VISAKHAPATNAM: A recent study has documented 51 species of herpetofauna in Papikonda National Park, located in the northern part of the Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh. The list includes 18 amphibians, 21 lizards, 10 snakes, and 2 turtles. Significantly, three species, namely, Minervarya kalinga, Sphaerotheca maskeyi, and Hemidactylus kangerensis were reported for the first time in Andhra Pradesh.
According to the IUCN Red List (2024), 46 of the recorded species fall under the Least Concern category, while three species are yet to be assessed. Notably, Hemidactylus kangerensis has been classified as Endangered, and Lissemys punctata as Vulnerable. The findings provide crucial baseline data for conservation planning in the region, which had not previously been systematically studied for reptilian and amphibian diversity.
The study, titled “Herpetofaunal Diversity in Papikonda National Park, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India”, was published in the special issue of Records of the Zoological Survey of India. It was carried out by researchers Bharath Bhupathi, Pratyush P Mohapatra, B Laxmi Narayana, Kalyani B Kunte, Deepa Jaiswal, and Niladri B Kar.
Papikonda National Park, spread across 1,012 sq km in the East and West Godavari districts, has a history of phased protection, having been declared a reserved forest in 1882, a wildlife sanctuary in 1978, and upgraded to a national park in 2008. The Godavari River divides the park into two halves, and the area is characterised by moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, and dry deciduous forests. The elevation ranges from 20 to 850 metres, offering varied habitats for herpetofaunal species.
Field surveys for the study were conducted between September 2021 and February 2023. Researchers employed random sampling methods, with both day and night searches across different microhabitats. Species identification was based on photographs and field guides, while preserved specimens were deposited at the Zoological Survey of India, Hyderabad.
Among amphibians, the family Dicroglossidae was dominant with 10 species, followed by Microhylidae (4 species), Bufonidae (2 species), and Rhacophoridae (2 species). Common species included Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, and Fejervarya sp., while Minervarya kalinga and Sphaerotheca maskeyi were recorded only once at Jalatharingini waterfall and Bhupathipalem respectively. Reptilian diversity was led by the Gekkonidae family with 10 species, followed by Colubridae and Agamidae. Rare species such as Psammodynastes pulverulentus and Argyrophis diardii were also recorded, with the latter noted for the first time in the Eastern Ghats. The study also highlighted the presence of two Eastern Ghats endemics including the Indian golden gecko (Calodactylodes aureus) and Dutta’s Mahendragiri gecko (Hemidactylus sushilduttai). In terms of legal protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 2022, reptiles such as Chamaeleo zeylanicus, Calodactylodes aureus, Pangshura tentoria, and Lissemys punctata were listed under Schedule I, while amphibians Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis were placed under Schedule II.
Bhupathipalem was identified as the most species-rich site, with 37 species documented, followed by Rampa and Jalatharingini waterfalls with 29 species each. Researchers noted that herpetofaunal diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance through prey-predator interactions and as indicators of environmental health.
The study underlined that populations in the Eastern Ghats face multiple threats, including habitat loss, fragmentation, emerging diseases, and climate change. Rare and threatened species such as the Jeypore hill gecko (Geckoella jeyporensis), Barkud spotted skink (Barkudia insularis), and King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) highlight the need for targeted conservation measures.
The authors stressed that further systematic studies with wider sampling and integrated taxonomic approaches across the Eastern Ghats are necessary. Such research, they noted, would not only expand knowledge of species distribution but also inform conservation priorities for threatened herpetofauna and their habitats.