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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake
4.3 Reptiles and Amphibians
4.3.1 Summary
During summer and pre-winter surveys, 3251 amphibians and reptiles were either
observed or collected. A total of 65 species are distributed among the entire Indus
for All Programme sites of which 47 herpetiles were either observed or collected.
The remaining 18 (represented by blue rows) species reported by the earlier
workers or the local inhabitants could not be confirmed during the surveys. It does
not imply that these species are not present in the study sites. There is likelihood
that these species might be observed during future ecological assessment of
herpetiles.
Out of all the programme sites, Chotiari Reservoir is the most productive
herpetofauna associated habitat with the highest richness (31) and Margalef
diversity index of 4.1277, Keti Bunder representing the second highest richness
(27) and diversity with Margalef index of 3.823, Keenjhar Lake being at third place
with richness (23) and Margalef diversity index of 3.506. The Pai forest and Keti
Shah are least diverse of all the five programme sites with Margalef diversity
indices of 3.237 and 2.845 respectively. The herpetofauna of Keti Shah is less
diverse as compared to other sites due to the consistent seasonal inundation,
which renders very little favorable conditions for the support of herpeto-fauna. The
Pai forest, on the other hand, is so severely depleted in terms of human
disturbances and wood-cutting that the herpetiles are unable to support their lives
in an imbalanced ecosystem.
Some systematic records of amphibians and reptiles have been reported from the
Indus for All Programme sites by Minton (1966), Mertens (1969) and Muham
Shareef Khan (2003, 2005). Comprehensive biological assessment with
reference to amphibians and reptiles has however never been conducted. The
preliminary baseline studies e by Hafeez-ur-Rehman (2007) report 23 species of
amphibians and reptiles from Keti Bunder, 31 from Keenjhar Lake, 35 from
Chotiari Reservoir and 23 species from Pai Forest. These were reported, based
on collection, observation or as a result of interviews with local people or reported
by the earlier authors. The detailed assessment studies conducted in June 2007
enlist and document 27 species of amphibians and reptiles from Keti Bunder, 23
species from Keenjhar Lake, 31 species from Chotiari Reservoir, 18 species from
Pai forest and 16 species from Keti Shah. The number of species collected and
observed during the fieldwork carried out in June and November, 2007 in
programme sites, is lower than the total number expected in the area but was not
unexpected for the following reasons: Being excellent biological indicators, the
amphibians and reptiles respond quickly to weather or climate changes and take
refuge into burrows in case of danger and unfavorable conditions. The
amphibians and reptiles are mostly nocturnal species and require night surveys.
Some of the sites were difficult to approach at night and the nocturnal survey was
only possible in limited areas. Amphibian and reptilian activity is also restricted to
a specific time of the day and specific season of the year. If the presence of the
team in the area did not correspond with the appropriate activity time and specific
habitat of the species the possibility of sighting the species became minimal
despite the other environmental conditions being suitable, and the species being
present. There is always a need of consistent monitoring of amphibian and
reptilian species during their activity period, over the months for several years, to
comprehensively record the potential herpeto-fauna. This was indeed the limiting
factor in such short duration surveys. All these factors indicate the practical
difficulties in the documentation of these species. There is a great need to carry
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