Occurrence and Distribution of Snake Species in Balochistan Province, Pakistan
Occurrence and Distribution of Snake Species in Balochistan Province, Pakistan
Saeed Ahmed Essote1, Asim Iqbal1, Muhammad Kamran Taj2*, Asmatullah Kakar1, Imran Taj2, Shahab-ud-Din Kakar1 and Imran Ali 3,4*
ABSTRACT
The current study was conducted in Zhob, Quetta, Sibi, Kalat, Naseer Abad and Makran Divisions of Balochistan Province. A total of 619 snake specimens representing 6 families, 20 genera and 37 species were collected. The family wise representation among collected specimens has been Boidae (4.6%), Leptotyphlopidae (7.5%), Typhlopidae (10.3%), Elapidae (11.7%), Viperidae (13.4%) and Colubridae (52.5%). The percentage of family Boidae, Typhlopidae, Elapidae and Leptotyphlopidae were high in Sibi Division while family Viperidae and Colubridae were dominant in Quetta Division. The family Colubridae has been the most dominant 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. The Viperidae family has been on the second in occurrence with four genera viz., Echis (4.5%), Eristocophis (2.4%), Psudocerastes (2.9%) and Vipera (3.5%). The Typhlopidae (Ramphotyplops 5.8%, Typlops 4.6%) and Elapidae (Bungarus 6.3%, Naja 5.3%) families were represented with two genera each. While Boidae (Eryx 4.48%) and Leptotyphlopidae (Leptotyplos 7.5%) families had only one genus each. The highest diversity was recorded in Sibi Division and the lowest diversity in Kalat Division. Seven snake species, Eryx tetaricus, Typhlops ductuliformes, Bungarus sindanus, Lycodon travancoricus, Spalerosophis arenarius, Psammophis condanars and Lytorhynchus paradoxus were recorded for the first time from Balochistan Province.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
