Range extension of four highland agamid lizards in Shimshal Pamir,Pakistan

As part of the Sino-Pak trans-boundary cooperation for conservation and sustainable development in Pamir border region, World Wild Fund （WWF）-Pakistan conducted a preliminary social, economic and ecological survey in the ShimshaI-Pamir Lakes area in July 2009. The purpose of the study was to explore potentials and opportunities for future collaborative conservation of some species, habitats and high altitude ecosystems in the border region between China and Pakistan. The two-week herpetological study in the Shimshal Pamir area of Khunjerab National Park （KNP） along Pakistan-China border was an integral part of the survey, conducted exclu- sively to document reptilian fauna with a special emphasis on investigating their occurrence, distribution and status in the study area. Field investigations were performed during daytime when it was hot enough and reptiles were active, basking or feeding. A total of 15 specimens belonging to four species of the Agamidae family were captured by striking stones and beating bushes with sticks. Collected specimens were preserved using 10% formalin solution, tagged with field information and stored in Zoological Survey Department, Karachi for future reference. Laboratory investigations were carried out for pholidosic counts and morphometric measurements. A detailed review of relevant literature, habitat characteristics and laboratory investigations revealed the occurrence of Laudakia himalayana, L. pakistanica, L. tuberculata and L. badakhshana at 4,082 m, 4,172 m, 4,005 m and 4,240 m asl, respectively, which are much higher altitudes as compared to the previously reported heights of 3,353 m, 3,200 m, 2,500 m and 2,400 m asl. The terrain offers a variety of ecological barriers, in the form of fast and freezing running waters and massive glaciers with peculiar harsh climatic conditions prevailing for nine months of the year, which restricts species migration and thus increases endemism. Although one of the four species recorded from the study area, i.e.L, pakistanica is endemic to Pakistan, L. tuberculata and L. badakhshana are new records from Shimshal, Pakistan, so a detailed investigation is suggested for further herpetological records from the study area.

Status of Asiatic Wild Cat and its habitat in Xinjiang Tarim Basin, China

The Asiatic Wild CatFelis silvestris ornataisregarded as “Least concerned” (LC) first, as “Vulnerable” (VU) and following “Endangered” (EN) and then “Critically endangered” (CR) species as finally and originally concentrative distribute in Xinjiang Tarim Basin region in northwest China. This paper provides comprehensive information on bio-morphology, habitat selectivity, environmental condition, habit, preyfeed source and every item of composition, and relationship among Wild Cat and domestic cat at presence investigated in 2004-2006 and 2011- 2013 as especial study. The paper also illustrated some dynamical statistics of wild cat’ pelt collection by national trade from three prefectures in the last 40 years. Briefing the results of indication that large scale and continuous openup land for cotton in unplanned, exploit petroleum and natural gas, misapply water and destroy desert vegetation, poaching and killing prey objectives, etc., of them long-term effects on plants functional density and qualities of the cat surviving habitat and productivity, whereas pressures of increasing human population to fragile desert ecosystem showed efficiency and desirable effects of the cat surviving.