shared threats faced by amphibians and reptiles, beyond the priority taxa.
The updated checklist in this
study offers a baseline for future herpetological research and conservation
planning in the CNP. The findings highlight the herpetofauna richness of the
CNP and its buffer zone. Given the increasing frequency of stochastic events
such as floods, wildfires, and anthropogenic pressures, maintaining updated
information, and implementing adaptive management strategies are essential to
ensure the long-term persistence of herpetofauna communities in the park.
Therefore, it is recommended to use integrative taxonomic approaches, combining
molecular, morphological, and ecological data to resolve cryptic diversity for
effective conservation actions.
Table 1. Checklist
of amphibians and reptiles of
Chitwan National Park,
Nepal with their current IUCN Red List status.
|
|
Species name |
Common name |
Red List status |
|
AMPHIBIANS |
|||
|
Family: Bufonidae Gray, 1825 |
|||
|
1 |
Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) |
Common Asian Toad |
LC |
|
2 |
Firouzophrynus stomaticus (Lütken, 1864) |
Marbled Toad |
LC |
|
Family: Microhylidae Günther, 1858
(1843) |
|||
|
3 |
Microhyla nilphamariensis Howlader, Nair, Gopalan,
& Merilä, 2015 |
Nilphamari Narrow-mouth Frog |
LC |
|
4 |
Uperodon globulosus (Günther, 1864) |
Globular Balloon Frog |
LC |
|
5 |
Uperodon taprobanicus (Parker, 1934) |
Painted Frog |
LC |
|
Family: Dicroglossidae Anderson, 1871 |
|||
|
6 |
Euphlyctis adolfi (Gunther, 1860) |
Skittering Frog |
LC |
|
7 |
Fejervarya orissaensis (Dutta, 1997) |
Odisha Cricket Frog |
LC |
|
8 |
Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1802) |
Indian Bull Frog |
LC |
|
9 |
Minervarya chilapata Ohler, Deuti, Grosjean, Paul, Ayyaswamy, Ahmed, & Dutta, 2009 |
Chilapata Rainpool Frog |
VU |
|
10 |
Minervarya nepalensis (Dubois, 1975) |
Nepal Cricket Frog |
LC |
|
11 |
Minervarya pierrei (Dubois, 1975) |
Pierre's Cricket Frog |
LC |
|
12 |
Minervarya cf. syhadrensis (Annandale, 1919) |
Syhadra Cricket Frog |
LC |
|
13 |
Minervarya teraiensis (Dubois, 1984) |
Terai Cricket Frog |
LC |
|
14 |
Sphaerotheca maskeyi (Schleich & Anders,
1998) |
Maskey's Burrowing Frog |
LC |
|
Family: Ranidae Batsch, 1796 |
|||
|
15 |
Amolops mahabharatensis Khatiwada, Shu, Wang, Zhao, Xie, & Jiang, 2020 |
Mahabharat Cascade Frog |
VU |
|
16 |
Hylarana chitwanensis (Das, 1998) |
Chitwan Frog |
DD |
|
17 |
Hylarana tytleri Theobald, 1868 |
Yellow-striped Frog |
LC |
|
Family: Rhacophoridae Hoffman, 1932
(1858) |
|||
|
18 |
Chirixalus dudhwaensis Ray, 1992 |
Dudhwa Reed Frog |
VU |
|
19 |
Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1830) |
Common Tree Frog |
LC |
|
20 |
Polypedates taeniatus (Boulenger, 1906) |
Six-lined Bush Frog |
LC |
|
REPTILES |
|||
|
Family: Crocodylidae Cuvier, 1807 |
|||
|
21 |
Crocodylus palustris (Lesson, 1831) |
Mugger Crocodile |
VU |
|
Family: Gavialidae Adams 1854 |
|||
|
22 |
Gavialis gangeticus (Gmelin, 1789) |
Gharial |
CR |
|
Family: Geoemydidae Theobald 1868 |
|||
|
23 |
Batagur dhongoka (Gray, 1834) |
Three-striped Roofed Turtle |
CR |
|
24 |
Melanochelys tricarinata (Blyth, 1856) |
Tricarinate Hill Turtle |
EN |
|
25 |
Melanochelys trijuga (Schweigger, 1812) |
Black Pond Turtle |
LC |
|
26 |
Pangshura smithii (Gray, 1863) |
Brown Roofed Turtle |
NT |
|
27 |
Pangshura tecta (Gray, 1830) |
Indian Roofed Turtle |
VU |
|
28 |
Pangshura tentoria (Gray, 1834) |
Indian Tent Turtle |
LC |
|
Family: Testudinidae Batsch, 1788 |
|||
|
29 |
Indotestudo elongata (Blyth, 1854) |
Elongated tortoise |
CR |
|
Family: Trionychidae Gray, 1835 |
|||
|
30 |
Chitra indica
(Gray 1831) |
Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle |
EN |
|
31 |
Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre, 1789) |
Indian Flapshell
Turtle |
VU |
|
32 |
Nilssonia gangetica (Cuvier, 1825) |
Gangetic Softshell Turtle |
EN |
|
33 |
Nilssonia hurum (Gray, 1830) |
Peacock Softshell Turtle |
EN |
|
Family: Agamidae Gray, 1827 |
|||
|
34 |
Calotes vultuosus (Harlan, 1825) |
Changeable Lizard |
LC |
|
35 |
Sitana sivalensis Schleich, Kästle, & Shah, 1998 |
Sivalik Fan-throated
Lizard |
LC |
|
Family: Gekkonidae Gray, 1825 |
|||
|
36 |
Hemidactylus cf. kushmorensis Murray, 1884 |
Kushmore House
Gecko |
|
|
37 |
Hemidactylus flaviviridis Rüppell, 1835 |
Yellow-bellied House Gecko |
LC |
|
38 |
Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836 |
Common House Gecko |
LC |
|
39 |
Hemidactylus garnotii Duméril & Bibron, 1836 |
Fox Gecko |
LC |
|
Family: Scincidae Gray, 1825 |
|||
|
40 |
Ablepharus sikimmensis (Blyth, 1854) |
Sikkim Ground Skink |
LC |
|
41 |
Eutropis carinata (Schneider, 1801) |
Common Ground Skink |
LC |
|
42 |
Eutropis macularia (Blyth, 1853) |
Bronze Ground Skink |
LC |
|
43 |
Eutropis trivittata (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) |
Striped Ground skink |
LC |
|
44 |
Riopa albopunctata Gray, 1846 |
White-spotted Supple Skink |
LC |
|
45 |
Sphenomorphus maculatus (Blyth, 1853) |
Spotted Forest Skink |
LC |
|
Family: Varanidae Merrem, 1820 |
|||
|
46 |
Varanus bengalensis (Daudin, 1802) |
Bengal Monitor |
NT |
|
47 |
Varanus flavescens (Hardwicke & Gray, 1827) |
Golden Monitor |
EN |
|
Family: Erycidae Bonaparte, 1831 |
|||
|
48 |
Eryx conicus (Schneider, 1801) |
Common Sand Boa |
NT |
|
49 |
Eryx johnii (Russell, 1801) |
Red Sand Boa |
NT |
|
Family: Pythonidae Fitzinger, 1826 |
|||
|
50 |
Python bivittatus
Kuhl, 1820 |
Burmese Python |
VU |
|
Family: Colubridae Oppell, 1811 |
|||
|
51 |
Ahaetulla laudankia Deepak, Narayanan, Sarkar, Dutta & Mohapatra,
2019 |
Laudanka Vine Snake |
LC |
|
52 |
Ahaetulla longirostris Mirza, Pattekar,
Verma, Stuart, Purkayastha,
Mohapatra, & Patel, 2024 |
Long-snout Vine Snake |
|
|
53 |
Boiga stoliczkae (Wall, 1909) |
Tawny Cat Snake |
LC |
|
54 |
Boiga siamensis Nootphand, 1971 |
Siamese Cat Snake |
LC |
|
55 |
Boiga trigonata (Schneider, 1802) |
Common Cat Snake |
LC |
|
56 |
Boiga westermanni (Reinhardt, 1863) |
Indian Egg-eating Snake |
LC |
|
57 |
Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw, 1802) |
Ornate Flying Snake |
LC |
|
58 |
Coelognathus helena (Daudin, 1803) |
Common Trinket Snake |
LC |
|
59 |
Coelognathus radiatus (Boie, 1827) |
Copper-headed Trinket Snake |
LC |
|
60 |
Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin, 1803) |
Common Bronze-back Tree Snake |
LC |
|
61 |
Dendrelaphis proarchos Wall, 1909 |
Eastern Bronze-back Tree Snake |
|
|
62 |
Gongylosoma calamaria (Günther, 1858) |
Calamaria Reed Snake |
LC |
|
63 |
Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Wolf Snake |
LC |
|
64 |
Lycodon jara (Shaw, 1802) |
Twin-spotted Wolf Snake |
LC |
|
65 |
Lycodon striatus (Shaw, 1802) |
Barred Wolf Snake |
LC |
|
66 |
Oligodon kheriensis Acharji & Ray, 1836 |
Coral Red Kukri Snake |
LC |
|
67 |
Oligodon russelius (Daudin, 1803) |
Russell's Kukri Snake |
|
|
68 |
Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Rat Snake |
LC |
|
69 |
Sibynophis sagittarius (Cantor, 1839) |
|
LC |
|
Family: Homalopsidae Bonaparte,
1845 |
|||
|
70 |
Enhydris enhydris (Schneider, 1799) |
Rainbow Water Snake |
LC |
|
71 |
Ferania sieboldii (Schlegel, 1837) |
Siebold's Water Snake |
LC |
|
Family: Psammophidae Bourgeois, 1968 |
|||
|
72 |
Psammophis condanarus (Merrem, 1820) |
Common Sand Snake |
LC |
|
Family: Psammodynastidae
Das,
Greenbaum, Brecko, Pauwels, Ruane, Pirro, & Merilä, 2024 |
|||
|
73 |
Psammodynastes pulverulentus (Boie,
1827) |
Common Mock Viper |
LC |
|
Family: Natricidae Bonaparte, 1838 |
|||
|
74 |
Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Striped Keelback Snake |
LC |
|
75 |
Fowlea piscator (Schneider, 1799) |
Checkered Keelback Snake |
LC |
|
76 |
Herpetoreas platyceps (Blyth, 1854) |
Mountain Keelback Snake |
LC |
|
77 |
Rhabdophis helleri Schmidt, 1925 |
Red-necked Keelback Snake |
|
|
78 |
Xenochrophis cerasogaster (Cantor, 1839) |
Painted Keelback Snake |
VU |
|
Family: Elapidae F. Boie, 1827 |
|||
|
79 |
Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider, 1801) |
Common Krait |
LC |
|
80 |
Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801) |
Banded Krait |
LC |
|
81 |
Bungarus lividus Cantor, 1839 |
Lesser Black Krait |
LC |
|
82 |
Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831 |
Monocled Cobra |
LC |
|
83 |
Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Cobra |
LC |
|
84 |
Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) |
King Cobra |
VU |
|
85 |
Sinomicrurus macclellandi (Reinhardt, 1844) |
MacClelland's Coral Snake |
LC |
|
Family: Typhopidae Merrem, 1820 |
|||
|
86 |
Argyrophis diardii (Schlegel, 1839) |
Diard's Blind Snake |
LC |
|
87 |
Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) |
Common Blind Snake |
LC |
|
Family: Viperidae Oppel, 1811 |
|||
|
88 |
Daboia russelii
(Shaw &
Nodder, 1797) |
Russell's Viper |
LC |
|
89 |
Trimeresurus salazar Mirza, Bhosale, |
Salazar Pit-viper |
|
LC—Least Concern | DD—Data
Deficient | VU—Vulnerable | NT—Near Threatened | EN—Endangered | CR—Critically
Endangered.
For
images - - click here for full PDF
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