| dc.description.abstract | Snake is one part of herpetofauna with large number of species. At least 154 species from 10 families of snakes have been recorded from Borneo island (Stuebing and Inger, 1999). Although information about snakes diversity is already available, however it is too general. Specific information about snakes diversity, especially in the conservation area is still very limited. Tanjung Puting National Park (TPNP) is one of the conservation area in Indonesia that have limited information about snakes diversity. Whereas, TPNP have many type of ecosystems as well as snakes habitat. The objectives of this research were to identify species diversity and mapping the spatial distribution of snakes in TPNP. Data were collected about 24 days on April - May 2008 at 6 habitat types; shrub, secondary swamp forest at Beguruh, secondary swamp riverine forest at Sekonyer Kanan River, primary swamp forest, mixed forest at Camp Tanjung Harapan, and mixed forest at Camp Leakey. Data were collected using Visual Encounter Survey (VES) with randomized-walk design method (Heyer et al., 1994) . In total 14 species and 12 genus from 4 families of snakes were recorded during the surveys. The species richness represents 9,09 % of snakes in Borneo island. All of the species are not protected by Indonesian government laws and non-endemic species. There were two species categorized as Appendix II CITES, which are Naja sumatrana and Python reticulatus. The highest species richness was recorded in Camp Tanjung Harapan. These habitat are ecotone area and has a high number of snakes prey. Lowest species richness was found in primary swamp forest, whereas no snake was recorded in shrub habitat. Spatial distribution of snake in each habitat type are affected by difference of habitat characteristics, especially cover, water, and easiness to get prey. Keywords: diversity, spatial distribution, snake, TPNP | id |
