Terrestrial vertebrate and butterfly diversity of Garbhanga Landscape, Assam, India

Abstract

A study was conducted on the current status of terrestrial vertebrates and butterflies in Garbhanga Reserve Forest. Data were compiled from field surveys and secondary sources like existing literature, and citizen science databases. We found that Garbhanga is represented by 254 species of butterflies (6 families), 29 species of amphibians (7 families), 64 species of reptiles (12 families), 307 species of birds (68 families) and 31 species of mammals (19 families). In Garbhanga, amongst the studied group, two species are ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR), six species are ‘Endangered’ (EN), 14 species are ‘Vulnerable’ (VU), eight species are ‘Near Threatened’ (NT), eight species are ‘Data Deficient’ (DD), 411 species are ‘Least Concern’ (LC), and 236 species are not assessed (denoted by blank space). This shows a huge gap in research and status evaluation of understudied species. This in turn also provides further research opportunities on the lesser known species.