Herpetofaunal Diversity and Habitat Associations in an Urban Protected Area: A Case Study from Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi

Urban protected areas often face unique ecological pressures but remain poorly studied for herpetofauna. The Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (ABWS), located in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India, represents a rocky, semi-arid landscape with seasonal streams that provide diverse microhabitats for amphibians and reptiles. To address the lack of systematic data, we conducted intensive time-constrained visual encounter surveys (40 VES of one hour each) and opportunistic searches between March and December 2024, supported by literature review and photographic vouchers. In total, we documented 30 species across 27 genera and 15 families, comprising 8 amphibian species (3 families) and 22 reptile species (12 families). Dicroglossidae was the most diverse amphibian family (4 species), while Colubridae was the most diverse reptile family (6 species). Species were assigned conservation status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2022), and the IUCN Red List, with seven taxa receiving Schedule I protection and two listed as Near Threatened globally. Euphlyctis cf. cyanophlyctis was the most abundant amphibian, and Calotes versicolor the most common reptile, reflecting the dominance of ecological generalists in disturbed habitats. Amphibian diversity in the sanctuary appears to have been adequately documented, while reptile surveys indicate that additional species are likely still undetected. Among the different habitats, plantations supported the highest diversity, suggesting that restored areas with greater structural complexity provide critical resources for both amphibians and reptiles. Collated records from nearby localities highlight broader regional diversity, though not included in the ABWS checklist. Our findings provide the first habitat-stratified inventory of ABWS and emphasize its value as an urban biodiversity refuge requiring continued monitoring and management.