The amphibians and reptiles of Malinau Region, Bulungan Research Forest, East Kalimantan: annonated checklist with notes on the ecological presence of the species and local utilization

Djoko T. Iskandar Edited by Douglas Sheil and Meilinda Wan. (2004) CIFOR.

Abstract

The amphibians and reptiles of CIFOR’s field site in Malinau were investigated for a one month period in June - July 2000, a study which was then continued by two interns from Aberdeen, so that the total length of study was about 72 days. A number of amphibian and reptile species were directly observed in the area during this time. Following that work and interviews with local people, a total of 97 species are noted, and 76 among them are confirmed. This is an ecologically rich area for an exploited forest and researchers found less logging damage than previously believed. Observed impacts only occurred locally around skid trails, logging roads, and in areas where trees have been harvested, though a more intensive study around those sites must be performed. This study indicates that current logging activity has only minimal impact on frog diversity. Although their abundance is relatively low, the present study is Abstract unable to link this fact with logging activities because diversity levels are similar to those in undisturbed forests. All streams contain roughly the same species, indicating that the habitat itself is essentially homogenous. Knowledge of the habitat of amphibian species should be explored more deeply for future monitoring of logging activities. The local people used turtles, monitor lizards and pythons as food, but they rarely eat frogs, although they acknowledge that at least six species are known to be edible. Therefore we believe that the reason for the low number of large adults frogs of the genus Limnonectes is most probably the result of natural causes and not by human exploitation. Local people are principally familiar with a variety of poisonous snakes, so as to avoid them. The poison from the king cobra was used in the past for the poison darts of blowpipes, but the poison is now seldom used.

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