Herpetofauna of Shuklaphanta National Park, Nepal

Main Article Content

Yam Bahadur Rawat
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0362-9122
Santosh Bhattarai
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7615-1954
Laxman Prasad Poudyal
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6169-5454
Naresh Subedi
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4517-4912

Abstract

We present 71 herpetofauna species in Shuklaphanta National Park (ShNP) and its buffer zone based on field surveys, rescue records, photo, and literature records.  The list comprises 15 currently known species of amphibians and 56 species of reptiles.  We recorded Laudanka Vine Snake Ahaetulla laudankia  as a new species record for Nepal.  Likewise, four frog species, namely, Uperodon globulossus, Polypedates taeniatus, Hoplobatrachus crassus, and Minervarya peirrei; and one skink, Sphaenomorphus maculatus; one agamid, Laudakia tuberculata; one turtle, Pangshura tentoria circumdata; and 10 snakes, Eryx conicus, E. johnii, Coelognathus helena, C. radiatus, Chrysopelea ornata, Dendrelaphis tristis, Lycodon striatus, Oligodon arnensis, Psammophis cf condanarus, and Ophiophagus hannah are new records for ShNP.  Unregulated and illegal collection, road mortality, intentional killing are the observed threats to the herpetofauna.  Our aim of this study is to compile species richness and advocate for more rigorous inventories in future providing updated information of herpetofauna of ShNP. 


 

Article Details

Section
Communications
Author Biographies

Yam Bahadur Rawat, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Shuklaphanta National Park, Kanchanpur, Nepal.

Yam Bahadur Rawat is a Ranger based in Shuklaphanta National Park. He is primarily responsible for anti-poaching operation in the park and is a young herpetologist. 

Laxman Prasad Poudyal, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Shuklaphanta National Park, Kanchanpur, Nepal.

Laxman Prasad Poudyal serves as chief conservation officer at Shuklaphanta National Park. He is responsible for the managemnent of Shuklaphanta National Park. He is a well known ornithologist in Nepal.

Naresh Subedi, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, P.O.Box 3712, Nepal

Dr. Naresh Subedi is a Conservation Program Manager at NTNC's central office in Kathmandu. He is particularly interested in meta-population study of charismatic species in landscape level in Nepal. He is a focal point for conservation projects at NTNC focusing on Terai Protected Areas. His primary responsibility is to refine conservation policies and liase with funding agengies. 

References

Acharya, K.P., B.K. Khadka, S.R. Jnawali, S. Malla, S. Bhattarai, E. Wikramanayake & M. Kohl (2017). Conservation and population recovery of Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) in Nepal. Herpetologica 73(2): 129–135.

Agarwal, I., A.M. Bauer, V.B. Giri & A. Khandekar (2019). An expanded ND2 phylogeny of the brookii and prashadi groups with the description of three new Indian Hemidactylus Oken (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa 4619 (3): 431–458. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4619.3.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4619.3.2

Ahmed, M.F., A. Das & S.K. Dutta (2009). Amphibians and Reptiles of Northeast India — A Photographic Guide. Aaranyak, Guwahati, India, 169pp.

Anders, C., A. Diener & H.H. Schleich (1998): First record of Polypedates taeniatus (Boulenger, 1906) in Nepal (Amphibia: Anura, Rhacophoridae), 4: 73-86. In: Schleich, H.H. & W. Kästle (Eds.). Contribution to The Herpetology of South-Asia (Nepal, india). Fuhlrott Museum.

Anders, C. & W. Kästle (2002). Sitana schleichi, pp. 652–656. In: Schleich, H.H. & W. Kästle (Eds.). Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag Kommanditgesellsch, Germany, 1201pp.

Aryal, P.C., M.K. Dhamala, B.B. Bhurtel, M.K. Suwal & B. Rijal (2010). Turtles of Nepal: A Field Guide for Species Accounts and Distribution. Environmental Graduates in Himalaya, Resources Himalaya Foundation, and Companions for Amphibians and Reptiles. Kathmandu, Nepal, 37pp.

Barker, D.G. & T.M. Barker (2008). The distribution of the Burmese Python, Python molurus bivittatus. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 43: 33–38.

Bhattarai, S. (2012). Female Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) released back to the wild. Zoo’s Print XXVII (10): 22.

Bhattarai, S., C.P. Pokheral, B.R. Lamichhane & N. Subedi (2017a). Herpetofauna of a Ramsar Site: Beeshazar and associated lakes, Chitwan National Park Nepal. IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians 24(1): 17–29.

Bhattarai, S., C.P. Pokheral & B.R. Lamicchane (2017b). Deathfeigning behavior in Burmese Python Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820 in Chitwan National Park. Russian Journal of Herpetology 24(4): 323–326. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2019-24-4-323-326

Bhattarai, S., C.P. Pokheral, B.R. Lamichhane, U.R. Regmi, A.K. Ram & N. Subedi (2018a). Amphibians and reptiles of Parsa National Park, Nepal. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 12(1):35–48 (e155).

Bhattarai, S., P. Gotame, C.P. Pokheral, B.R. Lamichhane, R.C. Kandel & N. Subedi (2018b). Interspecific Amplexus of a Six-lined Treefrog, Polypedates taeniatus (Boulenger 1908), and a Chunam Treefrog, P. maculatus (Gray 1830) (Anura: Rhacophoridae), in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians 25(1): 29–30.

Campos, M.T. & D.C. Nepstad (2006). Smallholders, the Amazon’s new conservationists. Conservation Biology 20: 1553–1556.

Dahanukar, N., S. Sulakhe & A. Padhye (2017). Identity of Sphaerotheca pluvialis (Jerdon, 1853) and other available names among the burrowing frogs (Anura: Dicroglossidae) of South Asia. Journal of Threatened Taxa 9(6): 10269–10285. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3358.9.6.10269-10285 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3358.9.6.10269-10285

Das, I. & A. Das (2017). A Naturalist’s Guide to Reptiles of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Prakash Books. New Delhi, India,176pp.

Das, A., D. Basu, L. Converse & S.C. Choudhury (2012). Herpetofauna of Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(5): 2553–2568. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2587.2553-68 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2587.2553-68

Deepak, V., V.B. Giri, M. Asif, S.K. Dutta, R. Vyas, A.M. Zambre, H. Bhosale & P.K. Karanth (2016). Systematics and phylogeny of Sitana (Reptilia: Agamidae) of peninsular India, with the description of one new genus and five new species. Contributions to Zoology 85: 67–111.

Deepak, V., S. Narayanan, V. Sarkar, S.K. Dutta & P.P. Mohapatra (2019). A new species of Ahaetulla Link, 1807 (Serpentes: Colubridae: Ahaetullinae) from India. Journal of Natural History 53 (9–10): 497–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2019.1589591 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2019.1589591

Devkota, K., C.L. Thapamagar, S. Bhattarai & A. Bashyal (2019). Geographic distribution, Eryx conicus. Herpetological Review 50(3): 529.

DNPWC (2003) Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve Management Plan. Department of National Parks and Conservation, 18pp.

DNPWC & DFSC (2018). Status of Tigers and Prey in Nepal. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation & Department of Forests and Soil Conservation. Ministry of Forests and Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal, 103pp.

Dubois, A. (1999). South Asian amphibia: a new frontier for taxonomists. Journal of South Asian Natural History 4(1): 1–11.

Dubois, A. (2000). The influence of man on the distribution of amphibians in the Himalayas of Nepal: an example of critical evaluation of biogeographical data. In: Miehe, G. & Y. Zhang (Eds.) Environmental changes in high Asia. Geographische Schriften 135: 326–345.

Dudley, N. (2008). Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland, 86pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2008.PAPS.2.en

Garg, S., R. Suyesh, A. Das, J. Jiang, N. Wijayathilaka, A.A.T. Amarasinghe, D. Alhadi, K.K. Vineeth, N.A. Aravind, G. Senevirathne, M. Meegaskumbura & S.D. Biju (2019). Systematic revision of Microhyla (Microhylidae) frogs of South Asia: a molecular, morphological, and acoustic assessment. Vertebrate Zoology 69(1): 1–71.

Geldmann, J., M. Barnes, L. Coad, I.D. Craigie, M. Hockings & N.D. Burgess (2013). Effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas in reducing habitat loss and population declines. Biological Conservation 161: 230–238.

Ghimire, H.R. & K.B. Shah (2014). Status and habitat ecology of the yellow monitor, Varanus flavescens in the southeastern part of Kanchanpur district, Nepal. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 9(2): 387−393.

GoN (2015). Bardia National Park and Buffer Zone Management Plan (2016–2020). Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, 151 pp.

Günther, A. (1861). List of the cold-blooded vertebrates collected by B.H. Hodgson Esq. in Nepal. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1861: 213–227

IUCN (2019). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-2. https://www.iucnredlist.org

Kästle, W., K. Rai & H.H. Schleich (2013). Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. ARCO-Nepal e.V. Munich, Germany, 625pp.

Kathriner, A., M. O’Shea & H. Kaiser (2014). Re-examination of Hemidactylus tenkatei van Lidth de Jeude, 1895: Populations from Timor provide insight into the taxonomy of the H. brookii Gray, 1845 complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Zootaxa 3887(5): 583–599. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3887.5.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/Zootaxa.3887.5.5

Khatiwada, J.R., C.H. Guo, S.H. Wang, A. Thapa, B. Wang & J. Jiang (2017). A new species of Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from Eastern Nepal. Zootaxa 4254(2): 221–239.

Kramer, E. (1977). Zur Schlangenfauna Nepals. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 84: 721–761.

Lajmi, A., V.B. Giri & K.P. Karanth (2016). Molecular data in conjunction with morphology help resolve the Hemidactylus brookii complex (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Organism Diversity and Evolution 16: 659–677.

Lamsal, D. (2014). Diversity and uses of herpetofauna of Madi Valley, Chitwan, Nepal. M.Sc. Dissertation, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, 55pp.

Nanhoe, L.M.R. & P.E. Ouboter (1987). The distribution of reptiles and amphib­ians in the Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Region, Nepal. Zoologische Verhandelingen 12(8): 1–105.

O’Shea, M. (1998). Herpetological results of two shortfield excursions to the Royal Bardia region of western Nepal, including range extensions for Assamese Indo Chinese snake taxa, pp. 306–317. In: Silva, A. (Eds.) Biology and Conservation of the Amphibians, Reptiles, and Their Habitats in South Asia. Amphibia and Reptile Research Organization of Sri Lanka, Peradenia, Sri Lanka.

Pandey, D.P., B. Lama, D. Dhungel, A. Modak & D. Jelic (2016). Oligodon kheriensis Acharji & Ray, 1936 in India and Nepal, with notes on distribution, ecology and conservation. Herpetozoa 28(3/4): 181–184.

Pandey, D.P., D. Jelic, S. Sapkota, H.M. Lama, B. Lama, K. Pokharel, M. Goode & U. Kuch (2018). New records of snakes from Chitwan National Park and vicinity, Central Nepal. Herpetology Notes 11: 679–696.

Patel, H., R. Vyas & P. Vaghashiya (2019). On the distribution of Ahaetulla laudankia Deepak, Narayanan, Sarkar, Dutta & Mohapatra, 2019 and Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome, 1870) (Squamata, Colubridae) from Gujarat, India. Check List 15(6): 1045–1050. https://doi.org/10.15560/15.6.1045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/15.6.1045

Poudyal, L.P. & H. Chaudhary (2019). Birds of Shuklaphanta National Park. Shuklaphanta National Park Office and Nepalese Ornithological Union, Kanchanpur and Kathmandu Nepal. 154pp.

Prasad, V.K., K.P. Dinesh, A. Das, P. Swamy, A.D. Shinde & J.B. Vishnu (2019). A new species of Sphaerotheca Gunther, 1859 (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the agro ecosystems of Chota Nagpur Plateau, India. Records of the Zoological Survet of India 119(3): 197–210. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v119/i3/2019/132173

Purkayastha, J., J. Kalita, R.K. Brahma, R. Doley & M. Das (2018). A review of the relationships of Xenochrophis cerasogaster Cantor, 1839 (Serpentes: Colubridae) to its congeners. Zootaxa 4514: 126–136.

Rösler, H. & F. Glaw (2010). Morphological variation and taxonomy of Hemidactylus brookii Gray, 1845, Hemidactylus angulatus Hallowell, 1854, and similar taxa (Squamata, Sauria, Gekkonidae). Spixiana 33: 139–160.

Schleich, H.H. & W. Kästle (Eds.) (2002). Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal. Koenigstein: Koeltz Scientific Books, Germany, 1,200pp.

Shah, K.B. & S. Tiwari (2004). Herpetofauna of Nepal: A Conservation Companion. IUCN Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal, 237 pp.

Shrestha, A. & R. Shreshtha (2008). Status of herpetofauna of Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Kanchanpur, Nepal. B.Sc. dissertation, Kathmandu University, Nepal, 72pp.

Smith, M.A. (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia, Volume 2: Sauria. Taylor and Francis, London, England, 440pp.

Smith, M.A. (1943). The fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, includ­ing the whole of the Indo-Chinese sub-region. Reptilia and Am­phibia Vol. 3—Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London. 583pp.

Subedi, D. (2011). Occurrence and Distribution of Asiatic Rock Python (Python molurus molurus) in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. B.Sc. dissertation, Tribhuvan University. Pokhara, Nepal. 42 pp.

Thapa, K.B., N. Rana & K.B. Shah (2019). Distribution of King cobra in Nepal. Himalayan Naturalist 2(1): 26–29.

Tuberville, T.D., J.D. Wilson, M.E. Dorcas & J.W. Gibbons (2005). Herpetofaunal species richness of southeastern national parks. Southeastern Naturalist 4:537–569.

Vasudevan, K. & S. Sondhi (2010). Amphibians and Reptiles of Uttarakhand, India. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 94pp.

Zug, G.R. & J.C. Mitchell (1995). Amphibians and reptiles of the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Asiatic Herpetological Research 6: 172–180.

Most read articles by the same author(s)