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THEME 1 STEP 3: 
Sub-tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests (Thorn Scrub Forests) 

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THEME 1 STEP 3: 
Sub-tropical broad-leaved evergreen forests (Thorn Scrub Forests) 

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These are xerophtic forests of thorny and small-leafed evergreen species. This type occurs on the foothills and lower slopes of the Himalayas, the Salt Range, Kalachitta and the Sulaiman Range. The typical species are; Olea cuspidata (Kau) and Acacia modesta (Phulai), the two species occurring mixed or pure, and the shrub Dodonaea (Sanatta) which is particularly abundant in the most degraded areas. Total area of these forests is estimated to be 1,191,000 ha.

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Sphaerotheca breviceps (Schneider, 1799)

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Indotyphlops braminus
(Daudin, 1803)

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The evergreen forests of conifers, locally with some admixture of oak and deciduous broad-leaved trees fall in this category. Their undergrowth is rarely dense, and consists of both evergreen and deciduous species. These forests occur between 1500 m and 3000 m elevation in the Western Himalayas except where the rainfall falls below about 1000 mm in the inner ranges, especially in the extreme north-west. The dominant conifers are Cedrus deodara (Deodar, diar), Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana and Abies pindrow (Partal).

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Laudakia tuberculata
(Gray, 1827)

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Bufotes pseudoraddei (Mertens, 1971)

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The Cholistan desert extends over an area of 26,000 sq. km., in the southern part of the Punjab, Pakistan. The vegetation of Cholistan desert is a typical of arid regions and comprises of xerophytic species, adapted to extreme seasonal temperature, moisture fluctuation and a wide variety of edaphic conditions. The plains plant community comprises of  Haloxylon recurvum, Suaeda fruticosa, Salsola baryosma, Sporobolus ioclados, Aeluropus lagopoides, Capparis decidua and Prosopis cineraria. Similarly, the sand dunes plant community dominated by Calligonum polygonoides, Aerva javanica, Panicum turgidum and Lasiurus scindicus.

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Ophiomorus tridactylus (BLYTH, 1853)

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Bufo stomaticus Lütken, 1864

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REPTILE FOSSILS ID CARD:
Extinct Snake species from Pakistan Chotaophis padhriensis Head, 2005 

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REPTILE FOSSILS ID CARD:
Extinct Snake species from Pakistan Chotaophis padhriensis Head, 2005 

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Species: Chotaophis padhriensis Head, 2005
Holotype. H-GSP 24346, isolated precloacal vertebra.
Paratype: H-GSP 26246, isolated vertebra.
Type locality: Y-367 (8.95 Ma) Locality and age: Y-457 (7.30 Ma)
Diagnosis: Small colubrine snake possessing narrow zygapophyses, anteriorly positioned lateral foramina, transversely thin neural spine, and parazygantral foramina.  Etymology: Specific name from Padhri, the local community at locality Y-457. Name translates as “little snake from Padhri.”

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Phylogeny of Chotaophis padhriensis Head, 2005

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Phylogeny of Chotaophis padhriensis Head, 2005

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AMPHIBIAN FOSSIL 
ID CARD:
Anuran Fossils from Pakistan 

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AMPHIBIAN FOSSIL 
ID CARD:
Anuran Fossils from Pakistan 

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To date, only a few fossils has been recovered from my HerpetoArea (Pakistan). These fossils are still unidentified. For example three  unidentified fossils are mentioned in an online database  "fosFARbase" (http://www.wahre-staerke.com/) . These fossils were collected from Chattian and Langhian period.

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As the climatic conditions are harsh in North, there is very small variation Glacial and Inter glacial periods led to selection of species to adopt and withstand those conditions of less or no endemism.
Where as Southern Europe was warmer with plenty of food, refugia/micro niches, high rate of species expansion and diverse climatic conditions to flourish many species. Therefore there are more Endemic species in southern Europe
So my conclusion, both evidences are interconnected.

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Illegal trade of turtles destablising Pakistan's ecological system

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Illegal trade of turtles destablising Pakistan's ecological system

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KARACHI: The illegal trade of endangered turtles might be a lucrative industry but it is upsetting the natural order of Pakistan's wildlife environment.

These turtles are a natural filter and key components of eradicating water pollution as well as various bacteria which is harmful for human health. But, due to the illegal trafficking, they are disappearing from Pakistan fast.

The turtles are being illegally exported to China, Taiwan, Vietnam and other Asian countries, as they are eaten or used for medicinal purposes and in the preparation of artificial jewellery.

A turtle bought for a mere Rs200 is being sold after being smuggled to the aforementioned countries for a whopping Rs150,000, which amounts to $1,500. The wildlife department's poor performance can be gauged by the low number of cases registered in the last 10 years against the smugglers, which stands at 69.

These turtles can be found in wetlands, such as lakes, rivers and ponds, and are crucial in maintaining a balance in the ecosystem as they prey on plants that grow underwater, small insects, snails, worms, and dead marine animals and fish, clearing water bodies of germs and harmful bacteria.

The Chinese are reportedly associated with the turtle trafficking business in Pakistan. Influential Chinese at the helm of some Pakistan-China projects are alleged to be directly involved in the bootlegging of turtles.
49 turtles confiscated from Burnes Road aquariums
On August 18, 2014, a consignment of 229 black-spotted turtles was seized at the Pakistan-China border. A month later, on September 20, 2014, a shipment of 218 black-spotted turtles was seized at the Karachi airport. On the same day, 230 Pakistani black pond turtles were caught at a hospital in Karachi.

A couple of years later, on April 7, 2016, 62 turtles, tightly wrapped in a curtain, were seized in Shanti Nagar by the Karachi police. Of these turtles, 49 died. On April 28, 2016, 170 black-spotted turtles were seized from the Super Highway. On September 10, 2016, a shipment of 780 black-spotted turtles was recovered from Defence Housing Authority in Karachi.
Survey results
In 2003, the Sindh wildlife department, in coordination with the zoological survey department of Pakistan, conducted a survey to collect data on turtles in the Indus River. The survey concentrated on the waters linking Sukkur Barrage, Guddu Barrage and Jamal Din, as well as the waters around Kandhkot. Another survey was conducted just two years later, in 2005, and two species, Pangshura Smithii and Chitra Indica, which were included in the previous survey results, were missing from the results of the second survey.
Malaysia seizes smuggled tortoises worth $300,000
In 2009, reports showed the Indus River was home to eight species of turtles. However, by 2012, there were just three types of species left, which included two hard-shelled spotted pond and Indian roofed turtles and one soft shelled peacock turtle.

Data collected in 2014 found that the soft shelled Indian flap shell turtles were the highest in number among other species of turtles, but sadly, a 2015 survey reported that this species had gone missing. In 2016, some surveys argued that all sweet water turtles' existence was endangered.

From 2006 to 2008, the wildlife department registered 22 cases of illegal smuggling of turtles from various cities such as Sukkur, Rohri, Ghotki, Pannu Aqil, Abro, Guddu, Kashmore and Kandhkot. Between 2009 and 2014, 37 smugglers were arrested in Sukkur, Khairpur, Dokri, Kashmore, Kamber-Shahdadkot, Guddu and Larkana for the illegal trade of turtles. Likewise, from 2014 to 2017, nine cases were registered in connection with the illegal smuggling of black spotted turtles.
'Karachi biggest market for endangered species'
Before 2007, sweet water turtles in Pakistan were not included in the endangered species list, but now, they are considered an endangered species in all provinces of the country. In 2014, the Sindh government added eight species of turtles in 'Sindh's Most Endangered Wildlife Species' list. The turtles located in the waters on either side of the Indus River (till the Kotri Barrage) are the prime targets and prey of the smuggling mafia.

Initially, the process of fishing out these turtles was done by amateurs, but it is now being done by expert fishermen and locals who specialise in this type of fishing. Turtles weighing between two grammes and two kilogrammes are caught and sold to a middleman for Rs200 to Rs500.

The clearing and forwarding expenses at the airport have seen a significant rise in their price and these turtles can cost up to Rs4,000.

Therefore, each shipment's cost may vary between Rs1.2 million and Rs1.5 million and includes 200 to 250 units. The demand for these turtles in the international market is great, with each unit costing around $1,500. Hence, a smuggler gets a hefty return on his 'investment' per shipment. Barely one in five smugglers is caught by the authorities and even if they are caught, they get out of it by paying a minimal fine.
Wildlife dept recovers eight endangered falcons
The demand for black spotted turtles in China is very high as they are considered a symbol of good luck by people who keep the turtles in their homes. Chinese and Taiwanese pharmaceutical companies also use the turtles for medicinal purposes. These turtles are also used for making jewellery and leather as well as trinkets for tourists.

The chief controller of the Sindh wildlife department, Saeed Baloch, said that officials of the department recently recovered 68 soft-shelled Chitra Indica turtles from the Karachi airport. Their insides were dried up and ready for smuggling. An FIR was registered against the smugglers and they were fined Rs5.44 million, according to the Sindh Turtles and Tortoise Protection, Conservation Act, 2015. The Sindh government also seized two bags worth of smuggled turtles in 2015. Each bag carried 218 turtles.

Baloch also said that people in interior Sindh catch turtles due to poverty, lack of education and unemployment, as it is a lucrative business. A joint operation of the federal and provincial governments, along with law enforcement agencies will soon be launched against the smuggling mafia.

Read full story

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Illegal trade of turtles destablising Pakistan's ecological system | The Express Tribune

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KARACHI: The illegal trade of endangered turtles might be a lucrative industry but it is upsetting the natural order of Pakistan's wildlife environment. These turtles are a natural filter and key components of eradicating water pollution as well as various bacteria which is harmful for human health.

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Extinction of Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) from Pakistan

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Extinction of Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) from Pakistan

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This species gone extinct from Pakistan. A few Gharials were seen in Eastern Nara in 1980.  IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
For more detail visit: https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/108410-extinction-of-gharials-in-pakistan-feared

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This tortoise is beautiful and small sized. It is illegally traded to Europe where it kept as pet. its population is in decreasing. Its IUCN status is Vulnerable.

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Muree Hill’s Frog (Nanorana vicina) is one of the least studied anurans of South-east Asia. The species is also under-represented in the global amphibian literature. Since its first report and description in 1872, it has never been collected from its type locality viz.

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Scientifically known as Mediodactylus walli

(Ingoldby, 1922).

It is found in Shrubland, Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks). It IUCN status is Least Concern

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It scientific name is Eremias cholistanica Baig & Masroor, 2006. It is endemic to Cholistan desert on Eastern side of Punjab province.

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Its scientific name is Enhydris pakistanica. It is found in wetland areas. Its IUCN status is Least Concern

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It is native to southeastern Afghanistan along the Kabul River and its tributaries, its range extending into northern Pakistan. It can be found in the Hindu Kush Mountains. Its habitat includes rocky desert and sparse grassland, but it avoids sand. It does not live in large colonies and is most active in April and May.

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Dark-blotched Saw-scaled Viper 
(Endemic snake)

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Dark-blotched Saw-scaled Viper 
(Endemic snake)

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It scientific name  Echis carinatus astolae, Mertens (1970). It is found in small uninhabited Pakistani island in the Arabian Sea approximately 39 km southeast of the fishing port of Pasni.

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Checklist of Endemic Reptiles Speciess from PAKISTAN

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Checklist of Endemic Reptiles Speciess from PAKISTAN

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was prepared by Rafaqat Masroor of the Pakistan Museum of Natural History and is current to 2009. For a checklist of endemic reptiles following the taxonomy of the

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Checklist of Endemic Amphibians species from PAKISTAN

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Checklist of Endemic Amphibians species from PAKISTAN

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For a checklist of endemic amphibians following the taxonomy of AmphibiaWeb (2013) used elsewhere on this site see here.

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VERY INFORMATIVE VEDIO:
"The Jogi snake charmers of Pakistan 

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VERY INFORMATIVE VEDIO:
"The Jogi snake charmers of Pakistan 

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The "Jogi" is community of people in Pakistan's Sindh province believe snake charming is an innate skill that they pass on from generation to generation.

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The #Jogi snake charmers of #Pakistan's #Sindh province,

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Public attitude towards amphibian and reptiles in Pakistan

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Public attitude towards amphibian and reptiles in Pakistan

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The Spiny Tailed Lizard scientifically known as Uromastyx hardwickii.

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KARACHI: Illegal wildlife trade continues unabated in the city as the wildlife department seems to lack the 'muscles' needed to take action against such activities, it emerged on Monday.

The trade involves spiny-tailed lizards (locally called Sandha) and marine turtles, both species protected under the law; one was found on sale in Saddar while the other in Clifton recently.

"The lizards (Uromastyx hardwickii) are only for display so people can see that we got the special lizards and the oil on sale is one hundred per cent genuine," said Umer Ustad, a street vendor found engaged in the sale of spiny-tailed lizards outside the city courts on Monday.

The oil, he claimed, was an aphrodisiac and provided relief in muscle and joint pain, and internal and external injury. "My father was the one who started this business and I took it up after his death," he said.

Ustad had on display many small bottles of varying sizes that he was selling that ranged from Rs100 to Rs400.

"We catch lizards from the area near Hub chowki. I don't think their number is decreasing. So many people die every day but you can see that the human population is only increasing," he argued, when asked whether he had observed a reduction in the lizard population.

He refused to answer any more questions but had no reservations with his animals being photographed.

Sharing his observations, Syed Mohammad Shamim Fakhri, who has done extensive field work on reptiles and remained associated with the defunct Zoological Survey of Pakistan (later merged into the Marine Biological Research Laboratories), said that the lizards were widely hunted for their fat which is said to have aphrodisiac properties.

"They are caught either with the help of traps or by digging their burrows. Some hunters, however, used water to drive the lizards out of their holes," he explained.

Two types of spiny-tailed lizards are found in Pakistan; Uromastyx hardwickii (local name Sandha) is found in desert areas all over Pakistan while the Uromastyx asmussi (endemic to Balochistan) is extremely rare.

According to experts there is no scientific evidence to show that the lizards have aphrodisiac qualities.
Turtle sale
A pair of green turtles was recently found on sale on a street near the junior section of Karachi Grammar School in Clifton. They were purchased by a teacher who safely released them into the sea a day later.

"I purchased them for Rs1,500 from a street vendor. He normally sells fish there but on that day he was selling a pair of turtles," Meera Hassan told Dawn, adding that she reported the incident to the wildlife department but received no reply.

No official of the department was available to respond to these two cases.

The largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) has one of their important nesting grounds along the beaches of Pakistan.

Other turtle species found in Pakistan are: Hawksbill turtle (critically endangered), loggerhead turtle (endangered), leatherback turtle (rare and endangered) and olive Ridley turtle (endangered).
Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2016

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Wildlife dept not doing enough to curb illegal trade

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KARACHI: Illegal wildlife trade continues unabated in the city as the wildlife department seems to lack the 'muscles' needed to take action against such activities, it emerged on Monday. The trade involves spiny-tailed lizards (locally called Sandha) and marine turtles, both species protected under the law; one was found on sale in Saddar while the other in Clifton recently.

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Theme 3 Step 3:
Reptile Physiological adaptation in Pakistan

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Theme 3 Step 3:
Reptile Physiological adaptation in Pakistan

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Three Toed Snake Skink Ophiomorus tridactylus (BLYTH, 1853) is adopted to desert (sand dune) environment .

1. Head wedge shaped with a pronounced canthus rostralis.
2.  The eyes and legs are reduced and there are no external ear openings.
3.  Body scales smooth for easy sliding with in sand.
4. Animal is completely fossorial to avoid desiccation from desert heat and prey.

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Theme 3 Step 3:
Amphibian Physiological adaptation in Pakistan

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Theme 3 Step 3:
Amphibian Physiological adaptation in Pakistan

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Although Pakistan is poor in Amphibians diversity with 23 species only. Ladakh High Altitude Toad Scutiger occidentalis  is a toad living in alpine environment.
1. Active only only for 3-4 months. Breed and spawn in this short time.
2. Body surface tuberculate and rough which make them unpalatable for predation
3. Their tadpoles overwinter and take more than one year to develop into metamorphic juveniles, which is a common adaptation for high-elevation amphibians.

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My Comparisons of a Colleague HerpetoArea

I am  very impressed with HerpetoArea of Marley Gomez. Its all posts were well prepared and concise.  All aspect are well covered and explained. It feels as someone telling story about Colombia's Herpeto Fauna.

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Theme 4: Step 1
Extinction Risks and Conservation of Madgascar's Reptiles 

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Theme 4: Step 1
Extinction Risks and Conservation of Madgascar's Reptiles 

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1. Alternate sustainable livelihood opportunities for forest dwelling communities.

2. Strict law enforcement to halt illegal reptile culling for bush-meat particularly in protected ares.

3. Efficient check on reptile's pet trade at port of exit and around protected areas.

4. Study effects of logging and forest degradation on reptiles and how their diversity prevail in degraded and secondary habitats.

5. Educate communities about possible disease break out associated bush-meat consumption

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Quacks Illegally Killing Spiny Tail Lizard for Medicinal Oil 

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Quacks Illegally Killing Spiny Tail Lizard for Medicinal Oil 

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This species is scientifically known as Saara hardwickii. The species is commonly distributed in the deserts (Cholistan, Thal Thar) and surrounding arid alluvial zones in Pakistan. This species is mainly herbivore. It is hunted by local peoples in the belief that the fat extracted from it is an aphrodisiac.

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Quacks Killing Indian spiny-tailed lizard for Oil

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THEME 4: STEP 3 Indus River Turtles Under Threat

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THEME 4: STEP 3 Indus River Turtles Under Threat

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The Indus is the longest river of Pakistan with total length of 2,880 km. The river has a total drainage area exceeding 1,165,000 km². Pakistan has eight species of freshwater turtles, some of them are not evaluated by IUCN. All species are under threat because of habitat deterioration and illegal hunting for meat and shell. Their population is at risk and if this situation prevail they will soon become endangered or extinct.  As a result, three species are particularly vulnerable, namely Geoclemys hamiltonii, Hardella thurjii and Aspideretes gangeticus whereas Chitra indica is endangered and Kachuga smithii is near threatened.

River indus map https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSB97mUnbC_Syb-2ZRKwEHDFxYFTLVwk86r9YLTtzReTUyvQ1l7Ew

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Checklist of Fresh Turtle species in Pakistan

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Checklist of Fresh Turtle species in Pakistan

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1. Chitra indica (IUCN: Endangered)
2. Nilssonia hurum (IUCN: Vulnerable)
3. Nilssonia gangetica (IUCN: Vulnerable)
4. Hardella thurjii (IUCN: Vulnerable)
5. Geoclemys hamiltonii  (IUCN: Vulnerable)
6. Pangshura smithii (Near Threatend)
7. Pangshura tecta (IUCN: Least Concern)
8. Lissemys punctata (IUCN: Least Concern)

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Habitat Fragmentation: blockage and diversion of Indus river water through dams and barrages.
Habitat Shrinkage:
Changes rain frequency, agriculture intensification and flow regimes resulted in habitat shrinkage.
Urbanization: Housing, industries and recreational activities along banks of river.
Sold waste & Untreated Sewerage Disposal: Industrial, urban and agricultural wastes direct disposal deteriorate river ecosystem.
Illegal trade in body parts of softshell species on commercial scale.
Perception turtles are  deleterious to fish economy by the fisher folk.

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Mass killing of freshwater turtles continues

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Mass killing of freshwater turtles continues

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This newspaper article has been published in the Daily Newpaper "Dawn, May 23rd, 2018"

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KARACHI: Mass indiscriminate killing of freshwater turtles, a protected species, has been continuing on both sides of the River Indus from Guddu Barrage to the Indus delta for more than a month, sources told Dawn.

The recent surge in poachers' activities, according to the sources, has been due to prevailing acute water shortages, making these endangered reptiles vulnerable.

A number of poachers' groups, they said, were involved in the brutal slaughter of turtles; some were poisoning them while others bludgeoning them to death as they came out of water to feed on the bait.

According to sources, a poachers' group, including four women, was recently spotted in Alif Kacho, an area located along upstream Sukkur Barrage, last week before the wildlife department took notice and arrested one person.

"I saw people hitting turtles with a sharp object. They also got a jute bag filled with dried parts of turtles," Mohammad Khan, a Sukkur-based resident, told Dawn on the phone.

Mr Khan happened to be in the same area with his friends when a poachers' group was active.

According to sources, some poachers' groups have come from Rahim Yar Khan and are coordinating with each other to meet a certain target.

"Often, turtle meat/parts are dried and later smuggled out of the country either through Karachi or Lahore," a wildlife department official said on condition of anonymity.

The killing of turtles was indiscriminate and all species of hard and soft shelled-turtles had been targeted. However, only soft-shelled turtles were being picked up for collection as they were in high demand in the Chinese market, he added.

Devastating loss

Upon contact, conservator wildlife Taj Mohammad Sheikh said that he couldn't confirm poachers' alleged activities, but had ordered an inquiry.

"The report being prepared by the deputy conservator of Sukkur will be available next week which I will share with you," he said, adding that so far the department had arrested one person who claimed that he had come from Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab.

On turtle mortalities, he said: "The man was caught with two dead turtles. Another alleged trafficker dealing in turtles has been arrested from Shikarpur. But no turtle was found from his custody," he said.

It is important to recall here that illegal trade of freshwater turtles, a protected species, has seen a dramatic increase in recent years, especially in Sindh and Punjab, where their population has declined up to 80 per cent.

Eight species of freshwater turtles are found in Pakistan and their habitat exists in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Experts describe loss of these endangered reptiles as devastating for environment as turtles are among the key species which keep aquatic environment clean by feeding upon dead organic material and dead fish.

Recent surveys conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in collaboration with Sindh wildlife department have identified districts of Thatta, Sujawal, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah), Badin and Karachi as hotspots of illegal turtle trade in Sindh.

"There is no defined season for collecting freshwater turtles and the species is caught throughout the year. It was noted during field surveys that some poachers during their hunt for turtles, also catch other reptiles and mammals that they may encounter. For instance, snakes, monitor lizards, hedgehogs, jackals, jungle cats, otters and crocodiles," said the report.

Citing some other surveys, the report said that freshwater turtles caught in the interior districts of Sindh were destined for Karachi, from where these turtles or their body parts were smuggled to other countries such as Hong Kong, other parts of China, South Korea and Vietnam (via air or sea routes).

Some traffickers, the report said, had extended their network to Quetta, and used the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to smuggle wildlife through illegal means.

It also pointed out that locals, particularly fishermen, were found unaware of the ecological role the turtles played in the river ecosystem and considered them as harmful to fish economy.

In Balochistan, freshwater turtles were seen in three canals of Jaffarabad and Nasirabad districts but there was no evidence of turtle targeting.

Apart from other factors, according to the report, degradation and destruction of habitat was also contributing to decline in turtle population.
Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018

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Mass killing of freshwater turtles continues

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KARACHI: Mass indiscriminate killing of freshwater turtles, a protected species, has been continuing on both sides of the River Indus from Guddu Barrage to the Indus delta for more than a month, sources told Dawn. The recent surge in poachers' activities, according to the sources, has been due to prevailing acute water shortages, making these endangered reptiles vulnerable.

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Wildlife Legislation Improved:  For successful conservation Wildlife acts have been amended in two province o Pakistan. Now freshwater turtles are included in Schedule III which is the highest protection.
Awareness posters: Freshwater turtles awareness posters  developed highlight the importance of these species and to create awareness among fisherman and general public.
Capacity Building of Provincial Wildlife Department: For combating illegal trade in body parts of freshwater turtles Wildlife departments were trained in disposal of seized confiscations and release of turtles in their natural habitats.
Social media  based conservation campaigns: Today cell phone are common therefore facebook, twitter based ticker should be launch for awarness of local communities.

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THEME 5: STEP 2 Business Plan To Promote Antivenom Production

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THEME 5: STEP 2 Business Plan To Promote Antivenom Production

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About 500,000 venomous snake bites are reported in the world annually, resulting in about 25,000 deaths each year with an overall mortality rate of about 5% ( Anderson, 1994). Snake bite is occupational injury and inflict farmers, herders and ordinary people in ankle and feet.The estimated annual snake bite mortality rate is 1.9 per 100.000.
Patients life can be easily saved if antivenom is administered timely.
Cobra, Echis, Krait and Russel’s Viper are the most poisonous snake in Pakistan. It is need of hour to produce their antivenom.

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Snake Venom Production: Cobra, Echis, Krait and Russel’s Viper will be reared through captive breading. Venom will be extracted from these Lab reared snakes. Used to produce antivenom
Snakes wild harvest will be discouraged.

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Thees antivenom will be supplied to all state and private hospitals to save precious human life.

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Group 6: Climate Change effects on Amphibians and Reptiles in Pakistan

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Group 6: Climate Change effects on Amphibians and Reptiles in Pakistan

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Pakistan is situated in temperate zone. Its climate is mostly arid with hot summers and cool or cold winters. There is wide variations between extremes of temperature at different locations with little rainfall. These generalizations should not, however, obscure the distinct differences existing among locations. For example, the coastal area along the Arabian Sea is usually warm, whereas the frozen snow-covered ridges of the Karakoram Range and of other mountains of the far north are so cold year-round that they are only accessible by world-class climbers for a few weeks in May and June of each year (Blood, 1994).

Pakistan’s population has grown from 37.5 million in 1950 to 207.7 million in 2017 (GOP, 2018).   Increased human population resulted tremendous pressure on natural resources leads to industrialization, removal of natural vegetation, overgrazing and desertification of already arid landscape. Therefore, in the last 50 years, the annual mean temperature has increased by roughly 0.5°C. The number of heat wave days per year has increased nearly five times in the last 30 years. Annual rainfall pattern has historically shown high variability but has slightly increased in the last 50 years. Sea level along the Karachi coast has risen approximately 10 centimeters in the last century.

By the end of 21st century, the annual mean temperature is expected to rise by 3°C to 5°C for a central global emissions scenario in Pakistan, whereas higher global emissions estimates may report a rise of 4°C to 6°C. Average annual rainfall is not expected to have a significant long-term trend, but is expected to exhibit large inter-annual variability. Sea level is expected to rise by a further 60 centimeters by the end of the century and will most likely affect the low-lying coastal areas south of Karachi toward Keti Bander and the Indus River delta.

The amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan are represented by 219 species including 24 amphibians and 195 reptiles. Of them nine amphibians and 13 reptilian species are endemic to Pakistan (Iffat, 1994, Khan, 1976, Khan, 2004, Khan, 2006, Khan, 2008). In Pakistan, arid to semi-arid climatic conditions prevail which make it an amphibian-poor country. The distribution and spatial pattern of herpetofauna is based on their interactions with the local environment and the individual's physiological requirements.

The climate is continuously changing for amphibians and reptiles through the last 350 million years (Duellman & Trueb, 1985). During last century, sudden temperature rising resulted a great impact on ectotherm organisms (animals that depend on environmental temperature to achieve physiological operative body temperatures) (Walter et al., 2002; Zachos et al., 2001). Therefore, the earth temperature consistent increase could affect physiological, reproductive, ecological, behavioral, and distribution traits among amphibians and reptiles (Cleland et al., 2006; Dorcas et al., 2004; Pough, 2001; Gvozdik & Castilla, 2001). In Pakistan, most of the amphibians and reptiles related research has been focused on faunistic, distribution and niche modelling (Dubois and Khan, 1979, Akram and Qureshi, 1995, Akram and Qureshi, 1997, Rastegar-Pouyani, 1999, Khan, 1987, Khan, 2006, Khan, 2010, Masroor, 2012 and Masroor, 2013). In this context, there is no published work that evaluate or summarize the evidence of climate change effects in amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan.

As earlier discussed there is no published information on impact of Climate Change on amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan. Therefore, Mr. Rafaqat Masroor, Associate Curator (Herpetology), Pakistan Museum of Natural History was consulted for expert opinion in this regard.

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Amphibians are highly sensitive to increased temperature because of their permeable skin and poiquiloterms behavior. Temperature may strongly influence on species geographic distribution, so on the amphibian’s distribution limits are determine by the extreme temperatures, in consequence the species that with broad tolerance to thermal regimens should be able to expand their ranges and then colonize new habitats. Although Pakistan endemic and habitat specific species like Nanorana vicina (Murree Hill Frog), Bufo pseudoraddei baturae (Batura Glacier Green Toad) and Scutiger occidentalis (Deosai Toad) populations will be strongly affected with temperature regime shifting. Climate change will cause species migration to higher altitudes and subsequently leads to habitat shrinkage or loss and distribution. It will also effect on their emergence and reproduction in their habitats.
Reptiles like different gekko genera i.e., Cyrtodactylus, Cyrtopodion (Ground Gekkos), Alsophylax, Mesodactylus (Stone Geckos), Tenuidactylus (Standstone Gekkos) residing in restricted habitats.  Thus, average temperatures variation will cause shift species ranges and distributional limits. Temperature change regimes could result in an alteration of development patterns of lizards and cause changes in body shape and size of adults and in the way, they use their habitat, behavior strategies, and physiological performance.

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Pakistan climate is mostly arid subtropical with few rains. In climate change scenario there is considerable variation in the timing of receding of glaciers which resulted in changing duration and intensity of the monsoon precipitation. This is especially threatening because Indus Basin 50-70% flow mostly depends on the glaciers melt water. Monsoon rains average annual rainfall is not expected to have a significant long-term trend, but is expected to exhibit large inter-annual variability in Pakistan. This precipitation change will effect on population of amphibians because of highly permeable skin, and both aquatic and terrestrial life stages. These attributes make Pakistan’s endemic amphibian fauna very sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation. In contrast, reptiles are known to favour warm areas and might therefore be less severely affected by increasing temperatures or may even benefit from global warming.

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The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as the red-eared terrapin, is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of the pond slider. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world. It has, therefore, become the most commonly traded turtle in the world. It is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases, and has become an invasive species in many areas, where it outcompetes native species. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species published by the IUCN.

Now a days websites like OLX (www.olx.com), and Pet factory (www.petsfactory.pk) are actively selling red eared slider. This turtle is highly invasive and threat for Pakistan indigenous freshwater turtle fauna. Its illegal online trade need to be timely checked by National Council for Conservation of Wildlife (NCCW) and provincial Wildlife departments. Its invasive status is not yet determined in field.

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In many areas of the world, chytridiomycosis has been spread into native ecosystems via biological invasions caused by alien invasive species, translocations of native species, and the amphibian trade (Cunningham et al. 2005, Fisher & Garner 2008). Batrachochytrium dendrobatidisis not yet reported from Pakistan. Although this disease is a major issue of amphibian conservation, patchy distributed surveys will be extremely useful for the early detection of new infections hotspots across wide, poorly investigated areas.

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Akram, M.S. & Qureshi, J.I. 1995. Snakes of Faisalabad, Punjab. The Snakes, 27 (1), pp. 25-29

Akram, M.S. & Qureshi, J.I. 1997. Snakes of Sargodha, Punjab. Zoological Survey of Pakistan, 13, pp. 31-43

Dorcas, M. E., Hopkins W.A. & Roe, J. H. 2004. Effects of body mass and temperature on standard              metabolic rate in the eastern Diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). Copeia, Vol. 2004, No 1 (Feb, 2004), pp. 145–151. ISSN: 0045-8511.

Cleland, E.E., Chiariello, N.R., Loarie, S.R., Mooney, H.A. & Field, C.B., 2006. Diverse responses of                phenology to global changes in a grassland ecosystem. Proceedings of the National Academy of              Sciences, USA, Vol. 103, No 37 (September 2006), pp. 13740–13744. ISSN: 0027-8424.

Chaudhry, Qamar Uz Zaman. 2017. Climate Change Profile of Pakistan. © Asian Development Bank.                 http://hdl.handle.net/11540/8006. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO (PDF ISBN 978-92-9257-722-3)

Cunningham, A.A., Garner, T.W.J., Aguilar-Sanchez, V., Banks, B., Foster, J., Sainsbury, A.W., Perkins, M.,

Walker, S.F., Hyatt, A.D., Fisher, M.C. (2005): Emergence of amphibian chytridiomycosis in             Britain. Veterinary Record 157: 386-387.

Dubois and Khan, 1979. A new species of frog (genus Rana, subgenus Paa) from northern Pakistan             (Amphibia, Anura). Journal Herpetology, 13 (1979), pp. 403-410

Duellman, W. E. & Trueb, L. 1986. Biology of amphibians. McGraw-Hill Book Company, ISBN:         080184780X, Toronto.

Fisher, M.C., Garner, T.W.J. (2008): The relationship between the introduction of Batrachochytrium                 dendrobatidis, the international trade in amphibians and introduced amphibian species. Fungal   Biology Reviews 21: 2-9.

Government of Pakistan. 2018. Population, Labour Force and Employment. Economic survey of Pakistan.                 Ministry of Finance, 240 pages.

Gvozˇdik L,and A.M. Castilla 2001. A comparative study of preferred body temperatures and critical          thermal tolerance limits among populations of Zootoca vivipara (Squamata: Lacertidae) along an altitudinal gradient. Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 35 No 3 (September, 2001), pp. 486–492. ISSN:         0022-1511.

Khan, M.S. 1987. Checklist, distribution and zoogeographic affinities of amphibian and reptiles of               Balochistan Proceedings Pakistan Congress of Zoology, 7 (1987), pp. 105-112.

Khan, M.S. 2006. Amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida,        USA (2006), pp. 1-311.

Khan, M.S. 2006. Checklist of amphibians of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Wildlife, 1 (2) (2010), pp. 37-     42.

Masroor, Rafaqat. 2012. A Contribution to the herpetology of northern Pakistan: The amphibians and      reptiles of Margalla Hills National Park and surrounding regions. Society for the Study of      Amphibians and Reptiles (USA) and Chimaira (Germany)Vol. 28. 217 pages, 106 colour photos             and colour distribution maps, tables. ISBN: 978-0-916984-83-0.

Masroor, Rafaqat. 2013. Dice Snakes in the western Himalayas: discussion of potential expansion routes of Natrix tessellata after its rediscovery in Pakistan. Salamandra 49(4):229-233.

Peter Blood 1994 ed. Pakistan: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1994.                 http://www.countrystudies.us/pakistan/

Pough, H., Andrews, R. M., Cadle, J. E., Crump, M. L., Savitzky, A. H. & Wells, K. D. 2001. Herpetology,       (Second Edition), Prentice Hall, ISBN: 9780131008496, New Jersey.

N. Rastegar-Pouyani, 1999. Two new subspecies of Trapelus agilis complex (Sauria: Agamidae) from          lowland southwestern Iran and southeastern Pakistan Asiatic Herpetological Research, 8 (1999), pp. 90-101.

Saúl López-Alcaide and Rodrigo Macip-Ríos (2011). Effects of Climate Change in Amphibians and Reptiles,

Biodiversity Loss in a Changing Planet, PhD. Oscar Grillo (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-707-9, InTech, Available                 from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/biodiversity-loss-in-a-changing-           planet/effects-of-climate-change-inamphibians-and-reptiles

Walther, G., R., Post, E., Convey, P., Menzel, A., Parmesan, C., Beebee, T J. C., Fromentin, J. M., Hoegh-    Guldberg, O. & Bairlein, F. 2002. Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature, Vol. 416,          No 6879 (March, 2002), pp. 398-395. ISSN: 0028-0836.

Zachos J., M. Pagani, L. Sloan, E. Thomas & K. Billups 2001. Trends, Rhythms, and Aberrations in Global    Climate 65 Ma. to Present. Science Vol. 292; No 5517 (April, 2001), pp. 686-693. 0027-8424.