Assessment of Herpetofaunal Assemblage in Phakot and Pathri Rao Watershed Areas, Uttarakhand, India

摘要

We studied reptiles and amphibians in Phakot and Pathri Rao Watershed Areas falling in middle Himalayas and Shiwalik, respectively. Adaptive Cluster Sampling Method was used for forest floor reptile and stream transect for stream reptiles and amphibians. 10 and 12 species of reptiles were recorded in Phakot and Pathri Rao watershed areas, respectively. Similarly 4 species of amphibians were recorded in Phakot and 9 species in Pathri Rao. In total 16 species of reptiles were recorded and 9 species of amphibians. Forest floor density of reptiles in Phakot and Pathri Rao was 46.26 ha~(-1) and 86.9 ha~(-1), respectively. Reptilian diversity of Pathri Rao and Phakot was 0.825 and 0.692, respectively. Reptilian richness was higher in Pathri Rao (2.37) compared to Phakot (179). Amphibian density, diversity and richness were 15.6 ha~(-1), 0.47 and 0.77 in Phakot respectively. Amphibian density in Pathri Rao was 22.6 ha~(-1). The diversity and richness values were 0.57 and 1.29, respectively. Comparison showed Pathri Rao Watershed to be more rich and diverse than Phakot because of undisturbed habitat, broad and slow stream and more forest litter.