A preliminary study on the herpetofaunal diversity and distribution in Madurai hills across the Vaigai basin, southern India
Abstract
We studied the herpetological assemblage and community structure in and around Madurai, targeting a biogeographically complex crossroad at the intersection of the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, and the Vaigai River. Based on a short, three-month-long survey, amounting to 210 hours of fieldwork, we recorded a total of 391 sightings representing 43 species of herpetofauna, consisting of ten species of amphibians, one species of turtle, 15 species of lizards, and 17 species of snakes. Among the 43 species, the 10 commonest species with sighting frequency > 10, including five species each of amphibians and lizards, alone accounted for 321 out of the overall 391 sightings, i.e., 82.0%. Five out of ten amphibian species, ten out of 15 lizards, all 17 snakes, and one turtle species were all represented by <10 sightings each. These 391 sightings were distributed across eight microhabitat categories spanning fossorial, terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic guilds. Our analysis revealed a non-random distribution of herpetofauna, where many species were found in water bodies, largely attributable to dicroglossid frogs. The encounter rates of species ranged between 0.005 and 0.324, with the snakes and chelonian being rare species with low encounter rates. Further surveys during rainy season will reveal greater diversity in the study areas.