Sains Malaysiana 41(6)(2012): 691–696

Checklist of the Herpetofauna of Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia

(Senarai Semak Spesies Herpetofauna di Hutan Simpan Bukit Perangin, Kedah, Malaysia)

Ibrahim Jaafar*, Zalina Awang, Nur Hafizah Ibrahim, Amirah Hurzaid,

Nurul Dalila Abdul Rahim & Amirudin Ismail

School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Shahriza Shahrudin

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Shahrul Anuar Md Sah

School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Mohd Abdul Muin

National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Received: 3 June 2011 / Accepted: 30 December 2011

ABSTRACT

Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve, Kedah Malaysia is a popular forest park well known for its clear rivers and streams, interesting sedimentary rock formations and a rich biodiversity in flora and fauna. However to date no report on the amphibians and reptiles of this forest has ever been published. Therefore, from January 2009 to May 2010, herpetofauna surveys were conducted at Bukit Wang Recreational Forest, which forms a part of the Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve. The results of the survey showed that a total of 15 species of amphibians belonging to 6 families and 15 species of reptiles belonging to 7 families were found in the study area. These constitute the first records for the amphibians and reptiles in this forest. The herpetofauna checklist showed that the most abundant amphibians were from the family Ranidae while the most abundant reptiles were from the family Gekkonidae.

Keywords: Amphibians; Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve; reptiles

ABSTRAK

Hutan Simpan Bukit Perangin, Kedah Malaysia adalah sebuah taman hutan yang popular, terkenal dengan sungai-sungai yang jernih, pembentukan batu enapan yang menarik dan biodiversiti yang kaya dengan flora dan fauna. Walau bagaimanapun, setakat ini tiada laporan mengenai amfibia dan reptilia daripada hutan ini pernah diterbitkan. Oleh itu, dari Januari 2009 hingga Mei 2010, tinjauan herpetofauna telah dijalankan di Hutan Rekreasi Bukit Wang, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada Hutan Simpan Bukit Perangin. Hasil daripada tinjauan menunjukkan bahawa sebanyak 15 spesies amfibia yang terdiri daripada 6 famili dan 15 spesies reptilia yang terdiri daripada 7 famili telah ditemui di kawasan kajian. Ia merupakan rekod yang pertama untuk amfibia dan reptilia di dalam hutan ini. Senarai spesies herpetofauna menunjukkan amfibia yang paling banyak dijumpai adalah daripada famili Ranidae manakala reptilia adalah daripada famili Gekkonidae.

Kata kunci: Amfibia; Hutan Simpan Bukit Perangin; reptilian

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*Corresponding author; email: jibrahim@usm.my