Herpetofaunal diversity in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Reptiles and amphibians, together known as herpetofauna, are classified as wild species that are bio-indicators and sensitive to changes in their habitat. To quantify species diversity, opportunistic visual encounter surveys and purposeful transect surveys were used. The goal of the current study was to understand the composition and structure of herpetofaunal communities by creating an inventory and assessing the diversity status of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve's herpetofauna. The diversity of reptiles and amphibians in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was examined, and 46 species were recorded. During and after rainy seasons, amphibian diversity was higher. However, the warm and wet seasons saw a greater range of reptiles. Appropriate statistical analysis was conducted to assess the ecology and distribution patterns of herpetofaunal species in the study area.