Distribution and Resource use patterns of reptiles along the Teesta Valley, Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim, India.

Abstract

The present study was initiated with the following objectives: ( I) to understand aspects of reptile populations (2) to document reptile distribution patterns along the altitude gradient and the fac tors governing the same, and (3) to understand the resource utilization patterns of reptiles along the Teesta valley, Sikkim, India. Sikkim (27° 5' - 28° 10' Nand 88° 4' - 88° 58' E), located in the Eastern Himalayas has an area of 7096 km ~ . The present study was carried out along the Teesta valley from June 2003 to March 2006. Visual encounter survey for 2494 man-hours resulted in 1596 reptiles, which included 663 snakes and 933 lizards. In all, 42 species (14 lizards and 28 snakes) belonging to 32 genera comprising of five families each of lizards and snakes have been observed. No chelonians were observed during this study.