Amphibians and reptiles are frequently neglected in forestry studies. Their role in the ecosystem is often considered to be of low importance. A consequence of this neglect is that little information about amphibians and reptiles has been recorded from Indonesian forests. To date, in fact, only one report about the herpeto-fauna of the study area of Kalimantan has been published, and that deals with snakes alone (Stejneger 1922).

Much of the Malinau area is covered by a timber concession of the government owned company PT Inhutani II. It, in connection with CIFOR, has experimented with Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) techniques...

To prepare an initial checklist of the amphibians and reptiles in the area bordered by the Seturan and Rian Rivers.

To annotate the list, when possible, with information on habitat, life history requirements, and possible vulnerability to harvesting and forest conversion. This includes comprehensive references to published information.

To provide the local names of these species when available.

To identify if any of these species are used by, or valued by the people of Langap, Loreh and Seturan and if so why, in what manner and by whom?...

The methods are a slight modification of those used by Heyer et al. (1994). In order to obtain sufficient data, we performed quantitative analysis using quadrats (30 m x width of the river). Each quadrat was assessed for three consecutive nights when possible. Data obtained from quantitative analysis is shown in Tables 1 and 2. In addition, we also cruised the forest to obtain qualitative data on species not found in the riparian area.

The streams were surveyed during daytime and the quadrats were set up at the same time. The river was mapped to sufficient detail so that the...

Extensive scientific literatures have been compiled by Das (1998) and Iskandar and Colijn (2003). All frog species can be identified using books by Inger (1966), Inger and Stuebing (1989, 1997, 1999), Berry (1975), Iskandar (1998a, b). For reptiles, the two books by de Rooij (1915, 1917) are the only references available that cover the whole region (though they are out of print and 75% out of date). Turtles can be identified using Lim and Das (2000), Moll and Sharma (2000), or Iskandar (2000), which also includes crocodiles. Snakes can be identified using the Stuebing and Inger (1999) guidebook or David...

A total of 97 species have been recorded from this area, although only 76 species are substantiated by specimen, sound, picture or other means, This number representing a considerably high diversity for the area. Two species from the genera Ansonia and Limnonectes are probably new for science.

The occurrence of a poisonous varanid is biologically interesting. Merap, Punan or Kenyah people all insist that the species is poisonous, and that dogs died very soon after being bitten, thus not likely to be infection related. The species is said to be terrestrial, similar in colour to Varanus rudicollis, though much smaller....