Preliminary report on the herpetofaunal diversity of Batu Hampar Recreational Forest, Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

Batu Hampar Recreational Forest (BHRF) is a lowland dipterocarp forest located in the northwestern region of Peninsular Malaysia and has not been surveyed for its herpetofauna until now. A preliminary survey of the herpetofaunal diversity of BHRF was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019 resulting in 103 individuals (37 species) of amphibians and reptiles found. This includes 14 species of frogs from six families and 10 genera; 14 species of lizards from four families and 11 genera; eight species of snakes from five families and eight genera; and one species of freshwater turtle. From these results, Batu Hampar Recreational Forest has a high herpetofaunal diversity with a Simpson’s Index of Diversity of 0.869 and a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index of 2.930. In the future, additional surveys over longer periods of time should be conducted at BHRF to produce a more complete checklist.

First documentation on herpetofauna diversity in Gunung Belumut Amenity Forest, Peninsular Malaysia: Implications for conservation in an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)

“…The limited occurrence of these species in the study area may be attributed to their elusive and secretive behaviour, for which the use of appropriate sampling techniques is crucial for detection. For instance, G. oxycephalum , D. cyanochloris and T. hageni are often spotted hanging from trees ( Sumarli et al 2015 , Zijia et al 2021 ) and T. wagleri is commonly found in bamboo stalks ( Grismer 2011a , Sumarli et al 2015 ). Such behaviour and microhabitats can pose challenges during sampling sessions, potentially resulting in the under-representation of these species.…”

“…A comprehensive compilation of the recorded herpetofauna species was generated, enabling a comparative analysis with similar studies conducted in other amenity forests and forest reserves. The available literature encompassed various locations, including Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve (BPFR) ( Ibrahim et al 2012 ), Bukit Panchor State Park (BPSP) ( Nur-Hafizah 2011 , Quah et al 2013 ), Batu Hampar Recreational Forest (BHRF) ( Zijia et al 2021 ), Belum-Temenggor Forest Reserve (BTFR) ( Kiew et al 1995 , Diong et al 1995 , Lim et al 1995a , Lim et al 1995b , Norsham et al 2000 , Sukumaran 2002 , Grismer et al 2004 , Hurzaid et al 2013 ), Sg. Deka Tembat Forest Reserve (SDTFR) ( Mohd-Izam et al 2021 ), Gunung Senyum Forest Reserve (GSFR) ( Davis et al 2018 ), Pasoh Forest Reserve (PFR) ( Kiew et al 1996 , Lim and Norsham 2003 , Norsham and Sukumaran 2006 , Chan et al 2009 ) and Gunung Panti Forest Reserve (GPFR) ( Leong 2004 , Yong 2006 , Chan et al 2010b ).…”