J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2016: Vol.

30 (1):131-132
(131) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

ANURAN DIVERSITY OF CHAMBAL RIVER IN THE RAJASTHAN STATE

Sanjeev Kumar-1*and H.S. Banyal-1**
1-
Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Jodhpur-342005, Rajasthan, India.
[Corresponding authors E-mail1*: dr.kumarsanjeev@gmail.com1* and dr.harinderbanyal@gmail.com1**]

Received: 22-01-2016 Accepted: 20-05-2016

Anurans amongst amphibians are the dominant component of the species diversity in the group. The present paper deals with
studies on anuran diversity of the amphibiotic element of the Chambal River in Rajasthan state. Nine species belonging to four
families of order Anura were recorded from the entire study area along the length of the river.

Amphibians, mainly anurans are of enormous ecological and
economical significance1. Amphibians are strong predators on
numerous insect pest of agriculture and insects transmitting
diseases and exhibit a beneficial role by protecting the food
for man from insect damage to the agriculture crops and
vegetables. Amphibians also act as good bio-indicators of
environment dilapidation. The Global Amphibian Assessment
(GAA) as of June 2007 lists a total of 5918 amphibian species
in the world2-3. Frogs and toads lead the list with 88% or 5211
different species. Of those, 1590 or 30.5% were listed as
vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. Out of 311
amphibian species known from India4, 12 amphibian species
are found in the state of Rajasthan. Kumar 6 has worked on
amphibians of Sitamata WLS; Mansukhani5 has reported 8
spp. Sharma7 and Sharma et al.8-9 have worked on the different
aspects of amphibians in Rajasthan. where as Sharma10 has
reported 12 spp. of amphibians from entire Rajasthan.
Rajasthan being the largest state of India holds many
characteristically different physiographic regions viz. the Thar
Desert, the Aravalli Hills transecting the Thar Desert,
southeastern plateau and the eastern plains and all provide
interesting distribution pattern of amphibian biodiversity in the
state. The present research paper deals with frogs and toads
found around the banks of Rajasthan part of Chambal River all
along the entire length of its flow from Kota to Dholpur.
STUDY AREA
The Chambal River flows in a north-easterly direction for a
length of 225 km through Rajasthan. The Chambal flows for
another 217 km between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and
further 145 km between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
A 600 kms. stretch of the Chambal River between Kota barrage
and Chambal -Yamuna confluence has been protected as the
NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20
tri-state National Chambal Sanctuary.
The National Chambal Sanctuary lies between 24°55' to 26°50'
N and 75°34' to 79°18' E. It consists of the big arc described
by the Chambal between Jawahar Sagar Dam in Rajasthan
and the Chambal-Yamuna confluence in Uttar Pradesh. Over
this arc, two stretches of the Chambal are protected as the
National Chambal Sanctuary status - the upper segment,
extending from Jawahar Sagar Dam to Kota Barrage, and the
lower segment, expanding from Keshoraipatan in Rajasthan
to the Chambal-Yamuna confluence in Uttar Pradesh. 18 point
locations in the district(s) of Chittorgarh, Kota, Sawai-
madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur falling under the River were
surveyed for anuran faunal diversity.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The present study was carried out during 2011 to 2013. The
identification of species was mainly based on the
morphometric observations by using digital formats of the
camera. (Nikon P 600 Coolpix & Nikon D -7000) & by using
standard references1-3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of nine species belonging to four families of order Anura
were recorded from the study area along with certain direct or
indirect threats associated with the population of these anuran
species. Out of the nine anuran species observed Euphlyctis
cyanophlyctis (Lesson), Hplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin),
Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst) & Duttaphrynus
stomaticus (Lutken) were commonly observed in the area of
study. Euphlyctis hexadactylus (Lesson), Sphaerotheca
breviceps (Schneider), Microhyla ornate (Dumeril & Bibron),
Polypedates maculatus (Gray) & Duttaphrynus melanostictus
 ANURAN DIVERSITY OF CHAMBAL RIVER (132)

(Schneider) were spotted with difficulty only from six localities. 3. Tiger Frog, Hplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin)
4. Cricket Frog, Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst)
All the anurans are imperiled to definite ecological requirement
5. Indian Burrowing Frog, Sphaerotheca breviceps
so the various anthropogenic activities such as habitat loss
(Schneider)
due to mining and increased use of pesticides around
Family: Microphylidae
catchment area of the river are affecting the anurans at different
level. During the period under study certain anuran population 6. Indian Hyla, Microhyla ornate (Dumeril & Bibron)
is found as stable viz: Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Lesson),
Family: Rhacophoridae Hoffman
Hplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin), Fejervarya limnocharis
(Gravenhorst) & Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Lutken) so that 7. Common Tree Frog, Polypedates maculatus (Gray)
authors interpreted them as ecologically hard species while
Family: Bufonidae
the anuran spotted with difficulty are found as highly sensitive
with concern to anthropogenic changes. 8. Common Asian Toad, Bufo melanostictus (Schneider)
9. Common Indian Toad, Bufo stomaticus (Lutken)
Due to sowing of Brinjal, Tomato, wheat and Rice etc. around
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the banks of River Chambal & thereafter fertilizers are being
used extensively particularly during the monsoon period. These Authors are thankful to Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director-in-charge,
fertilizers get collected in the small ditches in the agriculture Z.S.I., Kolkata for providing necessary facilities to undertake
fields which are breeding grounds of anurans. This is accounting present work.
for mortality not only in the early larval stages but in the newly
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