Abstract

A survey was conducted in the Kerala part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve for documenting the reptiles and amphibians. Random survey was conducted in summer and the two rainy seasons covering the entire study area to document the species diversity. To estimate the species abundance, Broad Quadrat Sampling method was employed using plots of 8 X 8 m size, in all habitat types. Parameters such as temperature, humidity, altitude, distance to water source, humus depth, canopy cover, plant species, number oflogs and microhabitat of the species were also recorded. Thirty three species of amphibians and 62 species of reptiles were documented. The reptiles, Mabuya allapallensis and Aspideretes leithi and the reptile Uraeoptyphlus menonii were documented from new areas. Ansonia rubigina was recorded from Wayanad and the other two from Nilambur. A comparison of the diversity and abundance between habitats viz. evergreen, semi evergreen, deciduous, grassland and plantation showed the following. The highest diversity of both amphibians and reptiles was found in deciduous forests. Amphibians were most abundant in plantation and reptiles in deciduous. Leaf litter was the most preferred microhabitat of amphibians. Reptiles had a preference for tree trunk. However, there were species specific variations. Only a few environmental parameters had positive correlation with species abundance. Nilambur was the richest for both the groups, among the areas. The species were more or less evenly distributed in the study are