THE HERPETOFAUNA OF HON CHONG AREA, KIEN GIANG PROVINE, SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Nguyen N. Sang 1, Robert W. Murphy 2 & Nikolai L. Orlov 3

1. Institute of Tropical Biology, 85 Tran Quoc Toan St., Dist. 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

E-mail: ngocsangitb@yahoo.com 2. Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and the University of Toronto,

100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada. 3. Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab.,

1, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia

Abstract: Hon Chong area locates in Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province, Southern Vietnam. Small karst hills that are separated by mangrove forest are main habitat of this area. Six field trips were conducted from 2006 to 2008. A total of 45 species of reptiles and amphibians belonging to twelve families and two oders is recorded from this area. The pictures of 41 species of reptiles and amphibians from the study area are also provided in this paper.

INTRODUCTION

Hon Chong area, a part of Mekong delta, locates in Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province, Southern Vietnam. Small karst hills that are separated by mangrove forest are main habitat of this area. Moreover, soil mountains and isolated freshwater areas are also important habitats. Unfortunately, most of these karst hills were used for cement.

Researchs on reptiles and amphibian at Hon Chong area have been very rare. Nine species of snake, including Cerberus rhynchop, Coelognathus radiata, Dendrelaphis pictus, Oligodon cinereus, Rhabdophis subminiatus, Enhydris enhydris, Xenochrophis piscator, Ptyas mucosus, and Naja kaouthia, were recorded from this area by Camden-Main (1970). Orlov et al. (2007) redescribed the slender-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus paradoxus (Darevsky & Szczerbak, 1997) with the additional continental specimens collected from Hon Chong area.

MATERIAL AND METHODS Field work was conducted from 2006 to 2008 with six times: (i) 26 November - 3

December, 2006; (ii) 7 - 11 March, 2007; (iii) 10 - 17 July, 2007; (iv) 9 - 15 November, 2007; (v) 22 - 27 February, 2008; and (vi) 1 - 6 December, 2008 on hill areas such as Chua Hang, Binh An, Ba Tai, Khoe La, Hang Tien, Hang Ca Sau, Son Cha, Thach Dong, and Da Dung. Specimens were collected by hand, preserved in formaldehyde solution 3-5% for 24 hours, then transferd to alcohol 700, and kept at the Institute of Tropical Biology Collection of Zoology (ITBCZ), Hochiminh City, Vietnam.

The Red Data Book of Vietnam (2007), the Govermental Decree No. 32/2006/NĐ-CP (2006) of Vietnamese Government, the IUCN red list (2007), and the CITES convention (2008) are used to appraise the threatening level of species. Taxonomy is arranged according to Uetz et al. (2008) and Frost (2008).

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The herpetofauna of Hon Chong area has 45 species, including 13 amphibian

species and 32 reptile species, belonging to two Oders and 12 Families. Among them, Colubridae is dominate with 16 species, occupys 36.4% the fauna.

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3

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2 23

7

3

16

1 1 1

0

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Buffon

idae

Microh

ylida

e

Dicrog

lossid

ae

Ranida

e

Rhaco

phori

dae

Agamida

e

Gekko

nidae

Scincid

ae

Colubri

dae

Elapida

e

Viperid

ae

Uropelt

idae Families

No.

of s

peci

es

Fig. 1. Number of reptiles and amphibians species in the Families. This chart shows that

Colubridae is dominate with 16 species.

Amphibia

Anura Buffonidae Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) – (Fig. 2): common species, easy to

observe in the study area, especially in populated areas. Microhylidae Kaloula pulchra Gray, 1831 - (Fig. 3): also common species, recorded in Binh An

and populated areas. Microhyla fissipes (Boulenger, 1884) – (Fig. 4): easily recorded at freshwater areas

in Binh An, Da Dung. Micyletta inornata (Boulenger, 1890) – (Fig. 5): recorded in Da Dung; rare species

in Hon Chong. Dicroglossidae Hoplobatrachus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) - (Fig. 6): easily recorded in Binh An,

but in small sizes. Rarely obsevered adult frogs in the study area.

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Fig. 2. Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Fig. 3. Kaloula pulchra

Fig. 4. Microhyla fissipes

Fig. 5. Micyletta inornata

Fig. 6. Hoplobatrachus chinensis

Fig. 7. Fejervarya cancrivora

Fig. 8. Fejervarya limnocharis Fig. 9. Occidozyga lima

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Fig. 10. Occidozyga martensii

Fig. 11. Hylarana macrodactyla

Fig. 12. Hylarana taipehensis

Fig. 13. Chiromantis cf. doriae

Fig. 14. Polypedates leucomystax

Fejervarya cancrivora (Gravenhorst, 1829) - (Fig. 7): common species in whole study area, except for freshwater areas.

Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst, 1829) – (Fig. 8): very common in Binh An and other freshwater areas.

Occidozyga lima (Gravenhorst, 1829) – (Fig. 9): common in Binh An and other freshwater areas.

Occidozyga martensii (Peters, 1867) – (Fig. 10): also common in Binh An and other freshwater areas.

Ranidae Hylarana macrodactyla Günther, 1858 - (Fig. 11): recorded in Binh An.

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Hylarana taipehensis (Van Denburgh, 1909) - (Fig. 12): recorded in Da Dung. Rhacophoridae Chiromantis cf. doriae (Boulenger, 1893) - (Fig. 13): recorded from Binh An in

rainy season. Polypedates leucomystax - complex (Gravenhorst, 1829) - (Fig. 14): very common

in Hon Chong.

Reptilia Squamata Agamidae Calotes mystaceus (Dumeril et Bibron, 1837) - (Fig. 15): very common in study

area. Calotes versicolor (Daudin, 1802) - (Fig. 16): also very common in Hon Chong. Draco maculatus (Gray, 1845) - (Fig. 17): rather common, especially in Binh An.

This lizard are being used for medicine. Gekkonidae Cosymbotus platyurus (Schneider, 1792) - (Fig. 18): common, especially in

populated areas. Cyrtodactylus intermedius Smith, 1917 - (Fig. 19): recorded in Chua Hang (three

individuals), Mo So (one individual), and Hang Tien (one individual). Rare species in Hon Chong, only five individuals were recorded.

Cyrtodactylus paradoxus (Darevsky and Szczerbak, 1997) - (Fig. 20): rather common, recorded in Chua Hang, Binh An, Ba Tai, Khoe La, and Son Cha. This gecko was redescribed based on six continental specimens from Hon Chong and fourteen specimens from Hom Thom Isle (Orlov et al., 2007). This slender-toed gecko can be considered endemic species to Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.

Dixonius sp - (Fig. 21): very common in Binh An Hill. Gekko gecko Linnaeus, 1758 - (Fig. 22): common species, especially in karst hills. Gehyra multilala (Wiegmann, 1834) - (Fig. 23): common in populated areas and

karst hills. Hemidactylus frenatus (Schelegel, in Dumeril et Bibron, 1836) - (Fig. 24): very

common. Scincidae Mabuya macularia (Blyth, 1853) - (Fig. 25): recorded in Binh An. Mabuya multifasciata (Kuhl, 1820) - (Fig. 26): common in Hon Chong. Là loài phổ biến trong khu vực. Lygosoma cf. bowringi (Günther, 1864) - (Fig. 27): recorded in Binh An. Colubridae Ahaetulla prasina Reinhardt, in Boi, 1827 - (Fig. 28): recorded in Binh An. Rarely

observered.

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Cerberus rhynchop (Schneider, 1799) - (Fig. 29): very common in mangrove forest areas with small size (juveniles). Also recorded by Campden-Main (1970) from Ha Tien.

Coelognathus radiata (Schnegel, 1837): recorded by Campden-Main (1970) in Ha Tien.

Dendrelaphis pictus (Gmelin, 1789) - (Fig. 30): recorded in Binh An. Also recorded by Campden-Main (1970) in Ha Tien.

Dyrocalamus davisoni (Blanford, 1878) - (Fig. 31): recorded in Ba Tai and Binh An.

Enhydris enhydris Schneider, 1799 - (Fig. 32): recorded in Binh An. Also recorded by Campden-Main (1970) from Ha Tien.

Enhydris jagori (Peter, 1863) - (Fig. 33): Ghi nhận ở Bình An. Enhydris plumbea (Boie, 1827) - (Fig. 34): recorded in Ba Tai and Binh An. Lycodon capucinus Boie, 1827 - (Fig. 35): recorded in Mo So. Oligodon cyclurus (Cantor, 1839) - (Fig. 36): recorded in Binh An. Oligodon cinereus (Gunther, 1864): recorded by Campden-Main (1970) in Ha

Tien.

Fig. 15. Calotes mystaceus Fig. 16. Calotes versicolor

Fig. 17. Draco maculatus

Fig. 18. Cosymbotus platyurus

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Fig. 19. Cyrtodactylus intermedius

Fig. 20. Cyrtodactylus paradoxus

Fig. 21. Dixonius sp Fig. 22. Gekko gecko

Fig. 23. Gehyra multilala Fig. 24. Hemidactylus frenatus

Fig. 25. Mabuya macularia

Fig. 26. Mabuya multifasciata

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Fig. 27. Lygosoma cf. bowringi

Fig. 28. Ahaetulla prasina

Fig. 29. Cerberus rhynchop Fig. 30. Dendrelaphis pictus

Fig. 31. Dyrocalamus davisoni Fig. 32. Enhydris enhydris

Fig. 33. Enhydris jagori

Fig. 34. Enhydris plumbea

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Fig. 35. Lycodon capucinus

Fig. 36. Oligodon cyclurus

Fig. 37. Ptyas korros Fig. 38. Psammodynostes pulverulentus

Fig. 39. Rhabdophis subminiatus

Fig. 40. Xenochrophis piscator

Fig. 41. Cylindrophis ruffus Fig. 42. Trimeresurus albolabris

Ptyas korros (Schlegel, 1837) - (Fig. 37): recorded in Binh An.

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Ptyas mucosus (Linnaeus, 1758): recorded by Campden-Main (1970) in Ha Tien. Psammodynostes pulverulentus (Boie, 1827) - (Fig. 38): recorded in Binh An. Rhabdophis subminiatus (Schlegel, 1837) - (Fig. 39): recorded in Binh An, also

recorded by Campden-Main (1970) from Ha Tien. Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799) - (Fig. 40): recorded in Binh An, also

recorded by Campden-Main (1970) from Ha Tien. Elapidae Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831: recorded by Campden-Main (1970) in Ha Tien. Uropeltidae Cylindrophis ruffus (Laurenti, 1768) - (Fig. 41): recorded in Binh An. Viperidae Trimeresurus albolabris Gray, 1842 - (Fig. 42): recorded in Mo So and Binh An.

Effects on the fauna With 45 species, reptiles and amphibians in Hon Chong distribute in main habitats

such as karst hills, mangrove forest areas, sandstone hills, populated areas, and isolated freshwater areas. Species that live in karst hills are impacted by cement exploiting activity. In spite of occupying small area, karst hills are very important habitat, especially for species which depend on rocky environment, such as Cyrtodactylus intermedius, C. paradoxus,... When karst hills are exploited for cement, these animals living here will be lost their habitat. They will be disappeared quickly because the karst hills are bordered by mangrove forest and brackish water.

We also found a small population of endemic slender-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus paradoxus in Khoe La in November, 2006. Unfortunately, this karst hill is being exploited for cement, and it will be disappeared in the near future together with its biodiversity.

Beside the losing of their habitats, reptiles and amphibians in Hon Chong area are catched for business. Two species that were catched and sold very regularly and commonly for traditional medicine are Draco maculatus and Gekko gecko. They were dried, preserved in alcohol, or kept living to sell in front of Churchs and travel places, such as Chua Hang, Thach Dong, Da Dung,… (Fig. 43). Moreover, snakes like Cerberus rhynchop, Enhydris enhydris,… are sold in the restaurants.

Travel and religious belief activities in Hon Chong area are also effected on the fauna. Noise from generator and tourist, as well as light from bulb and oil lamp in caves drove timid species. In contrast, these activities increased species that live near people, such as Gehyra, Hemidactylus, Cosymbotus, Gekko,…

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Fig. 43. Gekko gecko and Draco maculatus were sold. A: dried geckos; B: geckos in alcohol; C & D:

gliding lizards with the note in Vietnamese: “Gliding lizard treat asthma, wheeze”.

A B

C D

Threatened species

There are five threatened species of reptiles in Hon Chong area, including Gekko gecko, Coelognathus radiate, Ptyas korros, Ptyas mucosus, Naja kaouthia. Four species are listed in The Red Data Book of Vietnam (2007), including Gekko gecko (VU), Coelognathus radiata (VU), Ptyas korros (EN), Ptyas mucosus (EN) and Naja kaouthia (EN); two species are listed in the Govermental Decree No. 32/2006/NĐ-CP (2006) of Vietnamese Government, including Coelognathus radiata (IIB) and Ptyas mucosus (IIB); and two species are listed in the CITES convention (2008), including Naja kaouthia (appendix II) and Ptyas mucosus (appendix II). Acknowledgment

This result belongs to the The John D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation (06-86493). Reference Bourret R. (1942), Les Batraciens de L’Indochine, Gouvernement General de L’indochine, Hanoi. Camden-Main M. Simon (1970), A field guide to the snakes of South Vietnam, Washington.

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CITES (2008), Appendices I, II, and III. Valid from 12 February 2008, Online material, Download at http://www.cites.org/. Departement of Science and Technology, and Vietnamese Academy Science and Technology (2007), The Red Data Book of Vietnam, Hanoi. (in Vietnamese) Frost Darrel (2008), Amphibians of the world. An online reference. Version 5.1. See at http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. IUCN (2007), Red list of threatened species, Online material, Download at http://www.iucnredlist.org/. Nguyen Van Sang, Ho Thu Cuc, Nguyen Quang Truong (2005), The checklist of Reptiles and Amphibians of Vietnam, Hanoi. (in Vietnamese) Orlov L. Nikolai, Nguyen Quang Truong, Roman A. Nazarov, Natalia B. Ananjeva & Nguyen Ngoc Sang (2007), “A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 and redescription of Cyrtodactylus paradoxus (Darevsky et Szczerbak, 1997) [Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae] from South Vietnam”, Russian Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 145-152. The Government of Vietnam (2006), The Govermental Decree No. 32/2006/NĐ-CP (2006) of Vietnamese Government. (in Vietnamese) Uetz P. et al. (2008), The tigr reprile database. Online reference. See at http://www.reptile-database.org/.

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