What are we saving? The amphibians and reptiles of the rice paddies in the Balasore District, Odisha, India

Abstract

Agriculture is widely recognized as one of the major conservation threats to herpetofaunal species. Any conservation
actions, particularly those aimed at herpetofauna beyond the network of protected areas, require baseline data
on existing species diversity in an area. Unfortunately, most biodiversity studies are focused on producing inventories
of animals in a small number of protected areas. To accrue truly meaningful benefits, conservation needs to focus on
human-dominated landscapes beyond protected areas, such as agricultural lands. Scientific documentation of farmland
herpetofauna is entirely lacking, which could lead to a lack of management and effective inclusion of herpetofauna
in conservation. I assessed the species of amphibians and reptiles in tropical rice paddies near the Kuldiha Wildlife
Sanctuary in Balasore District, Odisha, India. Based on ecological sampling and community interviews, combined with
literature reviews and field guides, I report a total of 55 species including 16 species of amphibians in five families and
39 species of reptiles in 15 families.