Herpetofauna in the Caves of the Andaman Islands: An Appeal for Conservation Measures
Publication Date: 2026/09/01
Publication Volume: Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 88 #3
DOI Link: https://dx.doi.org/10.4311/2025LSC0121
ABSTRACT:
As incidental inhabitants, amphibians and reptiles actively exploit subterranean ecosystems. In the Indian context, knowledge of cave-dwelling herpetofauna is scarce. This paper compiles information about the amphibians and reptiles encountered during multiple visits to the caves of the most significant cave complexes of the Andaman Islands on Baratang Island, Chalis-Ek on North Andaman Island, and Interview Island in the North and Middle Andaman Islands between 2018 and 2020, and 2024 and 2025. We encountered herpetofauna in all cave zones and added 14 species to the existing list of cave-dwelling herpetofauna. We reported four species of amphibians and twelve species of reptiles actively using the cave for roosting or foraging. Of the reported species, four amphibians; three (Chakrapani’s narrow-mouthed Frog, Andaman wart frog, and Andaman bush toad) are endemic to the Andaman Islands. Among reptiles, three species are endemic to the Andaman Islands (Andaman Grass Skink, Andaman Bent-toed Gecko, and Anderson’s Pit Viper), and the Nicobar Forest Dragon is distributed across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The study reports the presence of herpetofauna within the tropical caves of the Andaman Islands and highlights the importance of subterranean habitats for their conservation. Further detailed studies are recommended to understand habitat usage and behavior of herpetofauna within cave ecosystems.
SIMPLE LANGUAGE SUMMARY:
Amphibians (such as frogs and toads) and reptiles (such as lizards, geckos and snakes) are sometimes found in caves, even though most of them also live outside. Very little is known about these animals in the caves of India. The authors visited caves on the Andaman Islands, a group of Indian islands in the Bay of Bengal, many times between 2018 and 2025. They recorded every amphibian and reptile they saw, from the cave entrance to the completely dark parts deep inside. They found four kinds of amphibians and twelve kinds of reptiles using the caves to rest, shelter or hunt for food, adding 14 species to the known list of cave-using animals of this type. Several of them, such as the Andaman bush toad and Anderson’s pit viper, live nowhere else in the world. The study shows that these caves are important places for these animals and should be protected, and that more research is needed to understand how the animals use caves.
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