Occurrence and Distribution of Snake Species in Balochistan Province, Pakistan

The current study was conducted in Zhob, Quetta, Sibi, Kalat, Naseer Abad and Makran Divisions of Balochistan

Province. Field surveys were conducted in summer seasons particularly during dawn and twilight hours in 2015-2017. Data on snakes were collected both by collecting snakes live employing different methods and in situ condition (recording observations only). Methods of collection that depended on the habitat type included: hand nets, drag nets, snake sticks and pit fall traps with drift fences were used to capture snakes observing all the ethical requirements (Baig and Masroor, 2008). Each specimen was measured and identified using identification keys developed by Leviton et al. (2003) and Nasrullah et al. (2008).

A total of 619 snake specimens belonging to six families including Boidae (4.6%), Leptotyphlopidae (7.5%), Typhlopidae (10.3%), Elapidae (11.7%), Viperidae (13.4%) and Colubridae (52.5%) were collected and studied for their morphological characteristics (Table I). The family wise distribution shows that the previlance of family Elapidae and Leptotyplopidae were higher in Sibi Division while the family Colubridae and Viperidae were higher in Quetta Division. Similarly the previlance of family viperidae were higher in Quetta Division, while the family Typhlopidae were dominant in Sibi Division.The family Colubridae was the most dominant in the province, having ten genera and 23 species. Four snake species, Lycodon travancoricus, Psammophis condanars Spalerosophis arenarius, and Lytorhynchus paradoxus were recorded for the first time from family Colubridae of Balochistan Province. The family Boidae had one genus and two species. Eryx tataricus was for the first time recorded from all the six zones. Family Viperidae included four genera and one species in each genus. Family Typhlopidae comprised of two genera and two species with one species in each of the genera. Typhlops ductuliformes is the first record from Balochistan province, reported from all six divisions of the province. Family Leptotyphlopidae comprised of one genus having two species. Family Elapidae consisted of two genera and two species in each of the genera. Bungarus sindanus was reported for the first time from Quetta, Sibi and Kalat Division.

Out of six identified families the ratio of family Colubridae was the highest (52.5%) in the province, having ten genera viz., Boiga (6.8%) Coluber (10.1%), Eirenis (2.5%), Lycodon (3.5%), Lytorhynchus (6.1%), Oligodon (4.7%), Natrix (1.7%), (7.5%), Ptyas (2.9 %) Spalerosophis (6.3%) and Psammophis. Leptotyphlopidae family had been the lowest (7.5%) in the province. The findings of the present study were approximately comparable to those of (Minton and Sherman, 1962; Ali et al., 2012). The percentage of family Boidae, Typhlopidae, Elapidae and Leptotyphlopidae were high in Sibi Division while family Viperidae and Colubridae were dominant in Quetta Division.

Seven snake species, Eryx tataricus, Typhlops ductuliformes, Bungaruss sindanus, Lycodon travancoricus, Spalerosophis arenarius, Psammophis condanars and Lytorhynchus paradoxus were recorded for the first time from Balochistan Province. 

The sampling region was based on random sampling from northern rocky Balochistan to southern desert and semi-desert areas. Throughout the study era, native people have been found to kill snakes out of fear without understanding their conservation value. Knowledge in an instructive programme is therefore a vital need of time.

The authors wish to express their deep appreciation to Prof. Dr. Tariq Kiyani, Director of the CASVAB Laboratory Research Centre, and to the residents of District Musa Khel and the surrounding districts for their continued support, assistance and timely information during the research work.

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.