open access research article herpetofauna of maharashtra ... · mahim creek to dharavi has a very...

World Journal of Environmental Biosciences

All Rights Reserved Euresian Publication © 2012 eISSN 2277-8047

Available Online at: www.environmentaljournals.org

Volume 1, Issue 2: 90-99

Open Access Research Article

90

Walmiki et al.

Herpetofauna of Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai, Maharashtra (India)

Walmiki Nitin 1-3

, Vijay Awsare1, Siddhesh Karangutkar

1-3, Vishal wagh

1-2, Bhaskar Yengal

1-3, Shailesh Salvi

2,

and Rishab Pillai3

1ECO-ECHO D/85 Meghwadi, Dr S.S Rao Road, Lalbaug, Mumbai -12

2SARRP, Gorai-2, Borivali (W), Mumbai-91

3CON (Care of Nature), District Raigad, Uran, Veshvi

Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract: Mumbai (lat 18

0 54’ to 19

0 09’N long 72

0 47’ to 72

0 56’E) one of the major cities in India is encircled with various

water bodies such as Ulhas estuary and Bassein creek in the north; Thane creek and Mumbai harbor in the south

east; and Arabian sea on the westAround 37 sq km of mangroves existed in Mumbai, in early nineties which

largely covered areas of Thane creek, Mahim, Versova, Gorai and Ghodbunder with sporadic patches at Bandra,

Malabar hill and Colaba. Mumbai has probably lost 40% of all its mangroves in past decade or so, largely due to

reclamation for housing slums, sewage treatments and garbage dumps though Mumbai sustains rich

biodiversity in few green fragmented natural or man- made habitats. Reptiles and amphibians face numerous

challenges for coexistence in the urbanized world and habitat degradation is the primary cause of population

decline for both these groups. Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) is best example of one such habitat’s. MNP is

located in highly polluted and densely populated area around the largest slums in Asia knows as Dharavi. MNP

was once a dumping ground for nearly 27 years. In 1983 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM)

restored it into semi natural forest. Presently, this nature park supports rich herpetofaunal diversity. The studies

were conducted from 25th

September, 2010 - 25th

December, 2011 and have reported 44 species belonging to 18

families from MNP.

Keyword: Herpetofauna, Mangroves, Nature Park, Reptiles, Amphibians

1.0 Introduction: Mumbai is one of the most populated cities in the

world, called to be the business capital of India,

fourth most populous city in the world situated at

the mouth of Ulhas River on the western coast of

India, in the coastal region known as the Konkan. It

sits on Salsette Island, partially shared with the

Thane district,bounded by the Arabian Sea to the

west, average annual temperature is 27.2 °C (81 °F)

comprising of three seasonal cycle viz. summer,

monsoon, and winter represents a tropical wet and

dry climate.Current population of Mumbai is

estimated to be around 20.5 million. It is expected

that the world population growth in the next thirty

years will be mostly concentrated in the urban areas

(United Nations, 2004) leading to even more rapid

degradation of pockets of remnant natural habitats.

Such huge population gives out a variety of pollution

in abundant quantities. Besides being a densely

populated and a polluted city, Mumbai holds rich

biodiversity. There are many green patches in

Mumbai. Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) is one of

them. MNP is considered to be a great wonder for all

the nature lovers, as it is build on 5 meters of deep

garbage dump in Mahim. The park is spanning over

0.14 sq km (37 acres) area, located on southern bank

of Mithi River near “H” block of Bandra- Sion link

road at Dharavi, the largest slum in Asia. The

MithiRiver in Mumbai city is a confluence of tail

water discharges of Powai and Vihar lakes.

Originating at Powai, Mithi River flows through Saki

Naka, Safed Pool, around Santacruz airstrip, passing

through thickly populated and industrial areas like

Jarimari, Bail Bazaar, old airport road, Kalina (CST

road), Vakola, BandraKurla complex, Dharavi and

meets the Arabian Sea at Mahim creek with a total

length of about 17.84km and a catchment area of

7,295 ha. It serves a dual purpose of a sewer for the

area carrying sewage as well as storm water to sea.

The river bed is narrow in the initial stretch but it


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Walmiki et al.

increases downstream. The present average depth

of the river at the centerline is only 5.5 m. Mithi river

empties into Mahim creek which drains into the bay.

Mahim bay is the second largest bay in Mumbai city.

The border between the city and its suburbs bisects

the bay (2008 J.G Koliyar). Mithiriver which

ultimately joins Mahim creek is surrounded by

residential areas of Police colony, Fisherman colony

and many slums surrounded the river. The span from

Mahim creek to Dharavi has a very thick mangroves

and area includes Maharashtra Nature Park and

Salim Ali Bird sanctuary.

Earlier a garbage dump, the area was convinced by

WWF- India in 1976, to make a nature park. The

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development

Authority (MMRDA) undertook the project to restore

and develop the place as sophisticated nature park

and completed work after 12 years. The park is

considered as one of the greatest achievements

towards preserving the biodiversity in India. MNP

has earned reputation for being a green lung of

Mumbai city. The vegetation mainly comprises of

perennial tress such as Azadirachta indica, Bauhinia

purpurea, Aegle marmelos, Alstonias cholaris, Albizia

lebbeck, Anacardium occidentale, Annona squamosa,

Anthocephalus cadamba, Achras sapota, Artocarpus

heterophyllus, Barringtonia racemosa, Morinda

tinctoria, Bombax ceiba, Cassia fistula, Delonix regia,

Casuarina equisetifolia, Citrus sps, Couroupita

guianensis, Cordia dichotoma, Butea monosperma

and mangroves such as Avicennia marina, Avicennia

officinalis and associated mangroves species viz.

Acanthus ilicifolius, Thespesia populnea, Salvadora

persica, Ipomoea sps.covering 40% of its total area.

Around 20 out of the 35 species of true mangroves

found in India have been identified along the

Maharashtra coast and 15 species of these are found

inMumbai. Mumbai city receives average

temperature in summer varies between 30- 360c,

while average winter temperature varies between

16- 220c. The average annual precipitation is 2500

mm seasonal rainfall for four months from June to

September, of which 70 per cent is during July and

August. All such conditions support good varieties of

Reptiles and Amphibians. There is no recent study

made on herpetofauna of Nature Park or urban

areas in Mumbai. The present study therefore stands

important through which the Reptilian and

Amphibian diversity of MNP from Mumbai has been

documented.

Figure 1: Map of Maharashtra Nature Park

2.0 Materials and Methods: Survey was carried out on foot in different seasons,

twice in each month from 25nd

September 2010 to

25th

December 2011. Total 32 visits were made in 16

months. The conducted survey was done with the

help of visual encounter method (Champbell and

Christman, 1982) employing randomized walk,

carried out along with active searches in day and

night. Known habitats of Reptilian and Amphibian

were thoroughly searched i.e. all micro- habitats

(rocks and boulders, dead and fallen logs, dense

bushes and grass patches, rock and tree crevices,

leaf litters and water bodies) were thoroughly

checked using snake hooks and tongs, snake bags,

measuring tape, fishing net, head torch, GPS, etc.


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Walmiki et al.

Encountered specimens were observed

photographed and identified using literature and

field guide (Smith 1931, 1943, Ahmed, Das and Dutta

2009, NeelimkumarKhaire 2008, Whitaker 2009)

after confirming specimen was released back at

same place in MNP. The status of Species

encountered during the study is evaluated

considering the following sighting as shown in below

table;

Table 1: Sighting frequency at MNP

Status Number of Sighting

Common >15

Uncommon 6-15

Rare 1-5

3.0 Observations: According to our survey 44 species of 18 families

comprising 24 Serpents, 12 Sauria, 5 Anurans and 3

Terrapin has observed, of which Xenochrophis

piscator, Ptyas mucosa, Lycodon aulicus, Daboia

russelii, Hemidactylus frenatus, Hemidactylus

flavivivardis, Calotes versicolor, Mabuyacarinata,

Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Hoplobatrachu

stigerinus, Euphlytis cyanophlyctis, Lissemy

spunctata are some of the common species and

Argyrogena fasciolata, Macropisthodon plumbicolor,

Dendrelaphis trsitis, Cereberus rynchops,

Trimeresurus gramineus, Hemidactylus leschenaultia,

Calotes rouxii, Mabuyamacularia, Hydrophylax

malabarica, Melanochelystrijuga are occasionally

sighted, Whereas Eryx jonhii, Enhydrina schistosa,

Hemidactylus maculates, Varanus bengalensis,

Chamaeleo zeylanicus, Lygosoma punctata,

Geochelone elegans have been rarely sighted in

studied area.

Since the MNP and its surrounding mangroves are

concentrated in a small area, so the species were

easily encountered. Six deadly venomous species

were observed of which Bungarus caeruleus,

Enhydrina schistosa, Naja naja are Neurotoxic in

nature and Daboia russelii, Echis carinatus,

Trimeresurus gramineus are Hemotoxic in nature.

Python molurus molurus and Varanus bengalensisare

observed in all possible habitats. Cereberus

rynchops, Enhydrina schistosa, Acrochordus

granulatus are aquatic species sighted in mangroves

area adjacent to Mithi River near MNP fallowed by

Mahim creek. Introduced species such as Eryxjonhii,

Trimeresurus gramineus, Chamaeleo zeylanicus, and

Geochelone elegans have well-adjusted to MNP.

During Monsoon season Anuran species with

Amphiesma stolatum, Calotes versicolor,

Ramphotyphlops braminuswere easily sighted

whereas Daboia russelii is abundantly sighted in

month of June and September. Eryx jonhii was rarely

sighted i.e. thrice in studied area.

Figure A: Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii)

Figure B: Saw scaled viper (Echis carinatus)


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Walmiki et al.

Figure C: Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans))

Fig D: Indian rock python (Python molurus) Fig E:Bamboo pit viper(Trimeresurus gramineus)

Fig F: Checkered keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)


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Walmiki et al.

Fig G: Banded kukri (Oligodon arnensis) Fig H: Common Indian tree frog (Polypedates maculates)

Fig I: Fungoid frog (Hydrophyla xmalabarica) Fig J: Indian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)

Fig K: Common wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus)


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Walmiki et al.

Fig L: Common cat snake (Boiga trigonata) Fig M: Buff striped keelback (Amphiesma stolatum)

Fig N: Indian bark gecko ( (Hemidactylus leschenaultii)

Fig O: Brook's House Gecko( Hemidactylus brookii)


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Walmiki et al.

Fig P: Mating of Hemidactylus flaviviridis

Table 2: Herpetofauna checklist of Maharashtra Nature Park

Sr no. Common name Scientific name Status Habitat

Family: Boidae

1 Indian rock python Python molurus Uc Ab, Tr, Rs, Aq

2 Common sand boa Gongylophis conicus C Rs

3 Red sand boa Eryx jonhii Uc Rs

Family: Colubridae

4 Indian rat snake Ptyas mucosa C Ab, Tr, Aq

5 Banded racer Argyrogena fasciolata Uc Tr

6 Banded kukri Oligodon arnensis C Tr

7 Common wolf snake Lycodon aulicus C Ab, Tr, Rs

8 Checkered keelback Xenochrophi spiscator C Aq, Rs

9 Buff striped keelback Amphiesma stolatum C Tr, Rs

10 Green keelback Macropisthodon plumbicolor Uc Tr, Rs

11 Common cat snake Boiga trigonata Uc Ab, Tr

12 Common trinket snake Coelognathus Helena helena Uc Ab, Tr

13 Bronze back tree snake Dendrelaphis trsitis Uc Ab

14 Green vine snake Ahaetulla nasuta R Ab

15 Dog Faced water snake Cereberus rynchops Uc Aq

Family: Elapidae

16 Common Indian krait Bungarus caeruleus Uc Tr, Rs

17 Spectacle cobra Naja naja C Tr, Rs

18 Hook nosed sea snake Enhydrina schistosa R Aq

Family: Viperidae

19 Russel’s viper Daboia russelii C Tr, Rs

20 Saw scaled viper Echis carinatus Uc Rs, Tr

21 Bamboo pit viper Trimeresurus gramineus Uc Ab

Family: Typhlopidae

22 Brahminy worm snake Ramphotyphlops braminus C Rs

23 Beaked worm snake Grypotyphlops acutus Uc Rs

Family: Acrochordidae

24

File or Wart snake Acrochordus granulatus

Uc Aq


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Walmiki et al.

Family: Gekkonidae

25 Brook’s gecko Hemidactylus brookii C Tr, Rs

26 South asian house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus C Ab, Rs

27 Yellow green house gecko Hemidactylus flaviviridis C Ab, Rs

28 Spotted rock gecko Hemidactylus maculates R Ab, Tr, Rs

29 Bark gecko Hemidactylus leschenaultia Uc Ab

Family: Agamidae

30 Indian garden lizard Calotes versicolor C Ab, Tr

31 Forest lizard Calotes rouxii C Ab, Tr

Family: Varanidae

32 Bengal monitor lizard Varanus bengalensis R Ab, Tr, Aq

Family: Chamaeleonidae

33 Indian Chamaeleon Chamaeleo zeylanicus R Ab

Family: Scincidae

34 Keeled grass skink Mabuya carinata C Tr, Rs

35 Bronze grass skink Mabuya macularia C Tr, Rs

36 Snake skink Lygosoma punctata Uc Tr, Rs

Family: Bufonidae

37 Indian common toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus C Tr, Rs, Aq

Family: Dicroglossidae

38 Indian bull frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus C Tr, Rs, Aq

39 Skittering frog Euphlytis cyanophlyctis C Aq

Family: Rhacophoridae

40 Common Indian tree frog Polypedates maculates Uc Ab, Aq

Family: Ranidae

41 Fungoid frog Hydrophylax malabarica Uc Ab, Tr, Rs, Aq

Family: Trionychidae

42 Mud or Flap shell Terrapin Lissemys punctata C Aq

Family: Emydidea

43 Indian pond terrapin Melanochelys trijuga Uc Aq

Family: Testudinidae

44 Star Tortoise Geochelone elegans R Tr

Abbreviations

HABITAT: - Arboreal-Ab, Teresstrial- Tr, Rocks and Stones-Rs, Aquatic-Aq

STATUS: - Common-C, Uncommon- Uc, Rare-R

Fig. 2: Percentage Status of Herpetofaunal diversity in MNP with Un (Uncommon), C (Common) and R(Rare)

41%

45%

14%

Un

C

R


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Walmiki et al.

Fig.3: Habitat of herpetofaunal diversity in M.N.P

Fig.4: Bar diagram representing species richness according to specific habitat Viz Aq (Aquatic), Rc (Rock crevices),

Tr (Terrestrial), Ar (Arboreal) with R (Rare), Uc (Uncommon) and C (Common).

4.0 Conclusion: The study revealed 45% species are Common (n=20)

showing 33.3% Arboreal, 52% Terrestrial, 60.9% in

Rock-crevices and 42.9 % Aquatic Habitat. The

Uncommon species 41% (n=18) includes 44.4%

Arboreal, 36% Terrestrial, 34.8% Rock-crevices and

42.9% Aquatic Habitat. Whereas 14% species are

rarely (n=6) sighted showing species richness in

various habitat includes 22.2% Arboreal,

12%Terrestrial, 4.3% Rock-crevices and 14.3%

Aquatic habitat (Fig.2 - 4). Six species are deadly

venomous of which five are observed in park and

one Enhydrina schistosa in the adjacent low salinity

area of Mithi River. Hemidactylus flaviviridis mating

was also observed which was last for about 40

minutes (Figure P).

Daboia russelii is commonly and abundantly sighted

in MNP. So the encountered rate is gradually high for

the visitor. On an average 1,50,000 visitors visit MNP

annually, But there are no such incidence of snake

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Arboreal Terrestrial Rocks crevices Aquatic

Arboreal

Terrestrial

Rocks crevices

Aquatic

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

ar

tr

rc

aq

R C Uc

Ha

bit

at


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Walmiki et al.

bite in MNP till date, due to its excellent

management. Majority of species belong to 31% of

Terrestrial habitat followed by 29% of Rock crevices,

23% of Arboreal and 18% of Aquatic habitat. The

study shows that previously called dumping ground,

now artificially man made park is outstanding for its

rich bio-diversity. Majority of conservation efforts

are focused on preservation of bio diversity in

pristine ecosystems however, many human

dominated and modified landscapes are biodiversity

rich and thus offers great opportunities to conserve

at least a portion of its diversity.

5.0 Acknowledgments: We appreciate all the cooperation we got from the

volunteers of SARRP, Eco-Echo and CON NGO’s (

Mr.Mayank Desai, Mr.Jigar Parmar, Mr.Pawan

Sharma, Mr.Ajit Sonawne, Mr.Santosh Shinde, Mr.

Benedict frenandes, Mr. Nisarg Kubal, Mr.Amar Patil,

Mr.Rupesh Sagvekar and Mr.Niraj Singh) for working

during field work. We are grateful to Dr. Vaishali

somani, Shri. Sanjoy Monga, Shri. Raju vyas, Shri.

Anil kubal and along with zoological staff of M.D

College for encouraging in research work. We

express our gratitude towards Shri. Avinash Kubal for

allowing permission in MNP.

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