A review on the updated checklists of the amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan: Present and prehistoric

Amtyaz Safi, Hans-Volker Karl

Abstract


Recent herpetological collections have added several new taxa to the previously compiled herpetofauna of Pakistan. This paper presents annotated and updated checklists of 243 species, 104 genera, and 27 families of extant herpetofauna, including 24 anuran amphibian species, belonging to 4 families. In comparison, the reptilian fauna consists of 219 species/subspecies, including 2 species of crocodiles, 15 species of turtles and tortoises, 119 species of Sauria, and 83 species of snakes belonging to 23 families. Four species of amphibians and 33 species of reptiles are endemic to Pakistan. Separate checklists of prehistoric reptiles (50 taxa) for both dinosaurs (26 taxa) and non-dinosaurian taxa (24 taxa) are also presented here. This review article is based on previous literature on the herpetofauna of Pakistan. It will serve as a baseline for future work related to the herpetofauna of Pakistan, which is essential in biodiversity research.


Full Text:

PDF
rticle

References


  1. Safi A, Khan M.Z, Kanwal R, Karl, H-V. Population Status, Threats and Conservation of the Spotted Pond Turtle; Geoclemys Hamiltonii (Gray, 1830) (Geoemydidae) of Pakistan. Journal of Zoological Research. 2021;3 (1): 29-37.
  2. Sarwar, M.K., Malik, M.F., Hussain, M., Azam, I., Iqbal, W., and Ashiq, U. Distribution and current status of amphibian fauna of Pakistan: A review. Electronic Journal of Biology. 2016:12(3): 243-246.
  3. Khan, M.S., A checklist and key to the Amphibia of Pakistan. Bull. Chicago Herpetol. Soc. 2002;37: 158-163.
  4. Khan, M.S., Annotated checklist of amphibians and reptiles of Pakistan. Asiatic Herpetol. Res. 2004;10: 191-201.
  5. Khan, M.S. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pakistan. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 2004.
  6. Khan, M.S. Checklist of amphibians of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Wildlife. 2010;1(2: (37–42).
  7. Günther, Albert. The reptiles of British India. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co., Bombay 1864.
  8. Murray, J. A. The vertebrate zoology of Sind. London & Bombay 1884.
  9. Murray, J. A. The zoology of Sind. London & Bombay. 1886.
  10. Murray, J. A. The zoology of Baluchistan and southern Afghanistan. London & Bombay. 1892.
  11. Boulenger, G.A. Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London. 1890.
  12. Boulenger, G.A. On the lizards of the genus Eremias, section Boulengerina. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1896: 920-930.
  13. Smith, Malcolm A. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. I: Loricata, Testudines. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London. 1931.
  14. Smith, Malcolm A. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II: Sauria. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London. 1935.
  15. Smith, Malcolm A. The fauna of British India, Ceylon, and Burma. Reptilian and amphibian. Vol.III: Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London. 1943.
  16. Karl, H-V, Safi, A., and Tichy, G. Review of fossil records of prehistoric reptiles, their distribution, and paleo-biogeographic evolution in Pakistan. Scientific reports in life sciences. 2024;5(3): 1-23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13771832.
  17. Khan, M.S. and Tasnim, Rashida. A field guide to the identification of herps of Pakistan. Part I, Amphibia. Biological Society of Pakistan, 1987. Monograph No. 14:1-28.
  18. Khan, M.S., and Rashida, T. A field guide to the identification of herps of Pakistan. Part II: Chelonia. Biological Society of Pakistan,1990. Monograph No.15:1-15.
  19. Khan, M.S. Status and Distribution of Freshwater Turtles in Pakistan. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 2015.;50(4):51-53.
  20. Khan, M.S. Pakistan herpetofauna affinities. 2016. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308904655
  21. Khan, M.Z., Safi, A., Fatima, F., Ghalib, S.A., Hashmi, M.U.A., Khan, I.S., Siddiqui, S., Zehra, A., and Hussain, B. An Evaluation of Distribution, Status, and Abundance of Freshwater Turtles in Selected Areas of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provinces of Pakistan. Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 2015;9(1):3201-3219.
  22. Khan M.Z., Kanwal R., Ghalib SA., Fatima F., Zehra A., Siddiqui S, Yasmeen G., Safi A., Hashmi M.U.A., Hussain B., Iqbal M.A., Manzoor U., and Ubaid Ullah. A review of the distribution, threats, conservation, and status of freshwater turtles in Sindh. Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 2016;10(3): 3997- 4009.
  23. Khan M.Z., Safi A, Ghalib S. A., and Kanwal R. Population status, distribution, and conservation of freshwater turtles of Peshawar Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 2016;10 (1): 3732 – 3750.
  24. Safi, A. and Khan, M.Z. Distribution and current population of freshwater turtles of District Charsadda of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The Journal of Zoology Studies. 2014;1(4):31-38.
  25. Safi A, Khan M.Z, Hashmi M.U.A, Kanwal R, Karl, H-V. Some aspects of morphometry, systematics, and biogeography of the freshwater turtles, Pangshura (Testudines: Geoemydidae) of Pakistan. SPC Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2020;2 (1) 26-35.
  26. Safi, A., Hashmi, M.U.A., Yousufzai, S, and Hans, V-K. A review analysis of the poaching and illegal trade of tortoises and freshwater turtles (TFTs) in Pakistan. SPC journal of environmental sciences. 2024;6(1):13-18.
  27. Safi, A., Hashmi, M.U.A., Yousufzai, S, Shah, M, Attaullah, Gul, H., and Volker Karl. Study of Lacertilian (Lizards) diversity of District Dir (L), KPK, Pakistan. International Journal of Biological Research. 2024;11(1):16-27.
  28. Safi, A., Karl, H-V., and Tichy, G. A review of the biogeography, diversity, and current conservation status of turtles and tortoises of the Indian subcontinent. Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation. 2024;3(3): 66-85.64.
  29. Safi, A., Kanwal, R., Hashmi, M.U.A., Karl, H.-V., Tichy, G., and Rao, R.J. Soft-shelled turtles of the family Trionychidae in South Asia: A review of studies on their biogeography, diversity, and conservation. Nepalese Journal of Zoology. 2025;9(1): 45–54. https://doi.org/10.3126/njz.v9i1.81391
  30. Safi, A., and Karl, H.-V. Etiquettes and ethics for the responsible herpetological collections and management. SPC Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2025;7 (1) (2025) 9-13. https://doi.org/10.14419/492tqp81
  31. Masroor, R. An Annotated Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Margalla Hills National Park. Pakistan. Pakistan J Zool. 2011;43: 1041-1048.
  32. Masroor, R. A contribution to the herpetology of northern Pakistan. SSAR, Ithaca Rev.. JoTT. 2012;4: 2670. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3218.2670-2
  33. Ali, W., A. Javid, A. Hussain, and S. M. Bukhari. “Diversity and Habitat Preferences of Amphibians and Reptiles in Pakistan: A Review.” Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.japb.2018.01.009.
  34. Bibi S, Khan M.F, Raval C.B, Rehman A. An Annotated Checklist of Herpetofauna of District Haripur, KPK, Pakistan. Entomol Ornithol Herpetol. 2020;9: 227. DOI: 10.35248/2161 0983.20.9.227
  35. Sheraz, A., Ahmed, S, Sardar Azhar Mehmood S.A., Wali Khan, W., Waheed Ali Panhwar, W. A., and Awan, F.S. Diversity and Habitat Preferences of Amphibians in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Punjab University Journal of Zoology. 2024;39(1): 69-77. https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pujz/2024/39.1.69.77
  36. Frost, D.R. Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 5.2. Electronic Database. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. 2006.
  37. Mertens, R. Die Amphibien und Reptilien West-Pakistans. Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk. 1969;(197):1-96.
  38. Minton, S. A. A contribution to the herpetology of West Pakistan. Bull. Amer. Mus.. Nat. Hist. 1966;134(2):31-184.
  39. Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.). The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 7 October 2024e. The current version of this database is at http://www.reptile-database.org/
  40. Ahmad, K.S. Climate regions of West Pakistan. Pak. Geo. Rev. 1951;6:1-35.
  41. Voris, H. K. Maps of Pleistocene sea levels in Southeast Asia: shorelines, river systems, and time durations. J. Biogeography. 2000;27:1153-1167.
  42. Malkani, M. S. New data on coal, gypsum, iron, and silica sand deposits and geochemical exploration (Pakistan): Revision of 25 years’ history of dinosaur discoveries from Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology. 2024;14:431-511. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2024.143020
  43. Malkani, M.S. The first Jurassic dinosaur fossils were found in the Kirthar range, Khuzdar District, Balochistan, Pakistan. Geological Bulletin, University of Peshawar, 2003;36, 73-83.
  44. Malkani, M.S. Saurischian Dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Pakistan. Fifth Pakistan Geological Congress, Islamabad, 2004;14-15:71-73.
  45. Malkani, M.S. Biodiversity of Saurischian Dinosaurs from the Latest Cretaceous Park of Pakistan. Journal of Applied and Emerging Sciences, 2006;1: 108-140.
  46. Malkani, M.S. Trackways evidence of sauropod dinosaurs confronted by a theropod was found in the Middle Jurassic Samana Suk Limestone of Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal (Science Series), 2007; 39 (1): 1-14.
  47. Malkani, M.S. Marisaurus (Balochisauridae, Titanosauria) Remains from the Latest Cretaceous of Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal (Science Series), 2008;40:55-78.
  48. Malkani, M.S. New Balochisaurus (Balochisauridae, Titanosauria, Sauropoda) and Vitakridrinda (Theropoda) Remains from Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal (Science Series), 2009;41: 65-92.
  49. Malkani, M.S. Updated Stratigraphy and Mineral potential of the Sulaiman (Middle Indus) basin, Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal (Science Series), 2010;42 (2), 39-66.
  50. Malkani, M.S. New Pakisaurus (Pakisauridae, Titanosauria, Sauropoda) remains, and Cretaceous Tertiary (K-T) boundary from Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal (Science Series), 2010; 42: 39-64.
  51. Malkani, M.S. Osteoderms of Pakisauridae and Balochisauridae (Titanosauria, Sauropoda, Dinosauria) in Pakistan. Journal of Earth Science, 2010; 21 (1): 198-203. doi: 1007/s12583-010-0212-z.
  52. Malkani, M.S. New Pterosaur from the Latest Cretaceous Terrestrial Strata of Pakistan. Abstract Book of 9th Symposium on Cretaceous System, Ankara, 2013;62: 1-5.
  53. Malkani, M.S. Titanosaurian Sauropod Dinosaurs from the Latest Cretaceous of Pakistan. 2nd Symposium of IGCP 608 “Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific”, Tokyo, 2014;4-6:108-111.
  54. Malkani, M.S. Theropod Dinosaurs and Mesoeucrocodiles from the Terminal Cretaceous of Pakistan. 2nd Symposium International Geoscience Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific”, Tokyo,2014b; 4-6:169-172.
  55. Malkani, M.S. Titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs from Pakistan. In: Zhang Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract volume, 12th Symposium on “Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd Symposium of International Geoscience Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015, Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China, 2015;93-98.
  56. Malkani, M.S. Terrestrial mesoeucrocodiles from the Cretaceous of Pakistan. In: Zhang Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract volume, 12th Symposium on “Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd Symposium of International Geoscience Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015, Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China, 2015; 242-246.
  57. Malkani, M.S. Terrestrial mesoeucrocodiles from the Cretaceous of Pakistan. In: Zhang Y., Wu S.Z., Sun G. eds., abstract volume, 12th Symposium on “Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems (MTE 12), and 3rd Symposium of International Geoscience Program (IGCP 608) “Cretaceous Ecosystem of Asia and Pacific” August 15-20, 2015, Paleontological Museum of Liaoning/Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China, 2015; 242-246.
  58. Malkani, M.S. Dinosaurs, mesoeucrocodiles, pterosaurs, new fauna, and flora from Pakistan. Geological Survey of Pakistan, Quetta, Information Release, 2015;823, 1-32.
  59. Malkani, M.S., Sahni, A. A unified perspective of Terrestrial Jurassic and Cretaceous vertebrates from the Indian Subcontinent: Challenges and Prospects / / abstract volume of International conference on “Current perspectives and emerging issues in Gondwana evolution”. Lucknow， India，2015.
  60. Malkani, M.S., and Ge, S. Fossil biotas from Pakistan focus on dinosaur distributions and a discussion on the paleobiogeographic evolution of the Indo-Pak Peninsula. Global Geology. 2016;19(4) ∶ 230 -240.
  61. Malkani, M.S. Titanosaurian sauropod and abelisaurian theropod dinosaurs and Mesoeucrocodiles from Pakistan: A Review. In the abstract volume of the 5th Symposium of IGCP 632 “Geologic and biotic events on the Continent during Jurassic/Cretaceous transition” “Jurassic Tropical to Polar Biotic and Climatic Transects” September 30 to October 1, 2017, Museum of Northern Arizona, University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 2017; p 12.
  62. Malkani, M.S., Soomro, N., and Arif, S.J. A New Pes Footprint of Sauropod Dinosaur Discovered from the Latest Cretaceous of Pakistan. Researchgate.net, Research, 2018;1 p.
  63. Malkani, M.S. Recently discovered beasts, baluchithere, rhinoceros, horses, sea cow, proboscidean, eucrocodile, pterosaurs, plesiosaur, fishes, invertebrates, and wood fossils, tracks, and trackways of dinosaurs from Pakistan; Comparison of the recognized four titanosaur taxa of Indo-Pakistan with Madagascar. Open Journal of Geology, 2019;9, 919-955. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2019.912098
  64. Malkani, M.S. Formal Description of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Biotas Found in Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 2021a;11, 411-455.
  65. Malkani, M.S. Jurassic-Cretaceous and Cretaceous-Paleogene Transitions and Mesozoic Vertebrates from Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 2021b;11: 275-318.
  66. Malkani, M.S. Plate Boundary and Structural Geology of Balochistan and Indus Basins through Field Observations on Chaman Transform Fault and Western Indus Suture (Pakistan): Dinosaurs from Pakistan with Attributed Bones and Key Features: Titanosaurs from India with Updated Assessment on Jainosaurus. Open Journal of Geology. 2022;12: 1032-1079. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2022.1211049
  67. Malkani, M.S., Ilyas, M., Yasin, R., Abbas, A., Samiullah, K., Raza, T., Hassan, S.S.E., Fazal, R.M., Noor, A., Malik, A. Geology of Northern Sulaiman Foldbelt, Shirani and Waziristan Regions (South Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): New Tomistominae (Miocene False Gharial) from Sakhi Sarwar area of Dera Ghazi Khan (South Punjab), Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 2022;12, 521-564.
  68. Malkani, M. S. Geology and mineral deposits of Saraikistan (South Punjab, Koh Sulaiman Range) of Pakistan: A tabular review of recently discovered biotas from Pakistan and paleo-biogeographic link: Phylogeny and hypodigm of poropuchian Titanosaurs from Indo-Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 2023;13: 900-958. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2023.138040
  69. Malkani, M. S. A glance at the mineral deposits and stratigraphic sequential variations and structures in different Indus Basins (Pakistan): New titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs from the latest Maastrichtian Vitakri Formation of Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 2023;13 1069-1138. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2023.1310046
  70. Malkani, M. S. First ornithischian dinosaurs from Pakistan: Some evidence. Researchgate.net, Research, 2024; (p 1-11).
  71. Head, J.J. Snakes of the Siwalik Group (Miocene of Pakistan): Systematics and relationship to environmental change. Palaeontologia Electronica. 2005;8(1).
  72. Jain, S.L., Bandyopadhyay, S. New titanosaurid (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Central India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 1997;17: 114-136.
  73. Wilson, J.A., Malkani, M.S., and Gingerich, P.D. New Crocodyliform (Reptilia, Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Upper Cretaceous Pab Formation of Vitakri, Balochistan (Pakistan), Contributions from Museum of Paleontology, Univ. of Michigan, 2001;30 (12), 321-336.
  74. Wilson, J.A., Malkani, M.S., and Gingerich, P.D. A sauropod braincase from the Pab Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of Balochistan, Pakistan. Gondwana Geological Magazine, Special Volume, 2005;8: 101-109.
  75. https://lntreasures.com/pakistana.html
  76. https://www.iucnredlist.org/




DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/jbb.v4i1.106964

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.


Print ISSN: 2775-5223
Online ISSN: 2808-3229
Website: https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/jbb
Email: jurnal.biotek.biodiv@mail.uns.ac.id
Published by: Universitas Sebelas Maret
Jl. Ir. Sutami Street, No. 36A, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah 57126