HERPETOFAUNAL MORTALITY ON ROADS IN THE ANAMALAI HILLS, SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS

Abstract

(with two text-figures) ABSTRACT.- We sampled road-killed amphibians and reptiles from the highway segments passing through rainforest fragments and tea gardens in the Anamalai hills in order to evaluate the effects of vehicular traffic on the herpetofauna. There was greater mortality among amphibians than reptiles due to vehicular movement. A total of 73 reptiles belonging to 24 species, 13 genera and seven families and 311 amphibians belonging to eight genera and five families killed on the highway were recorded. These figures included several endemic species of amphibians and reptiles. Rainfall resulted in increased activity of amphibians and uropeltids, thereby making them vulnerable to road traffic. Amphibian roadkills were associated with coffee and forest habitats while reptiles were found only in forested habitats. Road segments passing through tea plantations had the lowest number of amphibian and reptile roadkills compared with other vegetation categories. Possible explanations for differences in species richness and relative counts in the forest in relation to roadkill are discussed. The long-term effects of mortality due to roads is of conservation importance considering the low abundance of herpetofauna in the rainforests.