Assessment of anurans (frogs and toads) inhabiting district Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

Anura is the only order of class amphibia that exists in Pakistan where some areas are still unexplored for the confirmation of anuran diversity. In this context, present study explored “district Naushahro Feroze” where no relevant inquisition was ever conducted. Fields were surveyed from January to December, 2018 to record the prevalence of amphibians in different habitats: scrubland, cropland and suburban areas. Amphibians of order Anura were thoroughly examined and identified as Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis. Morpho-taxonomic variation was utterly absent in members of both distinct species, though minor variations in body coloration and pattern of patches were recorded. Existence of only two anuran species falling in two genera (Hoplobatrachus and Euphlyctis) indicated extremely poor anuran diversity in Sindh as compared to other areas of Pakistan. Arid climate, habitat destruction and anthropogenic encroachment may be the reasons that district Naushahro Feroze failed to attract majority of anuran species.