Diversity and Altitudinal Distribution of Squamata in Two Distinct Ecological Zones of Dir, A Himalayan Sub-Zone of Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Herpetological fauna of Dir Lower and Dir Upper districts (Northern mountainous region) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan contains 11 species of lizards (Calotes versicolor farooqi, Laudakia agrorensis, Eublepharis macularius, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Hemidactylus brookii, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Ophisops jerdonii, Asymblepharus himalayanus, Eurylepis taeniolatus, Eutropis dissimilis and Varanus bengalensis) and 16 species of snakes (Eryx johnii, Amphiesma stolatum, Boiga trigonata, Lycodon striatus, Oligodon arnensis, Oligodon taeniolatus, Platyceps rhodorachis, Platyceps ventromaculatus, Ptyas mucosus, Spalerosophis atriceps, Xenochrophis piscator, Gloydius himalayanus, Bungarus caeruleus, Naja oxiana, Typhlops porrectus, Echis carinatus). Altitudinal distribution of reptiles shows that maximum diversity (26 species) has been observed at an altitude range of 550-1000 meters which decreased gradually reaching to occurrence of only four species at 2500-2900 meters above sea level. District Dir lower, primarily sub-tropical, was found more diverse regarding squamate species than the mountainous, temperate Upper Dir.