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No.18 | December 2012 December | No.18 2230-7060 ISSN:
the Amphibian Specialist Group - South Asia South - Group Specialist Amphibian the Newsletter of the Amphibian Network of South Asia and Asia South of Network Amphibian the of Newsletter frog leg frog frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Contents A new site record of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Biju and Bossuyt, 2003 from Thrissur Forest Division, Western Ghats, and notes on the tadpoles - K.M. Jobin, D. Deepak & P.O. Nameer Pp. 3–9
Amphibian Fauna of Arecanut plantation in Kadatoka (Uttara Kannada) Western Ghats, Karnataka
- V.D. Hegde Pp. 10–20
Second known locality of the Critically Endangered Adenomus dasi Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 1998 (Bufonidae) from Samanala Nature Reserve, Sri Lanka - D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna, P.I. Kumara Peabotuwage, B.N. Hirantha Perera & H.M. Aruna Karunatilaka Pp. 21–26
A note on records of rare and endemic Duttaphrynus hololius (Günther, 1876) from Tamil Nadu, Eastern Ghats, India - A. Kalaimani, Anukul Nath & R. Brawin Kumar Pp. 27–30
Amphibians of Punakha-Wangdue Phodrang Valley, Bhutan - Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal & Dhan Bahadhur Gurung Pp. 31–44
Seasonal Fluctuation Of Different Nematode Parasites Of Duttaphrynus melanostictus From Aurangabad (Maharashtra), India
- Sujeet V. Jamdar & C.J. Hiware Pp. 45-47
Defensive and burrowing behaviour of Kaloula assamensis, Das et al. 2004 and Kaloula pulchra, Gray 1831 (Microhylidae) - Rakesh Soud, Kripaljyoti Mazumdar, Abhik Gupta & Simi Talukdar Pp. 48-50
Clinotarsus curtipes 2 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 A new site record of Nasikabatrachus N. sahyadrensis was obtained sahyadrensis Biju and Bossuyt, 2003 from from a degraded forest near a cardamom plantation at Thrissur Forest Division, Western Ghats, and Kattappana, Idukki District, notes on the tadpoles Kerala part of the Western Ghats (09°45’N & 77°05’E). K.M. Jobin 1, D. Deepak 2 & P.O. Nameer 3 Subsequent studies and 1,2 & 3 Dept. of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural observations provide more University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, India 680656 insight into the distribution Email: 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected], of N. sahyadrensis from the 3 [email protected] Western Ghats. It has been later reported from Sankaran Kudi in the Anamalai, Tamil Recent anural studies in the Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Nadu, Kothamangalam in forests of Western Ghats (Biju & Bossuyt 2003) is Ernakulam District and Erumely have discovered quite a few considered a link between in Kottayam District, Kerala species new to science. The archaebatrachians and (Dutta et al. 2004), Silent discovery of the monotypic frog neobatrachians. The type of Valley National Park, Palakkad
Image 1. New site record of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis from Thrissur Forest Division (marked in red)
3 ! frog leg | #18 | December 2012 District, Kerala (Das 2006), Karuvarakundu, Malappuram District, Kerala (Radhakrishnan et al. 2007) and from Karian Shola, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Photo by Jobin K.M. Tamil Nadu (Raj et al. 2011). N. sahyadrensis has been reported from the north and south of the Palghat Gap of the Western Ghats.
During the course of our inventorying of the herpetofaunal diversity in the Thrissur forests, the first author heard the call of N. sahyadrensis on 4 June 2011. The call was heard from different locations within the forests. It was noticed that the Image 2. Calling Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis, seen in the burrow. ! frog’s calls were more towards the area near the stream. Upon hearing the call we specifically searched for the species and
Table 1: Morphometry of tadpoles of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis from Thrissur Forest Division
SVL I O D I N D E N D T L W M Specimen No. IMTTL IMTTW (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) 11 June 2011 (Stage 1) Tadpole 1 12.83 2.29 1.15 1.87 19.61 5.85 -- -- Tadpole 2 12.02 2.09 1.18 1.85 18.23 5.07 -- -- 4 September 2011 (Stage 2) Tadpole 3 29.50 5.38 2.48 3.60 37.17 14.52 -- -- Tadpole 4 28.68 5.44 2.58 3.70 45.29 15.43 -- -- Tadpole 5 30.47 5.53 2.41 3.60 48.53 15.19 -- -- Tadpole 6 27.50 5.82 1.75 3.75 31.08 14.98 2.63 0.32 29 September 2011 (Stage 3) Tadpole 7 31.17 6.23 1.72 4.18 34.77 13.89 2.78 0.53 Tadpole 8 32.85 6.12 1.78 3.97 42.93 15.14 2.77 0.49 Tadpole 9 32.07 6.24 2.02 4.09 33.80 13.93 3.03 0.51 Tadpole 10 29.08 6.27 2.20 4.12 24.79 12.27 3.03 0.53
SVL (snout-vent length), IOD (inter-orbital distance), IND (inter-nasal distance), END (eye-to-nostril distance), TL (Tail length), WM (width of tadpole mouth), IMTTL (Inner metatarsal tubercle length), IMMTW (Inner metatarsal tubercle width)
4 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Ghats. The frogs were heard very close to a seasonal stream. Subsequent detailed search for the N. sahyadrensis, was also rewarding. The authors who were familiar with the call of the N. sahyadrensis heard at least four different males calling within an area of 5m radius with the observer at the centre. During surveys, we noticed that calling individuals stopped calling as soon as the observer approached the ‘caller’. The call of male N. sahyadrensis was also recorded using a SONY IC recorder ICD-PX720 during the recent discovery (Audio 1).
We continued the exploration in the nearby area in the next few days and heard more N. sahyadrensis from other locations within the Pattikkad Forest Range. On 9 June 2011 we were at Peechi- Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, which is contiguous to the Image 3. The distribution map of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis with the present Pattikkad Forest Range. The sightings (marked in red) ! N. sahyadrensis were heard at this location too. Once again, the frog’s calls were heard near we later observed the call came of Pattikkad Range, Thrissur a seasonal forest stream. from underground burrows and Forest Division, Thrissur from small fissures or gaps seen District, Kerala (Image 1, 4) on No amplecting or between rocks and soil in the the day of the first sighting at breeding pairs of N. sahyadren- rocky areas. The burrows were around 19.00hrs. Geographical sis could be sighted from these covered with litter, and the frogs location of the present areas during any of the visits were spotted from a few of the observations is between 10o to both the areas; this could be burrows after careful removal 34’20.7’’ N latitude and 76o because breeding might have of the litter. We photographed 18’33.4’’ E longitude, at an occured before 4 June 2011. (Image, 2, 5) a single individual altitude of 65.5m. Pattikkad Southwest monsoon in this area of N. sahyadrensis from a range is located south of the had started at the beginning of moist deciduous forest patch Palghat Gap in the Western last week of May 2011.
5 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 measurements tally with that given by Dutta et al. (2004). Standard measurements were taken for a few tadpoles. The morphological parameters Photo by Jobin K.M. taken include: SVL (snout- vent length), IOD (inter-orbital distance), IND (inter-nasal distance), END (eye-to-nostril distance), TL (Tail length), WM (width of tadpole mouth), IMTTL (Inner metatarsal tubercle length), IMMTW (Inner metatarsal tubercle width) after Dutta et al. (2004). The morphometry of the tadpoles is given in Table 1. Tadpoles of the Image 4. Habitat of tadpoles of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis ! N. sahyadrensis have ventrally placed oral disc (Image 6), flat body, large white head, dorsally On 11 June 2011 we of tadpoles were taken using placed eyes and nostrils, again monitored the area from a Mitutoyo Digimatic Caliper reduced tail fin, sinistral where N. sahyadrensis were (to the nearest 0.1mm). The spiracle, keratinized beaks heard and seen on 4 June 2011. This was quite rewarding as we located tadpoles of the N. sahyadrensis from these locations on that day. Tadpoles were found in the fast flowing seasonal streams near to area of observation, resisting the water current. Tadpoles were collected from the stream for further analysis. These collected tadpoles were staged on the basis of date of collection and metamorphic development observed in general. The collected tadpoles were deposited in the Kerala Agricultural University Natural History Museum, after properly fixing in 10% Photo by Jobin K.M. formalin. The morphometry Image 5. Female Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis sighted at Pattikkad in Thrissur Forest Division !
6 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 with teeth rows, the funnel- shaped cloacal tube and flap- like extensions ventrally on the tailfin from the cloaca. They were seen hung or attached Photo by Jobin K.M. to the stones and rocks in fast flowing streams.
During the day, the tadpoles spent time submerged in the water and they came out by dusk. As it gets darker, more and more tadpoles would emerge from the water. The emergence of the tadpoles from underneath the water and their subsequent crawling Image 6. Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis tadpole showing (a) the Oral disc and movement through the slimy (b) the funnel-shaped cloacal tube with a flap-like extension !
Image 7. Tadpole attached to a rock within the stream
Photo by Jobin K.M.
7 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Photo by Jobin K.M.
Image 8. Tadpole with limbs
rocky surface is a remarkable first set of tadpoles were seen. present observation of this frog sight to watch (video clip 1). The On that day morphometric from an altitude of 65m is of tadpoles were found feeding measurements were taken for interest (Image 3). primarily on the algal growth four more tadpoles (Table 1). On on the wet rocky surface. We subsequent field observations The present record could estimate about 150 to on 9 October 2011 (121 days) signifies the conservation value 200 tadpoles at this site. a well developed froglet was of Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife sighted (Image 9). The froglet Sanctuary, which is also an The tadpoles with was found outside the stream. Important Bird Area (Islam & formed legs were sighted at The present observation once Rahmani 2004). The call of the these locations on 4 September again reiterates the unique N. sahyadrensis could be used 2011, about 86 days after behaviour of this frog, which as a useful tool to survey and the first set of tadpoles were comes out of the burrow only monitor the population of this seen. They were found clinging during the peak of southwest frog during the monsoon season on to the rock surfaces in monsoon for a few weeks to across the Western Ghats. the high torrent stream. The breed. The present observations morphometry of the tadpoles give further insight into the sighted and measured on The earlier published breeding biology of this less 4 September 2011 is also records of N. sahyadrensis known species of a living fossil given in Table 1. Tadpoles are from an altitude between frog. nearing metamorphosis with 600 to 1000m above sea level all four limbs were seen on (Biju & Bossuyt 2003, Dutta et 29 September 2011 (Image al. 2004, Radhakrishnan et al. 8), about 111 days after the 2007, Raj et al. 2011) and the
8 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
REFERENCES and Aggarwal, R. K. (2004). of Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Jurassic frogs and the evolution of Biju & Bossuyt (Amphibia: Biju, S.D., & F., Bossuyt (2005b) amphibian endemism in the Western Anura: Nasikabatrachidae) Two new Philautus (Anura: Ghats. Current Science 211-216. along Western Ghats, with some Ranidae: Rhacophorinae) from Islam, M.Z. & Rahmani, A.R. (2004). insights into its bionomics. Ponmudi Hill in the Western Important Bird Areas in India. Priority Current Science 92 (2): 213-216. Ghats of India. Copeia 1: 29–37. sites for conservation. Indian Bird Raj, P. Deepak, V. and Vasudevan, Das, A.S. (2006). Record of Conservation Network: Bombay K. (2011). Monitoring of breeding Nasikabatrachus from the Natural History Society, BirdLife in Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis Northern Western Ghats. Zoos International. Pp. xviii + 1133. (Anura: Nasikabatrachidae) in the Print Journal 21(9): 2410. Radhakrishnan, C., K. C. Gopi southern Western Ghats, India. Dutta, S.K., Vasudevan, K., and M. J. Palot. (2007). Herpetology Notes 4: 11-16. Chaitra, M. S., Shanker, K. Extension of range of distribution
Image 9. A metamorph with withdrawing tail bud
Photo by Jobin K.M.
9 ! frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Amphibian Fauna of Arecanut plantation in on east as well as on the west of the plantation. The weather Kadatoka (Uttara Kannada) Western Ghats, is warm almost throughout Karnataka the year except for a few days (in December and January) in V.D. Hegde winter. During annual rainfall, Zoological Survey of India,M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal the water body to the west is 700053, India. Email: [email protected] connected with the paddy fields and during the dry season (April and May) this water body dries up. The plantation consists of Introduction importance. The village was Arecanut, Coconut, Banana, under Durgappa Nayaka’s Cocoa, Pepper, Betel, Jackfruit, The topography, climate province before Britishers. The Mango, Sapota, Pineapple, and the geographical spread of Durgappa Nayakás kote (Fort) Tamarind, Drumstick, Soap Karnataka have created a wide covering more than 10 acres of nut and Papaya mainly on the range of habitats that suit a rich plain land on the top of the hill border. Also, it consists of some assemblage of herpetofauna. used for growing paddy during flowering plants like Hibiscus, As far as the amphibians of monsoon has been of historical Rose, Champaka, Jasmine, Karnataka are concerned, importance to the village. The Paper flower and some other some studies conducted include general topography of this area wild flowers. those by Hegde & Ramakrishna is low lying and flat boasting of (2006), Ravichandran & two large standing-water bodies Krishnan (2006) and Dinesh & Radhakrishnan (2007). Image 1. Hylarana malabarica Kadatoka is a village in the Honavar Taluka of Uttara Kannada District. Mountains cover most of this village but it also has scattered thick forests to its south and paddy fields to the west (Hegde 2009). In the present account, an attempt has been made to list out the amphibian fauna in the Arecanut plantation at Kadatoka.
Study Area:
The study was conducted mainly in an Arecanut plantation at Kadatoka Village (14022’11’’ N & 74027’45’’ E) because of its commercial and historical
9 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Methodology:
The present paper is based on the field work carried out in different parts of the plantation during evening, specially during pre and post monsoon seasons. Visual encounter and random sampling methods were adopted for collecting amphibians. The calls heard at night were helpful in locating some species. Survey was conducted in the evening during monsoon using powerful torchlight near water bodies and in microhabitats like on Image 2. Duttaphrynus stomaticus the forest floor, on the rocks, among leaf litter, on moss or algae, under logs, under Duttaphrynus between the eye and the tip the soil, edge of the water parietalis (Boulenger, of snout. Toes half webbed. bodies, among weeds and near 1882) Ridged Toad Two moderately developed, termite mounds as explained metatarsal tubercles present. in Daniels (1995). The frogs Adult size: Medium to large. marked by asterisk were (SVL 85mm). Habits and habitat: This is collected, identified, deposited a hill species and generally and registered in the Amphibia Description of the adult: Dorsal found in evergreen, semi section, ZSI, Kolkata and surface uniform light brown and evergreen as well as in moist other samples were caught, the ventral surface marbled places. Found in deciduous identified and released in the with brown. The skin on the and secondary forests as well. field. The amphibians were upper side with numerous warts identified at ZSI, Kolkata using of irregular size of which those Call: Described as typical the diagnostic characters and on the middle of the back are drumming. ‘To-to-to-to….’ in most of the descriptions were comparatively larger in size. chorus, along streams. given based on Daniel (1963 a, Parotid glands are relatively b, 1967, 1975), Dutta (1997) large, elongate and elliptical in Distribution: Karnataka, Kerala, and Das & Dutta (2006) shape. The snout is short and Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and the taxonomy followed blunt and the head is broad and (Dinesh et al. 2009). according to Frost (2011). triangular in shape. The crown bears very important ridges and Remark: Very common the parietal ridges are obliquely near wet places and directed downwards. First collected near water tank. finger longer than the second. Tibiotarsal articulation reaching
11 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Duttaphrynus stomaticus Duttaphrynus melanostictus Call: Typical drumming : ‘creo- (Lutken, 1863), Marbled (Schneider 1799) Common o-o’, ‘cro-ro-ro-ro-ro-ro-ro’. Toad Indian Toad Rather monotonous.
Adult size: Medium (Maximum Adult size: Medium to large Distribution: Throughout SVL 76mm). (Maximum SVL up to 160mm). India. (Dinesh et al. 2009).
Description of the adult: Description of the adult: Yellow Remark: One of the commonest Dorsal surface of the body is to olive brown, red or black. toad throughout the plantation. grey or olive, ventral surface Marbled or plane. White-grey including the upper lip whitish below with fine marblings. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis in colour. Yellow-olive brown Yellow orange throat in mature Schneider, 1799 Skipper with or without bold marblings. males. Cornified parts black Frog Upper lip and underparts or tipped black. Tympanum white. Skin smoother than D. as large as eye. Two rows of Adult size: Medium melanostictus. Parotid glands paired dorsal warts on hind (Maximum SVL 70mm). not cornified. Tympanum about neck considerably enlarged. as large as the eye. Fingers Toes ½ webbed. Description of the adult: Brown free and the first finger longer – olive (sometimes greenish than the second. Hindlimbs Habits and habitat: Commensal or black) with distinct black moderate in size. Toes nearly of humans. Attracted to light spots on back and limbs. two-thirds webbed. Two within human environs and White below. A white stripe sharp-edged and equal-sized on roadsides. Found in urban along sides and on rear side of metatarsal tubercles present. areas, cultivation to dense thighs distinct. Pale middorsal evergreen forests. stripe absent. Skin generally Habits and habitat: A rather smooth. Tympanum distinct. docile toad capable of burrowing into soil. Found in urban areas to forests. Image 3. Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Call: Described as ‘higher pitched and shriller’ than D. melanostictus.
Distribution: Western and Eastern Himalayas, Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh (Dinesh et al. 2009).
Remark: Very much common near human settlement, under street lights.
12 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Toes fully webbed. Eyes rather warts and glandular folds. Distribution: Karnataka, Kerala, dorsally placed. This differs Ventral surface smooth except Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Goa from Euphlyctis hexadactylus under the thighs where it is (Dinesh et al. 2009). in having thinner thighs. The granulated. Head moderately first finger is not longer than large, snout obtusely pointed, Remark: Very common in the second. depressed and slightly longer arecanut plantations. than broad. An elliptical and Habits and habitat: Aquatic. compressed inner metatarsal Minervarya sahyadris Floats on surface with all four tubercle present. Male (Dubois, Ohler & Biju, 2001) limbs up often folded close to bears internal vocal sac and Minervarya Frog the body; a rather characteristic feebly developed pad on the posture of the species. Skips on inner side of the first finger. Adult size: Small. (SVL 17.6- surface when disturbed. Found 19.2 mm in adult males 20.6- in urban environments to hill Habits and habitat: This is a hill 23.0 mm in adult females). streams, just any place where species and generally found in there is water. elevations of 1219-2133 m. Description of the adult: A in the hills of southern India. small frog possessing dorsal Call: A sharp ‘pit-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti- Usually found near edges of skin with longitudinal folds; ti-ti-tit’ followed by occasional streams and large reservoirs. pupil horizontal and oval, iris ‘prik…prik’. Aggressive and golden yellow; sides of head territorial. Call: Aggressive ‘ Crok-crok- brownish, darker in tympanic crok….’ (9-11 times) in quick region; mid dorsum brown to Distribution: Throughout India. succession. Low pitched. brick red; upper arm brick red (Dinesh et al. 2009). and venter yellowish-white. A rectal gland at the mouth Remark: Quite common in water commissure, prominent in bodies and floats on water. Feeds life; distinct canthus rostralis; on floating aquatic insects.
Fejervarya keralensis Image 4. Minervarya sahyadris (Dubois, 1980) Kerala Warty Frog
Adult size: Small to Medium (SVL up to 40mm).
Description of the adult: Upper surface grayish or brown, with darker spots and markings. A distinct V-shaped marking present between the eyes. Thigh is black at posterior with whitish markings. Skin covered with numerous prominent
12 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 nostrils near to snout tip than prominent warts and tubercles. bright yellow colouration as in to eye; a white horizontal A more or less distinct fold H. tigerinus. Mid dorsal stripes band along the upper lip in present across the head and less striking; more often life; vomerine teeth present; behind the eyes. Lower parts absent than present. Juveniles median lingual process generally smooth. Posterior part show traces of green on head absent; digital extremities of the belly and the proximal and sides; darker than juvenile rounded, not dilated; part of the thighs granulate. H. tigerinus. Smaller than H. webbing rudimentary; inner Head longer than broad. tigerinus. Skin more warty (vs. metatarsal tubercle present, Snout pointed and projecting thin long folds). Snout and limbs minute. (Dubois et al. 2001) slightly beyond the mouth. (especially hind) much shorter. An oval inner and an outer Metatarsal tubercle much larger. Habits and habitat: Semi metatarsal tubercle present. aquatic, terrestrial species. Habits and habitat: More of an Recorded from grassy areas Habits and habitat: Reported to active forager. Rests exposed and under the leaf litters in occur inside dense vegetation along fields and on edge of paddy fields and plantation. at the edge of shady jungle water within excavated shallow streams. Usually found near depressions. Found in urban- Call: A low pitch small tik…tik… edges of streams. cultivation and scrub. tik….tik…………..tik sound . Call: Described as resembling Call: A loud and sharp ‘Paka- Distribution: Karnataka and a ‘bleating sheep’. paka-pak’ or ‘paka-paka’ in Kerala (Dinesh et al. 2009). quick successions. Distinct and Distribution: Karnataka, strikingly different from that of Remark: Calling of this small Maharashtra and Orissa (Dinesh H. tigerinus. frog is very common in the et al. 2009). arecanut plantation even Distribution: Karnataka, Kerala, in summer near to onset of Remark: Very common in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, monsoon. the arecanut plantation after West Bengal, Assam, Uttar irrigation. Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Fejervarya syhadrensis Odisha (Dinesh et al. 2009). (Annandale, 1919) Syhadry Hoplobatrachus crassus Frog (Jerdon, 1854) Jerdon’s Remark: Not so common in Bull Frog arecanut plantations. Adult size: Medium (SVL up to 40mm). Adult size: Large (SVL more Hoplobatrachus tigerinus than 90mm). Daudin 1802, Indian Bull Description of the adult: Dorsal Frog surface grayish with a series Description of the adult: of black spots. A pale mid- Generally confused with H. Adult size: Large. The largest dorsal line is often present. In tigerinus. Differs from the Indian frog (SVL more than male, the throat is generally latter by darker colouration 120mm). mottled with black. Ventral and being more spotted than surface immaculate. Dorsal streaked. White below. Breeding Description of the adult: skin covered with a number of individuals do not develop the Yellow to olive green (the
14 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 green disappearing with age) Distribution: Throughout India with black spots and stripes. (Dinesh et al. 2009). Pale and broad lateral and mid-dorsal bands frequently Remark: The largest Indian present. Pale limbs with bold frog, essentially an aquatic bands. White underparts. Males amphibian found always near turn yellow during breeding. water bodies or inside the water. Vocal sacs cobalt blue. Large Gets beautiful colouration size. Long snout with wide during breeding season and gap. Prominent tympanum and starts calling as soon as the eyes. Long and powerful limbs. western side of the plantation Toes almost fully webbed. gets rain. Metatarsal tubercle small. Skin Image 5. Sphaerotheca breviceps on back longitudinally folded. Sphaerotheca breviceps (Schneider, 1799) Indian Habits and habitat: Solitary. Burrowing Frog Blunt nose. Metatarsal tubercle Sedentary resting for long in well developed. Tympanum 2/3 the same place and day after Adult size: Small-medium (SVL diameter of eye. First finger day. Pounce feeds (vs.active maximum 50 mm). much longer than second. search). Found in open to dense forests, river and stream beds, Description of the adult: Pale Habits and habitat: Fossorial. hill cultivation and suburbs, to dark brown grey above. Found in open forests and along hill roads and channels. Ocassionally spotted with yellow agricultural areas. or white. White below. Throat Call: A loud and low pitched darker. Yellowish mid-dorsal Call: A loud ‘awang’. ‘bong’or ‘oong-awang’. line often present. Pale lateral bands and snout. Stocky build. Distribution: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Dinesh et al. Image 6. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus 2009).
Remark: It is seen during feeding and breeding. Its powerful hind legs with dagger- like metatarsal tubercle helps to burry deep in the loose soil.
Sphaerotheca leucorhynchus (Rao, 1937) Rao’s Burrowing Frog
Adult size: Small (SVL less than 30 mm).
14 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Description of the adult: Legs cross barred. White below. concealed. Very large external Pale brown above with a Throat black in breeding males. vocal sacs. Small head with broad white band on snout Narrow head and broader beady eyes. Hind legs with extending till anterior margin trunk is the characteristic. large shovel like metatarsal of eyes. Dark ‘W’- shaped band Fingers and toes without tubercle. Legs weak. Fingers between eyes. White between dilated tips. Toes without web. and toes without enlarged tips. eyes and shoulders. ‘U’ shaped Metatarsal tubercles very small. mark on sides of body. Limbs Habits and habitat: Excellent cross barred. White below. Habits and habitat: Active. burrower. Found in open Undersides of thighs yellow. Foot Leaps powerfully and high for forests. chocolate brown. Toes short; its size. Urban, agriculture, 1/3 webbed. Inner metatarsal deciduous to evergreen Call: Described as a loud grunt, tubercle large, strongly forests. ‘Oink’. compressed. Outer metatarsal tubercle small and placed at Call: A shrill long drawn ‘breep’ Distribution: West Bengal, the base of the fourth toe. resembling a finger nail being Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Madhya drawn across a plastic comb. Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Habits and habitat: Usually Often in loud chrouses after the Karnataka, Kerala (Dinesh et found hiding under the leaf litter first rains. Sometimes during al. 2009). in open forests and agricultural overcast days on forest floor areas. from under logs and stones. Uperodon systoma (Schneider, 1799) Lesser or Call: Not known. Distribution: Throughout India Marbled Baloon Frog including Andaman and Nicobar Distribution: Karnataka (Dinesh Islands. (Dinesh et al. 2009). Adult size: Medium (SVL up to et al. 2009). 70mm). Remark: Most common ornate Remark: Rediscovered after 75 frog in moist places during Description of the adult: years. Comes out for feeding night. Calls were common in Olive green yellow with black as soon as the irrigation will be the plantation. marblings. White below. Black done in the plantation. throat in breeding males. Uperodon globulosus Smaller size and distinctly Microhyla ornata Dumeril (Gunther, 1864) Greater marbled colour pattern separate and Birbon, 1841 Ornate Balloon Frog from Uperodon globulosus. Narrow-mouthed Frog Metatarsal tubercles less Adult size: Medium (SVL up to developed. Adult size: Very small to small 70mm). (SVL rarely exceeding 26 Habits and habitat: Sluggish, mm). Description of the adult: burrowing. Feeds more or less Uniformly grey above with entirely on winged termites. Description of the adult: Golden whitish-yellow underparts. Scrub, cultivation and deciduous to earth brown with darker Black throat in males. Heavy forests. symmetrical markings on back built. Smooth skin and soft (frequently arrow-shaped). rather limp body. Tympanum Call: No specific call is reported.
16 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Distribution: West Bengal, habitat and goes out during Raorchestes bombayensis Himachal Pradesh, Uttar evening for feeding and again (Annandale, 1919) Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, comes inside the house in the Maharashtra Bush Frog Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra morning. Pradesh (Dinesh et al. 2009). Adult size: Small sized frog Pseudophilautus amboli (SVL 23.3mm). Remark: Found during breeding (Biju & Bossuyt, 2009) season and can be located near Amboli Bush Frog Description of the adult: Adult wooded water lodged in the male will be of the size 23.3 plantation. Adult size: Medium sized frog mm long and snout oval in (SVL up to 60 mm). dorsal view, canthus rostralis Hylarana malabarica sharp, presence of papillae (Tschudi, 1838) Fungoid Description of the adult: Adult on tongue, groin and lateral Frog male will be of the size 27.6- side prominently marbled with 34.1 mm long and female will be creamy white blotches in a Adult size: Medium (SVL up to of 37.5 mm long. Dark brown brown background. Distinct 75 mm). tympanum, in combination nuptial pad on the first finger with a relatively larger snout- of male. Head length less than Description of the adult: Brick vent length, head width is head width, tympanum rather red to bright crimson dorsally almost equal to its length. indistinct. Forelimb shorter with black sides, limbs and Body rather robust, discs of than hand, fingers without under parts. White marblings fingertips much enlarged. lateral dermal fringe, webbing on sides and limbs variable. Upper 2/3 of tympanum dark absent. Hindlimbs moderately Occasional black markings brown, throat lemon yellowish long, webbing reduced, on back. Skin smooth. A with minute black spots. subarticular tubercles rather thick fold from tympanum to prominent, rounded, simple, groin. Toes fully webbed. Tips Habits and habitat: Ground supernumerary tubercles of fingers and toes swollen near disturbed evergreen absent. but not enlarged into discs. forest patches. Near or inside the vegetation. Habits and habitat: On the Habits and habitat: More ground or on the small bushes terrestrial, found within the Call: Tak… Tak… Tak… Tak………. near vegetation. holes and crevices. Forests, cultivation and sometimes Distribution: Western Ghats Distribution: Western Ghats found inside the houses also. parts of Maharashtra and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka (Dinesh et al. Karnataka (Dinesh et al. Call: ‘Wak-wak-wak’ 2009). 2009).
Distribution: Western Ghats, Remark: Common in the Remark: Common in the Assam and Meghalaya (Dinesh plantation. Starts calling during plantation. Starts calling during et al. 2009). evening. Collected on a small evening. Sometimes enter the bush while calling. houses also. Remark: During rainy season, it always lives inside the human
17 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Polypedates leucomystax variable from almost plain More commonly a low rumbling (Gravenhorst, 1829) House white-fawn to yellowish-brown ‘da-da-da-da’ or ‘do-do-do-do’. Tree Frog with darker markings. Dark Choruses sound like distant line from snout through eyes fireworks (softer). Adult size: Medium sized frog and along the sides. Rear side (SVL about 60mm). of hind limbs marbled yellow Distribution: Throughout India and brown. White below. Toes (Dinesh et al. 2009). Description of the adult: Head ½ webbed. Web extends till broader than long; tympanum about half length of fourth toe. Remark: Common in the distinct. Fingers long with Tympanum distinct (more than sanctuary. Collected on a small well developed. Toes two- ½ diameter of eye). plant while calling. third webbed; tips of toes dilated into well developed Habits and habitat: A Polypedates occidentalis, discs and toes and fingers with commensal of humans entering Das and Dutta, 2006 Charpa cutaneous circum-marginal living quarters frequently. Tree Frog grooves. Dorsal skin finely Urban to secondary forests. granulated; belly and thigh Adult size: Medium (47.5- 55.1 granulate and the rest of the Call: A loud ‘ta-ta-tak-tak’. mm). ventral surface of the body smooth. Dorsally yellowish Image 7. Polypedates occidentalis to grey: ventral surface almost white (Chanda 1991).
Habits and habitat: Found inside the room specially at night.
Distribution: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya, Sikkim, West Bengal (Dinesh et al. 2009) and Karnataka.
Remark: Reported first time from Karnataka State.
Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1833) Chunam or Common Tree Frog
Adult size: Medium (SVL up to 70 mm).
Description of the Adult: Colour
18 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Description of the adult: amphibian fauna to live and section, ZSI Kolkata for helping Polypedates occidentalis is a breed. The presence of the in identifying the specimens. medium sized tree frog with tadpoles of the toad indicates I am very thankful to Dr.K.V. SVL of adult males 47.5- 55.1 the humid climate of this area Gururaja for few photographs. mm and females unknown. It facilitates the movement of possess rounded snout, fingers the amphibians during the day References free, un-pigmented nuptial as well. The common Indian Chanda, S.K. (1991) Amphibia : Faunal pads on dorsal surface of toad, Marbled Toad, Skipper Resources of Ganga, Part1, 51-57pp. fingers I and II, vomerine teeth frog, Minervarya Frog, bull Daniel, J.C. (1963a) Field guide to the Amphibians of Western India Part oblique between choanae, frogs are very common in the I. Journal of the Bombay Natural fingers with rudimentary plantation. Since the irrigation History Society 60: 415-438. Daniel, J.C. (1963b) Field guide to the webbing, no dermal fold along system largely mimics the Amphibians of Western India Part forearm. Webbing in toe II raining, the calling by some II. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 60: 490-702. extending to the base of the frogs during midsummer can Daniel, J.C. (1975) Field guide to the discs, skin of forehead free, also be heard. Raorchestes Amphibians of Western India Part III. Journal of the Bombay Natural skin lacking dermal flap, heel bombayensis some times found History Society 72: 506-524. Daniels, R.J.R. (1995) lacking a cutaneous spur, dark near on the tap also. During the Habitat selection in Western hour glass-shaped mark on rainy season, the Fungoid frog Ghats. Amphibians-Anura: Implications for species dorsum (Das & Dutta 2006). usually lives inside the houses conservation. Cobra 20: 7-16. and starts calling along with Daniels, R.J.R. ( 2000) Reptiles and Amphibians of Habits and habitat: Lives in the television or mixer sound. Karnataka. Cobra 42: 1-11. plantation.Urban to secondary During evening, promptly goes Das, I. & S.K. Dutta (2006). New species of Polypedates (Anura: forests. outside the house for feeding Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, southwest India. Journal and starts entering the house of Herpetology 40(2): 214-220. Distribution: Kerala (Type as soon as the door opens in Dinesh, K.P & C. Radhakrishnan (2007) Amphibia In: Fauna locality) and Karnataka (Hegde the morning. The extensive of Kudremukh National & Bhat 2011). study of the amphibian fauna Park, Conservation Area Series 32: 133-156 Director, Zoological of arecanut plantation during Survey of India, Kolkata Remark: Found near the pre and post monsoon season Dinesh, K.P., C. Radhakrishnan, K.V. Gururaraja & G.K. Bhatta banana plant. may reveal few more species (2009). An annotated of frogs, toads and caecilians checklist of Amphibia of India with some insights into the patterns of Discussion: in near future. Since the species discoveries, distribution and endemism. Records of Zoological arecanut plantation is a good Survey of India 302: 1-153. Director, Since, the arecanut source of insects, we can find Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata). Dubois, A., A. Ohler & S.D. Biju. plantation is a well-protected large number of frogs feeding (2001). A new genus and species area and there is less human on them throughout the year. of Ranidae (Amphibia: Anura) from southwestern interference, we are able India. Alytes 19: 53-79. to find 20 species of frogs Acknowledgements Dutta, S.K (1997). Amphibians of India and Sri Lanka. Odyssey including the common ones. Publishing House, Bubaneshwar. Frost, D.R. (2011) Amphibian species The presence of many tadpoles I am very much indebted of the world: an online reference, in almost all the stagnant water to the Director, Zoological version5.5 (31 January 2011) Electronic Database accessible ponds during the monsoon Survey of India, Kolkata for at http://research.amnh.org/vz/ indicates that this plantation facilities, the Officer-in-charge herpetology/amphibia/American; http://research.amnh.org/vz/ is a well-protected area for the and other staff of Amphibia herpetology/amphibia/American
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Table 1. Sytematic list of species
Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Bufonidae Scientific Name 1 Duttaphrynus parietalis* (Boulenger, 1882) Ridged Toad 2 Duttaphrynus stomaticus (Lutken, 1864) Marbled Toad 3 Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) Common Indian Toad
Family Dicroglossidae
Subfamily Dicroglossinae
4 Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799) Skipper Frog 5 Fejervarya keralensis* (Dubois, 1980) Kerala Warty Frog 6 Minervarya sahyadris* (Dubois, Ohler & Biju, 2001) Minervarya Frog 7 Fejervarya syhadrensis* (Annandale, 1919) Syhadry Frog 8 Hoplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon, 1854) Jerdon’s Bull Frog 9 Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin 1802) Indian Bull Frog 10 Sphaerotheca breviceps (Schneider, 1799) Indian Burrowing Frog 11 Sphaerotheca leucorhynchus* (Rao,1937) Rao’s Burrowing Frog Family Microhylidae Subfamily Microhylinae 12 Microhyla ornata (Dumeril & Birbon, 1841) Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog 13 Uperodon globulosus (Gunther, 1864) Greater Balloon Frog 14 Uperodon systoma (Schneider, 1799) Lesser or Marbled Balloon Frog Family Ranidae 15 Hylarana malabarica* (Tschudi, 1838) Fungoid Frog Family Rhacophoridae Subfamily Rhacophorinae 16 Pseudophilautus amboli* (Biju & Bossuyt, 2009) Amboli Bush Frog 17 Raorchestes bombayensis* (Annandale, 1919) Maharashtra Bush Frog 18 Polypedates leucomystax* (Gravenhorst, 1829) House Tree Frog 19 Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1833) Chunam or Common Tree Frog 20 Polypedates occidentalis* Das & Dutta, 2006 Charpa Tree Frog
Museum of Natural History, New Frog, Polypedates occidentalis J.R.B. Alfred eds. Vol. II.: 917-944pp. York, USA. Accessed on 14.11.2011 from Karnataka state. FrogLeg Ravichandran, M.S. & S. Krishnan Hegde, V.D. (2009). Check-list Newsletter Feb: 10-11. (2006). Amphibia In: Fauna of birds of Kadatoka village, Hegde, V.D. & Ramakrishna (2006). of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Karnataka state. NewsLetter Faunal Diversity in Bhadra Tiger Wildlife Sanctuary. Conservation for Bird watchers 49(3): 33-34. Reserve, Karnataka. In: Faunal Area Series 27: 223-232. Director, Hedge, V.D. & G. Bhat (2011). Diversity of Tiger Reserves in India. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata). New record of Charpa Tree Ramakrishna, Rajesh Gopal and
20 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Second known locality of the Critically (five species) and Bufo (one Endangered Adenomus dasi Manamendra- species). The genus Adenomus is one of the dwarf toad genera Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 1998 (Bufonidae) which is distributed in moist wet from Samanala Nature Reserve, zone of Sri Lanka (Pethiyagoda Sri Lanka et al. 2006; de Silva 2009).
D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna 1, P.I. Kumara There are three species Peabotuwage 2, B.N. Hirantha Perera 3 and H.M. Aruna of Adenomus [Adenomus Karunatilaka 4 dasi Manamendra-Arachchi & 1Nature Exploration & Education Team, No: B-1 / G-6, De Soysapura, Pethiyagoda 1998; A. kandianus Morauwa 10400, Sri Lanka (Günther 1872) and A. kelaartii 2 Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri (Günther 1858)] in Sri Lanka Lanka and all of them are endemic 3,4 Young Zoologists’ Association of Sri Lanka, Dept. of National (endemic relict genus), while A. Zoological Gardens, Dehiwala 10350, Sri Lanka kandianus is Extinct (Kirtisinghe Email: 1 [email protected](Corresponding author), 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected], 1957; Manamendra-Arachchi 4 [email protected] & Pethiyagoda 2006; de Silva 2009). According to the published literature, A. dasi Introduction island (Pethiyagoda et al. is known only from a handful 2006; de Silva 2009). The of specimens collected from a Sri Lanka has 113 family Bufonidae is represented small stream with rocky habitat species of amphibians and by three genera Adenomus near Moray Estate in Samanala 95 of them are endemic (de (three species), Duttaphrynus Nature Reserve (>1300m), Silva 1996, 2009; Dutta & Manamendra-Arachchi 1996; Fernando et al. 2007; Frost et al. 2006; Manamendra- Image 1. The type locality of Adenomus dasi, Moray Estate in SNR Arachchi & Pethiyagoda 2005, 2006; Meegaskumbura & Manamendra-Arachchi 2005; Meegaskumbura et al. 2007, 2009, 2011). These 113 species of amphibians belong to seven families (Bufonidae, Dicroglossidae, Microhylidae, Nyctibatrachidae, Ranidae, Rhacophoridae and Ichthyophiidae) (de Silva 2009; Frost 2010). There are nine species of bufonids distributed in Sri Lanka, of which six are endemic to the Photo by D.M.S.S. Karunarathna
21 ! frog leg | #18 | December 2012
District in Central Province and Kegalle and Ratnapura districts in Sabaragamuva Province (Singhakumara 1995; Gunatilleke et al. 1996). The SNR covers a total land area of 461km2 and 0.7% of
Photo by D.M.S.S. Karunarathna total land area in Sri Lanka (Wickramasinghe 1995). SNR was declared as a Nature Reserve under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance by gazette Number 8675 of 25 October 1940. Biologically, this reserve is one of the richest Image 2. New location (Disturbed habitat of Adenomus dasi in Seetha-gangula forests in Sri Lanka and highly area) dissected terrain is covered with ! ! some of the last remnants of Mousakelle in the wet zone 6°40’ to 7°00’ northern latitude altitudinal gradient rain forest, (Image 1). This species (Gunatilleke & Gunatilleke which range from 400–2245 m. is identified as a Critically 1990). This conservation Endangered species in Sri area belongs to Nuwara-Eliya The vegetation of Lanka due to its restricted range and also globally as a Data Image3a. Dorsal view and the hourglass making of Adenomus dasi Deficient species due to lack of required information about its biology and ecology (IUCN 2010, IUCN SL & MENR 2007).
New Location and Habitat
We report the occurrence of the rare, endemic A. dasi from “Seetha Gangula” area (“Seetha”=cold, “Gangula”=large stream) in Samanala Nature Reserve (SNR; also called Peak Wilderness Sanctuary). SNR is one of the largest and important forest areas in Sri Lanka for endemic biodiversity which lies between 80°25’ to 80°50’ eastern longitudes and Photo by D.M.S.S. Karunarathna
22 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
al. 1996). The Seetha-Gangula area belongs to sub-montane region of Sri Lanka and various landscape patterns were observed. Some human-altered landscapes such as chena (slash-and-burn) and rice cultivations, Pinus, Eucalyptus, Photo by D.M.S.S. Karunarathna Cyprus and Casuarina forest plantations and tea plantations are also located in the foothills of the SNR (Perera 1972). Most of these human altered landscapes can be found up to about 800m elevation of the sanctuary. Every year Image 3b. Ventral aspect and granulated skin of Adenomus dasi hundreds of people visit Adams Peak, located within the park, to appreciate this historical wonder.
Present Observation
A recent off season expedition to the SNR (06049. 31’N & 80028.14’E; altitude 1000m) from 4–7 July 2010 provided the opportunity to report the second locality of A. dasi. There is no previous record of its presence in Seetha-Gangula area (Kuruwita track) in Ratnapura District (Manamendra-Arachchi & Photo by D.M.S.S. Karunarathna Pethiyagoda 1998, 2006; de Image 3c. Dorsolateral view and the reddish tubercle of Adenomus dasi Silva 2009). The present locality ! was about 4km away from the ‘Adavi Kanda’ (hiking track SNR range from lowland wet species dominated) to montane starting area). Two specimens evergreen forest (rain forest) evergreen forest (Michelia, of A. dasi were collected from in Gilimale at the foothills on Elaeocarpus, Syzygium and the ground of an open canopy the south through submontane Gordonia species dominated) foot path of a disturbed habitat evergreen forest (Doona, at the highest elevations Image 2). The direct distance Calophyllum and Syzygium (Werner 1982; Gunatilleke et between type locality and the
23 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 This species is rare in the Moray Estate in the Rajamally as we hardly ever heard the call of this species during our previous surveys. However, this species may be found in other forested areas of this reserve. This frog doesn’t changed its Photo by D.M.S.S. Karunarathna colour but is very aggressive when handled. We searched for more individuals of A. dasi at night using headlamps in microhabitats such as ground, tree holes filled with water, ground shedding bark on trees, crevices on rock walls, under Image 4. Plastic and polythene mixed garbage dumping in SNR leaf litter, under rocks and ! decaying logs. However, we failed to locate more individuals new location is about >3km. area slightly convex or flat. of A. dasi. addition to A. The measurements were taken Digits rudimentary webbed, dasi we were able to record to the nearest 0.1mm with dial tips mostly rounded and short following amphibian species, calipers and to the nearest 1 (Image 3b). Dorsal skin smooth, Ramanella obscura, Fejervarya mm with measuring tapes. but granular hour glass shape kirtisinghei, Lankanectes These two individuals was pattern present with a smooth corrugatus, Nannophrys sexed and they belonged to a chin; chest and abdomen area ceylonensis, Hylarana male (SVL 21mm) and a female smoothly granulated (Image temporalis, Pseudophilautus (SVL 27mm). The collection 3c). The original description microtympanum, P. reticulates, site was about 100m away from of this species matched with P. schmarda, P. sordidus and the nearest permanent water these individuals collected Taruga eques from the same body, which is a small stream. and also photographs of locality. This is also the lowest the present individuals also known altitude record of A. dasi. The dorsal color of the perfectly matched the holotype collected specimens was golden of Manamendra-Arachchi & Conservation yellow with dark brown hour Pethiyagoda (1998). Both glass shape mark (Image 3a). collected specimens were Every year thousands of Feet were dorsally purple brown examined carefully, sexed people visit Adams Peak which with mixed red subconical and measured before being is located within the SNR, tubercles and in the dorsal back released back into the same to appreciate this historical side with a thin golden line. habitat without any injuries. wonder. Nevertheless, this Ventrally they were dirty whit These specimens were Critically Endangered species or pale yellowish and marbled caught following a week like many other amphibian with dark brown. Tympanum long intermediate rains. taxa are seriously affected by hardly visible and interorbital increasing pressure from loss
24 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 and degradation of natural Mr. Mendis Wickramasinghe 12 July 2010). http://research. amnh.org/vz/ herpetology/ habitats such as montane (HFS – Herpetological amphibia/American Museum of forests and marshes. Major Foundation of Sri Lanka), and Natural History, New York, USA Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. & C.V.S. threats can be identified as elicit Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi Gunatilleke (1990). Dristribution timber and fuel wood extraction, (WHT – Wildlife Heritage of floristic richness and its conservation in Sri Lanka. illegal land encroachments for Trust) for their valuable help Conservation Biology 4(1): 21-31. settlement and cultivation, and in preparing this paper and Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N., A.M. Greller, A.H.M. Jayasuriya, gem mining. All of these human their valuable comments. Also C.V.S. Gunatilleke & S. Balasubramaniam (1996). activities continue to degrade we like to thank Mr. Saman Vegetation of the Peak Wilderness and erode the remaining Nawaratne (Tourism ministry and its conservation. Phyta 4(1): 1-9. IUCN (2010). IUCN Red List of vestiges of primary forest - SL) for use his camera Threatened Species. Version in the reserve. Disposal of equipments, Mr. Panduka Silva, 2010.2.
from Sri Lanka. Zootaxa 2747: 1–18. Uniqueness and Conservation,” In: Peak Wilderness. Forest Perera, W.R.H. (1972). A study of the Bambaradeniya C.N.B. (Ed.), Fauna Department of Sri Lanka, 156 pp. protective benefits of the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Werner, W.L. (1982). The upper forestry reserve of Sri Lanka. Sri Research and Conservation. montane forest of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Forester 10(3&4): 87-102. The World Conservation Union, Lanka Forester 15(3&4): 119-135. Pethiyagoda, R., K. Manamendra- Colombo, Sri Lanka and Wickramasinghe, A. (1995). People Arachchi, M.M. Bahir & M. Government of Sri Lanka. 125-133. and the forest: management of the Meegaskumbura (2006). Sri Singhakumara, B.M.P. (1995). Adam’s Peak Wilderness. Forest Lanka Amphibians: Diversity, Floristic survey of Adam’s Department of Sri lanka, 299pp
This pictoral guide covers 73 species of frogs and toads including some of the new discoveries and rediscoveries. It is designed to help students, researchers, forest managers, photographers and general public in identifying a species alongwith its status, ecology and distribution.
26 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 A note on records of rare and endemic and darker shady marbling. Duttaphrynus hololius (Günther, 1876) from An inverted ‘V’ mark of a pale Tamil Nadu, Eastern Ghats, India grayish-white, consisting of a broad, indistinctly outlined A. Kalaimani 1, Anukul Nath 2 and R. Brawin Kumar 3 grayish-brown wash suffused 1Aarohi, No. 192, 7th Main Road, 4th Block, Jayanagar, Begaluru, with reddish-brown marbling Karnataka 560011, India. and dorsal part of both fore and 2 Aaranyak, 50 Samanvoy Path Survey, P.O. Beltola, Guwahati, Assam hind limbs pale grayish-white 781028, India. with three dark brownish-black 3Zoo Outreach Organization, 96 Kumudham Nagar, Villankurichi Road, oblique ovoid crossbars (Image Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641035, India Email: [email protected], [email protected], 2). Additionally, an imago of D. [email protected] hololius was encountered on 20 October 2011 at 11.28hr in one of the caves of Kundu Reddiyur Duttaphrynus hololius of 240m. The toad was (12°33’39’N & 78°41’54’E), is an endemic, rare and Data photographed and the Yelagiri Hills, Alangayam Range Deficient (Biju et al. 2004) toad morphological characteristics at the elevation of 450m. Both found in southern India. So far, were noted. The top head Ambur Range and Alangayam this species has been reported is smooth without any bony Range fall under Tirupattur from three locations in Andhra ridges. The skin on the Forest Division. In addition, on 7 Pradesh and one location in underside is smooth. Dorsum July 2012 at 11.00hr we sighted Tamil Nadu in the Eastern Ghats grayish-tan to brown with 10 imagoes of D. hololius in a hill ranges (Table 1; Image 1). alternating patches of lighter small water pool, which was The occurrence of this species in Western Ghats is not confirmed (Biju 2001; Chandramouli et al. Image 1. Known distribution of Duttaphrynus hololius 1: Horsley hills, 2: Nellore, 3: Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve, 4: Devarbetta, Hosur, 5: Thom- 2011). Furthermore, general maguddai, Ambur , 6: Kundu Reddiyur, Alangayam, 7: Rajagiri Hill, Gingee) information on D. hololius is scanty (Dubois & Ohler 1999; Daniel 2002; Daniels 2005) and does not throw light on this species (Chandramouli et al. 2011). In this note, we report the presence of this species at Tirupattur Forest Division and Rajagiri Hill, Gingee in Tamil Nadu.
We encountered D. hololius on 15 September 2011 around 13.40hr on the rock boulders of Thommaguddai (12°49’22’N & 78°40’09’E), Ambur Range at an elevation Source: Google Earth 27 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Table 1. Past and present sighting records of Duttaphrynus hololius from Eastern Ghats, southern India.
Location District State Reference GPS Location 1 Horsley Hills Chittor Andhra Pradesh Satyamurthi 1967 13°39'N, 78°23'E
2 Nellore Nellore Andhra Pradesh Satyamurthi 1967 14°25'N, 79°57'E Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger 3 Nalgonda Andhra Pradesh Pillai & Ravichandran 1991 16°28'N, 79°13'E Reserve Devarbetta, Hosur Forest 4 Krishnagiri Tamil Nadu Chandramouli et al. 2011 12°35'N, 77°41'E Division Thommaguddai, Ambur 12°49'22’N, 5 Range, Tirupattur Forest Vellore Tamil Nadu Present sighting 78°40'E Division Caves of Kundu Reddiyur, 12°33'39’N, 6 Alangayam Range, Tirupattur Vellore Tamil Nadu Present sighting 78°41'E Forest Division
7 Rajagiri Hill, Gingee Villupuram Tamil Nadu Present sighting 12°14'N 79°23'E
40cm in diameter and 5.5cm in scarlet red dots present on the running dorsally from snout depth located at Rajagiri Hill, dorsal side (Image 3 & 4). The to vent. During both occasions Gingee, Villupuram District, individuals we encountered at the species was found to reside Tamil Nadu (12°14’ N 79°23’ Tirupattur Forest Division and on the rocky substratum at E) at an elevation of 157m. Rajagiri Hill, Gingee matched Tirupattur and small water pool The imagoes were brightly with the colour descriptions in Rajagiri Hill. The surrounding and contrastingly coloured; provided by Chandramouli et habitat was dominated by dark blackish and pale whitish al. (2011); except for a very scrub jungles scattered across shade intermixed with bright thin, pale vertebral stripe the rocky undulating terrain (Image 5). Chandramouli et al. (2011) also found D. hololius in the rocks near stream more or less having similar habitat characteristics from where
Photo by Kalaimani we encountered this species. The distance between the two sightings at Tirupattur Forest Division is almost 27km from each other and almost 80km from Gingee. Chandramouli et al. (2011) recorded this species in 2009 from Devarbetta, Hosur Forest Division which is near about 110km from Tirupattur Forest Division. Hence, this present communication adds new localities to this species in the southern most Image 2. Dorsal view of Duttaphrynus hololius on rock boulders of Thom- maguddai, Ambur range, Tamil Nadu, southern India. 28 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Image 3. Imago Duttaphrynus hololius with bright scarlet red dots on the dor- Conservation Biology 1: 1–24. sal side in Kundureddiyur, Alangayam range, Tamil Nadu, southern India. Biju, S.D., S.K. Dutta, K. Vasudevan, S.P. Vijayakumar, C. Srinivasalu & G.D. Bhuddhe (2004). Duttaphrynus hololius. In: IUCN 2011.IUCN Red List of Threatned Species. Version 2011.
hololius (Günther, 1876) with notes on its morphological characterization and ecology. Herpetology Notes 4: 271-274. Daniel, J.C. (2002). The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians Bombay Natural History Society,
Photo by Kalaimani Oxford University Press, Bombay, India, viii+238pp. Daniels, R.J.R. (2005). Amphibians of Peninsular India. Hyderabad, India, Indian Academy of part of the Eastern Ghats.
Acknowledgement Image 4. Imagoes of Duttaphrynus hololius in Rajagiri Hill, Gingee, Tamil Nadu, southern India. We are thankful to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and M.S.Chaitra, Aarohi, Bangalore for their kind support during the survey. We are thankful to S.R. Ganesh for his kind support during the visit to Gingee and his help in locating and identifying the species. We would also like to thank Hilloljyoti Singha (Assam University) for his valuable suggestion during preparation of the manuscript.
References
Biju, S.D. (2001). A synopsis to the frog fauna of the Western Ghats, India. Occasional Publication Indian Society Photo by Kalaimani 27 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Photo by Kalaimani
Image 5. Habitat of Duttaphrynus hololius in Tirupattur Forest Division, Eastern Ghats, southern India.
Sciences Universities Press. and redescription of some name- Pradesh. Records of Zoological Dubois, A. & A. Ohler (1999). Asian bearing types. Journal of South Asian Survey of India 88(1): 11-14. and Oriental toads of the Bufo Natural History 4 (2): 133-180. Satyamurti, S.T. (1967). The South melanostictus, Bufo scaber and Pillai, R.S. & M.S. Ravichandran Indian Amphibia in the Collection of Bufo stejnegeri groups (Amphibia, (1991). On a rare toad Bufo hololius the Madras Government Museum. Anura): a list of available names Günther from Nagarjunsagar, Andhra Madras Government Museum.
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Amphibians of Punakha-Wangdue Phodrang District.
Valley, Bhutan This study attempted to supplement the earlier works 1 Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal & 2 Dhan Bahadhur Gurung and aimed to document the 1,2 College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan diversity of amphibians of Email: 1 [email protected] (Corresponding Author) Punakha-Wangdue Phodrang Valley with the notion to create awareness on what kinds of Introduction (Delorme & Dubois, 2001), amphibians we have in the and Ahmed et al. (2009) on valley and how helpful they are Amphibians were the first presence of Clinotarsus alticola to human kind, for the local vertebrates to have colonized (Boulenger, 1882) do not people and others. The research the land about 220 million years specify location. Except for also intended to supplement ago (Daniels 2005). They are the Tylototriton verrucosus, the claim that Bhutan is rich in grouped under three orders, which was confirmed by Palden biodiversity and produced an namely Caudata (tailed), (2003) from Thinleygang, then annotated list of amphibians for Gymnophiona (limbless) and Thimphu District, others still Bhutan. Further, it is expected Anura (quadruped). Studies remain an enigma even today. to indicate changes in local have confirmed the sensitivity Even the record of Raorchestes habitats due to the ongoing of the amphibians to climate annandali (Boulenger, 1906) in Punatshangchu Hydropower and habitat changes. Hence, (AmphibiaWeb) is questionable. Project and provide baseline they are used as source of Further the work of Frost data for the pre dam situation information for the local and (2012) also does not specify the of the valley and data for global climate changes for location, raising questions on further studies. The specific taking up necessary mitigation the credibility of the information. objectives of this study works for the sake of mankind. But, there are some confirmed included mapping of amphibian Therefore, this taxon is works that include Das & habitats, listing species, one of the most explored Palden (2000) who reported collection of wet specimens and subjects outside Bhutan. the presence of Duttaphrynus creating awareness amongst The amphibian fauna of melanostictus (Schneider, the people of the valley. Bhutan is poorly explored. 1799), Amolops marmoratus Thus, this study in Punakha- (Blyth, 1855), Euphlyctis Methods Wangdue Phodrang Valley is cyanophlyctis (Schneider, significant being the first study 1799), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Since the primary of its kind in the Kingdom. (Daudin, 1802), Fejervarya objective of this study was the Even a few existing papers cf. limnocharis (Gravenhorst, collection and identification on the amphibians of Bhutan 1829) and Rana (Sylvirana) sp. of species to understand the are questionable. Reports of from southern Bhutan. Deuti diversity, the method applied Frost (1985) on presence of (2010), who, based on the 1969 was visual encounter surveys Himalayan Newts Tylototriton collection of Zoological Survey (Campbell & Christman 1982; verrucosus (Anderson, 1871), of India, reported presence of Corn & Bury 1989) followed by Delorme & Dubois (2001) on Liebig’s Hill Frog, Nanorana pursued collection whenever endemic Scutiger bhutanensis liebigii (Gunther, 1860) in Haa possible. A systematic search
31 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
and Vasudevan & Sondhi (2010). Besides photography, calls were recorded to help field identifications. A time-constrained search technique was used because the study area had several habitat types, viz., paddy fields, roadsides, and forests. However, the search area Map by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Map by (Figure 1) within the valley was not fixed as any amphibian species encountered anywhere within the valley was considered for diversity. The search time for the selected areas was three hours in a day and three hours at night constantly for two weeks which proved rewarding as the researcher was alone most of the time. The other methods applied in this study were nocturnal road cruising and opportunistic collecting. Rainy nights were Figure 1. The map of two Dzongkhags where the study was conducted results and discussion taken as an advantage to catch the amphibians that move along the roads. While short distances were covered by during day and night in the Since killing has been walking, longer distances were month of July and August considered unethical, the covered using cars. The records was conducted in and around species collected were released of the dead amphibians on the identified forests, paddy after necessary morphometric roads and human habitats were fields and roadsides. All data collection. Cameras and also considered for the study. the amphibians that were portable tape-recorders were encountered during the used to record the species Results and discussion survey were identified and specific data. Taxonomically recorded. Specific habitat important photographs of live The study uncovered details of where the specimen amphibians were taken. The nine amphibian species in the was collected such as time of identification references used valley belonging to six families. collection, altitude, habitat, in the field include Smith (1931, The result is significant in behavior, etc. were recorded 1935, 1943), Daniels (2005), view of the lack of data and as field data with the help of Yang & Rao (2008), Ahmed et studies on the taxon in Bhutan. GPS and physical observations. al. (2009), Fei et al. (2010), Counting on the past records
32 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Table 1. Shannon Index (H) and evenness (E) Table for Toebisa
Sl. # Species No. of individuals Pi LnPi pi*Lnpi 1 Polypedates cf. himalayensis 13 0.18 -1.70 -0.31 2 Nanorana liebigii 2 0.03 -3.57 -0.10 3 Nanorana species (new) 1 0.01 -4.26 -0.06 4 Duttaphrynus melanostictus 7 0.10 -2.32 -0.23 5 Xenophrys cf. nankiangensis 11 0.15 -1.86 -0.29 6 Tylototriton verrucosus 37 0.52 -0.65 -0.34 71 1.00 -14.36 -1.33
* To calculate E, natural log of diversity (S) has been used throughout (E =H/LnS).
based on the papers by Das & amphibian species. However, of -1.33 in Toebisa (Table 1), Palden (2000), Frost (2012), the most significant finding of -1.4 in Kabjisa (Table 2) and Ahmed et. al (2009), the total this study was the discovery -1.41 in Kazhi (Table 3). This number of amphibian species of a Nanorana species for indicates that the diversity is so for recorded from Bhutan Bhutan creating an opportunity slightly higher in Toebisa than was 13. With this study, five for further research. Kabjisa and Kazhi which is more species, Duttaphrynus cf. substantiated by the value of stuarti (Smith, 1929), Amolops Diversity S which is equal to 6, 6 and 5 cf. monticola (Anderson, 1871), This study confirms respectively in three habitats. Xenophrys cf. nankiangensis presence of nine species Therefore, it is fair enough to (Liu & Hu, 1966), Polypedates including the Tylototriton assume that Toebisa is richer cf. himalayensis (Annandale, verrucosus belonging to than the other two localities. 1912) and an undescribed two orders (Caudata and species of Nanorana are added Salientia) and six families, Evenness (E) and to the list of amphibians of viz., Salamandridae, Ranidae, Shannon Diversity Index (H) Bhutan, pushing the number Rhacophoridae, Dicroglossidae, of the three study sites were of species from Bhutan to 18 Bufonidae and Megophryidae. compared (Table 4). The which may just be a small The results of the analysis result showed insignificant proportion of the Kingdom’s showed diversity index (H) differences between the three
Table 2. Shannon Index (H) and evenness (E) Table for Kabjisa
Sl # Species No. of samples Pi LnPi pi*Lnpi 1 Polypedates cf. himalayensis 17 0.35 -1.06 -0.37 2 Nanorana liebigii 2 0.04 -3.20 -0.13 3 Duttaphrynus himalayanus 3 0.06 -2.79 -0.17 4 Duttaphrynus melanostictus 5 0.10 -2.28 -0.23 5 Duttaphrynus cf. stuarti 2 0.04 -3.20 -0.13 6 Tylototriton verrucosus 20 0.41 -0.90 -0.37 49 1.00 -13.43 -1.40
33 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Table 3. Shannon Index (H) and evenness (E) Table for Kazhi
Sl # Species Kazhi Pi LnPi pi*Lnpi 1 Amolops cf. monticola 3 0.05 -2.93 -0.16 2 Polypedates cf. himalayensis 12 0.21 -1.54 -0.33 3 Duttaphrynus himalayanus 5 0.09 -2.42 -0.22 4 Duttaphrynus melanostictus 13 0.23 -1.46 -0.34 5 Tylototriton verrucosus 23 0.41 -0.89 -0.37 56 1.00 -9.23 -1.41
localities, the value of both E home to several other animals of an Amolops species and H being very close to each including the amphibians. being available in the area. other in all habitats (Figure 2). Further investigation at the Unfortunately though, none The value (E<1), indicated that villages of Thinleygang, could be collected during the the species distribution was Lemjikha, Totokha, Lumitsawa study. In Kabjisa, the most not equal. In ideal situation and Menchuna may reveal abundant amphibian was the value of E=1, which means new species of amphibians. Polypedates cf. himalayensis. that the species are equally A new species for Bhutan, The village paddy fields are distributed all across the habitat. Xenophrys cf. nankiangensis full of noise by the evening was found in these areas. At in August with the sound of Distribution least four species, Polypedates “tak, tak, tak...” indicating the As indicated by the cf. himalayensis, Duttaphrynus rich presence of the species. diversity index (H), the melanostictus, Nanorana The villages of Kazhi are big distribution of the species is leibigii and Tylototriton and there could be lot more uneven in the three habitats. verrucosus comes from a species besides Tylototriton In Toebisa, the amphibians single village, Goemkha. verrucosus and Polypedates cf. were found around the paddy A villager gave a description himalayensis. Further survey fields and numerous streams that dissect the Gewog. Toebrongchu, a perennial stream which is the lifeline Figure 2. Comparison between the E and H in three study sites of the people of Gewog has numerous species of fishes, macroinvertebrates and it is
Table 4 Evenness (E) and diversity index (H) compared
Study Shannon Diversity Evenness areas Index (H) (E) Toebisa -1.33 -0.74 Kabjisa -1.40 -0.78 Kazhi -1.41 -0.88
34 ! frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Map by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Map by
Figure 3. The distribution map of amphibians in the study area !
could reveal more species verrucosus, the accounts of of Punakha Wangdue Valley, in the locality, because the which are given in the following the species were collected current distribution (Figure 3) species accounts family wise. and their geolocations are all and diversity has been based The species accounts include provided with a representative on a very short study period. family, their distribution photographs taken in the field. world over and their basic Species accounts morphometric data such as Salamandridae This study found nine the snout to vent length, the Himalayan Salamander/ species amphibian including fore arms and the forelimb Crocodile Newt, Tylototriton an urodele, Tylototriton length. Data on which side verrucosus Anderson, 1871
35 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 opening. Female cloaca in the breeding season appears ! more conical in shape than that of the male (Anders, Schleich, & Shah, 1998).
Distribution Outside Bhutan, it occurs in the humid forests of India (West Bengal and Sikkim and smaller, disjunct populations in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh) and eastern Nepal through the Kachin and Shan Hills of Myanmar to Photo by Dorji Namgay south-western Yunnan China Image 1. Newt from Lampelri Botanical Garden and spread out to mountains in northern Thailand. It has recently been recorded from Tylototriton verrucosus is the vomerine dentition. Fingers Lai Chau Province in Vietnam. only salamander known from and toes not webbed; five well Bhutan. developed toes with median By way of altitude, the toe being the longest. Skin records from other countries The genus is considered dorsally granular but ventrally show its lowest range at 1200m to be amongst the most primitive smooth. Paratoids large and (Das 1987; Anders et al. 1998) of the living salamanders (Das, distinct, slightly concave. Gular and highest to be 3350m from 1987). John Anderson, who fold present. Tail compressed Ukhrul, Manipur, India (Dutta described the species in 1871, laterally, with well-developed 1997). In Nepal, the lowest first discovered the species in fin fold shorter than snout-vent is recorded from 1300m the flooded rice fields near the length. Dorsum and venter (Biodiversity Profile Project small Chinese town of Nantin. are uniformly dark brown in 1995b) and highest from Body, rather slender with flat colour with tail and palm being 2150m (Anders et al. 1998). head with characteristic ridges lighter. The ventral edge of tail In Bhutan, the lowest record and large slightly concave is sometimes yellow or orange. comes from Toebrongchu bank parotoids (Image 1). Snout Females are longer and heavier at an altitude of 1255m while rounded and broad with nostrils than males and during the the highest altitude record close to the tip with lateral breeding season, female body is from Lampelri at 2679m. terminal nares. Eyes lateral is much thicker. Females have Bhutan does not figure in with large, granular upper larger heads and longer limbs, the distribution map of this eyelids. Outstanding glandular but smaller cloacae and lower species in the world due to vertebral ridge. Dorso-lateral tails (Seglie, 2002). The male poor reporting. However, row of 15-16 knob-like warts on cloaca is distinguished by a with this study, we confirm each side of body and anterior small longitudinal slit while Tylototriton verrucosus part of the tail. Has diverging female have a small rounded from Punakha Wangdue
36 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Phodrang Valley, Bhutan A specimen was seen and on the head and dorsum has photographed by an Forest black tips while warts on the Bufonidae Extension Agent on 20 July sides of the body and venter Himalayan Toad, Duttaphrynus 2011 from Damji (27010.7’N & are ash grey classical to the himalayanus (Günther, 1864) 11032.42’E), Gasa Dzongkhag at basic body colour. Eye pupils A large stocky toad with 1548hr at an altitude of 2229m. horizontal, parotids kidney brown or yellow skin, the body According to local information, shaped and thickly covered with being covered by many large the toad is found almost warts with black tips. Fingers warts. Unlike the Common everywhere in Khamey Gewog tips black and rounded with Asian Toad, which has strong mostly nearby streams and relative length of 2<1<4<3 ridge, it has a faint black ridge- paddy fields and also in around and has two tubercles on the like crown on the head outlining water tanks. The specimen was palm. First finger does not the eye and snout. Head wider taken from within water tank.. extend beyond second. Toes than long with short and blunt half webbed with black rounded snout. Parotid glands elliptic Common Asian Toad, tips. Two metatarsal tubercles elongate and at least as long Duttaphrynus melanostictus of equal sizes are flat. Relative as head. Inter-orbital length (Schneider, 1799) toe length is 1<2<5<3<4. greater than diameter of upper Large sturdy toad. Head Dorsal colouration ranges eyelid. Tympanum small and wider than long. Concave crown from yellowish olive through less than two-third of eye has low and blunt supraorbital reddish beige to grey or brown diameter. Dorsum with irregular, ridges. Snout short, blunt and with a pattern of irregular partially porous warts that are interorbitol space broader than dark olive or blackish-brown globular and smooth and only the upper eyelid. Tympanum spots as is seen in various a few warts on the legs have inconspicuous. Numerous warts specimen photos collected from keratinized tips. Venter has small flattened warts of equal sizes. Free fingers have relative Image 2. Duttaphrynus melanostictus from Goemkha finger length of 2<1<4<3. Toes full webbed between digit 1 and 2 and 2 and 3. Dorsum colour uniform greyish-brown to dark ! brown. Venter uniform yellow to dark grey. The species can be found in glades and openings, footpaths and fields in villages and forests far from streams. Takes advantage of breeding sites created by man (Schleich & Kastle 2002). Found from 1300m to 2600m (Schleich & Kastle 2002). Mostly nocturnal hiding in wall crevices and earth holes. Reproduction period from mid-April to mid-August. Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by 37 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 different parts of the country. Duttaphrynus cf. stuarti (Smith, on the hands, suggesting a Habitat wise, the species can 1929) cursorial habit of the species. be seen up to 1800m (Schleich Unlike the other toads, The fingers and toes sides carry & Kastle 2002) in open spaces it did not secrete sticky mucus spinous warts and the warts on nearby the streams and paddy when handled. Nevertheless, the dorsum observed under fields. Feeds on ants, beetles, some distinguishing secretions high magnification reveals a etc. and stomach contents were observed from the rounded base with a pointed tip varies with environments. skin with unique smell at the centre. The tympanum The species is crepuscular after being touched. Adults was indistinct and smaller than as well as nocturnal with measured approximately the pupil. The ventral surface of even turning diurnal during 75-80mm possessed an the skin was uniformly granular the mating season. It is inconspicuous ridge on the throughout with barring on the common in South Asia and in head with less keratinized limbs. This species probably Bhutan it was first reported warts compared to those of has a wide distribution in north by Das & Palden (2000) from Duttaphrynus melanostictus or of Punakha and Gasa disrticts. Maukhola, Sarpang District, D. himalayanus. It possessed The distribution of this species is southern Bhutan. A specimen prominent parotid glands with restricted to Arunachal Pradesh (Image 2) of the species was diffused margins. The fore limbs in India and Myanmar. It is thus photographed from Goemkha were longer than the other two a new record for Bhutan. Two (27030.53’N & 89049.25’E), sympatric species with the specimens, one from Punakha Thinleygang, Punakha District third finger being the longest - Gasa highway (27041.52’N & on 7 August 2011 at 1030hr and the second finger shortest. 89046.01’E) Goenshari Gewog, at an altitude of 1900m. The feet carry big conspicuous Gasa at an altitude of 1483m on inner metatarsal tubercles and 7 August 2011 at 0810hr with palmar tubercles are present SVL = 78mm (Image 4) and another species was recorded from Rimchu Range Office area (27041.38’N & 89046.08’E), Image 3. Duttaphrynus cf. stuarti Punakha on the highway at 1725hr at an altitude of 1489m on 7 August 2011.
! Rhacophoridae Himalayan Tree Frog Polypedates cf. himalayensis The most common species (Image 4), was found throughout the study area along the edges of ponds, paddy fields, stream edges and even on the roads at night while driving. Most of the time they were found hiding among the short grasses. The snout is Photo by Sonam Phuntsho
38 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 pointed and the back carries a The head skin being co-ossified cross mark like that of an hour- to the skull proves the genus glass. The shapes and sizes of of the species to Polypedates. the patterns on the dorsum are The toes are webbed with score prominently dark brown on a of 12 out of 23. The palm has light brown or sometime yellow three clear-cut tubercles with background. Sometimes, the the middle being the largest. shape appear as an X disjoined The feet own oval and small at the centre (Image 5) inner metatarsal tubercles. The extending only to one half of hind limbs carry bands dorsally Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by the body length. In most of the which are slightly dark brown specimen caught, the posterior in colour. While the throat half had discontinuous stripes region is smooth, the belly has of dark brown colour mingled uniform large granules with with blots that were lined up the granules on the ventral Image 5. Dorsal view of Polypedates by the length of the body. The surface of the skin in the thigh cf. himalayensis triangular snout has a blunt tip region being even larger. This ! with a black stripe that extends species is found throughout from the tip of the snout to the the lower reaches of Punakha shoulder marking through the - Wangdue Phodrang Valley. Megophryidae eye. The circular tympanum Commonly called as Himalayan Nankiang Horned Toad appears distinct and is placed Tree Frog (Polypedates cf. Xenophrys cf. nankiangensis in between the supratympanic himalayensis) or Indian Tree (Liu & Hu, 1966) fold and the upper lip. A Frog, this frog is new record A medium-sized frog cream coloured line passes for Bhutan and is reported with the head hardly broader by the margin of the upper lip from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, than long. Pattern on the body stretching up to the tympanum. and Bangladesh up to 1500m. highly variable but blotches of different patterns and shapes prominent on the light brown dorsum. Body ovoid in ventral view. Short forelimbs, however Image 4. Polypedates cf. himalayensis the forelimbs are a bit less than three times the length of forearm. Fingers free with a big globular tubercle at the base of ! the shortest finger, the third finger being the longest. Toes almost free with the traces of web at the base. Dorsum colour light brown with some small granular warts arranged
Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by in rows along the body length and darker brown patches of various patterns. Eye
2 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 the streams (27029.522’N & (Anderson, 1871) 89044.622’E) at an altitude of A medium sized to large 2094m, between Lumitsawa frog with slender elongated and Thinleygang, Punakha body, flat head and long District. Of the many species legs. In dorsal view, the body heard calling, a lone individual is oblong with moderately measuring 50mm (SVL) was pointed anterior and posterior caught and photographed ends. The length of the head is (Image 6) on 5 August 2011 at almost equal to its width. The 2145hr. Considered a native of snout which is rounded mainly Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by China, the species is found in between the nares juts slightly Sichuan and Gansu Provinces over the lower jaw. The nares from 1,600-1,850 m. IUCN are closer to the snout than considers it as vulnerable the eyes. The canthus rostralis because the species is known is indefinite and rounded. from nearby villages, where The weak supratympanal fold infrastructure development is is rounded and ends at the heavy. The case is same for posterior tympanum margin. Bhutan and further study is The fingers possess large pads needed to confirm its status. with circum-marginal grooves that are largest one the 4th Ranidae finger and smallest on the
Image 6. Xenophrys cf. nankiangensis Mountain Cascade Frog 1st finger with the relative Amolops cf. monticola of 1<2<4<3. Only one inner !
pupil vertical and tympanum Image 7. Amolops cf. monticola from Rurichu inconspicuous. Venter colour is greyish-black in the throat and up to the middle of the stomach with deep black blotches. The posterior part of the stomach is white with black dirty blotches suddenly followed by deep red pectoral region and the thighs and tibia up to the toes. A single vocal sac is clearly visible. The limbs have black bars that are not so distinct. It’s known to occupy temperate shrub land and rivers, inhabiting hill streams and surrounding shrub land habitat. This species are found occupying Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by 1
! frog leg | #18 | December 2012 are oval and spectacular. The yellow. The bluish-green iris is tibo-tarsal articulation extends marbled with dark color and is ! beyond snout. The dorsal and flamboyantly contrasting with ventral skin surfaces smooth the dorsal pattern. The limbs with only very small rounded are weakly uniformly striped. warts found posterior to the The adhesive pad on the eyes and ventrolateral to the first finger is white while the anus. The dorsolateral folds others look grey. The venter are somewhat striking and is uniformly yellowish-grey. finish between the axilla and An adult (Image 7), a juvenile Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by groin. A gular and a pectoral and a metamorphosing tadpole fold are slightly prominent (Image 8) each was caught on the ventral surface. from Rurichu (27020.30’N Image 8. A metamorphosing tadpole The species is olive green & 89054.49’E), Wangdue and grayish in colour with the Phodrang District at an altitude oblong and flat metacarpal dorsum having a few circular of 982m, on 16 April 2011 at tubercle present, while the to irregular darker spots. The 1700 hr. An inhabitant of woods subarticular tubercles are upper eyelids are conspicuously of tropical to subtropical regions noticeably large, globular and lighter and somewhat yellowish in still to rapidly flowing waters are projecting. The completely while a bluish-black stripe and torrents, the frogs sit in webbed toes have adhesive pads extends from the snout tip crevices of rock faces that are smaller than those on fingers. along the canthus rostralis and moist with spray water (Image A single inner, flat and oblong the lateral fold. The colour of 9). While it is a new record for metatarsal tubercle is present upper lip, post-oral glands Bhutan, it has already been while the subarticular tubercles and supratympanal fold are reported from Nepal, India and China between 850-2,350 m.
Dicroglossidae Liebig’s Mountain Frog Image 9. An individual using wet rocks facing the flow Nanorana liebigii (Guenther, 1860) Head flat and broader ! than long, pointed to the nares but blunt in between with visible occipital fold. Snout blunt in lateral view. Body sturdy and elongated with prominent dorsolateral folds which are large and warty. Legs long. Dorsal skin smooth with numerous rounded warts on the sides of the body. Venter uniformly smooth. Tympanum indistinct with its membrane Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by 2 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 species from Susuna highway, Haa road (27.360N & 89.310E) at an altitude of 2350m. But his report was based on the ! 8 February 1969 collection of the specimen which has been given accession number ZSIC A10964 with the SVL of 169mm (female) by Biswas and Saha. A specimen (Image 10) was collected from Goemkha village (27030.53N & 89049.25’E), Toeb Gewog, Punakha at an altitude of 1900m on 8 August 2011 at 2300 with lengths of 90mm, 167mm and 55mm SVL, HLL and FLL respectively.
It’s a Nanorana sp.
Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by (Image 11) because of its
Image 10. Nanorana liebigii from Goemkha ossified sternal stylus. It has fusions in the tarsus and carpus. The tongue is notched. directly below the skin but large m (Schleich & Kastle 2002). Conclusion and distinct supratympanal The species is known to feed on fold. Relative finger length earthworms, beetles, insects, This study, the first of its 1<2<4<3, 1st finger hardly etc. The breeding period of kind in Bhutan is significant as shorter than 2nd and 4th finger the species vary with altitude. much as the new species record almost equal to the 3rd all with Between 1500-2000 m, they for the country that has come as rounded tips. Subarticular breed from March to end of an outcome of the effort put for tubercles globular and distinct May (Schleich & Kastle 2002) this research. The amphibians with large oval inner metacarpal and between 2000-2500 m in the Punakha-Wangdue tubercle and small outer asl, they breed from January Phodrang Valley were found metacarpal tubercle. Toe fully till July and above 2500m asl in the paddy fields, roadsides webbed with relative length they breed exclusively in June and forest of three study areas of 1<2<5<3<5, tips rounded, (Spath 1990). It is distributed of Toebisa, Kabjisa and Kazhi. subarticular tubercles oval. throughout midlands and Conserving the paddy fields Colour chocolate brown. Ventral lower mountain ranges of especially for the newts is white with brown speckles in Nepal, India (Uttar Pradesh, found to be very important. the gular and pectoral region. Sikkim, West Bengal, Himachal Polypedates cf. himalayensis, Nocturnal and shy by habit. It Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir) Xenophrys cf. nankiangensis, can be found in oak and conifer and South China. Deuti (2010), Duttaphrynus cf. stuartii and forest between 1500-3000 reported the presence of this Amolops cf. monticola are
42 ! frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Acknowledgement
Over the course of last five months, the research described below entailed: catching and counting more than 100 amphibians, many of them late on cold, rainy nights; driving throughout the valley at nights; wading through ponds, Photo by Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal Jigme Tshelthrim Photo by bogs and swamps looking for amphibians enduring cool winds, bites of mosquitoes and leeches while looking for newt. To say that we depended upon the generous assistance of others is a whopping understatement. We never Image 11. Nanorana species from Dochula failed to be amazed at the willingness of many friends and acquaintances to help. Further, we would like to, in all new records for Bhutan. must be done on the species no particular order thank the The comparison of Shannon to confirm its uniqueness for following individuals. Sonam Diversity Index amongst the a separate identity. The task Phuntsho in Kabjisa and three habitats in the valley did is even harsher in absence of Rimchu areas; Yeshi Phuntsho not reveal much difference, amphibian species authority for in Gasa and Punakha areas; indicating that all the three Bhutan with whom consultation Yeejay, Nima Gyeltshen and areas are equally diverse. The can be done and the species Dorji Namgay in Lamperi, Evenness value (E<1) for the reported worldwide. A fervent Thinleygang and Dochula three habitats also indicates hope of the situation changing areas; Namgay Tshering and that the species distribution soon remains to be seen. Kuenzang Tshering in Sha areas. in the study areas is uneven. Taking this study as a baseline, They have helped us collect The standout package of the amphibians of Bhutan could be and take measurements of study, which was the encounter studied in various parts of the the specimens and have never of a new Nanorana species at country. However, the country denied befriending us even at Dochula at an altitude of 2963m might need people who are the middle of the night. Sonam is encouraging giving reason interested to continue the Dorji (GP), Baep Tshering and for further research. If at all the studies. At present, it is very few others accompanied us to species is proven new, a new hard to see Bhutanese taking the field in Thinleygang when in species specific epithet name up the subject. Therefore, it college, our sincere thanks to after provenience Bhutan, is time for us to wake up start them. Ap Sonam of Goemkha bhutanensis, will be proposed. exploring the subject hereafter. village, Toebisa helped us catch But repeated further study at least four species, thanks
43 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 to his spirited search for the verrucosus Anderson 1871 from 517pp. East Nepal (Amphibia: Caudata, Frost, D.R. (1985). Amphibian animals. Thanks are also due Salamandridae). Fuhlrott Museum, species of the world. A taxonomic to all people of the study areas. Wuppertal. Contributions to the and geographic reference. Allen Herpetology of South Asia (Nepal, press, Inc., and Associations of The first author in particular is India). 4: 1-26. systematic collections, Lawrence. glad to receive the assistance Campbell, H.W. & S.P. Christman (iv) + v + 732 pp. (1982). Field techniques for Ningombam, B. & S. Bordoloi of England based Rufford’s herpetofaunal community analysis. (2007). Amphibian fauna of Loktak Small Grant for the study of Pp. 193-200. In: N.J. Scott, Jr. Lake, Manipur, India with ten new (ed.), Herpetological Communities. records for the state Zoos’ Print this group of animals. So, U.S. Department of the Interior, Journal 22(5): 2688-2690. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Palden, J. (2003). New records of a heartfelt thanks to the Research Report 13. Tylototriton verrucosus Anderson, RSG. Phurba Lhendup, WWF Corn, P.S. & R.P. Bury (1989). 1871 from Bhutan. Hamadryard Logging in western Oregon: 27: 286-287. Bhutan programme needs a responses of headwater habitats Schleich, H.H., & W. Kästle (Eds). special mention for generously and stream amphibians. Forest (2002). Amphibians and Reptiles Ecology and Management 29:39- of Nepal. Biology, Systematics, allowing me to use his camera 57. Field Guide. A. R. G. Gantner Verlag, during the study. The National Daniels, R.J.R. (2005). Amphibians Ruggell, Germany, 1211 pp. of Peninsular India. University Seglie, D. (2002). Tylototriton Soil Service Centre, Simtokha, Press (India), 169pp. verrucosus, an Endangered Species Das, I. (1987). Natural history of the of India. DAPTF Report, pp. 1-43. also deserves a mention for Indian Salamander Herpetofauna Smith, M.A. (1931). The fauna of helping out with soil analysis. News 9: 3. British India, Ceylon and Burma: Das, I. & J. Palden (2000). A Amphibia and Reptilia, Vol.I. - The support of our family herpetological collection from Loricata, Testudines. (1st edn). members is worth mentioning Bhutan, with new country records. Taylor and Francis Ltd. London. Herpetological Review 31(4): 256- Smith, M. A. (1935). The fauna of for all their understanding and 258. Delorme, M. & British India, Ceylon and Burma: patience. Had it not been for Dubois, A. (2001). Une nouvelle Amphibia and Reptilia, Vol.II. - espèce de Scutiger du Bhutan, Sauria. (1st edition). Taylor and their moral support, this paper et quelques remarques sur la Francis Ltd. London. could never have been written. classification subgénérique du Smith, M.A. (1943). The fauna of genre Scutiger (Megophryidae, British India, Ceylon and Burma, Leptobrachiinae). Alytes 19 (2-4): including the whole of the Indo 141-153. – Chinese region. Reptilia and References Deuti, K. (2010). Nanorana liebigii Amphibia. Vol. III. Serpentes. from Bhutan. Herpetological Review Taylor and Francis, London. Pp. i-xii Ahmed, M.F., A. Das, & S.K. Dutta 41 (1): 104. +583 pp +1 map. (2009). Amphibians and reptiles Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians of Vasudevan, K. & S. Sondhi (2010). of Northeast India: A photographic India and Sri Lanka (Checklist Amphibians and Reptiles of guide. Aaranyak, Society for and bibliography. Bhubaneswar; Uttarakhand, India. Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation. 50 Odyssey Publishing House; (4) + Institute of India. Chandrabani 18, Samanwoy Path, Survey, Beltola, xiii 342 + vvii pp. Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Guwahati 781028, Assam, India, Fei, L., C. Ye, & J. Jiang (2010). Yang, D. & D. Rao (2008). Amphibia 168pp. Coloured Atlas of Chinese and Reptilia of Yunnan. Yunnan Anders, C.C., H.H. Schleich, & K. Amphibians. Sichuan Publishing Publishing Group Corporation, B. Shah, (1998). Contributions Group. Sichuan Publishing House Yunnan Science and Technology to the Biology of Tylototriton of Science and Technology, China, Press, Kunming (in Chinese).
44 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 Rainy (S ), autumn (S ), Seasonal Fluctuation of Different Nematode 1 2 winter (S3), and summer (S4) Parasites of Duttaphrynus melanostictus from constituted four seasons each Aurangabad (Maharashtra), India comprising of three months.
Sujeet V. Jamdar 1 & C. J. Hiware 2 Result and Discussion 1,2 Department of Zoology, Dr. B.A.M. University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431004, India. The present invest- Email: 1 [email protected] (Corresponding author) igation revealed that out of 110 hosts 105 (95%) was infected with different nematode parasites, com- Introduction saline and washed 2-3 times. prising four genera, i.e., They were further processed Oswaldocruzia Travassos,1917, The effect of parasites and permanent slides were Oxysomatium Railliet & Henry, in animal ecology has received made (Gibson 1984). All adult 1913, Monhysterides Baylis & much attention in recent nematodes collected were Daubney,1922 and Meteterakis years. The hosts harbor a transferred in hot 70% alcohol Karve, 1930. The nematode luxuriant nematode fauna in for fixing and preserved in parasites showed highest their alimentary tract. The 70% alcohol in a vial with a few presence in rainy season. The present study deals with the drops of glycerine. They were parasites were found in both mean incidence, mean parasite then sorted according to their male and female hosts but load and density of infection by respective genera with the help their numbers varied with the different nematode parasites of identification keys given by season. During rainy season in different body weight groups Yamaguti (1961, 1963), “CIH and with the accompanied rise in both sexes of the Common Keys to the Nematode Parasites in water level, moderately high Indian Toad Duttaphrynus of Vertebrates” (1974-1983 temperature, high humidity melanostictus in the industrial ed.). A proper record of and low sunshine, the hosts and non industrial areas the host, locality, location of dominate in many water bodies of Aurangabad in different parasite, date of collection in study area. seasons during the year. and name of collector were Overall, the infection maintained. The incidence, was noted to be more in the Material and Methods mean parasite load and density rainy season, moderate in of infection were calculated winters and least in summer. Toads killed due to following Margolis et al. (1982) This might be due to high road accidents were collected and Muzzal (1991). availability of source of and brought to the laboratory Incidence of infection infestation like insects which from surrounding area of = Bx100/ A; where B- the are the intermediate hosts Aurangabad at different seasons number of host infected, A- and thus causing an increase of year during the period of total number of host collected in the number of parasites in June 2007 to May 2008. They Mean parasite load = C / B; an animal. The liver, mucosal were collected from different where C- total number of lining, intestine, mesenteries sites. Only the adult parasites parasites collected in a host. and rectum appeared to be were taken out in normal Density = C / A the most preferred sites for
45 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Table A. The effect of sex and seasons on distribution of parasites during June 2007-May 08.
Number of Number of Percentage of Seasons Sex hosts collected hosts infected infection (%) Male 20 19 95 Rainy Female 12 12 100 Male 10 10 100 Autumn Female 26 25 96.15 Male 10 09 90 Winter Female 11 11 100 Male 09 08 88.88 Summer Female 12 12 100
Table B. Seasonal fluctuation of intensity of infection by different nematode parasites in Duttaphrynus melanostictus.
Body No. of No. of Incidence Mean Density No. of hosts weight Seasons hosts parasites of infection parasite load of examined (g) infected collected (%) infection 1 15-30 15 15 1090 100 72.66 72.66 2 30-45 Rainy 09 09 482 100 53.55 53.55 (June-Aug.) 3 45-60 08 07 403 87 57.57 50.37 4 15-30 16 16 792 100 49.50 49.50 Autumn 5 30-45 12 11 520 91 47.27 43.33 (Sept.-Nov.) 6 45-60 08 08 537 100 67.12 67.12 7 15-30 10 09 370 90 41.11 37 Winter 8 30-45 05 05 150 100 30 37 (Dec.-Feb.) 9 45-60 06 06 92 100 15.33 15.33 10 15-30 12 11 223 91 20.27 18.58 Summer 11 30-45 05 05 95 100 19 19 (Mar.-May.) 12 45-60 04 04 65 100 16.25 16.25
Table C. Distribution of nematodes in different organs of host.
Parasitic Number of parasites in sample Parasite sp. Organs stage range mean ± S.E. Oswaldocruzia 1 Mucosal lining adult 1-11 3.45 0.48 goezei Coelom, liver, 2 Monhysterides sp. 3-19 8.6 1.46 mesentry larvae Oxysomatium 3 Rectum adult 1-12 4.58 0.38 macintoshii Intestine and Single 4 Meteterakis govindi adult 5 5 rectum specimen
46 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 parasitic infection. In “Commonwealth Institute of of Formosa. Transactions of the Helminthology keys to the Nematode Natural History Society of Formosa. Throughout the study Parasites of Vertebrates”. No.5. Taiwan; 236 (33): 142-154. period incidence of infection, Eds. R. C. Anderson, A. G. Chabaud Yamaguti, S. (1961). Systema and S. Willmott. Commonwealth Helminthum Vol.III. The nematodes and density of infection by Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham, of vertebrates. Interscience different nematode parasites Farnham Royal: England. Publishers Inc., New York, Part I, Anderson, R.C. & O. Bain (1982). 679pp. part II, pp.681-1261. were calculated. The calculated CIH keys to the Nematode values were not equal for parasites of Vertebrates No.9. Keys to the genera of the super families all the seasons and showed Rhabditoidea, Dioctophymatoidea and Muspiceoidea. Anderson, R. sex wise differences. The C., Chabaud, A. G. and Willmott, S. most commonly encountered (Eds.). Common Wealth Institute of Helminthology, London 1-25. nematodes in order of Bhalerao, G.D. (1935). “Helminth prevalence were Oxysomatium, parasites of the domesticated animals in India.” Scientific Meteterakis, Oswaldocruzia Monograph No. 6; Indian council and Monhysterides. of Agricultural Research New Delhi, India 1-365. Gibson, D.I. (1984). Technology as applied to museum collection : the Acknowledgement collection, fixation and conservation of helminths. Systematic Parasitology 6, 141. Mr. Sujeet Jamdar is Graiffin, C.T. (1989). Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Nematoda: very much thankful to the Trichostrongyloidea) in frogs (Rana “UGC” for providing the financial temporaria) from three localities in Ireland. Journal of Helminthology assistance by “RFSMS” Scheme 63(1): 53-62. and also Head Department Margolis, et al. (1982). The use of ecological terms in parasitology. of Zoology, Dr. Babasaheb Report of an ad hoc committee of the American Society of Parasitologists. Ambedkar Marathwada The Journal of Parasitology 68: University, Aurangabad (M.S.) 131-133. Ragoo, R.M. & I.R. Omat Maharaj, for providing the necessary (2003). Helminths of the cane laboratory facilities during my toads Bufo americanus from Trinidad, West Indies. Caribbean work. Journal of Sciences 39: 242-245. Travassos, L. (1917). Trichostrongylinas brazileiras (5 e References: nota previa). Oswaldocruzia n.gen. Brazil Medico., 31: 9. Vanderburgh, D.J. & R.C. Anderson, R.C., A.G. Chabaud & S. Anderson (1987). Preliminary Willmott (1974). CIH keys the observation on seasonal changes nematode parasites of vertebrates. in prevalence and intensity No.1. General introduction. of Cosmocercoides variabilis Commonwealth Agricultural (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea) Bureaux, Farnham Royal, Slough, in Bufo americanus (Amphibia). Headley Brothers Ltd. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65(7): Anderson, R.C. & O. Bain (1976). 1666-1667. Diplotriaenoidea and Filarioidea. Vashetko, E.V. & B.H. Siddikov Pages 59-116 in R. C. Anderson, A. (1999).The effect of the ecology G. Chabaud and S. Willimott. Eds. of toads on the distribution of CIH keys to the Nematode Parasites helminths. Turkish Journal of of Vertebrates NO.3 Keys to the Zoology 23 (1): 107-110. Geners of the Order Spirurida. Waltonm, A.C. (1935). The Farmingham Royal Bucks, England, nematoda as parasites of Amphibia Common-Wealth Agricultural II. Proceeding of the United States Bureaux. National Museum; 315. Anderson, R.C. (1978). Key to Yamaguti, S. & Y. Mitunaga the genera of the superfamily (1943). Intestinal helminths Metastrongyloidea. Pp. 1-44. from Duttaphrynus melanostictus
47 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Defensive and burrowing behaviour of Kaloula Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala assamensis Das et al., 2004 and Kaloula (Dutta 1997), and Gujarat pulchra Gray, 1831 (Microhylidae) (Vyas et al. 2004). Defense of resource- Rakesh Soud 1, Kripaljyoti Mazumdar 2, Abhik Gupta 3, based territories are common Simi Talukdar 4 in anurans (Höglund & Alatalo 1995) and there exists 1 Department of Humanities and Social Science, Indian Institute of difference in views over Technology (Guwahati), North Guwahati, Assam 781039, India. the issue of dominance of 2 WWF-India, Western Arunachal Landscape Programme (WAL), Partvati Nagar, Tezpur, Assam 784001, India. defensive behavior even in the 3,4 Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Assam University, lek mating system in anurans Silchar, Assam 788011, India. Email: 2 [email protected] (Corresponding author) (Wells 2007). Our observations on the defensive and burrowing behaviour of Kaloula assamensis in Bongaigaon (26°28.70’N & 90°32.48’E) Microhylidae is was first reported from India and Kaloula pulchra in Assam a geographically wide- by Romer (1949) in Nagaland. University (24°41.04’N & spread family of frogs with It was subsequently reported 92°45.03’E) Cachar District, 413 species in 69 genera and from Tinsukia and Cachar Assam, northeastern India, nine subfamilies, which is districts of Assam (Dutta 1997; were made in July 2006 after the largest number of genera Dey & Gupta 2000) and from a heavy monsoon shower when in any frog family. Kaloula Cherrapunjee, East Khasi Hills the temperature and relative assamensis, Das et al., 2004, District, Meghalaya, (Hooroo humidity were c. 28°C and was first described based on 6 et al. 2002), West Bengal, 75%, respectively. Both species specimens collected between Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, are basically nocturnal and 1998 and 2004 from four different localities of Majbat, Sirajuli, Orang National Park and Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary Fig 1. Sketch of Foot of Kaloula pulchra (A) and Kaloula assamensis (B) of Sonitpur District, Assam, and one locality of Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh (Das et al. 2004). Range extension of this species was reported from Bongaigaon District, Assam (Talukdar et al. 2007) and West Bengal (Paul et al. 2007). Nothing significant has been done related to the ecology and behavior of this species, which is assessed as Data Deficient in IUCN 3.1. Kaloula pulchra Gray, 1831
48
! frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Fig 2. Sketch of Defensive posture of Kaloula assamensis !
fossorial in nature, but diurnal unsuitable weather conditions. into the soil because of its and arboreal behavior can also They start digging backward sturdier hindlimbs with more be found. The fossorial nature into the soil with the help of complete webbing (Fig. 1). of these species provide them their hindlimbs and push the It is possible that the more several ecological opportunities body under the soil surface efficient burrowing ability of like suitable microhabitat for with the forelimbs. There is K. pulchra could be one of the estivation, clutch protection and continuous movement of the contributing factors to its wider subterranean foraging and thus body during the process. They distribution compared to K. adapted to a burrowing mode of can burrow several inches into assamensis. Microhylid frogs life (Emerson 1976; Nomura et the soil and stay underground are also known to show several al. 2009). Phylogenetic analysis for a long time according defensive mechanisms to avoid based on literature survey of to their convenience. Both predation. For instance, Kaloula burrowing behavior suggests species have well developed taprobanica, which occurs in that hindlimb-first burrowing foot with an average size of parts of Sri Lanka and peninsular is a basal behavior and head- c. 28mm (male) and 29.5mm India, is known to hide its limbs first burrowing behavior has (female) Kaloula pulchra and and head under the body to evolved several times in anuran c. 26mm (male) and 28mm assume a semi-globular form history forming a convergence (female) Kaloula assamensis, (Somaweera 2006). When complex (Nomura et al. 2009). respectively. The foot also the defensive postures of K. Most burrowing anurans bears adhesive tips which assamensis and K. pulchra are hindlimb-first burrowers are adapted for underground were recorded by creating an (Emerson 1976). Both K. digging and climbing habits. artificial disturbance to produce assamensis and K. pulchra Despite these similarities, K. alarm response in the frogs, it burrow into the cooler subsoil pulchra appeared to be able was seen that they inflated to avoid predators and to avoid to burrow relatively faster their body and bent their head
49 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Hind feet burrowing posture of K. pulchra and K. assamensis
Kaloula pulchra (Photo: Kripaljyoti Mazumdar) Kaloula assamensis (Photo: Rakesh Soud) ! !
down. This posture helped Biology and Nature’s Foster 27(1): 146-148. Höglund, J. & R.V. Alatalo (1995). to make their body appear head office for their support. Leks. Princeton University Press, larger in size to their natural New Jersey, xiii + 248pp. Nomura, F., C. Denise, R. Feres & predators. Thus, opposed to the References F. Langeani (2009). Burrowing evasive defensive posture of K. behavior of Dermatonotus Das, I., S. Sengupta, M.F. Ahmed & muelleri (Anura, Mycrohylidae) taprobanica, K. assamensis S.K. Dutta (2004). A new species with reference to the origin of and K. pulchra adopted a more of Kaloula (Anura: Microhylidae) the burrowing behavior of Anura. from Assam State, North-eastern Journal of Ethology 27: 195-201. aggressive approach. However, India. Hamadryad 29(1): 101-109. Romer, J.D. (1949). Herpetological observation in Assam and Bengal the three species shared the Dey, M & A. Gupta (2000). Record of Kaloula pulchara from Cachar (1944). Journal of the Bombay ability to produce a sticky district, Assam, North Eastern Natural History Society 48: 376– 387. secretion that also served India. Hamadryad 25(2): 214-215 Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians of Somaweera, R. (2006). Defensive as a defense mechanism. India and Sri Lanka (Checklist and posture in Kaloula taprobanica Parker (Microhylidae: Amphibia). These studies indicate that Bibiography). Odyssey Publishing House, Orissa, India, xxii + 342pp. Journal of the Bombay Natural the microhylids could have a Emerson, S.B. (1976). Burrowing in History Society 103(1): 108-109. frogs. Journal of Morphology 149(4): Vyas, R. (2004). Painted frog (Kaloula rich and varied repertoire of 437-458. pulchara) from Anand and Surat, defensive behavior that might Talukdar, S., R. Soud & K. Deuti Gujrat, India. Zoos’ Print Journal (2007). Range extension of the 19(4): 1444. be worth investigating. Assam painted Frog, Kaloula Wells, K.D. (2007). The ecol- assamensis (Anura: Microhylide) ogy and behaviour of Amphib- to western Assam. Cobra 1(I): 18- ians, University of Chicago Acknowledgements 20. Press, Chicago, xii+1148pp. Hooroo, R.N.K, S. Khongwir & B.B.P. Paul, S., M.C. Biswas & K. Deuti Gupta (2002). Record of Kaloula (2007). First record of the We thank our pulchara (Gray, 1831) (Anura: Assam Painted Frog, Kaloula Microhylidae ) from Cherrapunjee, assamensis (Das et al.) from collegagues at Laboratory for East Khasi Hill District, Meghalaya, West Bengal. Cobra 1(3): 15-16 Wildlife Ecology & Conservation North Eastern India. Hamadryad
50 frog leg | #18 | December 2012
Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is a monthly (aiming to be more frequent), online, open access, free access, peer-reviewed journal on wildlife, conservation, taxonomy, ecology and all aspects contributing to the science and action thereof. The objective of JoTT is to publish timely, articles of importance for promoting conservation and encouraging wildlife studies in the biodiversity-rich countries of the world. Listed below are amphibian manuscripts published in JoTT
Kadaba Shamanna Seshadri, Amit Colostethus ruthveni Kaplan, Dahanukar (2012). Population Yadav & Kotambylu Vasudeva 1997 (Anura: Dendrobatidae) variations in the Fungoid Frog Gururaja (2009). Road kills from Sierra Nevada de Santa Hylarana malabarica (Anura: of amphibians in different land Marta, Colombia. JoTT 3(3): Ranidae) from northern Western use areas from Sharavathi river 1633-1636 Ghats of India. JoTT 4(2): 2343- basin, central Western Ghats, Biofagri A. Rachmayuningtyas, 2352 India. JoTT 1(11): 549-552 David P. Bickford, Mistar Ranjini Murali & T.R. Shankar K.P. Dinesh, C. Radhakrishnan, Kamsi, Sujatha N. Kutty, Raman (2012). Streamside K.V. Gururaja & Anil Zacariya Rudolf Meier, Umilaela Arifin, amphibian communities in (2010). New locality records Angga Rachmansah & Djoko T. plantations and a rainforest of Rhacophorus lateralis Iskandar (2011). Conservation fragment in the Anamalai hills, Boulenger, 1883 (Amphibia: status of the only Lungless Frog India. JoTT 4(8): 2849-2856 Anura: Rhacophoridae), in Barbourula kalimantanensis Jobin Joseph, K.M. Jobin & P.O. Western Ghats, India. JoTT Iskandar, 1978 (Amphibia: Nameer (2012). Additional 2(6): 986-989 Anura: Bombinatoridae). JoTT record of Resplendent Bush José F. González-Maya, Mauricio 3(8): 1981-1989 Frog Raorchestes resplendens González, Diego Zárrate- Justin Gerlach (2011). The potential (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Charry, Fidela Charry, effects of climate change on the Western Ghats, India. JoTT Amancay A. Cepeda & Sergio the status of Seychelles frogs 4(9): 3082-3084 A. Balaguera-Reina (2011). (Anura: Sooglossidae). JoTT A new population record and 3(11): 2153-2166 To access these papers visit: conservation assessment of the Anand Padhye, Anushree Jadhav, http://www.threatenedtaxa.org/ Santa Marta Poison Arrow Frog Manawa Diwekar & Neelesh
51 frog leg | #18 | December 2012 FROG POST! Dear naturalists, friends and authors,
This new year we invite you to contribute frog poems, sketches, cartoons and ar- ticles for frogleg scheduled for 1 March 2013. Send in your froggie information to: [email protected] and [email protected]
Lets croak together!
Wishing you a great new year form the team at Zoo Outreach Organization. Happy New Year!
ISSN: 2230-7060 (online) No. 18 | December 2012 Editor: Sanjay Molur frog leg Date of publication: 28 December 2012 Edtorial Advisor: Sally Walker
ANSA and ASG-SA Co-chairs: Sanjay Molur & Karthikeyan Vasudevan
frog leg is the Newsletter of the Amphibian Network of South Asia (ANSA) and the Amphibian Specialist Group-South Asia (ASG-SA)
frog leg is published by WILD, ZOO and CBSG-SA as a service to the amphibian conservation community as well as conservation actioners and enthusiasts of South Asia.
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