Reptalian Diversity in Clarin River Misamis Occidental Philippines

REPTALIAN DIVERSITY IN CLARIN
RIVER, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL,

PHILIPPINES
Jonas T. Hingco1, Mark Anthony Manapsal J. Tyson1
Naja samarensis Tropidophorus misaminius Rhapdophis lineatus
Prepared by: Ronamarie Cutad Suco

Introduction
What is reptiles?
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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ center/gifts/species-adoptions/giant-
animals/reptiles tortoise.aspx
https://
www.nationalgeographic.com/
animals/reptiles/facts/snakes-1
Introduction
What is reptiles?
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 Cold blooded animals

Introduction
What is reptiles?
https://
 Cold blooded animals
 Dominant species across diverse range of habitats

(Baard & de Villiers, 2000; Olesen & Valido, 2003)
Introduction
What is reptiles? What is the importance of reptiles in the biodiversity?
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/
reptiles/facts/american-crocodile
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q=tbn:ANd9GcTPrjDBYAbQLGOiwGCdczlvGp8N
maL83aKCUkAF_EtTEYdiH4lMyHav8Zohg2i08-
YJ
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 Serves as predator or prey in the food chain of

 Cold blooded animals various ecosystems
 Dominant species across diverse range of habitats

(Baard & de Villiers, 2000; Olesen & Valido, 2003)
Introduction
What is reptiles? What is the importance of reptiles in the biodiversity?
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/
reptiles/facts/american-crocodile
https://t1.gstatic.com/licensed-image?
q=tbn:ANd9GcTPrjDBYAbQLGOiwGCdczlvGp8N
maL83aKCUkAF_EtTEYdiH4lMyHav8Zohg2i08-
YJ
https://
 Serves as predator or prey in the food chain of

 Cold blooded animals various ecosystems
 Dominant species across diverse range of habitats  Have significant impact on the populations of other
(Baard & de Villiers, 2000; Olesen & Valido, 2003) species (Olesen & Valido, 2003)
 Reptiles are ecologically and phylogenetically diverse, with high diversity in arid
regions. However, their diversity has been the least studied among terrestrial
vertebrates, especially in the Philippines (Huey, 1982; McCain, 2010; Cosentino et
al., 2013).
 Improper agricultural practices, such as illegal logging, are causing high levels of
damage to habitats and biodiversity. As a result, populations of reptile species are
declining which is similar to amphibians (Benayas et al., 2006; Botejue &
Wattavinadage, 2012).
 The Clarin River is an important boundary and a home to various reptile species,
making its preservation crucial for sustaining water needs and maintaining
biodiversity in Misamis Occidental (Webb et al., 1989; Labajo-Villantes & Nuneza,
2014).
Objectives of the study
To identify and document the different species of reptiles in Clarin River,
specifically in the Province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines, it
includes:
• assessing their ecological role
• understanding threats to their diversity
• providing baseline data for conservation
• increasing awareness and appreciation
• contributing knowledge about reptiles.

Materials and Methods
Study area and

sampling sites
Study area and

sampling sites
The study was conducted in

three sites - upstream,
midstream, and downstream
- to represent different parts
of the river. These sites are in
Stimson Abordo, Guba, and
Pan-ay, respectively.
Data gathering
 Samples were collected from three different sampling sites over a period of three to
five days. This was done by visually searching for reptiles and using the cruising
method.
 Sampling was done in the morning, early afternoon, and at night to cover the period of
greatest reptile activity. The captured samples were placed in bags with ventilation
(Hanson & McElroy, 2015; Nuñeza et al., 2015).
Data processing
 The collected specimens were measured for head length (HL), head width (HW), eye
diameter (ED), snout to vent length (SVL), tail to vent length (TV), and total length
(TL). Body weight (BW) was also recorded using a spring balance.
 Species identification was done using Photographic Guides and verified by Dr. Rafe
Brown from the University of Kansas. Biodiversity indices were calculated using
PAST Software.
 The IUCN 2018 list was used to determine conservation status. Ecological use of
species was obtained from existing documents and community members.
Results and Discussion
12 species belonging to 6 families and 10 genera were recorded from the three sampling sites of Clarin River (Table
12 Species
6 Families
10 Genera
Four species were documented in sampling site 1 (Upstream, Brgy. Stimson Abordo), five species in Sampling Site 2
(Midstream, Brgy. Guba), and five species in sampling site 3 (Downstream, Brgy. Pan-ay).
Sampling site 1
6 endemic species were only documented in this forested sampling site (Upstream), including
five Philippine endemic (Draco cyanopterus, Draco bimaculatus, Naja samarensis, Rhabdophis
auriculata, Rhabdophis lineatus) and one Mindanao endemic (Tropidophorus misaminius).
Sampling site 1
Sampling site 2
Out of 12 species, only three are direct river dwellers (R. auriculata, R. lineatus, and T.
misaminius); the rest are tree and grass dwellers near the river in sampling site 2. Dendrelaphis
caudolineatus, a lone grass dweller, was encountered along the damp grass area near the river along
midstream at Brgy. Guba.
Sampling site 1
Sampling site 2
Out of 12 species, only three are direct river dwellers (R. auriculata, R. lineatus, and T.
misaminius); the rest are tree and grass dwellers near the river in sampling site 2. Dendrelaphis
caudolineatus, a lone grass dweller, was encountered along the damp grass area near the river along
midstream at Brgy. Guba.
Sampling site 3
This last sampling site is downstream in Brgy. Pan-ay had the highest relative abundance
(42.42%) compared to sampling site 2, which is the opposite (27.27%). It is due to the fact that
sampling site 3 has a lower elevation compared to other sampling sites and has more heat in the
environment, which is needed by the reptiles to provide optimal heat for their survival.
Rhapdophis lineatus Rhapdophis auriculata
Tropidophorus misaminius Naja samarensis
Figure 2. Endemic reptile species found in Clarin River, Misamis Occidental.

Sampling site 2 (Midstream, Brgy. Guba) scored the highest species diversity (1.523)
and evenness (0.9172)
Sampling site 1 (Upstream, Brgy. Stimson Abordo)
scored the highest species dominance (0.3)
The study found that the type of habitat had a significant impact on
the number of reptiles encountered. This information can greatly
contribute to the overall understanding of Philippine biodiversity
(Siler et al., 2011; Harings et al., 2014).
Conclusion and Recommendation
The reptilian diversity in Clarin River is moderate, but the upstream area
supports a high level of endemism.
Conservation efforts should focus on preserving the forested area and

minimizing human impact to prevent long-term effects on reptile diversity.
Reference
Hingco, J. T., & Manapsal, M. A. (2018). Reptilian

diversity in Clarin River, Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 7(1), 224-236.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7828/jmds.v7i1.1254.

Reptalian Diversity in Clarin River Misamis Occidental Philippines

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REPTALIAN DIVERSITY IN CLARIN

RIVER, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL,

Naja samarensis Tropidophorus misaminius Rhapdophis lineatus

Prepared by: Ronamarie Cutad Suco

 Cold blooded animals

 Cold blooded animals

 Dominant species across diverse range of habitats

 Serves as predator or prey in the food chain of

 Dominant species across diverse range of habitats

 Serves as predator or prey in the food chain of

• assessing their ecological role

• understanding threats to their diversity

• providing baseline data for conservation

• increasing awareness and appreciation

• contributing knowledge about reptiles.

Study area and

Study area and

The study was conducted in

Tropidophorus misaminius Naja samarensis

Figure 2. Endemic reptile species found in Clarin River, Misamis Occidental.

Conservation efforts should focus on preserving the forested area and

Hingco, J. T., & Manapsal, M. A. (2018). Reptilian

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