Rhacophorus lateralis
| Rhacophorus lateralis | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Rhacophorus |
| Species: | R. lateralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhacophorus lateralis Boulenger, 1883[1] |
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Rhacophorus lateralis is an endangered species of Rhacophorid tree frog endemic to the Western Ghats in South India. Its natural habitats is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, intermittent freshwater marshes and plantations. After its original description in 1883 by George Albert Boulenger, the frog was rediscovered in 2000 by Daniel Bennett and team from University of Aberdeen expedition to the region[2][3][4] Along with R malabaricus, it is one of the few anuran amphibians in India that constructs its nest above the ground using leaves.[5]
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[edit] Description
The frog was described by George Albert Boulenger in 1883 based on a single specimen from Malabar (present-day Kerala) collected by Richard Henry Beddome. Several later surveys did not report the species until its rediscovery in the year 2000 in course of an expedition to the Western Ghats by a team from University of Aberdeen. The re-discovery was based on two adult females and an unsexed metamorph specimens collected from Lakunda estate in Virajpet taluka in South Kodagu.[2] The frog is slender with a short head and snout and a distinct canthus rostralis. The nostrils are nearer to the tip of the snout than to the eye. The eyes are large with the tympanum half the diameter of the eye and a distinct supratympanic fold. The fingers and toes have an enlarged disc possessing circummarginal grooves. The upper portion (dorsum) is smooth, belly is granular and a characteristic dorsolateral yellow streak on either side of the upper body from the nostril to the groin is distinctive[3]. Colour variations even within the same individual have been reported[3] and have been attributed to stress[6]. Repeated handling reduces colour change[4].
A green and a brown colour morphs have been described. Individuals with the green dorsum have the green colour interspersed with fine sky blue spots. The individuals with brown dorsum have darker brown spots; no demarcating blue line bordering the yellow stripe from the eye to the groin.[3]
[edit] Habitat
The species has been reported from sholas in Eravikulam National Park and Kudremukh National Park, plantations in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala[3][7] and adjoining sub-tropical evergreen forests in the southern Western Ghats. It is endemic to this region. It has often been reported in association with Rhacophorus malabaricus.[3][7]
[edit] Threats
Habitat loss due to changing agricultural practices, use of pesticides and logging of its natural forest habitat are major threats to this species.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Biju, S.D., Dutta, S., Vasudevan, K., Srinivasulu, C. & Vijayakumar, S.P. 2004. Rhacophorus lateralis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007
- ^ a b Das, Indraneil (2000). "Nomenclatural history and rediscovery of Rhacophorus lateralis Boulenger, 1883 (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae)". Current Herpetology 19 (1): 35–40. doi:10.5358/hsj.19.35. http://www.journalarchive.jst.go.jp/english/jnlabstract_en.php?cdjournal=hsj2000&cdvol=19&noissue=1&startpage=35. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dinesh, KP; Radhakrishnana, C., Gururaja, K.V., Zacariya, A. (26). "New locality records of Rhacophorus lateralis Boulenger, 1883 (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae), in the Western Ghats". Journal of Threatened Taxa 2 (6): 986–989. http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/28900/1/o220926vi10986-989.pdf.
- ^ a b Bennet, Daniel; D., K. Hampson, K. sanders & M. Anderson (2000). "Frogs of Coorg, Karnataka, India". Final Report of the Aberdeen University Western Ghats Project. http://www.coorg.mampam.com/coorg-introduction.pdf.
- ^ Biju, S.D. (10). "A novel nesting behaviour of a treefrog, Rhacophorus lateralis in the Western Ghats, India". Current Science 97 (3). http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/aug102009/433.pdf.
- ^ Molur, Sanjay; P Molur. "Observations on Rhacophorus lateralis and R. malabaricus in northern Coorg". Frogleg, Newsletter of the Amphibian Network of South Asia and Amphibian Specialist Group South Asia 14: 8–10.
- ^ a b Goel, Anurag; M Goel. "Observations on Rhacophorus lateralis and R. malabaricus in northern Coorg". Frogleg, Newsletter of the Amphibian Network of South Asia and Amphibian Specialist Group South Asia 14: 8–10.
