Online First Article Amphibians and Reptiles of Sheikh Baddin National Park, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Diversity, Threats and Conservation Prospects Hannan Nasib Hamid 1, *, Muhammad Rais 1 , Muhammad Arif 2 and Rubina Noor 2 1 Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 2 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department, Peshawar Article Information Received 26 August 2019 Revised 18 October 2019 Accepted 30 October 2019 Available online 13 July 2020 Authors’ Contributions HNH conducted field surveys, gathered data and prepared the draft e manuscript. MR designed the study, identified the species and finalized the manuscript. MA and RN provided technical input such as identification of sampling sites, assisted field visits and provided funds to cater logistic and accommodation needs. Key words Protected area, Herpetofauna, Habitat destruction, Common leopard gecko. Amphibians and reptiles hold significant position amongst the vertebrates, and play a vital role in the ecosystem. The present study reports herpetofauna of Sheikh Buddin National Park for the first time which could be used as a baseline. The national park features arid climate and two main vegetation types: tropical thorn forest and sub-tropical broad-leaved ever green forest. The data were gathered from July, 2017 to August, 2018, from major habitat types of the national park using visual encounter survey method aided with pitfall and funnel trapping. Twenty three herpetofauna species (14 recorded through direct sightings) were recorded which included two species of amphibians and 21 of reptiles (eight snakes, 13 lizards). Species in the sub-tropical broadleaved evergreen forest were more diverse with Common Leopard Gecko, Persian Leaf-toed Gecko, Reticulate Plump-bodied Gecko as notable species while tropical thorn forest had species such as Indian Monitor, Large-scaled Rock Agama and Agror Agama. Common Leopard Gecko was identified as the flagship reptile species. The most frequently encountered reptilian species were Large-scaled Rock Agama and Agror Agama. Common threats include habitat degradation, fuel wood cutting, human encroachment, grazing, stone quarries and cement factory. T he diversity and distribution of many wildlife species, including herpetofauna, depend on geographical position and climatic conditions of a region. Amphibians and reptiles act as bio-indicators, play a dynamic role in food web and are significant part of a healthy ecosystem. They are a major factor in food web as they consume insects and also become food of many avian and mammalian species. Amphibians, tadpoles in particular, act as regulators of nutrients from aquatic environment to terrestrial environment. Their decline or disappearance may cause imbalance in algal communities, life litter decomposition and nutrient cycling, predator prey dynamics and invertebrate populations (Baig et al., 2006; Petrov, 2004). Pakistan has 220 species (25 amphibians, 195 reptiles) of herpetofauna (Khan, 2006; Pratihar et al., 2014). Six amphibians and 38 reptile species are endemic to Pakistan (Khan, 2006). Herpetofauna of different national parks, various habitats and localities of the country has barely been documented. Masroor (2011) reported nine species of amphibians and 32 of reptiles from Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan. Khan (1986) recorded four * Corresponding author: hannan.hamid@gmail.com 0030-9923/2021/0001-0001 $ 9.00/0 Copyright 2021 Zoological Society of Pakistan amphibian and nine reptile species from district Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. Rais et al. (2012) documented five species of amphibians and 30 of reptiles from Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan. Bibi et al. (2013) reported three amphibian and nine reptile species from Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakistan. Balouch et al. (2016) recorded 15 species of reptile from Chakwal, Punjab with Oriental Garden lizard, Snake-eyed Lacerta and Striped Grass Skink as the most common species. Ali et al. (2016) reported 18 species of herpetofauna (three amphibians and 15 reptiles) from District Kasur with Indian Wolf Snake recorded only from uncultivated land. Rais et al. (2011) reported three species of amphibians and 32 of reptiles from Chotiari Reservoir, Sanghar, Sindh. Sheikh et al. (2014) documented amphibian species namely Indus Valley Toad, Indian Bull Frog and Skittering Frog from 14 different districts of Province Sindh. Baig et al. (2006) reported 47 species of herpetofauna including two amphibians and 45 reptiles from District Chagai, Balochistan, Pakistan. Regional studies are certainly important as they help compile comprehensive information on herpetofauna and make presentation at national level significant. Only a few studies are available from Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Younas et al. (2017) recorded six amphibian and 12 reptile species from District Karak, KP, with Indian ABSTRACT Pakistan J. Zool., pp 1-4, 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20190826180828 Short Communication