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Herpetofauna is an important group of vertebrates with key functions in ecosystem sustenance. Nonetheless, with everincreasing anthropogenic activities and lack of evidence-based studies, about 80% of the herpetofauna diversity of southern Asian region is threatened. Our study reports 80 herpetofauna species distributed across different habitat types in Dampa Tiger Reserve (DTR), Mizoram. We revise the amphibian list of DTR throughthe addition of seven species and establish the identity of cryptic species such as Microhyla ornata which is actually two distinct species, i.e., M. mukhlesuri and M. mymensinghensis. Through the questionnaire survey, it was found that 90% of the respondents depended on varied forms of forest resources. Herpetofaunal species account for 30% of the faunal resources with Varanus bengalensis, Ophiophagus hannah, and Python bivittatus being the most consumed reptile species. All chelonians and some amphibians like Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Pterorana khare, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Hoplobatrachus litoralis, Hydrophylax leptoglossa, Minervarya asmati, Polypedates teraiensis, and Sylvirana lacrima were also found to be consumed and used for their presumed medicinal values. In addition to hunting, road-kills, use of chemical pesticides, and habitat alteration were recorded to be the prominent threats in the region. The land use and land cover (LULC) data shows a steady recovery of dense forest and a better forest fire scenario as over 90% of the DTR core region falls in the 'low severity' and 'unburned' category. With continuous alteration in forested areas, the present study will not only provide a fundamental baseline for the conservation of herpetofauna and better management of protected areas but also stimulate future herpetological-based research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional practice of shifting cultivation in Mizoram, India is linked to the ecological, socio-economic and cultural lives of the over 86% of its population. Negative impacts are devastating and degrade the environment and ecology, a major concern in conservation biology such as large-scale deforestation, soil erosion, invasion by weeds and exotic species. Studies provide information on the nature and extent due to anthropogenic pressures on species diversity. Active participation of locals is pivotal. Workshops and awareness programmes were conducted with alternative livelihoods to reduce forest dependency. Efforts are on by educating people on preserving tropical forests at the Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pegu Rice Frog, Microhyla berdmorei is distributed across ten Asian countries. However, the DNA barcoding information (COI gene) is restricted to only Southeast Asian countries. Here, we sampled a specimen of M. berdmorei in Mizoram state, northeast India to allow the genetic diversity of the species across its range. We generated both COI and 16S ribosomal RNA sequences of the studied species to check the population genetic diversity. The Bayesian analyses clearly discriminate M. berdmorei from its sister species Microhyla pulchra. The present datasets of M. berdmorei also revealed 11 and 19 haplotypes with high uncorrected pairwise genetic distances in COI (3.8–11.8%) and 16S rRNA (0–4.6%) gene, respectively. Owing to the high intra-species genetic distances and different haplotypes with sufficient mutational steps in both mitochondrial genes, this study affirms the existence of M. berdmorei species complex or cryptic diversity within its range distribution in South and Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians are an integral part of the ecosystem and act as an ecological indicator. As several species are added to the list of threatened species every year due to loss of habitat, it is important to understand the role of unmanaged landscape for sustenance of amphibian diversity. In this study, 28 amphibian species were recorded from different modified habitat including 19 new records for Dampa Tiger Reserve (DTR) and its surrounding areas. Further, six species, Amolops indoburmanensis, Limnonectes khasianus, Microhyla mukhlesuri, M. mymensinghensis, Raorchestes rezakhani, and Sylvirana lacrima are new distribution records for the state of Mizoram and out of these, two species, Raorchestes rezakhani and Sylvirana lacrima, are new country records for India. Amongst the recorded species, four species are Data Deficient, two Vulnerable, 14 Least Concern, and eight species are not assessed as per the IUCN Red List. Within the core and buffer areas of DTR, we found that natural perennial stream, puddles, canals, natural ponds, fish ponds, roadside, primary forest, secondary forest, paddy fields, and human settlement areas are excellent microhabitats for amphibian population and need to be conserved for their rich ecological niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]