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African Journal of Science and Research,2014,(3)4:21-23
ISSN: 2306-5877
Available Online: http://ajsr.rstpublishers.com/
AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF AMPHIBIANS
IN SINDH.
Abeda Begum*1,Syed Ali Ghalib2, Muhammad Zaheer Khan2, Afsheen Zehra3, Abdur Razzaq Khan4, Babar Hussain5,
Tahera Abdul Latif2and Fozia Tabbassum2
1)Department of Environmental Science, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.
2)Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
3)Department of Geology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.
4)Halcrow Pakistan (Pvt) Limited, Karachi, Pakistan.
5)International Union for Conservation of Nature, Karachi, Pakistan.
Email: [email protected]
Received:30 June2014
Accepted: 29,July2014
Abstract
In Sindh Province, five species of frogs and two species of toads have been recorded. These include Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Common
Skittering Frog), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Tiger Frog), Sphaeroteca breviceps(Burrowing Frog),Limnonectes limnocharis(Indian Cricket Frog),
Fejervarya sahyadrensis (Southern Cricket Frog),Bufo stomaticus(Indian Valley Toad) and Bufo melanostictus(Common Asian Toad).Surveys
were undertaken in the selected localities throughout the province during 2010-2013. As a result of various environmental threats, four species
of amphibians viz. Tiger Frog, Burrowing Frog, Southern Cricket Frog and Indian Cricket Frog have declined and may be recorded as rare
species in Sindh, while Common Asian Toad was recorded as less common and Common Skittering Frog to be quite common.
Keywords: Sindh, status, threats, frogs and toads.
INTRODUCTION
Since the 1980s, herpetologists have been researching, and
documenting the overall decline in the health and abundance of
amphibian populations [1]. Global declines in amphibian populations
have beenattributed to a number of anthropogenic activities,including
habitat destruction, habitat alteration, and introduction of exotic
species, exposure to environmental contaminants, climate change,
increased acid precipitation and increased UV flux associated with
ozone depletion [2].
Since past two decades, amphibians have gained much importance
for their decline in population worldwide mainly due to ecological
problems that destroy their habitat. Ecological status of amphibian
fauna is largely studied in several parts of the world but narrowly
studied in Pakistan [3]. Several species of amphibians provide
benefit to human beings. They also provide food for fish, reptiles,
birds,and mammals. Frog legs are considered to be delicacies[4].
Amphibians have very porous skin, it is considered that they may be
more susceptible to chemicals in the environment than many other
animals [2].The impact of the frog leg trade in several countries, such
as the USA, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh has been also a cause
of amphibian declines [5, 6, 7, and 8].
Like other amphibians, Ranids are economically useful in reducing
the number of insects that transmit diseases or destroy crops [9].
Skin of some Ranids has also been evaluated for wound healing
efficiency [2]. The lipid components of skin in specific Ranid species
are determined to have pharmaceutical and therapeutic potential
which is significant in wound healing [10].
As many as 21 species of amphibians have been recorded in
Pakistan having four families viz. Bufonidae, Megophryidae,
Microhylidae and Ranidae.
No detailed work has been reported on the status and distribution of
amphibians in Sindh province but the most important contribution to
the bioecology, taxonomy and effect of pesticides relating to the
amphibians of Pakistan have been made by the following:[11,7, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18].
The main objective of the present study was to record the overall
distribution and status of amphibiansin Sindh Province
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Study areas
On the basis of our observations,areas such as Ghullamullah Canal,
Sakro Branch, Tallah,Wadi Khar Dhund, Jafri Lake, LBOD,
MahboobshahLake, RBOD areas, Nara Wetland Complex, Nara
Desert Wildlife Sanctuary,DehAkro II Wildlife Sanctuary, Rann of
Kutch, Chotiari Wetland Complex,Haleji Lake, Drigh Lake, Hadero
Lake, Keenjhar Lake, Manchhar Lake,Khirthar Protected Area
Complex, Lyari River, Hub River,Hub Dam, Karachi Coast andMalir
River were selected as study areas (see Table 1).The selection of
aquatic habitat for present study is due to the fact that every
amphibian needs water during the breeding season thus water
quality has great effect on their growth, development and survival [19
and 20].
A. Field Surveys
Standard surveys techniques were employed for the observation of
frogs and toads.
1. Direct Sightings
Field surveys were undertaken during the period 2010-2013 in prime
wildlife habitats of Sindh Province.Mostly frogs were observed or
netted during the day but some frogs were observed at night, while
toads were observed at night. At dusk and during night,
however,they prowl on the ground and were easily observed.During
really warm weather periods, many amphibians are most active at
night.
2. Incidental Sightings
These are also helpful to determine the presence, location, habitat
types and population status of the species.
Abeda Begum et.al
22
3. Study of Basking Behavior
In cooler weather, the cold blooded amphibians avoid living in water
and so they come outside the water to enjoy sunshine and to keep
them warm.
B. Secondary Data Collection
Information was also collected by contacting field staff of Sindh
Wildlife Department, local fishermen, field staff of Irrigation
Department and members of local communities.
Tiger Frog have also been recorded from Matiari District [24].
Skittering Frog and Indus or Marbled Toad have been reported from
Haleji and Keenjhar Lakes and Indus Valley Toad (Fig. 1), Skittering
Frog(Fig. 2) and Burrowing Frog (Fig. 3) have also been reported
from Hub Dam Area, district Karachi[25 and 26].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the present study, seven species of amphibians comprising of
five species of frogs and two species of toads have been recorded
(Table 2).The data regarding the distribution and status of the
amphibians in Sindh have been collected by the present workers
during the EIA studies undertaken through most of the Protected
Areas of Sindh during the period 2010-2013. So naturally it has
covered nearly all the prime habitats of the species. Some of the left
over areas in Sindh have been recently studied by other workers.
Table 2. List of Amphibians recorded from Sindh
Order
Family
Species
Common
name
Status
Bufonidae
Bufo stomaticus
Indus Valley
Toad
C
Bufo
melanostictus
Common
Asian Toad
LC
Euphlyctis
cyanophlyctis
Skittering
Frog
C
Hoplobatrachus
tigerinus
Tiger Frog /
Bull Frog
R
Sphaeroteca
breviceps
Burrowing
Frog
R
Limnonectes
limnocharis
Indian
Cricket Frog
R
Fejervarya
sahyadrensis
Southern
Cricket Frog
R
Anura
Ranidae
Legend: C = Common
LC = Less Common
R = Rare
Four species of amphibians were recorded from the four priority sites
of IFAP during 2010-2011 as detailed below: Marbled Toad was
recorded from Nara Wetland Complex, Manchhar Lake and
Khyberani Forest; Tiger Frog was recorded from Nara Wetland
Complex, Kharochhan and Khyberani Forest; Skittering Frog was
recorded from all the four sites and Indus Valley Toad was recorded
from Kharochhan only [21].
Three amphibian species including Indus Valley Toad, Skittering
Frog and Bull Frog have been recorded from the Chotiari Wetland
Complex, district Sanghar[22]. The same species have been
recorded from Larkana district [23]. Common Skittering Frog and
Based on present study, Skittering Frog is the most common frog
species in Sindh, while Indus Valley Toad is the commonest toad,
which is very widely distributed.The populations of Tiger Frog,
Burrowing Frog and Indian Cricket Frog have decreased. These
species were recorded as rare in study areas. The primary causes of
depletion of amphibian populations in Sindh are: pollution, loss of
habitat, use of pesticides, effect of climate change, drought, invasive
species, road mortality and over-harvesting for the trade. Frogs are
extensively used for demonstrationin in schools, colleges and
universities and in experimentation in the laboratories. Capture for
biological research appears to have affected the local populations of
frogs and toads. As regards their protection / conservation status,
none of the species of amphibians is totally protected in Sindh,
neither any of their species is threatened; all are having their status
as ‘Least Concerned”. Least Concerned (LC) is an IUCN Red List
Category assigned to extant species which have been evaluated but
do not qualify for any other category.
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Table 1.List of Study Areas
S.NO.
Study Areas
District
01
RBOD
02
Chotiari
Wetland
Complex
Darawat Dam
Deh Akro II Wildlife
Sanctuary
Drigh Lake
Ghullamullah
Canal
Hadero Lake
Dadu,
Thatta
Sanghar
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
areas
Haleji Lake
Hub Dam
Hub River
Jafri Lake
Karachi
Coast
Keenjhar Lake
Khirthar
Protected
Area Complex
Lyari River
Mahboobshah Lake
Malir River
Manchar Lake
Nara Desert Wildlife
Sanctuary
Nara
Wetland
Complex
Rann of Kuch
Sakro Branch
Wetlands in the Left
Bank Outfall Drain
Area
Jamshoro,
Jamshoro
Shaheed Benazirabad
Larkana
Thatta
Thatta
Thatta
Karachi
Karachi
Thatta
Karachi
Thatta
Jamshoro, Malir
Karachi
Badin
Karachi
Dadu
Sukkur,Ghotki,
Khairpur, Sanghar
Khairpur
Tharparkar
Thatta
Thatts, Sujawal, Badin

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