Checklist of herpetofauna in the severely degraded ecosystem of Bidong Island, Peninsular Malaysia, South China Sea

Abstract

A herpetofaunal inventory was conducted on Bidong Island, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. It incorporates data from a recent herpetological survey conducted from 1 to 3 April 2019 with reptile records from previous publications. Specimens were collected with drift-fenced pitfall traps and taxa were recorded with visual encounter surveys (VES). In total, 18 species of reptiles and amphibians were recorded, including three species of frogs, 12 species of lizards, and three species of snakes. Six species from the present survey are new records for the island.

Uneven species occurrence and richness of lowland snakes (Serpentes, Squamata) in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia, with new locality records

“…Table 1 incorporates data from this study and previous studies ( Grismer et al 2011 ; Sumarli et al 2015 ; Nur Amalina et al 2017 ; Badli-Sham et al 2019 ; Zakaria et al 2019 ; Fatihah-Syafiq et al 2020 ; Komaruddin et al 2020 ) that included snake species known to the state of Terengganu to date. This consolidated checklist documents 71 species of snakes found in Terengganu.…”

“…Terengganu’s forests are still relatively understudied regarding snake diversity compared to other group of reptiles, and most of the information available for snakes are only from herpetofauna checklists, derived from short-term inventories (e.g., Dring 1979 ; Grismer et al 2011 ; Sumarli et al 2015 ; Badli-Sham et al 2019 ; Zakaria et al 2019 ; Fatihah-Syafiq et al 2020 ; Komaruddin et al 2020 ). In comparison to the lizards, freshwater turtles, and tortoises, ecological studies solely focusing on snakes in Terengganu is non-existent ( Grismer and Chan 2008 ; Grismer et al 2009 , 2014a ; Chan and Norhayati 2010 ; Chan and Chen 2011 ; Shahirah-Ibrahim et al 2018 ).…”

Amphibian survey of Ko Pha-gnan in Surat Thani Province, Thailand

“…On the opposite side of the peninsula in the South China Sea, Bidong Island on Malaysia’s east coast houses only three amphibian species ( K. pulchra , P. leucomystax , and M. heymonsi ), likely due to the island’s degraded habitat ( Fatihah-Syafiq et al 2020 ). All these species are found throughout the peninsula, including on Pha-ngan island.…”

A decade of amphibian studies (Animalia, Amphibia) at Sekayu lowland forest, Hulu Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

“…From 2011 to the present, extensive efforts have been made to document the herpetofauna diversity in Terengganu, including lowland to upland areas (Gunung Gagau: Hamidi 2013; Gunung Tebu and Lata Belatan recreational forest: Muin et al 2014; the base of Gunung Lawit, Gunung Tebu, adjacent lowland forests of Lata Tembakah and Lata Belatan: Sumarli et al 2015;Tasik Kenyir: Zakaria et al 2019;Komaruddin et al 2020), wetlands (Setiu: Tamblyn et al 2006;Zahidin et al 2017), urbanised areas (UMT Campus: Badli-Sham et al 2019) and archipelagic islands (Perhentian archipelago, Pulau Redang, and Pulau Tenggol: Grismer et al 2011;Pulau Bidong: Zakaria et al 2015;Fatihah-Syafiq et al 2020). Still, continuous surveys were carried out in Tembat Forest Reserve to monitor the herpetofauna communities during the construction of hydroelectric dams (Chan 2011;Norhayati et al 2011;Ummi 2013;Nur Amalina et al 2017, 2020.…”