M Zaheer Khan, Nazia Mahmood, Syed Ali Ghalib, Babar Hussain, Saima Siddiqui, Shahnaz Perween and Darakhshan Abbas
Keywords: Sindh, habitat destruction, population status, frogs and toads.
Abstract: The present study is based on the impact of habitat destruction on the population of amphibians with reference to status of frogs and toads in Karachi and Thatta districts of Sindh. During the years 2004-2006, four species of frogs, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis cyanophlyctis (Common Skittering Frog), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Tiger Frog), Tomopterna breviceps (Indian Burrowing Frog) and Limnonectes limnocharis (Indian Cricket Frog), and two toads species, Bufo stomaticus (Marbled Toad) and Bufo melanostictus (Common Asian Toad) were recorded from the area. In Thatta district, four species of frogs and two species of toads were recorded, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis cyanophlyctis was rated as abundant, Bufo stomaticus as common, Bufo melanostictus as less common, while Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Tomopterna breviceps and Limnonectes limnocharis were rated as rare. Three species of frogs and two species of toads were recorded in Karachi district. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis cyanophlyctis was found to be abundant, Bufo stomaticus as common, Bufo melanostictus as less common, while Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Tomopterna breviceps were rated as rare. On the basis of present study, it is concluded that due to habitat alteration, destruction of habitat, indiscriminate use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers and increase in human population, three species viz. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Tomopterna breviceps and Limnonectes limnocharis have declined and may be recorded as threatened species in Thatta district, while two species Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Tomopterna breviceps were found to be rare in Karachi district.
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