Assessment Of Species Diversity And Distribution Of Snakes Serpentes In Ba Vi National Park Hanoi

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL

DEVELOPMENT VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF

FORESTRY

------------------------------------

STUDENT THESIS

ASSESSMENT OF SPECIES DIVERSITY AND

DISTRIBUTION OF SNAKES (SERPENTES) IN BA VI

NATIONAL PARK, HANOI

Major: Natural Resources Management

Faculty: Forest Resources and Environmental Management

Student: Dinh Sy Tuong Student ID: 1553090101

Class: K60-Natural Resources Management

Course: 2015-2019

Advance Education Program

Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA

Supervisor: Dr. Luu Quang Vinh

Ha Noi, October 7

th 2019

i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am really pleasure to have a chance to send my acknowledgments to

people who helped me a lot in the study, without them this research would have

never completed.

First and foremost, I would like to express my great appreciation to my

respected supervisor Dr. Luu Quang Vinh from Forest Resources and

Environment Management Faculty, Vietnam National University of Forestry

(VNUF), who was patient, considerate, guided and supported me during my

research. His experience and knowledge is heavily applied in this study.

I would like to extend my thanks to Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam and Mr.

Nguyen Trong Khue from Hanoi Forest Protection Department for their

supporting during my survey time.

Besides, I would love to thank Mr. Lo Van Oanh, Mr. Ha Van Ngoan, Mr.

Tran Quang Huy, Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy, Miss. Luong Khanh Linh for their

assistance in the field.

Therefore, I would like to thank k60 students of the Forest Resources

Management for their assistance in the field.

Finally, I own my gratefully to my parents for their love, support and

encouragements to me throughout all my life. Even though difficulties, ado, they

always help me as more as possible for my dream.

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ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to provide the checklist of snake species in Ba

Vi National Park, Ha Noi, Vietnam. Total 20 species were recorded within

survey from 24th July - 16th November 2018 and 12th April – 15th July 2019 in

Ba Vi National Park. The number of snake species in BV NP has increased to

39. Remarkably, 9 new recorded species was described (Boiga guangxiensis,

Gonyosoma prasinum, Lycodon futsingensis, Lycodon ruhstrati abditus,

Opisthotropis lateralis, Hebius chapaensis, Hebius boulengeri, Pareas hamptoni

and Sinonatrix percarinata) for the first time from Ba Vi National Park. The

main threats to the snake fauna is created by tourism activities. Therefore, the

research has recommended some solutions for reducing the threats consisting of

managing, keeping and protecting snakes in Ba Vi National Park.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................. i

ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. iv

ABBREVIATIONS........................................................................................... vi

LIST OF FIGURE............................................................................................. vi

LIST OF TABLE ............................................................................................viii

Chapter I. Introduction ....................................................................................... 1

Chapter II. Literature Review............................................................................. 2

Snake fauna diversity in Southeast Asia ............................................................. 2

Chapter III. Goal, Objectives, and Research Methods ........................................ 5

3.1 Goal.............................................................................................................. 5

3.2 Objectives .................................................................................................... 5

3.3 Research Methods ........................................................................................ 5

3.3.1 Study area.................................................................................................. 5

3.3.2 Field surveys and data collection ............................................................... 9

3.3.3 Distribution characterisitic of snakes....................................................... 16

3.3.4. Evaluate species have conservation value ............................................... 17

3.3.5. Conservation issues ................................................................................ 17

Chapter IV: Results and Discussions................................................................ 18

4.1. Snake species composition in Ba Vi National Park.................................... 18

4.1.1. List of snakes from Ba Vi National Park................................................. 18

4.1.2. New discovery for science ...................................................................... 21

4.1.3. New records of snakes from BV-NP....................................................... 22

4.2. Distribution of snakes species across habitat types and elevations in the

study site .......................................................................................................... 33

4.2.1. Distribution by elevation ........................................................................ 33

4.2.2. Distribution by habitat ............................................................................ 36

4.2.3. Distribution by microhabitat................................................................... 37

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4.3. Conservation issues.................................................................................. 38

4.3.1. Evaluate species have conservation value ............................................... 38

4.3.2. Threat to snakes fauna in the study site................................................... 40

4.4. Solutions for conservation and management of snake fauna in the study site.

......................................................................................................................... 43

4.4.1. Forest patrolling ..................................................................................... 43

4.4.2. Awereness raising................................................................................... 43

Chapter V: Conclusion .................................................................................... 44

References........................................................................................................ 46

vi

ABBREVIATIONS

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

Decree 06 Governmental Decree No 06/2019/ND-CP

RBVN Vietnam Red Data Book

Et al And others

a.s.l Above sea level

VNUF Vietnam National University of Forestry

BV-NP Ba Vi National Park

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LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 2.1. Diversity of snakes in Southeast Asia countries during 2010 - 2019. 2

Figure 2.2. Number of snake increase over 9 years in vietnam ........................... 4

Figure 3. 1. Topography map of Ba Vi National Park......................................... 6

Figure 3. 2. Map of the forest status in Ba Vi National Park............................... 7

Figure 3. 3. Map of transect surveys in the study site ....................................... 10

Figure 3. 4: Scale in head pattern of snake ....................................................... 15

Figure 3. 5: Body scale count ........................................................................... 15

Figure 3.6: Ventral, subcudal and cloacal scale ................................................ 15

Figure 4.1. Snake diversity in BV-NP by family and genus.............................. 20

Figure 4.2. New recorded snake species in comparision with previous document

......................................................................................................................... 20

Figure. 4.3. An adult female Lycodon meridionalis consuming an adult male

Acanthosaura lepidogaster on the branches of a tree, Ba Vi National Park,

Hanoi, Vietnam. ............................................................................................... 22

Figure 4.4: (A) and (B) dorsal views of Boiga guangxiensis (VNUF R.2018.7)23

......................................................................................................................... 23

Figure 4.5: (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of Gonyosoma prasinum (VNUF

R.2018.30). ...................................................................................................... 24

Figure 4.6:(A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of Hebius boulengeri (BV2.19.03)

in preservative. ................................................................................................. 25

Figure 4.7: (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of Hebius chapaensis (VNUF

R.2018.8). ........................................................................................................ 26

Figure 4.8: (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of Lycodon futsingensis (VNUF

R.2018.5). ........................................................................................................ 27

Figure 4.9: (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of Lycodon ruhstrati abditus

(VNUF R.2018.10)........................................................................................... 29