Journal of Environmental Biology

Inventory Survey on the Ophidian Fauna of Reiek Community Reserved Forest, Mamit District, Mizoram, India 

G.Z. Hmar, Lalmuansanga, Lalbiakzuala, Lalruatthara, Lalrinsanga and H.T. Lalremsanga* 

Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl-796 004, India

*Corresponding Author Email : htlrsa@yahoo.co.in

Paper received: 09.12.2019 ?????? ???????????????????????????????????????Revised received: 26.06.2020 ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????Accepted: 10.07.2020

Abstract

Aim: The present study was conducted to survey and document the ophidian fauna of Reiek Community Reserved Forest, Mamit District, Mizoram, North-eastern India for the first time.

Methodology: Extensive survey for studying the ophidian fauna of Reiek Community Reserved Forest, Mamit District, Mizoram was conducted from October 2018 to September 2019 by using Visual encounter survey (VES) method for sampling. Specimens were caught with the help of a snake hook, tongs and also by hand, then kept in the snake bags. They were euthanized and fixed in 10% buffered formalin and later transferred in 70% ethanol in the Reptile Section, Departmental Museum of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl. The specimens were identified based on the morphology by using the existing literature.            

Results: A total of 28 species of snakes belonging to 20 genera of seven distinct families were documented and collected in the surveyed area. This work revealed that the diversity of snake fauna in the area is dominated by the family Colubridae (46.4 %), followed by Natricidae (21.4 %), Viperidae (10.7 %), Elapidae (10.7 %), Pareidae (3.6 %), Pseudaspididae (3.6 %), and Typhlopidae (3.6%), which altogether represents 53.8 % of the total snake species currently recorded from Mizoram.      

Interpretation: The collection of snakes from the study site revealed high diversity of snake species. The occurrence of Hebius venningi represents the second report from the State, and it extends the range of distribution ca. 15 km NW from the first reported site. However, the flora and fauna of the study area are presumably disturbed by various anthropogenic interferences so that several interesting species and resources are likely to disappear from this area sooner or later.  

Key words: Mizoram, Northeast India, Reiek Community Reserved Forest, Snake diversity

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