Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

Reptiles63. During the study eight turtle species and tortoise species were observed. Among the turtlespecies, Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tectum) and Median Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tentoria) arecommon whereas Brown Roofed Turtle (Pangshura smithii) is very rare. These species are commonlyfound in large rivers and they are expected to exist predominantly in Padma River. The other speciesfound in the project area and labeled as endangered and vulnerable in IUCN Red List are GangesSoft-shell Turtle, Brown Roofed Turtle, Median Roofed Turtle, and Spotted Flapshell Turtle,respectively. The turtle and tortoise use Charland and wetland sides as their breeding ground. Mostof the species breeds during December to February. Collection of eggs, hunting of adults, pollutionand landuse change that impact nesting areas are believed to be key threats causing the decline ofthese populations. Table 3-18 listed sensitive reptiles observed during the bi-monthly survey in theproject boundary.Table 3-18: Bi-monthly survey data (reptiles) in project areaEnglish name Scientific name Local name IUCNstatusGanges Soft-shell AspideteresTurtlegangeticusCITESstatusLocalstatusGoda Tiktiki EN CR 6Brown Roofed Turtle Pangshura smithii Barokori Kasim VU II UR 4Median Roofed Turtle Pangshura tentoria Kaitta VU II CR 6Spotted Flapshell Lissemys punctata Tiktiki VU - CR 2TurtleBengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis Painna Shap VU - CR 6Yellow Monitor Varanus flavescens Gharginni Shap EN - CR 6Gangetic Gharial Gavialis gangeticus Ghorial CE - UR 1Brooks House Gecko Hemidactylus brookii Gui Shap VU I CR 1Yellow-bellied House HemidactylusSona Gui EN I RR 3GeckoflaviviridisStriped Keelback Amphiesma stolatum Kal-keute Shap EN - UR 2Common Smooth Enhydris enhydris Painna Shap EN - CR 2Water SnakeCommon Smooth Enhydris enhydris Khoiya Gokhra EN II C 2Water SnakeShapOlive Keelback Atretium schistosum Matia Shap - III CR 7Spectacled Cobra Naja naja Khoiya Gokhra - II CR 1ShapMonocled Cobra Naja Kaouthia Gokhra Shap - II RR 2Indian Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Gharhinni Shap - II CR 1Legend: EN: Endangered, VU: Vulnerable, UR: Uncommon Resident, CR:Common Resident, C:CommonNote: 1 Number sighted during the months of July, September, November, 2009 and January andMarch 2010.Source: Consultant Bi-monthly Ecological Survey, 2009-2010.64. Bengal monitor and Yellow Monitor were observed within study area. These two species arelisted as vulnerable (VU) and endangered (EN) in IUCN Red list category. Gharial was known to occurat Padma River and lastly it was recorded in 2003 from this river.65. Many lizards and skinks were observed during the survey. They include 4 different families.Among the lizards Brook’s House Gecko and Yellow-bellied House Gecko were found mostfrequently. Some reptiles were seen in places around or within human habitation, homestead forestedges etc. Keeled grass skinks were observed in most of the terrestrial habitats. Generally the lizardsand skinks are terrestrial and found in various habitats including low-lying vegetation, leaf litter, grassyareas, bushes, river banks, under logs, burrows etc.NumberSighted 13-41