INTRODUCED AQUATIC HERPETOFAUNA OF SINGAPORE'S RESERVOIRS

Sixteen species of introduced or alien aquatic amphibians and reptiles have been recorded from Singapore's Public Utilities Board reservoirs. Their presence in the wild state is largely due to members of the public abandoning their pets, or releasing animals to gain spiritual merit (fang sheng). The ban imposed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority on the sale of most species of amphibians and reptiles will probably help to restrict the diversity of alien animal species in Singapore. However, the continued availability of hatchling red-eared terrapins in pet shops and live Chinese softshell turtles and American bullfrogs in markets does little to reduce the presence of these three alien species in local water bodies.