World Journal of Zoology 7 (4): 306-311, 2012ISSN 1817-3098© IDOSI Publications, 2012DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjz.2012.7.4.6572

Corresponding Author: M. Bubesh Guptha, Wildlife Biologist,Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati-517 507, Andhra Pradesh, India.

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Status of Amphibians and Reptiles of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India

M. Bubesh Guptha, P.V. Chalapathi Rao, G. Ramalingam, 1 1 2

S. Kishore, M. Rajasekhar and Amol Kumbhar3 3 4

Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati- 517 507, Andhra Pradesh, India1

Indira Gandhi, Zoological Park, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India2

Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India3

TATR, Tiger Conservation Foundation, Chandrapur -442 401, Maharashtra, India4

Abstract: Nelapattu Bird sanctuary is one of the biggest Pelicanary sanctuary in south East Asia, located inNellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India. A detailed herpetofauna survey was conducted from November 2008to June 2009 in Nelapattu in and around the sanctuary. Totally 42 field days were spent to rapidly assess thepresent distribution and presence of the herpetofauna species. Data collection will be carried out by usingVisual Encounter Survey Method. A total of 12 species of amphibians belonging to 9 genera, distributed in fivefamilies, Ranidae, Microhylidae, Dicroglossidae, Bufonidae, Rhacophoridae and 30 species of reptiles of 25genera belonging to 11 different families were recorded. The snake belonging to five families, Colubridae,followed by Boidae, Elapidae, Viperidae and Typhlopidae The lizards are members of six families Gekkonidae,followed by Agamidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Chamaeleonidae and Trionychidae were recorded. Occurrenceof some frog like Painted Kaloula Kaloula taprobanica and Balloon Frog Uperodon globulosus is alsointeresting. Out of 30 species of reptiles, Lower Risk near threatened (LR-nt) 53% (16 species), Lower Risk leastconcern (LR-lc) 40% (12 species) and Vulnerable (VU) 7% (2 species) under IUCN status and all species ofamphibians Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) (12 species) category This report indicated that the area rich andmust contain many more species of herpetofauna.

Key words: Amphibians Reptiles Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Status Andhra Pradesh

INTRODUCTION information about their occurrence and habitat

Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is the biggest pelicanary these species.in Southeast Asia, located in Nellore district of AndhraPradesh (Fig. 1). The sanctuary is about 458.92 ha, Study Area: Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is the biggestcomprising Kalluru Reserve Forest of 376.37 ha and pelicanary in Southeast Asia, located in Nellore district ofNelapattu tank of 82.56 ha. The sanctuary receives an Andhra Pradesh (Fig. 1). The sanctuary is about 458.92annual rainfall of about 1000 mm. The temperature ranges ha, comprising Kalluru Reserve Forest of 376.37 ha andfrom 27° c to 35° c. In peak summer, the mercury rises up Nelapattu tank of 82.56 ha. With dominance ofto 45° c. A detailed reptiles survey was conducted from Barringtonia acutangula trees and very few ProsopisNovember 2008 to June 2009 in Nelapattu in and around juliflora thorny plants which grow in the water body,the sanctuary. Earlier there is no herpetofaunal study of Prosopis juliflora is more on the tank bund where theNelapattu sanctuary adjoining the reserve forest. This birds roost. This study was undertaken to assess thepaper is a result of the study carried out as part of a presence of reptiles with special emphasis on reptileproject “Biodiversity study of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary” population. The tank portion has “ Barringtonia Swampundertaken by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. Forest “ while the Reserve Forest portion has “SouthernNow the present herpetofauna studies give the precise Dry Evergreen Scrub” type of forest with species like

information for proper management and conservation of

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Fig. 1: Map showing the different habitat of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary

Manilkara hexandra, Maba buxifolia, Memecylon edule, using Visual Encounter Survey Method. The sanctuaryBuchnania angustifolia, Terminalia bellerica, Zizyphus area was different zones like, Road, water bodies, scrubxylopyrus, Acacia leucophloea etc. jungle and tank bund, each zone was randomly explored

Methodology: Totally 42 field days were spent to rapidly availability of the herpetofauna species. All importantassess the Herpetofauna during November 2008 to June major and minor water bodies, including seasonal rivulets2009 with the objective to determine the present were extensively explored for aquatic species, especiallydistribution and presence of the herpetofauna species. amphibians. All collected herpetofaunal specimens werePreliminary information on habitat and IUCN status was examined and carefully identified by using the diagnosticalso gathered [1, 2]. Data collection will be carried out by keys [3-13].

on the basis of habitat structure and, possibility and

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (18 species of snakes and 12 species of lizards) belonging

So for 12 species of amphibians belonging to 9 from the study area (Table 2). The snake belong to fivegenera, distributed in five families, Ranidae (5 species), families, more number of snakes recorded from the familyfollowed by Microhylidae (4 species), Dicroglossidae (1 Colubridae (11 species) followed by Boidae (2 species),species), Bufonidae (1 species) and Rhacophoridae (1 Elapidae (2 species), Viperidae (2 species) andspecies) (Table 1) the all amphibians species families wise Typhlopidae (1 species) (Fig. 3). The lizards are membershave been analyzed (Fig. 2) and 30 species of reptiles of six families have been recorded in the study area,

to 25 genera, distributed in 11 families have been recorded

Table 1: Species of Amphibians in Nelapattu Bird SanctuarySl.No Common Name Scientific Name Family IUCN Status1 Cricket Frog Fejervarya limnocharis Ranidae LR-lc2 Indian Burrowing Frog Sphaerotheca breviceps Ranidae LR-lc3 Skittering Frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis Ranidae LR-lc4 Indian Pond Frog Euphlyctis hexadactylus Ranidae LR-lc5 Indian Bull Frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Ranidae LR-lc6 Marbled Balloon Frog Uperodon systoma Microhylidae LR-lc7 Painted Kaloula Kaloula taprobanica Microhylidae LR-lc8 Red Narrow- mouthed Frog Microhyla rubra Microhylidae LR-lc9 Indian Balloon Frog Uperodon globulosus Microhylidae LR-lc10 Jerdon’s Bull Frog Hoplobatrachus crassus Dicroglossidae LR-lc11 Common Indian Toad Bufo melanostictus Bufonidae LR-lc12 Common Tree Frog Polypedates maculates Rhacophoridae LR-lc

Table 2: Species of Reptiles (Snakes and Lizards) in Nelapattu Bird SanctuarySl.No Common Name Scientific Name Family IUCN Status1 Common India Krait Bungarus caeruleus Elapidae LR-nt2 Indian Cobra Naja naja Elapidae LR-nt3 Green Vine Snake Ahaetulla nasuta Colubridae LR-nt4 Buffstriped keelback Amphiesma stolata Colubridae LR-nt5 Indian Cat snake Boiga trigonata Colubridae LR-lc6 Dumeril’s Black- headed snake Sibynophis subpunctatus Colubridae LR-nt7 Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus Colubridae LR-lc8 Russell’s Kukri Snake Oligodon taeniolatus Colubridae LR-nt9 Common Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis Colubridae LR-nt10 Indian Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Colubridae LR-nt11 Tree Snake Dendrelaphis tristis Colubridae LR-lc12 Chichred Keelback Xenochrophis piscator Colubridae LR-lc13 Common Trinket Snake Coelognathus helena Colubridae LR-nt14 John's Earth Boa Eryx johnii Boidae LR-lc15 Red Sand Boa Eryx conicus Boidae LR-nt16 Russell's Viper Daboia russelii Viperidae LR-nt17 Saw- Scaled viper Echis carinata Viperidae LR-nt18 Common Worm Snake Ramphotyphlops braminus Typhlopidae LR-nt19 Indian Monitor Lizard Varanus bengalensis Varanidae VU20 Indian Chameleon Chamaeleon zeylanicus Chamaeleonidae VU21 Common Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor Agamidae LR-nt22 Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana Agamidae LR-lc23 Forest Lizard Calote rouxi Agamidae LR-lc24 Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschnaultii Gekkonidae LR-lc25 Termite Gecko Hemidactylus triedrus Gekkonidae LR-lc26 Wall lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis Gekkonidae LR-lc27 Brooks Gecko Hemidactylus brookii Gekkonidae LR-lc28 Common Skink Mabuya carinata Scincidae LR-nt29 Snake Skink Lygosoma punctatus Scincidae LR-lc30 Indian flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata Trionychidae LR-ntLR-nt = Lower Risk near Threatened; LR-lc = Lower Risk least Concern; VU = Vulnerable;

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Fig. 2: Amphibians Families wise observed in the study area

Fig. 3: Snakes Families wise observed in the study area

Fig. 4: Lizards Families wise observed in the study area found to be night, present in a reserve forest area, near

Fig. 5: IUCN Status of Reptiles in the Study area Calotes versicolor quite common in this reserve.

more number of species recorded from the familyGekkonidae (4 species) followed by Agamidae (3 species),Scincidae (2 species), Varanidae (1species),Chamaeleonidae (1 species) and Trionychidae (1 species)were recorded (Fig. 4). Out of 30 species of reptiles,Lower Risk near threatened (LR-nt) 53% (16 species),Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) 40% (12 species) andVulnerable (VU) 7% (2 species) under IUCN status ofreptiles were gathered (Fig. 5) and all species ofamphibians Lower Risk least concern (LR-lc) (12 species)category. Painted Kaloula Kaloula taprobanica were

tank bund. Indian Burrowing Frog Sphaerothecabreviceps mostly recorded in a trail path. Tree FrogPolypedates maculates and Pond Frog Euphlyctishexadactylus quite common in this reserve forest area.Common Trinket snake Coelognathus helena and Black-headed Sibynophis subpunctatus snake are rarely sightedin my study period. Indian Rat snake Ptyas mucosus, Treesnake Dendrelaphis tristis and Common Garden Lizard

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Indian flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata mostly recorded ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSmorning time at tank bund area. Noctornal species likeTermite gecko Hemidactylus triedrus very common in this The authors are very much thankful toreserve. Common Sand Boa Eryx johnii and Red Sand Boa Sri S.V. Kumar, IFS, Principal Chief ConservatorEryx conicus are recorded once in my study period. of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, Andhra

This report indicates that the area is rich and must Pradesh. Special thanks to Sri Ch. Parthanandacontain many species of amphibians and reptiles. Prasad, SFS, Divisional Forest Officer, WLMOccurrence of some frog species like Painted Kaloula Division, Sullurpet for encouragement. We thankKaloula taprobanica and Balloon Frog Uperodon Mrs Vamsee Priya for valuable suggestion andglobulosus is also interesting. Also everyone should comments for this paper. Finally, we would like torealise that the protection of habitat is an important aspect thank all forest staff from Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary forin conservation of such species. helping our field trips.

SOME REPTILES OF NELAPATTU BIRD SANCTUARY

© Photos taken by M.Bubesh Guptha

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