Trading System, Abundance and Habitat Characteristic of Oriental Rat-snake Ptyas mucosus (Linnaeus 1758) in Central Java

Abstract

The research of oriental rat-snake’s (Ptyas mucosus Linn 1758) abundance and its habitat is still rare. Oriental rat-snake is classified as a commerce species and is listed on Appendix II of CITES. This study was aimed at measuring the abundance and morphometric characteristic of oriental rat-snake in Central Java. In the present study, harvesting abundance was obtained from 7 major collectors, 3 medium collectors, 4 small collectors and 4 hunters/professional catcher. Information was also obtained by interviewing the managers of both of BKSDA and LIPI. The morphometric data collected from 159 living and 131 dead specimens from major collectors. Harvesting abundance derived from the average of rat-snakes that was received by major collectors. Descriptive analysis was used to process data morphometric. The multiple linier regressions were performed to determine the relationship between body mass and body size variables. In the trading system, there were traders, trade’s chain and price factors that influance its. The harvesting abundance of oriental rat-snake in Central Java were estimated annually a 132 000. Its abundance was mainly influenced by natural factor, especially paddy's crops cycles. Based on the descriptive analysis of morphometric data obtained, males had longer SVL and greater body masses than females of the same body length. Average of male’s snout-vent length was 142,67 (SD=14,09) and body mass is 0,95 kg, while for female’s SVL was 140,45(SD=12,99) and body mass is 0,93 kg. The analysis showed insignificant differences in body size between the sexes and in each collector’s level. At present, abundance of oriental rat-snake can support commercial harvesting. Habitat characteristic of oriental rat-snake’s nest were consisted of nine variables, i.e. hole and soil moisture, hole and soil temperature, soil pH, location altitude, distance from water and settlement, and slope. However, further studies are needed to assess sustainable levels of harvesting.