Herpetofauna Diversity of The Disturbed and Isolated Bukit Maras in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

We present the first checklist of herpetofauna in Bukit Maras based on surveys conducted from 2019 to 2023. Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) and drift-fenced pitfall traps were employed as collection methods. Our study documented a total of 55 herpetofauna species, comprising 23 amphibians and 32 reptiles. Among these, the critically endangered species, Manouria emys (according to the IUCN Red List) is a species of high conservation concern. The non-asymptotic nature of the Species Accumulation Curve (SAC) suggests that further sampling efforts could reveal additional species. Species-habitat network analysis revealed variations in species composition across different habitat types. Notably, secondary forest exhibited higher herpetofauna diversity compared to agricultural areas. Therefore, the conservation of remaining secondary forest in Bukit Maras is crucial for preserving its herpetofauna and mitigating anthropogenic impacts on this disturbed and isolated ecosystem.