Diversity and abundance of herpetofauna at Jahangirnagar University campus, Bangladesh

Abstract

Herpetofauna, comprising amphibians and reptiles, are highly sensitive to habitat alterations, making them valuable indicators of the ecosystem health of a landscape. Despite their ecological importance, these taxa remain poorly studied, particularly within human-dominated urban environments. This study was conducted at Jahangirnagar University campus, an area enriched with wetlands and woodlands, from May to October 2023, to assess the diversity and abundance of herpetofauna using the plot sampling method. A total of 33 species were recorded, comprising 12 amphibian species under five families and 22 reptile species under nine families. Among amphibians, three species were categorized as very common, six common, two uncommon, and only one was rare. Among reptiles, five species were very common, five common, seven uncommon, and four species were rare. The Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H) indicated that cultivated lands supported the highest amphibian diversity (H = 2.48), while forest patches exhibited the greatest reptile diversity (H = 2.35). However, increasing anthropogenic pressures, including infrastructure expansion and pollution, pose significant threats to the persistence of herpetofaunal diversity of Jahangirnagar University campus.

Bangladesh J. Zool. 54(1): 31-45, 2026