Species Diversity of Reptiles Under Different Land Covers of Enzi Millennium Park, Blue Nile River Basin, Western Ethiopia

Reptiles play important roles in natural systems, as predators, prey, grazers, seed dispersers, and commensal species. However, in many cultures, due to superstitions, myths, and false beliefs, people either avoid reptiles or want solely to kill them. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate species composition and relative abundances of reptilian fauna in Enzi Millennium Park. The area was purposively selected due to its diverse habitat types suitable for reptiles and consequent rich reptile diversity. The study area was stratified into three different habitat types: grassland, rocky areas, and woodland. A total of 48 transect lines were randomly established over the three stratified habitat types. In each habitat type, 16 transects were established, for more or less equal area coverage of each habitat type. Transect lines having a length of 500 m and 3–20‐m width were established to survey reptile species’ fauna. Active searching and photographing method were employed to collect data. A total of 12 species and 818 individual reptiles were recorded during both seasons, whereas 9 species of reptiles were recorded during the wet season, while 12 were recorded during the dry season. Of the total number of individuals, 322 were recorded during the wet season and 496 were recorded during the dry seasons. Diversity and relative abundance were high in woodland areas during both wet (H′ = 1.83) and dry (H′ = 2.21) seasons. Trachylepis quinquetaeniata (Lichtenstein, 1823) and Agama doriae (Boulenger, 1885) were abundant and common in all over the habitats of the study area. Psammophis sibilans (Linnaeus, 1758), Pelomedusa gehafie (Rüppell, 1835), and Philothamnus battersbyi (Loveridge, 1951), however, were less abundant and restricted to specific habitats in the study area. There is no statistically significant difference in species abundance between wet and dry seasons ( t ≈ −1.086, df ≈ 21, p = 0.290). The results have important implications for the conservation of reptiles in the Blue Nile river basin. The high diversity in woodland areas underscores the need to protect these habitats from degradation and fragmentation.