DOCUMENTATION OF HERPETOFAUNAL DIVERSITY IN NAWALPARASI DISTRICT, NEPAL

The study aimed to (i) prepare a checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of the low to mid-elevation and (ii) measure the abundance, distribution, and diversity of the herpetofauna of Nawalparasi district, Nepal. The samples were collected at six different sites in the habitat of agricultural field, human habitat, forest, riparian, and wetland of Nawalparasi, Nepal from May 2016 to April 2019. In each habitat type, 20 cell quadrates were sampled and altogether 100 quadrates in each site. Besides this, visual encounter surveys, opportunistic surveys, and pitfall were conducted seasonally. Altogether 44 species of herpetofauna belonging to 12 species of amphibians 32 species of reptiles were recorded. The richness of amphibians is greater in agricultural fields (S=12) and lower in the forest (S=4) and reptile’s richness was greater in the forest (S= 24) and lowest in the wetland (S=6). The abundance of amphibians in agricultural fields was more than in other habitats. Shannon diversity index (Hˈ) of amphibians in agricultural fields was higher (2.07) and lowest in the wetland (1.54) and reptile 2.68 and 1.45 respectively. Similarly Simpson index of amphibians were 0.83, 0.72, 0.78, 0.82, 0.75 and 0.88, 0.86, 0.87, 0.81, and 0.74 in reptiles in such habitat respectively. Pielou evenness index ranges from 0.33 to 0.52 in amphibians and 0.28 to 0.46 in reptiles. The values indicate that amphibians in agricultural fields are more diverse compared to the forest and agricultural fields are more diverse compared to the wetlands in the reptile. Information on herpetofaunal abundance and diversity helps to control insect pests, detect environmental pollution, maintain healthy ecosystems, and aid future research.