Microhabitat Assessment of Mangrove Pit Viper Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus in Restricted Mangrove Area, Dumai, Riau Province, Sumatera

Abstract

Bandar Bakau is a mangrove conservation area with approximately 20 ha that preserves many kinds of fauna, including Mangrove Pit Viper Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus . However, this species and its habitat are still poorly studied in Indonesia, particularly Sumatera island, despite it has a wide distribution in Southeast Asian countries. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the microhabitat of Mangrove Pit Viper C. p urpureomaculatus that found at a restricted mangrove area in Dumai, Riau Province. Visual Encounter Survey (VES) and deep interview methods were used in this study. The survey found six individuals of C. p urpureomaculatus that mostly basking on the Avicennia marina and artificial building. Although Bandar Bakau is a tourism object, but no snakebite cases were found.