frog leg Newsletter of the Network of and Amphibian Specialist Group - South Asia

No. 13, December 2007

Eggs, hatching and larval development in Ichthyophis cf.

malabarensis (Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) In this issue

- - Eggs, hatching and larval devel- 1 1 1 1 2 Bapurao V. Jadhav ,*, D.D. Thorat , S.D. Kadam , L.S. Bhingardeve and S.S. Patil opment in Ichthyophis cf. mala- 1 barensis (Gymnophiona: Ichthyo- Department of zoology, Balasaheb Desai College, Patan, Satara 415206, phiidae) 2 Department of zoology, Krishna Mahavidyalaya, Retare Bk., Satara 415108, India Bapurao V. Jadhav, D.D. Thorat, Email: * [email protected] S.D. Kadam, L.S. Bhingardeve & S.S. Patil, Pp. 1-3.

Biology of Western Ghats caecilians is a less explored subject with - - Diversity and distribution of amphibian fauna in Nagarjuna- very rare studies on reproductive behaviour. We describe egg laying, hatching sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, and early development of Ichthyophis cf. malabarensis from Koyana region in Andhra Pradesh C. Srinivasulu, Manju Siliwal, A. northern Western Ghats where a single female with 144 eggs were observed Rajesh, Bhargavi Srinivasulu, P. in captivity. As per our knowledge this is the first complete description of Venkateshwarulu & V. Nagulu, Pp. 3-6. initial developmental in caecilians of Western Ghats. Studies on reproductive biology and reproductive behaviour of cae- - - The comments on record and farther distribution of the Ornate cilians are rare with very few studies from the Western Ghats (Sheshachar, Microhylid Microhyla ornata from 1933, 1942, 1982; Balakrishna et al., 1983). Ichthyophis of family Ichthyo- Gujarat Raju Vyas, P. 6. phiidae and order Gymnophiona is oviparous with internal fertilization (Sheshachar, 1942, 1982; Balakrishna et al., 1983; Pillai & Ravichandran, - - Status and morphometric data of some anurans with reference to 1999). Females lay eggs in burrows in moist soil close to water. Female Ich- Agra district, Uttar Pradesh Ravi Kumar Singh & Sant Prakash, thyophis show parental care by guarding eggs until hatching. Earlier studies Pp. 7-8. on Gegenophis carnosus are restricted to egg and embryo morphology - - Record of Sylvirana leptoglossa (Sheshachar, 1942). Similar studies have been carried out on I. malabarensis (Cope, 1868) (Anura: Ranidae) from (Sheshachar, 1982; Balakrishna et al., 1983). As per our knowledge this is Kolasib district, Mizoram, north- eastern India the first attempt to describe egg, hatching and larval development of I. cf. H.T. Lalremsanga, Saipari Sailo, B. malabarensis from Patan situated in Koyana region of northern Western Kharbuli & R.N.K. Hooroo, Pp. 9-10.

Ghats. - - Basking in Indian Koyana region (17023’N & 73053’E) is situated at an altitude 580m Euphlyctis hexadactylus (Lesson) at Pulicat , Andhra Pradesh, on the eastern border of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. The soil of this India region is red loamy, porous and is rich in humus, the pH is 6.2. Average V. Kannan, P. 10

temperature and rainfall of this region are 230C and 1240mm. Vegetation is - - One eye , Sphaerotheca mainly of paddy, sugarcane and groundnut fields. rufescens (Jerdon, 1854) from Konaje, Mangalore, Karnataka A female Ichthyophis cf. malabarensis with 144-egg cluster was Vijay Mala Nair & Santhosh Kumar, collected from a burrow near a rivulet in wet soil. The egg cluster along with Pp. 10-11.

the adult was brought to the laboratory and was kept in an artificial tank of - - Need of anuran studies in habi- 88.2 x 58.5 x 58.5cm. The bottom bed of decomposed leaves, agricultural tats of southern Rajasthan, India K.K. Sharma1 and Satya P. Mehra, wastes and sand was prepared and was placed in the tank. The height of soil Pp. 12-16. bed was 35cm. In this bed a round pit was made, resembling the pit present in natural conditions, with the diameter of 17.5cm and depth of 12.5cm to keep the egg cluster. In this pit the female and her egg clutch was released. Water was sprinkled on the bed every 3-4days. The female was fed with earthworms released in the bottom bed. Daily observations on the behaviour of female were noted. The newly hatched larvae were kept in a 3-4cm-deep plastic tub containing water. Food in the form of finely chopped liver, heart and meat of goat were provided once a day and the water of the tub was changed after

1 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December every two days for up to a round and prominent. The month. Photographic and live embryonic larva had three pairs video recordings of the entire of external gills; each external event were made. gill having median axis sur- We observed 144 rounded by lamellae. The eggs in the cluster, which is lengths of the three gills were around 1.5 times more than 8mm, 17.2mm and 10.3mm. A B the suspected maximum num- The ventral side of the larva ber of eggs in Gymnophiona by showed faint white coloured Seshachar (1982). Eggs in a yolk. Tail was laterally com- single clutch were connected pressed with caudal fin in de- together by median cord and veloping stage. the cluster looked like black Balakrishna et al. grapes (Fig.1A). Each egg was (1983) mentioned that the em- covered with transparent, elas- bryo of I. malabarensis did not tic and gelatinous membrane, show any movement. On the which was continuous with contrary, we observed rapid cords at both ends (Fig 1B). movement of embryos in the The length of each cord was eggs with irregular jerks. The 13mm. Both cords were female was found to be coiled straight, thin, hollow, un- around the eggs (Fig. 3) in the twisted and elastic and their pit until the hatching of the last tips coiled together to from egg. This parental care is a Figure 1. Egg clutch (A), a single egg (B) and structure of attach- hooks for firm attachment to well-known phenomenon in ment by cord (C) of I. cf. malabarensis. (D) shows the attachment in I. malabarensis as per Seshachar (1982) median cord during the early caecilians (Pillai & Ravi- stage (Fig.1C). After embryonic chandran, 1999; Daniel, 2002). development, one end of cord Hatching took place in was detached from median the night from 0930 to 1130hr cord due to increase in size of and in three successive stages. the eggs, while the other side In the first stage, rapid jerky remained attached to the me- movements were observed in dian cord until the eggs the egg, which was followed by Figure 3. Parental care in I. cf. hatched (Fig. 1C). This obser- emergence of head from the malabarensis. vation was inconsistent from egg (Fig. 4A). Stretching of the Figure 2. Early hatched larva the earlier observation by Se- body could have facilitated the with yolk and external gills shachar (1982) who mentioned break in the membrane. After a straight chain of eggs con- the emergence of the head, we nected end to end by cords observed a gap of a few sec- (Fig. 1D) in I. malabarensis. onds when the larva showed no The eggs were oval in shape movements. In the second with average weight of 750mg stage more than two-third of and average size of 14.2 - the body emerged from the 13.2mm. Details of the eggs egg (Fig. 4B), followed by an- A B C are given in Table 1. The de- other pause. In the third stage veloping larva with external the tail portion came out and Figure 4. Three stages in the hatching of the larva from the egg. Refer to the text for details of each stage. gills, yolk and amniotic fluid the newly emerged larva coiled could be seen through the thin around itself (Fig. 4C). The transparent membrane of the average hatching time for each eggs. A prematurely hatched larva was approximately 2- larva is shown in Fig. 2. The 3min. Just hatched larva was early-hatched larva died while black in colour and 75.2mm in handling within 30min. It was length. The eyes were promi- elongated, black in colour with nent and round, mouth was white strip on the ventral side sub-terminal and tail, with and about 65mm in length and caudal fin, was laterally com- weighed 584mg. The eyes pressed. The caudal fin had were situated on the dorso- broad dorsal and short ventral Figure 5. Physical mouth-to-mouth contact between larvae before lateral side of head and were lobes. The vent was situated at entry into the water. 2 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Table 1. Details of egg clutch and eggs of Ichthyophis cf. malabarensis unique feature of egg laying Oxford University Press, Mum-

Values 12 days before On the day and reproduction in Ichthyo- bai. hatching of hatching phis malabarensis (Taylor) (Apoda- Amphibia). Current Acknowledgements: 1 Weight of single egg 843mg 620mg Science 51: 32-34. We are grateful to Dr. Mark 2 Weight of total egg mass 121392mg 89280mg Balakrishna T.A., K.R. Gun- Wilkinson and Dr. David Gower, 3 Length of one cord 13mm 13mm 4 Length of total cord of egg clutch. 1853mm 1853mm dappa & K. Shakuntala (1983). The Natural History Museum, 5 Weight of single egg coat - 34mg Observation on the eggs and London; Dr. Anil Mahabal, Dr. 6 Weight of total egg coat - 4896mg embryo of Ichthyophis mala- Satish Kamble and Dr. Yadav, 7 Diameter of egg at cord 44.1mm 38.2mm barensis (Taylor) (Apoda: Am- Zoological Survey of India, 8 Diameter of egg opposite to cord 40.1mm 35.6mm phibia), Current Science 52: Pune, and Shri. Varad Giri, 9 Width of egg at cord 14.2mm 13.2mm 990- 991. Bombay Natural History Soci- 10 Width of egg opposite to cord 12.5mm 10.6mm Seshachar, B.R. (1942). The ety, Mumbai, for valuable guid- the junction of body and tail the body (Pillai & Ravichandran, eggs and embryos of Gegeno- ance. Dr. Sanjay Kharat, Nee- and was longitudinal with white 1999), however, we think it phis carnosus (Beddome). Cur- lesh Dahanukar and Rupesh rings surrounding it. The larva could be erroneous as we could rent Science 11: 439-441. Raut helped during manuscript had three pairs of external gills clearly observe the shedding Pillai, R.S. & M.S. Ravichandran preparation. Dr. C.B. Salunke at the junction of collar and off of the gills during larval (1999). Gymnophiona helped in photography. We are trunk. The lengths of the three development. (Amphibia) of India; A taxo- also thankful to all our col- gills were 10.5mm, 24.3mm In the free floating nomic study. Record of Zoo- leagues and our students for and 13.4 mm. The gills were stage, the larvae lived in hiding logical Survey of India 172: 1– their help in fieldwork; Dr. H.D. dark red in colour up to the places such as stones, bricks 117. Shalgaonkar, Principal, Balasa- first four hours and turned to and fallen leaves in the tub and Daniel, J.C. (2002). Books of heb Desai College, Patan for pale yellow after four hours. became very sluggish in loco- and reptiles. Bom- providing infrastructure facili- After emergence, the motion. More than five to seven bay Natural History Society and ties. larva started moving towards larvae came together and water at a very slow rate. In stayed coiled around each captivity, the larva took 15- other, like a bundle, in shadow 20min to travel 10cm towards places or under crevices. Lar- Diversity and distribution of amphibian fauna in water. Before entry of the lar- vae were frequently observed vae in water an interesting be- to show vertical coiling up to Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh haviour was observed. When 10-15min. 1 2 3 the larva touched water it We also recorded can- C. Srinivasulu ,*, Manju Siliwal , A. Rajesh , Bhargavi 1 1 1 stopped moving and waited for nibalism in Ichthyophis cf. Srinivasulu , P. Venkateshwarulu and V. Nagulu 1Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad , Andhra Pradesh 500007, India signals from the larvae already malabarensis. The adult female 2 Zoo Outreach Organization/WILD Society, present in the water. Then consumed young larvae as well 9-A Lal Bahadur Colony, Gopal Nagar, Peelamedu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641004, India there was a mouth-to-mouth as eggs. The female consumed 3 Freshwater Biology Station, Zoological Survey of India, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 500020, Inida physical contact (two to three only the last few eggs after Email : * [email protected] times) between the larvae pre- most other eggs were success- sent on the edge and the larvae fully hatched. This cannibalism Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) (15053'- present in the water (Fig. 5). is contradictory to the parental 16043'N & 78030'E-79028'E) spread over an area of 3,568km2 in The larvae entered the water, care behaviour; however, we five districts (namely, Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur, Nalgonda and went to the bottom and re- hypothesize that the cannibal- Mahboobnagar) of Andhra Pradesh is the largest tiger reserve in mained stationery for up to ism of last eggs could be a India. It lies in the Nallamala range an unbroken chain of steep hill 2min, followed by undulating means by which the female ranges with an elevation ranging from 100m (Krishna valley) up to movements. The free floating reduces density dependent 917m (Durgamkonda in Markapur reserve ) in the Eastern larva bears gills for the first 15 competition among success- Ghats. The river Krishna flows through nearly 130km of the Tiger hours. The largest gills got fully hatched larvae. This is the Reserve dividing it into two halves -- the right (or south) bank and detached after 15 hours and first time record of such be- the left (or north) bank. Declared a wildlife sanctuary in the year the other gills got detached haviour among caecilians of the 1978 it was upgraded to the status of the Tiger Reserve in 1983. within the next 20 hours. When Western Ghats. The Tiger Reserve is also referred to as ‘Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife the gills were still attached to Sanctuary’ (named so in 1992, a name less frequently used). The the larva, the larva remained in References NSTR is a biodiversity-rich region being home to countless num- water. After detachment the Seshachar, B.R. (1933). The ber of hitherto unreported of fauna (Srinivasulu & Nagulu, larva came to the surface for germ cells of Ichthyopihis glu- 2002) and flora (Rao, 1998). respiration. Previous studies tinosus. Current Science 1: 311 Through this report we put on record observations of have mentioned that the gills - 312. amphibian diversity, made through late 1995 to late 2003 and of the larvae are absorbed into Seshachar, B.R. (1982). Some vouchers collected during a faunistic survey conducted from 3 to 3 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Table 1. Amphibian diversity and their distribution in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh

Species Distribution Status

Bufonidae 1 "Bufo" stomaticus Lütken, 1862 Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nandikonda Valley Guntur district: Nandikonda Valley, Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty 2. Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda Guntur district: Nandikonda Valley, Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty 3. "Bufo" scaber Schneider, 1799 Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Vatvarlapally, Common Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nandikonda Valley Guntur district: Nandikonda Valley, Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty

Microhylidae 4. Kaloula taprobanica (Parker, 1934) Kurnool district: Mukhadwaram, Sunnipenta Rare 5. Uperodon globulosus (Günther, 1864) Mahboobnagar district: Between Mannanur and Farahabad Rare Kurnool district: Between Mukhadwaram and Srisailam 6. Uperodon systoma (Schneider, 1799) Mahboobnagar district: Between Mannanur and Farahabad Uncommon Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Shikaram, between Mukhadwaram and Srisailam 7. Microhyla ornata (Duméril and Bibron, 1841) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Vatvarlapally, Common Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Vijayapuri North Guntur district: Nagarjunakonda Valley, Vijayapuri South Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Naguluty, Bairluty 8. Microhyla rubra (Jerdon, 1854 “1853”) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad Uncommon Kurnool district: Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Naramammidi Cheruvu 9. Ramanella variegata (Stoliczka, 1872) Kurnool district: Between Potharajupenta and Naguluty Rare

Dicroglossidae 10. Sphaerotheca breviceps (Schneider, 1799) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty 11. Sphaerotheca dobsoni (Boulenger, 1882) From places listed above, owing to its character overlap, Uncommon specimens could not be discerned with confidence. It could also be possible that the third species in this complex, namely, (Dubois, 1983) may also be present. 12. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal

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Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty 13. Euphlyctis hexadactylus (Lesson, 1834) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty 14. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin, 1802) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty 15. Hoplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon, 1854 “1853”) Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda Common Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu 16. limnocharis (Gravenhorst, 1829) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda, Tiger Valley Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram, Hathakeswaram, Thummalabailu, Rollapenta, Chinna Manthanala, Pedda Manthanala, Pecheru, Bairluty

Ranixalidae 17. Indirana leithii (Boulenger, 1888) Kurnool district: Rollapenta Rare

Rhacophoridae 18. maculatus (Gray, 1834) Mahboobnagar district: Mannanur, Farahabad, Common Vatvarlapally, Egalpenta, Domalpenta, Amrabad, Ippalapally, Maddimadugu, Umamaheshwaram, Bilakal Nalgonda district: Nagarjunasagar Dam area, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district: Vijayapuri South, Anupu Kurnool district: Sunnipenta, Srisailam, Shikaram,

16 June 2003, their status and and Daniel and Sekar (1989). A Andhra Pradesh Forest Depart- belonging to 11 genera and distribution in the tiger reserve. more detailed systematic ac- ment and another by the four families (Table 1) Amphibians were studied fol- count of the amphibians of Freshwater Biological Station, (following Frost, 2007). Of this lowing random surveys in all NSTR is presented elsewhere Zoological Survey of India, Kol- diversity 11 species were com- the types and vouchers (Srinivasulu et al., in review). kata) for documenting faunistic mon in occurrence while others were hand picked while on Murthy (1968) and diversity of the Tiger Reserve. were rare and restricted in dis- ground and more aquatic spe- Sarkar et al. (1993) reported These studies have resulted in tribution. cies were netted. Vouchers the occurrence of eight species findings of hitherto unreported The known diversity were preserved following stan- of amphibians from Nagar- and undocumented species of of amphibians in NSTR could dard techniques and deposited junasagar area. Excepting amphibians from the Tiger be far from complete as indi- in the national zoological col- these reports not much is Reserve (Srinivasulu et al., cated by recent discoveries of lection at the Freshwater Bio- documented about the am- 2006; Rao et al., 2005; Rao et hitherto unreported species logical Station, Zoological Sur- phibians of the area until re- al., in review). and absence of montane spe- vey of India, Hyderabad. All cently. Since late 1995 one of Amphibian diversity of cies belonging to tree and bush specimens were examined and us (CS) has been documenting NSTR is represented by 18 spe- frog categories. Further de- carefully identified using diag- the amphibian diversity of the cies (consisting 3 bufonids, 6 tailed surveys would undoubt- nostic keys by Boulenger Tiger Reserve and recently two microhylids, 7 dicroglossids, 1 edly lead to addition of more (1890), Daniel (1963a,b; 1975) projects were taken up (one by ranixalid and 1 rhacophorid) species.

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References fauna of Nagarjunasagar Sri- The comments on record The note of Suresh et al. Boulenger, G.A. (1890). Fauna of sailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra (2005) is a synchronized result of a and farther distribution of British India including Ceylon and Pradesh. Records of the Zoologi- few published references referred Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. cal Survey of India, occasional the Ornate Microhylid Mi- by him, only on information and Taylor & Francis, London, 541pp paper No. 245, 62pp. crohyla ornata from Gujarat distribution of the species particu- Srinivasulu, C., M. Siliwal, A. Ra- + xviii. lars of the state. To the best of my Daniel, J.C. (1963a). Field guide jesh, P. Venkateshwarulu, I.S.R. Raju Vyas knowledge and according to the to the amphibians of Western Krishna, C.A.N. Rao & K.T. Rao 505 Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, published literatures, it shows that India. Part 1. Journal of the Bom- (2006). First record of Uperodon Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, India the species is commonly and widely bay Natural History Society 60: globulosus (Günther, 1864) Email: [email protected] distributed in the entire state and in 415-438. (Anura: Microhylidae) from An- dhra Pradesh, India. Hamadryad most or all the protected areas of Daniel, J.C. (1963b). Field guide Recently a note was pub- to the amphibians of Western 30(1): 197-199. Gujarat. lished on “Record of the Ornate India. Part 2. Journal of the Bom- Rao, K.T., H.V. Ghate, M. Sud- Microhylid Microhyla ornate bay Natural History Society 60: hakar, S.M.M. Javed & I.S.R. References (Dumeril & Bibron) at Timbi 690-702. Krishna (2005). Fauna of pro- Daniel, J.C. (1963). Field guide to the (Vadodara district) and Hathipura Daniel, J.C. (1975). Field guide to tected areas - 19: Herpetofauna amphibians of western India. Part II. (Anand district) in central Gujarat” the amphibians of Western India. of Nallamalai hills with 11 new Journal of the Bombay Natural History Part 3. Journal of the Bombay records from the region including by Suresh et al. (2005). It is quite Society 60(3): 690-702. Natural History Society 72: 506- 10 new records for Andhra interesting to note the distribution Daniel, J.C. & E.M. Shull (1963). A list 524. Pradesh. Zoos' Print Journal 20(1): of the species from Gujarat state. of the reptiles and amphibians of the Daniel, J.C. & A.G. Sekar (1989). 1737-1740. The authors have not mentioned Surat Dangs, south Gujarat. Journal of Field guide to the amphibians of Rao, K.T., M.P. Raju, S.M.M. distribution of the species from the Bombay Natural History Society 60 Western India. Part 4. Journal of Javed, I.S.R. Krishna & C. Srini- other parts of the state, therefore I (3): 737–743. the Bombay Natural History Soci- vasulu (in review). Occurrence of have taken the liberty to comment Naik, Y.M. & K.R. Vinod (1992). Am- ety 86: 180-202. Painted Kaloula Kaloula tapro- on the note and inform on further phibia of Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary. Cobra (8): 7-10. Frost, D.R. (2007). Amphibian banica (Amphibia: Microhylidae) distribution areas of the species in in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Singh H.S. & K. Tatu (1999). Biodiver- species of the world: an online the state. reference: version 5.0 (1 Febru- Reserve, Andhra Pradesh. Journal sity study on Rampara Wildlife Sanctu- This fossorial species ary, 2007). New York, NY: Ameri- of the Bombay Natural History ary. Gujarat Ecological Education & Microhyla ornate (Dumeril & Bibron) can Museum of Natural History. Society. Research Foundation, Gandhinagar, is very widely and commonly dis- Electronic Database accessible at Rao, K.T., M.P. Raju, S.M.M. 106pp. tributed in India and so is it in Guja- http://research.amnh.org/ Javed, I.S.R. Krishna & C. Srini- Soman, P.W. (1960). A note on am- rat. The distribution of the species herpetology/amphibia/ vasulu (in review). First record of phibians of Kutch. Journal of the Bom- index.php., New York, USA the Bronzed frog (Hylorana) can be made out by earlier records bay Natural (accessed on 13 March 2007). temporalis (Günther, 1864) from Palanpur (Soman, 1960); History Society 57(1):226-227. Murthy, T.S.N. (1968). Notes on (Amphibia: Ranidae) from Andhra Katchchh (Daniel, 1963); South Suresh, B., R. George & Y.M. Naik the collection of amphibians from Pradesh. Journal of the Bombay Gujarat (Daniel & Shull (1963); (2005). Record of the Ornate micro- Nagarjuna valley (Andhra Natural History Society. Shoolpaneswar Wildlife Sanctuary hylid Microhyla ornate Pradesh) with one new record. (Naik & Vinod, 1992); Rampara (Dumeril & Bibron) at Timbi (Vadodara Journal of Univ. Poona 34: 63-71. Acknowledgements Wildlife Sanctuary (Singh & Tatu, district) and at Hathipura (Anand Rao, R.K. (1998). Nallamalai Hills: We thank Director, 1999); Jambughoda Wildlife Sanc- district) in Central Gujarat. Frog Leg 12: 1. among world centers of plant Zoological Survey of India, Kol- tuary (Vyas, 1999); Hingolgadh Vyas, R. (1999). A preliminary survey diversity, pp. 317-321. In: The kata; Officer-in-charge, Freshwa- Nature Education Sanctuary (Vyas, Eastern Ghats: Proc. Nat. Sem. on amphibian fauna of Jambughoda ter Biology Station, Zoological 2000); Vansda National Park (Vyas, Conservation of Eastern Ghats, Survey of India, Hyderabad; and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat. Frog leg 3 2004); Barda Wildlife Sanctuary March 24-26, 1998. EPTRI, Hy- Head, Department of Zoology, (2): 2-3. (Vyas, 2004) and Ratanmahal Wild- derabad. Osmania University, Hyderabad Vyas, R. (2000). Herpetofauna of Hin- life Sanctuary (Vyas, 2004). Sarkar, A.K., P.K. Chandra & S. for facilities and encouragement. golgadh Nature Education Sanctuary, Also I have been able to Ray (1993). Amphibia, pp. 65-87. We thank Chief Wildlife Warden Gujarat. Zoos’ Print Journal 15(6):285- examine and record a few speci- In: Director (ed.) Fauna of Andhra for collection permits; Field Di- 286. Pradesh, Part 1. (Reptilia, Am- rector and other staff of Nagar- mens of this species from the fol- Vyas, R. (2004). Herpetofauna of phibia, Fishes). Zoological Survey junasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve lowing protected areas and the Vansda National Park, Gujarat. Zoos’ of India, Calcutta. for hospitality. CS and BS ac- localities: Jessor Bear Wildlife Sanc- Print Journal 19(6): 1512 – 1514. Srinivasulu, C. & V. Nagulu knowledge individual Research tuary, Balaram-Anmbaji Wildlife Vyas, R. (2004). Note on amphibians (2002). Mammalian and avian Associateship grants from CSIR, Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Wildlife of Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat. diversity of the Nallamala Hills, New Delhi. Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Zoos’ Print Journal 19(7): 1545. Andhra Pradesh, India. Zoos' Print Sanctuary, Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, Vyas, R. (2004). Herpetofauna of Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary, Guja- Journal 17(1): 675-684. Blackbuck National Park and Purna rat, India. Tigerpaper 31(3): 17–21. Srinivasulu, C., B. Srinivasulu & Wildlife Sanctuary (author’s unpub- C.A.N. Rao (2006). Amphibian lished observations).

6 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Status and morphometric ated on the bank of river Ya- ing traps on the sides of the Table 1. List of the sampling muna and is spread over an and river were deployed sites in Agra data of some anurans area of 4027sq.km between the (Bishop et al., 1994). All the with reference to Agra 1. Poia Ghat 27.110N - 78.00E longitude. water bodies were sampled for 2. Babarpur Reserve forest district, Uttar Pradesh Owing to its proximity to the aquatic amphibians and soil 3. Bainpur Reserve forest sandy desert on the west, it was dug to determine the pres- 4. Sursarovar Bird Sanctuary Ravi Kumar Singh1 and Sant witnesses extremes of tem- ence of burrowing frogs. 5. Bichpuri farm Prakash2 perature, which ranges from Specimens were then placed in 6. Taj nature walk 1,2 Biochemical Genetics Lab, De- 450C in summers to as low as a jute bag (to prevent suffoca- partment of Zoology, Dayalbagh 20C in winters. Of all the wet- tion), and area of inspection of tuberculated with many black Educational Institute (Deemed lands situated in the vicinity of each individual frog was re- spine-tipped warts. Gravid University) Agra 282005, India Agra, Keetham lake of Sur- corded. Specimens were then females could be seen hopping Email: [email protected] sarover Bird Sanctuary is the transferred to the respective during dusk in search of prey.

major one, which occupies an terrarium for captive care until It largely feeds on insects and Abbreviations area of nearly 7.2km2 (Gupta et they were examined for mor- consumes various plant pests, Snout Vent Length (SVL); Tibial al., 2004) and is connected to phological parameters (Gupta, thus is of great economic im- Length (TL); Head Width (HW); the Yamuna river through a 1998). Identification was done portance. Because of its drier Head Length (HL); Eye Naris feeder canal. The annual pre- according to keys provided by skin and less dependence on distance (EN); Interorbital dis- cipitation in the district aver- Dutta (1992). Twelve morpho- water, it has certainly adapted tance (IO); Inernarial distance ages about 760.4mm, mainly logical characters were taken to drier conditions of township (IN); Foot Length (FL); Tarsus contributed by monsoon rains. under consideration for mor- areas in the city and was Length (TL); Tympanum diame- The upper layer of the soil de- phometric analysis (Rath et al., caught from roadsides and ter (TY); Eye Tympanum dis- posit (20-25m) is of fresh allu- 1996) and only adult frogs playgrounds during hours of tance (ET); Body Weight (BW). vium brought down by the river were measured. All measure- late evening.

system and which is intermixed ments were made using vernier Introduction with quartz grain of Vindhyan calliper and toe clipping was "Bufo" stomaticus: It is a me- The amphibian fauna, sandstone. The vegetation of used as a technique for mark- dium-sized toad, also known functionally being an important this region is chiefly dry- ing. The IUCN status for the as Marbled Toad. Colour of component of most terrestrial deciduous and thorny and may collected amphibians has also skin varies from gray to olive and freshwater ecosystems, be classified as scrub jungle. been shown according to Molur with distinguished bright yel- contributes significantly to the The vegetation of aquatic habi- & Walker (1998) (Table 3). The lowish tint in male toads, which biodiversity of a given area and tats, mainly contributed by free scientific names are after Frost they acquire during the breed- serves as the best indicator of floating and submerged vege- (2007). ing season. Individuals of this environmental health (Blaustein tation, consists of Ludwigia species were found in all sites et al., 1994). Northern India adscendens, Nymphoides Observations and Results mainly during period of late comprises of 2.3% and 7.9% of cristata, Hydrilla verticillata etc. Fifty-three anurans evening moving around in the total endemic and non- Among rooted water plants belonging to seven distinct groups in search of food. They endemic species of the am- Sagittaria guayanensis and species, under three families burrowed easily in sandy or wet phibians (Amphibian CAMP Limnophyton obturifolium are were identified (Table 2). Mor- soil using their hind limbs to handbook 2001). Studies in most common. Eichhornia phometric data for each spe- dig the soil. the areas of their morphology crassipes (Jal kumbhi) is a cies was established by taking and speciation are limited in troublesome weed in the area. an average of the measure- Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis: It is a Agra region, which is situated Plants growing in marshy lands ments of different individuals medium-sized frog, also in the Gangetic plains of north- include Typha angustata, Poly- of that species (Table 4). In- known as skipper frog. It has ern India. Even though several gonum glabrum etc. spite of trying our best to gray or black dorsal covering of studies have been conducted search for specimens through- skin with dark spots on white on the reptilian fauna of Agra, Methodology out the district, most of the ventral side. It is seen in all documentation regarding the The whole study area samples could be collected possible aquatic of amphibian diversity is still in- was divided into six zones along the river Yamuna. The reserve and Sursarovar sufficient (Gupta et al., 2004). (Table 1) comprising of two observations done during sam- Bird Sanctuary (SSBS) ranging The present survey was made reserve forests, one bird sanc- pling of individual species are from small ditches, stagnant to emphasize the diversity of tuary, riverbank and city areas. given below. rainwater pools to the side anurans in and around Agra Samples were collected from water pockets of running region. various zones of the study area Duttaphrynus melanostictus: streams. Many habitats of this

in the month of April, mainly Also known as the Common frog were seen flourishing Study area and it's ecology during early morning and late Indian Toad was gray in colour amidst the water hyacinth Agra district in the evening. Methods like captur- with various patches of brown spreading over the Keetham state of Uttar Pradesh is situ- ing by hands, nets and by fix- and red. The skin was heavily lake of SSBS, which is largely 7 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Table 2. Number of samples collected for Table 3. List of anurans found in Agra with their IUCN status study Species Family Status IUCN Criteria

Species No. of individuals Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider) Bufonidae Non-Endemic VU A1,acd collected "Bufo" stomaticus (Lutken) Bufonidae Non-Endemic LR-nt A1,acd Duttaphrynus melanostictus 6 Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider) Non-Endemic LR-nt B1,2c "Bufo" stomaticus 10 Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin) Dicroglossidae Non-Endemic VU A1,d Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis 4 Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst) Dicroglossidae Non-Endemic VU A1,ac Hoplobatrachus tigerinus 16 Microhyla ornata (Deumeril & Bibron) Microhylidae Non-Endemic LR-1c B1,2abc Fejervarya limnocharis 15 Uperodon globulosum (Gunther) Microhylidae Non-Endemic LR-nt B1,2abc Microhyla ornata 1 Uperodon globulosum 1 Total 53

Table 4. Morphometric measurements (in mm) of collected anurans

Species SVL TL HW HL EN IO IN FL TL TY ET BW*

Duttaphrynus melanostictus 90 30 30 15 11 22 06 95 17 05 09 62 "Bufo" stomaticus 65 24 21 15 08 17 05 73 13 04 06 30 Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis 47 22 16 15 06 09 02 73 10 03 05 15 Hoplobatrachus tigerinus 105 52 36 32 15 20 05 155 30 07 13 125 Fejervarya limnocharis 62 30 22 20 08 12 04 89 12 05 07 30 Microhyla ornata 22 10 07 08 02 05 02 33 03 01 02 -- Uperodon globulosum 60 28 20 18 07 12 03 85 10 04 05 30

* Body weight in g known for its avian fauna. It is city many people are found spreading colonization and North American Monitoring Program almost entirely aquatic and is engaged in bulk trading of live human interference. While Conference, 1-13. found active during day and specimens of H. tigerinus. other members of Ranidae, Blaustein, A.R., D.B. Wake & P.W. night. Because of reducing dependent on perennial water Sousa (1994). Amphibian declines: water bodies, this species is Fejervarya limnocharis: All in- are largely facing extinction Judging stability of population to local severely affected and now is dividuals collected were lacking due to spreading of urbaniza- and global extinction. Conservation restricted only to reserve for- a median dorsal line. Being tion and shrinking wetlands. Biololgy 8(1): 60-71. ests. semi aquatic in nature, it pre- The species account reported Dutta, S.K. (1992). Amphibians of Hoplobatrachus tigerinus: It is fers to live beneath stones, in the present study contains India: Updated Species List with Dis- tribution Record. Hamadryad 17: 1- well known as the Indian Bull- pebbles and under bark of more number of species than 13. frog due to its big size and trees and litter near the marshy ever reported so far in the Gupta, B.K., A.K. Sinha., S. Prakash & weight. Its skin colour varies edges. Individuals were found given area. K. Satyanarayan (2004). Herpetofauna from olive green to brown with both in city and reserve forest In addition to regularly found Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Keetham, variation in habitat and climatic areas. species, we also succeeded in Agra, U.P. Zoos’ Print Journal XIX(8): 8. conditions. Males are smaller collecting Uperodon globulo- Gupta, B.K. (1998). Captive Care of and bright yellow coloured Microhyla ornata: The only sum and members of limno- Common Indian Frogs and Toads. during the breeding season. individual of the smallest mi- charis complex. Coimbatore Zoological Park and Con- When they were housed in ter- crohylid, Microhyla ornata was servation Centre, Pioneer house, rarium for few days the bright seen dwelling in the university References Peelamedu, Coimbatore. yellow changed to muddy campus under a stone. CAMP Handbook (2001). Declining Rath, S., S. Mishra & S.K. Dutta (1996). brown. In summers, popula- Amphibian Populations Task Force - Morphometric and sex ratio analysis tions are found in congregation Uperodon globulosum: Also South Asia, Zoo Outreach Organiza- of Indian Tree Frog Polypedates in the moist or damp bed of known as Gray Balloon Frog tion Peelamedu, Coimbatore, Tamil maculatus (Anura: ). nullahs, under drainage covers due to expanded balloon like Nadu. Zoos’ Print 11(5): 23-29. Molur, S. & S. Walker (1998). Am- and streams of old city as well abdomen, only one individual phibians of India Report Summary. as forest areas. However, due was seen in the mud at the Acknowledgement Zoos’ Print Journal XIII(12): 1-29. We kindly acknowledge the to the increasing human popu- edge of a pond. Bishop, C., D. Bradford, G. Casper, S. financial assistance provided by CSIR- lation, such habitats are de- Corn, S. Droege, G. Fellers, P. Geissler, NET JRF grant and all infrastructure clining for this species. An- Discussion D.M. Green, R. Heyer, M. Lannoo, D. facilities provided by the Dayalbagh other aspect of declining of this During field survey it Larson, D. Johnson, R. Mc Diarmid, J. University to generate species data- species is unrestricted trade for was observed that both species Sauer, B. Shaffer, H. Whiteman & H. base of anurans of this region. the purpose of school practical of "Bufo" were largely adapted Wilbur (1994). A Proposed North and for medicine manufactur- to semi arid urban conditions American Amphibian Monitoring ing units. In slum areas of the and seem to have coped with Program. Proceedings from the 1994

8 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Record of Sylvirana lep- Distribution Table 1. Morphometric measure-ments (in mm) of adult Sylvirana This species was first leptoglossa collected from Kawnpui area of Kolasib district, toglossa (Cope, 1868) described as Hylorana lep- Mizoram state.

(Anura: Ranidae) from toglossa Cope, 1868; 139 Adult Adult females Kolasib district, Mizoram, [syntypes: MCZ 1588 (3 speci- male northeastern India mens)] from Assam (Dutta, 1997), several surveys in As- Snout-vent length 43.5 50 56 59 Head length 14.5 15.6 19 20 H.T. Lalremsanga, Saipari Sailo, sam region did not yield posi- Head width 13.5 14.5 17 18 B. Kharbuli and R.N.K. Hooroo tive result (Chanda, 1994), till Eye diameter 6 6.2 6.1 6 Department of Zoology, North the year 2004 where Sen Interorbital space 3.5 3.5 5 5 Eastern Hill University, Shillong, (2004) reported the presence Snout length 7 7.6 9 10 Meghalaya 793022, India of this species in Meghalaya Tympanum diameter 3.4 3.8 4.5 4.8 E-mail: [email protected] and Assam. The species is also Length of arm 25 26 34 37 found in (Karin Hills), Length of hand 11 13.2 16 19 This note reports the Thailand (Siam) and Length of 1st finger 8 9 15 16 occurrence of Sylvirana lep- (Annam) as reported by Dutta Length of 2nd finger 7 8.5 12 13 Length of 3rd finger 11 13.2 16 19 toglossa (Cope, 1868) from a (1997). This endangered spe- Length of 4th finger 8.5 10 14 14.5 forest in Kawnpui under Ko- cies was recently found to oc- Length of hindlimb 81 88 92 93 lasib District of Mizoram, cur in the hills and valleys of Length of tibia 26 32 31.5 28 northeastern India, located certain forest areas in Mizoram. Length of foot 21 27 30 31 60km north of Aizawl. Four Length of 1st toe 5 10 10 10 adults (1 male and 3 females) Diagnostic features Length of 2nd toe 10 14 14 14 of Sylvirana leptoglossa were All the four specimens Length of 3rd toe 16 21 19 21 Length of 4th toe 21 27 30 31 collected from a forest area show a brown dorsum with Length of 5th toe 16.5 22 20 22 near a pond located at Kawnpui small to large black spots or (28058'15.5"N - 92041'30.9"E markings; lateral sides black ca.310 above msl). One of the under which black spots are specimens (Sl No. V/A/480) present; loreal and temporal was deposited with ZSI, Eastern region dark brown or black. Regional Station, Shillong. Tympanum distinct, 4/5th di- Since, the altitude is not so ameter of eyes. Ventral parts high summer is hot and wet white and smooth, spotted or while winter is cool and dry. marbled with brown on the During the field survey from throat and axial regions. Skin 2003 to 2005, collection was strongly granulated on the Figure 1. Rana leptoglossa done at night time in the head and back, a strong and month of June where the aver- broad glandular dorsolateral age air and water temperature fold running above the tympa- were 320C and 31.50C, re- num up to the hip. Another spectively. Average rainfall of glandular fold extends from this region during this month is posterior region of eyes up to 58.7cm. the shoulder. Head is slightly The area is dominated longer than broad, depressed, by shrubby vegetation like Ag- snout is obtusely pointed, pupil eratum conyzoides, Crasso- of eyes are circular. cephalum crepi-dioides, Dry- Forelimbs moderately maria cordata, Eupatorium long, fingers free and long with Figure 3. Male Ventral riparium, Hedychium sp., Mus- small discs, subarticular tuber- sauenda glabra, Nymphoides cles are distinct and oval. indicum, Osbeckia crinata, Hindlimbs long with blackish Pterris sp., Thysanolaena crossbands, tibiotarsal articu- maxima, etc., bamboos like lation reaching between eyes Dendro-calamus spp. and and nostrils, heels strongly Melocanna baccifera and trees overlapping when hindlimbs like Careya arborea, Shorea folded at right angles to body; robusta, Tectona grandis, etc. tibia four and a half times as Figure 2. Preserved long as broad. Outer metatarsal Figure 4. Toes of Male tubercle is smaller than inner 9 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December metatarsal tubercle, subarticuar Basking in Indian Pond Frogs Temperature regulation is a One eye frog, Sphaero- tubercles distinct and oval. dynamic process that involves Euphlyctis hexadactylus theca rufescens (Jerdon, Toes with small discs on the behavioural and physiological tips and 2/3 to ¼ webbed. Fin- (Lesson) at Pulicat Lake, An- adjustments in order to main- 1854) from Konaje, Man- gers and toes in order of length dhra Pradesh, India tain body temperature within a galore, Karnataka are 3>4>1>2 and range. The rise in body tem- 4>5>3>2>1, respectively. All V. Kannan perature of reptiles is achieved Vijay Mala Nair 1 and measurements were made with Senior Research Fellow, Bombay Natural through external heat sources K. Santhosh Kumar 2 vernier caliper and ruler as History Society, Hornbill House, SB Singh (Pough, 1983) and is accom- 1 Reader, 2 Research Scholar, De- shown in Table 1. Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400023, India plished in part by a combina- partment of Applied Zoology, Man- Email: [email protected] tion of heliothermy (basking in galore University, Mangalagangotri, Karnataka 574199, India Remarks the sun) and thigmothermy The Indian Pond Frog Email: 1 [email protected] During the survey (absorbing heat from a warm Euphlyctis hexadactylus is pre- Sylvirana leptoglossa could be surface) (Huey, 1982). Basking dominantly an aquatic species. Anurans are one of easily distinguished from other and sweating has been ob- It is commonly seen resting on the most sensitive indicators of species on the basis of unique served in the Indian Tree Frog the surface or among camou- environmental health. Several calls produced by the males. flaged brown drying weeds reports have documented the The present survey shows that (Lillywhite et al., 1998). Since (Daniel, 2002). presence of abnormalities/ the species is moderately com- the behavioural studies on the On 14 February 2005, deformities among Indian an- mon during rainy season. Also, herpetofauna are scant, it is I was involved with fieldwork to urans (Kurulkar & Deshpande, it may be mentioned that in the significant to add the behaviour select sites for the study on 1932; Nair & Kumar, 2005; present case the number of of the Indian Pond Frogs in the waterbirds of Pulicat lake, the Mathew & Sen, 2006). Field females collected is more but saline environment. second largest brackish water studies indicate that the abnor- in the field the males outnum- lake in India (13035'90.9N & malities/deformities have be- ber the females. References 80007'26.0E). The major por- come more prevalent in recent Daniel, J.C. (2002). The Book of tion of the lake dries up even times (Mathew & Sen, 2006). References Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. during peak winter (January & Several factors which Chanda, S.K. (1994). Anura Bombay Natural History Society, February) due to its shallow have been implicated as to be (Amphibia) of northeastern India. Mumbai. nature. However, the culverts the causative agents for various Memoirs of the Zoological Survey Lillywhite, H.B., A.K. Mittal, T.K. abnormalities/deformities in of India 18: 79-80. across the road to Pernadu Garg & I. Das (1998). Basking amphibians include UV radia- Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians of island had pools of water pre- Behavior, Sweating and Thermal India and (Checklist and sent at a depth of about 1m Ecology of the Indian Tree Frog, tion, cosmic rays, chemical Bibliography). Odyssey Publishing during my visit. I noticed Polypedates maculatus. Journal of contamination of water, para- House, Bhubaneswar, 159- about 100 frogs were basking Herpetology 32(2): 169-175. sitic infestation and ground 160pp. on the bank of the small pool Pough, F.H. (1983). Amphibians level ozone (Reaser & Johnson, Sen, N. (2004). Further notes on of stagnant water at 1130hr. It and reptiles as low enery sys- 1997; Nair & Kumar, 2005). statewise distribution of the am- was quite unusual for me to tems, pp. 141-188. In: Behav- The present report ioural Energetics: the costs of phibian Fauna of North East notice this behaviour of frogs. records a one-eyed female survival in vertebrates, W.P. India. Records of the Zoological The frogs were completely out Sphaerotheca rufescens (having Survey of India 102(3-4): 105- Aspey and S.I. Lustick (Eds). Ohio on land exposing their entire only the right eye) collected 112. State Univ. Bio Sciences Collo- body. A few were floating still from within the area encom- quia, No.7. Ohio State Univ Press, on the surface of the water. passing the water treatment Acknowledgements Columbus, Ohio. This floating surface bask and plant (Fig. 1) near one of the The author acknowl- Huey, R.B. (1982). Temperature, half or two-thirds of the body outlet pipes used to discard the edges the financial support from physiology and the ecology of in water is commonly seen in waste collected after treatment the Council of Scientific and In- reptiles, pp. 25-67. In: Biology amphibians. The frogs basking of water, situated within Man- dustrial Research (CSIR), New of the Reptilia. Vol. 12. C. Gans galore University Campus Delhi. The authors are thankful to on land during the midday sun and F.H. Pough (Eds). Academic (between 120 48'39"- Prof. S.B. Prasad, Head, Depart- was an unusual sight. So as I Press, New York. 0 0 ment of Zoology, North-Eastern continued my observation until 12 49'28"N & 74 54'44"- 0 Hill University for providing nec- 1200hr. It is a regular phe- 74 56'21"E; Altitude 100m) essary laboratory facilities. We nomenon that pond frogs come Konaje, Mangalore in June are also grateful to Dr. Indraneil out of the water bodies during 2005. Das, Universiti Malaysia , night and rest on land. The major character- Malaysia and ZSI Eastern Regional Most of the true frogs istic features (Fig. 1) of the Station, Shillong for their help in are thought to be sensitive to Dicroglossidae frog, Sphaero- identification of the species. acidic precipitation because theca rufescens (Jerdon, 1854), they respire through their skin. commonly called Rufescent

10 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Table 1. Morphometric measurements (in mm) of normal (with two eyes) and abnormal (with one eye) female frog, Sphaerotheca rufescens (Jerdon, 1854)

Characters Normal frog Deformed frog Ratio to SVL in Ratio to SVL in normal frog deformed frog

Snout to Vent length (SVL) 37 35 1:0.000 1:0.000 A Head Length 9.5 8.5 1:0.257 1:0.243 Head Width 13 12.5 1:0.351 1:0.357 Snout Length 3 3 1:0.081 1:0.086 Nostril to Eye 1.5 1.5 1:0.041 1:0.042 Nostrils to the tip of Snout 1 1 1:0.027 1:0.029 Width of Upper Eyelid 3 3 1:0.081 1:0.086 Inter-Orbital Width 2 2 1:0.054 1:0.057 Inter- Narial Width 3 2.5 1:0.081 1:0.071 B Eye Diameter 4.5 4 1:0.122 1:0.114 Tympanum Diameter 2 1.5 1:0.054 1:0.042 Figure 1. Normal (A) and Deformed (B) Forelimb Length 21.5 20 1:0.581 1:0.571 female frog, Sphaerotheca rufescens. 1st Finger Length 5 3.5 1:0.135 1:0.100 2nd Finger Length 3.5 2.5 1:0.095 1:0.071 3rd Finger Length 4.5 4 1:0.122 1:0.114 4th Finger Length 3 2.5 1:0.081 1:0.071 Hind limb Length 60 54 1:1.621 1:1.543 1st toe length 5 5 1:0.135 1:0.143 2nd toe length 8.5 8 1:0.230 1:0.229 3rd toe length 13 12.5 1:0.351 1:0.357 4th toe length 18.5 17 1:0.500 1:0.486 5th toe length 11.5 11 1:0.311 1:0.314

Figure 2. The optic chiasma and the optic nerve are seen intact in the frog with one eye. However, shoulders. A clear glandular The absence of one formities in anurans (Amphibia). the eyeball is absent in the optic socket on the left side fold extends from eye to eye could be due to an injury or Cobra 63: 6-10. shoulder. Ventrally smooth. due to an abnormality induced Nair, V.M. & K.S. Kumar (2005). Deformed frogs - An ecological Burrowing Frog, collected in Lips and limbs cross-barred. during embryonic develop- alarm? FrogLeg 12: 2. the present study includes Important mor- ment/metamorphosis, probably Reaser, J.K. & P.T. Johnson smooth skin with folds and fine phometric measurements of stemming from the ill effects (1997). Amphibian Abnormalities: the deformed and a normal caused by chemicals/ tubercles, eyes dorsolateral A review. Froglog 24: 2-4. bulging, roundish sub triangu- frog are as detailed in the Ta- insecticides brought in through lar pupil, presence of vomerine ble 1. The size of the tympa- run off water from various in- teeth, both inner and outer num expressed as ratio to the dustries around and/or from metatarsal tubercles - the inner diameter of the eye (0.375) is agrarian practices. metatarsal tubercle being big- slightly smaller in the case of Since two different ger and shovel shaped, outer the deformed frog compared to species of frogs with similar metatarsals feebly separated at that of its value (0.444) in the defects were found in the same distal end, fingers and toe tips case of the normal frog. area, it strengthens the possi- without enlarged discs and The one eye frog re- bility of this defect being in- digits without intercalary carti- ported in the present study was duced by pollutants in anurans lage, upper jaw (only) with captured from within the vicin- and their sensitivity and sus- teeth, bifid tongue without ity of the area from where the ceptibility to the change in papilla, tibio- tarsal articulation Indirana species with one eye their environment makes an- reaching to the anterior border was documented in the earlier urans an important indicator of the tympanum, colour brown report by Nair & Kumar (2005). species. with brick red patches, head The optic socket on the left broader than long and with side did not have the eyeball in References Kurulkar, G.M. & D.S. Deshpande rounded snout, distinct tympa- the case of the deformed frog (1932). Congenital absence of a num, which is about half the captured in the present study. forelimb in a bull frog (Rana ti- diameter of the eye, first finger However, unlike the earlier gerina). Journal of the Bombay longer than second and the report, the optic chiasma and Naural History Society 35(2): 462. third finger slightly longer than the optic nerve in the case of Mathew, R. & N. Sen (2006). first. An inverted V shaped the deformed frog was found Notes on abnormalities/ de- ridge present between the to be intact (Fig. 2). 11 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Need of anuran studies studies were confined to the In order to under- give taxonomic categorization northern parts of the state, in stand basic pattern of develop- and identification based on in habitats of southern this paper the emphasis has ment of anurans, table of de- their sound in Rajasthan was Rajasthan, India been given to the southern part velopment of two anuran spe- made by Sharma (2005a,b). (Fig. 1). The southern part cies (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus The sound spectrum identifica- 1 2 K.K. Sharma and Satya P. Mehra involves five districts of & "Bufo" stomaticus) were pre- tion and taxonomic categoriza- 1,2 Molecular Developmental Biology Udaipur Division (Banswara, pared (Agarwal & Niazi, 1977; tion is not only precise but Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Ra- Shivpal & Niazi, 1979). It was environment friendly also be- Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer, jsamand, Udaipur) along with found that due to characteristic cause this does not involve Rajasthan 305009, India two districts of Jodhpur Divi- genomic organization of cells unnecessary killing and fixation Email: 1 [email protected]; sion (Sirohi & partly Pali). This of regenerating blastomea, of and data transforma- 2 [email protected] area constitutes about 16% of studies focused on anurans to tion is also very fast. Sharma the total geographic area of investigate positional memo- (2005a) and his associates are India is one of the 12 state and holds approximately ries and developmental poten- using this technique to monitor megadiversity countries of the 38% of the total forest cover of cies. This led to exploration of the anuran species in their world due to high endemism. the state (Anon., 2003). other anuran species found in habitats in Rajasthan. Current status of India’s biodi- Southern part of the Rajasthan Rajasthan, their taxonomic versity suggests that, amongst state has 11 sites which are identification and ontogenic Anuran research and vertebrates, endemism is high- either protected areas namely developmental studies followed conservation needs in southern est in amphibians and reptiles Jaisamand WLS, Mount Abu by their use in experimental Rajasthan: It was in the year (Daniels, 1996). So far, high WLS, Kumbhalgarh WLS, Sita- studies (Niazi et al., 1989). 1989 at the First World Con- herpetofaunal endemism is mata WLS, Bhensrodgarh WLS, During this period attention gress of Herpetology (Barinaga, found in certain regions such Phulwari ki Nal WLS and Sajjan- was also paid for the conserva- 1990) the world recognized the as Western Ghats, Eastern Hi- garh WLS or sites identified for tion of anurans by raising the threat of global decline in am- malaya and Andaman & Ni- conservation namely Baghdara tadpoles in laboratories from phibian populations (Alford & cobar Islands (Daniels, 1997). CA, Jawai CA, Sei dam and the spawn collected from wild Richards, 1999) and showed Of the 225 species of amphibi- Udaipur lake complex (Anon., and releasing young ones in interest towards these small ans known from India (Biju, 2003; Islam & Rahmani, 2004). the wild (Niazi et al., 1989). . Dubois (1999) in his 2001), more than 120 occur in The terrain is mostly hilly con- Anuran species maximally used book-review pointed out the the Western Ghats and about stituted with intrusions of the as experimental models were necessity of taxonomic studies 60 species occur in Eastern Vindhyan ranges and Malwa Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Niazi on amphibians in South Asia, Himalaya; many being endemic. Plateau from the east and et al., 1979), Sphaerotheca as the threats to the natural Out of these more than 100 are south/south-east, respectively. breviceps (Sharma & Niazi, habitats in this region. At pre- anurans (frogs and toads) Partly, the west side of the area 1979; Niazi & Sharma, 1981; sent, it is required that this (Daniels, 1997). Dutta (1998) under consideration (Sirohi & Sharma, 1982; Sharma, 1984; unique fauna, before it is im- listed systematically all known Pali) is semi arid. Sharma & Niazi, 1988) and poverished at a rapid rate, be species from India, primarily "Bufo" stomaticus (Niazi & Sax- inventoried or described. using the generic classification Taxonomic and ex- ena, 1979; Gaur & Sharma, Aravind et al. (2004) stated that of Dubois (1992) and used perimen-tal studies on anurans 1987). However, Euphlyctis the recent reports on the dis- English name of every species in Rajasthan: Many areas have hexadactylus, Hoplobatrachus covery of an unusually high or subspecies so far recog- been neglected from biodiver- tigerinus, Fejervarya limnocha- number of new species of frogs nized. sity or ecological point of view ris, Microhyla ornata and from Western Ghats hotspot Rajasthan is the largest state of especially with reference to Uperodon systoma were also are not surprising and perhaps India. Major part of the state is amphibians. McCann (1942a,b) explored by these investigators it was always waiting to happen covered by desert. Aravalli pioneered in listing the anuran (Niazi et al., 1989). which could be the case of Hills diagonally divide the state species from Abu hills of In the 1990s many higher altitudes. Many sites of and delimit desert. The state southern belt of state. naturalists developed interest Aravalli hills in southern Ra- has the long history of wildlife The experimental in surveying biodiversity in jasthan are similar with West- studies but majority of these studies on anurans were pio- various parts of Rajasthan. ern Ghats such as Abu hills were confined to higher verte- neered by Niazi group of Ra- Sharma (1995a); Dube (2002); (area of 326km2, 1,219m), brates, and with reference to jasthan University, Jaipur which Khan (2004); Sharma & Dube Matarmata hills (600m), Jar- amphibian these are meager were carried on by Sharma, one (2005) enlisted all the anuran ghaji (1,000m), terrains of Sita- (Sharma, 1995a,b; Dube & of the associates of Niazi who species of Rajasthan. mata forests (423km2, 524m) Sharma, 2001; Dube, 2002; developed M.D.S. University, For identification of and Phulwari ki Nal (511km2, Dube et al., 2002; Sharma & Ajmer as a center of anuran anurans morphological, cyto- 300m). Khan 2002; Khan, 2004; studies. All these works were logical and chemical character- Daniels (1995, Sharma et al., 2004; Sharma & confined to the central Rajast- istics have been used by many 1999a); Molur & Walker (1998) Dube, 2005). Since most of the han (Jaipur and nearby areas). investigators. First attempt to highlighted the need of am- 12 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December

Table 1. Anuran species in Rajasthan and their distribution catchment areas. Besides these the mining area and fluoride SNo. Scientific Name Common Name Distribution richness of water is another major problem. Although, the Family Ranidae work of Khan (2004) states that 1. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis Indian Skipping Frog Whole State 2. Euphlyctis hexadactylus Indian Green Frog Jaipur the fluoride richness could not 3. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Indian Bull Frog Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, Sirohi, Bharatpur, be considered a threat to an- Alwar, Dausa, S. Madhopur, Nagore, Ganganagar urans in Rajasthan as these 4. Fejervarya limnocharis Cricket Frog Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Sirohi organisms thrive on the surface 5. Sphaerotheca breviceps Short-headed Burrowing Frog Udaipur, Sirohi, Pali, Jaipur, Nagore water whereas fluoride content 6. Sphaerotheca rolandae Ajmer is high in the deeper levels, but

it could possibly become a Family Bufonidae 7. Duttaphrynus melanostictus Common Asian Toad Udaipur, Sirohi, Jaipur threat in the long run when 8. "Bufo" stomaticus Marbled Toad Udaipur, Sirohi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Ajmer, Bikaner, deep mining operations may Ganaganagar, Nagore, Jhumjhunu help leaching of fluoride mole- 9. "Bufo" viridis Green Toad Jaipur District cules from the complex miner- als. Family Microhylidae The Abu hills of south 10. Microhyla ornata Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Sirohi, Pali -western extremity of Aravalli 11. Uperodon systoma Marbled Balloon Frog Udaipur, Jaipur chain is a region of 326km2 of Family Rhacophoridae dry deciduous tropical forests 12. Polypedates maculatus Indian Tree Frog Udaipur with interspersed patches of semi-evergreen forest. It is phibian research and conserva- are several other factors such tats only, owing to their sensi- due to its unique natural set tion in India, in terms of am- as environmental change, dis- tive skin, which has to remain up; hence proposed to be an phibians , range dis- eases, contaminants, intro- moist for normal gas exchange. eco-sensitive zone of Rajast- tribution, ecology and their duced species, which led in Temperature and humidity han (Singh, 2004, pers. conservation requirements. loss of amphibian populations. being the important limiting comm.). Information on the Babu (2005) stressed on long- Daniel (1999b) mentioned factors in the distribution of status and distribution of am- term monitoring to understand many issues causing decline of amphibians (Ravichandran, phibians of this region is very the population fluctuations amphibian population in India 1998), and considered indica- limited (McCann, 1942a,b) and during seasons in different but such studies are not avail- tors of pollution and distur- require immediate attention for habitats. Dash & Mahanta able for southern Rajasthan bance to their habitat as they conservation planning espe- (1993) highlighted the need of belt and the possible causes are the first animals to migrate cially for amphibians. Despite extensive quantitative ecologi- could not be stated authenti- from a changing habitat many humid places on the cal studies on the amphibian cally. The preliminary studies (Daniels, 1991). It is due to the other hilly terrains of Matar- communities in the Indian eco- point to habitat alterations and fact that these animals are in mata, Jarghaji, Sitamata For- systems. Southern Rajasthan destruction of wetlands due to close contact with both aquatic ests, Kumbhalgarh etc., they needs extensive explorations scanty rainfall and anthropo- and land habitats; therefore, have never been studied quan- along with updated ecological genic activities seem to be the one of the main reason for titatively and explored regularly studies of amphibians. major factors in decline in am- their great concern is their with reference to amphibians. Many possible causes phibian population in this re- value as indicators of environ- Amphibians are con- for global declines of amphibi- gion. Besides, frogleg trade mental stress (Sharma, 1994; sidered to be more sensitive to ans have been proposed by from the Banswara and Udaipur Blaustein & Wake, 1995; Dube changes in patterns of tem- several workers. Habitat de- districts is another cause, as et al. 2002). Southern Rajast- perature or rainfall than other struction and alteration was districts of southern Rajasthan han is rich in sites of moist terrestrial vertebrate groups considered one of the most were among the main regions habitats. Except the moist (Blaustein & Wake, 1990; Vitt et important factors (Blaustein & of frogleg supply in the past habitat sites of protected areas, al., 1990). Southern Rajasthan Wake, 1990; Khan, 1990; Ghate years (Tehsin 2001, pers. all other wetlands near human has faced rainfall fluctuations & Pandhye, 1996; Ravi- comm.). habitation are under threat of and there have been paucity of chandran, 1998; Alford & Rich- Amphibians exhibit a pollution. The amphibian habi- rains during the last decade ards, 1999). Clear cutting for- wide range of adaptive radia- tats of protected areas are also (1990-2005). This fluctuation ests, draining wetlands and tions suited to their habitats under threat due to the exces- had changed the surface water altering habitat may directly and modes of life such as bur- sive pressure of anthropogenic regime of the concerned area. affect amphibian population rowing, aquatic, semi-aquatic, activities especially the reli- Due to lack of quantitative (Petranka et al., 1993; Sem- terrestrial, arboreal and sub- gious fairs and ceremonies studies of the anuran species litsch, 1998; Ernst & Rodel, terranean. But they are, how- which cause the deterioration the alterations in their popula- 2005). Besides above, there ever, restricted to moist habi- of aquatic bodies and their tion structure has not been 13 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December ascertained. The recent trends melanostictus and "B." stomati- induct the urgent need of stud- cus, from Rajasthan based on ies in such areas where there is earlier work (Daniel & Sekar, possibility of habitats of large 1989; Inger & Dutta, 1986; anuran populations. Mansukhani & Murthy, 1964; McCann, 1942a,b; Sharma, Distribution of anuran 1992, 1995a,b). species in Rajasthan and its According to Sharma southern region: The distribu- (1995a), E. cyanophlyctis and tion of the amphibian fauna of H. tigerinus were two species India in present context is distributed throughout the poorly known (Dutta, 2004). state. E. hexadactylus was Inger & Dutta (1986) prepared distributed in the central part the list of Indian amphibians whereas F. limnocharis and M. and their state-wise distribu- ornata were only confined in tion. In this list six species, the southern parts of state. D. Figure 1. Map of southern region of Rajasthan viz., Duttaphrynus melanostic- melanostictus and U. systoma tus, Microhyla ornata, Fejer- were distributed in the eastern nidae is exclusively repre- Very few studies have been varya limnocharis, Hoplobatra- and southern parts of state. S. sented by "B." stomaticus and carried on the related aspects chus tigerinus, Euphlyctis breviceps had marked its pres- D. melanostictus is almost ab- of anuran diversity of higher cyanophlyctis and Sphaero- ence in the northeastern and sent in this region. This situa- altitudes (McCann, 1942a,b; theca breviceps were described southern parts whereas "B." tion is reverse in many parts in Waltner, 1974; Ravichandran, to be present in Rajasthan but stomaticus in northern, central, Udaipur. Such eco- 1998; Krishnamurthy et al., the presence of E. hexadactylus and southern parts of the state. geographical distribution pat- 2001). McCann (1942a,b) was was categorized as doubtful. Polypedates maculatus was tern is required to be investi- the pioneer. Waltner (1974) Further, distribution of the left reported from Bansi forest lo- gated for other species whether compiled the information on out species was mentioned in cated in the outskirts of Sita- confining to a particular geo- the altitudinal distribution of the work of Chanda & Ghosh mata WLS, Udaipur district graphical area is a mere chance amphibians in the Himalaya. (1988) and Das (1990) with no (Sharma, 1997). Later the or linked with some specific Ravichandran (1998) concluded any new report from Rajasthan. same species was recorded characteristics of that particular that Tamil Nadu owes its rich Then after Sekar (1991) in his from Banswara (Sharma & Ag- area. amphibian dicersity to its for- note described the distribution nihotri, 2002) and Jhalawar While discussing ests in higher elevations along of "Bufo" stomaticus in Rajast- (Sharma 2005a). Saxena southern Rajasthan the contri- the eastern slopes of the West- han making the list of seven (1999) reported a burrowing bution from the adjoining Gu- ern Ghats. species with confirmed distri- species "B." viridis from Jaipur jarat state cannot be over- All major peaks of bution. district. In 2005 a new record looked. Work of Naik & Vinod Aravallis such as Gurushikhar, Dutta (1992) provided the re- for Sphaerotheca rolandae in (1993); Vyas (1996) and Achalgarh, Jarghaji lies in the vised and updated distribution Ajmer was reported (Sharma, Sharma (2005a) stated the dis- southern part of Rajasthan. record of the species and pro- 2006 pers. comm.) thus mak- tribution sites of different anu- The higher elevations of Chit- vided the distribution of eight ing the list of 12 anuran spe- ran species. Though not close torgarh and Udaipur holding species. cies from Rajasthan. (Table 1) to southern belt but extensive the seasonal ponds and peren- Sharma (1992) re- Preliminary stages of field surveys are required for nial water sources are still to ported Uperodon systoma from studies contucted by us pres- studying the gap of such dis- be explored for anurans. the Jhalan hills, Jaipur for the ently highlight that major continuous distribution of The Abu hills are very first time in Rajasthan. Al- population of U. systoma every species as emphasized by important of all the elevated though, the wide distribution shows its distribution in the Dutta (2004). lands of Rajasthan for amphib- of this species in India was habitats of northeastern parts ian studies. The western already described in some of whereas that of F. limnocharis Anuran in habitats of slopes of Abu hills have the the earlier papers (Thurston, is restricted to the habitats of higher altitudes: Biologists least disturbed habitat struc- 1888; Boulenger, 1890; Fergu- southern part of the state. have approached unaltered ture with dominant xeromor- son, 1904; Parker, 1934; Similarly, Sharma (2005a) habitats, such as the tops of phic vegetation finally ending Mahendra, 1939; Daniel, 1963). showed that P. maculatus is mountains to document anuran in important wetland in the Sharma (1995a) pre- confined to south and south- species before extinction. Spe- foothills. The eastern slopes sented the distribution of nine eastern part of state. In a cies such as D. melanostictus have the disturbance due to frog species viz., Euphlyctis regular survey of areas around and Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis main connectivity road and cyanophlyctis, E. hexadactylus, Aravalli foothills near M.D.S. being the most widespread at vehicular traffic but still have H. tigerinus, S. breviceps, M. University Campus, it has been altitudes 600-900m (Daniels, the dense forest patches and ornata, U. systoma, D. observed that the family Bufo- 1999b; Ravichandran, 1998). some shallow waterbodies in 14 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December the foothills. The southern Recent developments in infor- amphibians of western India. Part 2. Dubois, A. (1999). South Asian Am- slopes of Abu hills still hold the mation technology tools have Journal of the Bombay Natural History phibia: a new frontier for taxonomists. rich patches of forest and wa- given an excellent opportunity Society 60(3): 690-720. Journal of South Asian Natural History terbodies even on the higher to the naturalists and conser- Daniel, J.C. & A.G. Sekar (1989). Field 4(1): 1-11. altitudes. Northern slopes are vationists to identify and moni- guide to the amphibians of western Dutta, S.K. (1992). Amphibians from India. Part IV. Journal of the Bombay India and Sri Lanka (Checklist and somewhat barren hills with tor populations of anurans Natural History Society 86(2): 194- Bibliography). Odyssey Publishing open rocky cliffs. Achalgarh using their calls. This would 202. House, Bhubaneshwar, India, xiii + Tank, Mini Nakki Lake, Oriya also enable them to study anu- Daniels, R.J.R. (1991). The problem of 342pp. waterbody, Trevor’s Tank, Up- ran biodiversity even in those conserving amphibians in the Western Dutta, S.K. (2004). Field study, collec- per and Lower Kodra are areas which are inaccessible Ghats. Current Science 60(11): 632- tion, identification, legal & ethical among the waterbodies or wet- due to dense vegetation, 638. issues, conservation and distribution lands on the higher altitudes muddy and swamp places. Daniels, R.J.R. (1995). Habitat selection status of South Asian amphibians. which will be investigated pri- in Western Ghats’ - Anura: Implica- Frog leg 11: 15-16. marily. No site has been stud- References tions for species conservation. Cobra Ernst, R. & M.O. Rodel (2005). Anthro- ied so far focusing the anuran Agarwal, S.K. & I.A. Niazi (1977). Nor- 20: 7-15. pogenically induced changes of pre- diversity and their present mal table of developmental stages of Daniels, R.J.R. (1996). Biogeography dictability in tropical anuran assem- status as well as distribution in Indian bull frog Rana tigerina. Pro- and taxonomic uncertainties as illus- blages. Ecology 86(11): 3111-3118. this region. ceedings of National Academy of trated by Indian amphibians. Cobra Ferguson, H.S. (1904). A list of Tra- Science India B2: 79-92. 24: 2-6. vancore batrachia. Journal of the Bom- Alford, R.A. & S.J. Richards (1999). Future of amphibian Daniels, R.J.R. (1997). A field guide to bay Natural History Society 15(3): 499 Global amphibian declines: A problem the frogs and toads of the Western -509. studies in Rajasthan: Many in applied ecology. Annual Review of Ghats, India: Part 1. Cobra 27: 1-25. Gaur, M. & K.K. Sharma (1987). Effect areas of Rajasthan have the Ecological Systems 30: 133-165. Daniels, R.J.R. (1999a). An action plan of Vitamin A palmitate on blastomel potential of harbouring large Anon. (2003). Rajasthan Forest Statis- for amphibian research and conserva- growth during proximalization of limb number of varied flora and tics 2003. Forest Department, Rajast- tion in India. Cobra 35&36: 13-17. regeneration in anuran tadpoles. fauna especially aquatic spe- han. Pp 80. Daniels, R.J.R. (1999b). Status of am- Proceedings of 57th Annual Session of cies, southern Rajasthan is one Aravind, N.A., R. Uma Shaanker & K.N. phibian diversity in India. Cobra National Academic of Sciences, India, of these regions. The presence Ganeshaiah (2004). Croak, croak, 35&36: 25-28. 10pp. of wet and humid conditions croak: Are there more frogs to be Das, I. (1990). Amphibians from India Ghate, H.V. & A.D. Padhye (1996). throughout the year in different discovered in the Western Ghats? - some further species. Journal of the Impact of urbanization on amphibians parts of the southern Rajasthan Current Science 86(11): 1471-1472. Bombay Natural History Society 87(2): of Pune. Zoos’ Print Journal 11(5): 14- makes it suitable for such type Babu, S. (2005). A short term study on 310-311. 16. of studies. The less explored amphibians of Palni hills. Cobra 59:5- Dash, M.C. & J.K. Mahanta (1993). Inger, R.F. & S.K. Dutta (1986). An sites of southern Rajasthan, 8. Quantitative analysis of the commu- overview of the amphibian fauna of Fulwari ki Nal and Sitamata Barinaga, M. (1990). Where have all nity structure of tropical amphibian India. Journal of the Bombay Natural the froggies gone? Science 247: 1033 Wildlife Sanctuary where there assemblages and its significane to History Society 83(supp.): 135-146. -1034. conservation. Journal of Bioscience 18: Islam, M.Z. & A.R. Rahmani (2004). is flow of water along with the Biju, S.D. (2001). A synopsis to the 121-139. Important Bird Areas: Priority Sites for semievergreen patches of for- frog fauna of the Western Ghats, India. Dube, P. (2002). Ecobiological studies Conservation. Indian Bird Conserva- ests harbours anurans in large Occasional Publication of the Indian of amphibians around south-eastern tion Network: Bombay Natural History numbers and attracts the inter- Society for Conservation Biology 1: 24. plateau of Rajasthan. Ph. D. Thesis. Society and Birdlife International (UK), est of herpetologists. Similarly, Biju, S.D. & F. Bossuyt (2001). New Department of Zoology, M. D.S. Uni- xviii + 1133pp. the status and the distribution frog family from India reveals an an- versity, Ajmer. Khan, M.S. (1990). The impact of of the anurans of the higher cient link with the Seychelles. Nature Dube, P. & K.K. Sharma (2001). Breed- human activities on the status and altitudes of this belt will form a 425: 711-714. ing preferences and pH coorelates of distribution of amphibians in Pakistan. foundation for the protection Blaustein, A.R. & D.B. Wake (1990). amphibians in southeastern plateau of Hamadryad 15(1): 21-24. of the amphibians in these Declining amphibian populations: a Rajasthan. National Symp. India’s Khan, S.N. (2004). Eco-biological and unaltered habitats. Moreover, global phenomenon? TREE 5: 203- faunal biodiversity and environment. developmental studies of Anura the high altitudinal sites are 204. G.K. University, Hardwar, December (Amphibia) biodiversity of some se- less prone to the anthropo- Blaustein, A.R. & D.B. Wake (1995). 29-31, 2001, 21-22pp. lected fluoride rich areas of Rajasthan. genic activities except few such The puzzle of declining amphibian Dube, P., Y. Sharma & K.K. Sharma Ph.D. Thesis. Depatment of Zoology, populations. Sci. Am. 272: 52-57. as Mount Abu; therefore, the (2002). Ecobiology of seasonal water- M.D.S. University, Ajmer. Boulenger, G.A. (1890). The Fauna of bodies in southeastern plateau of Krishnamurthy, S.V., A.H.M. Reddy & conservation strategy could be British India Including Ceylon and Rajasthan with special references to K.V. Gururaja (2001). A new species of successfully implemented. The Burma. Reptiles and Batrachia. Taylor amphibians. Indian Journal of Envi- frog in the Nyctibatrachus trends of population fluctua- and Francis, London, xviii + 541pp. ronomental Science 6(2): 135-139. (Anura: Ranidae) from Western Ghats, tion in this belt which once Chanda, S.K. & A.K. Ghosh (1988). Dubois, A. (1992). Notes sur la classi- India. Current Science 80(7): 887-891. used to be supplier of froglegs, Addenda to the amphibian fauna of fication des Ranidae (Amphibiens Mahendra, B.C. (1939). Extension of could be analyzed to update India. Journal of the Bombay Natural Anoures). Alytes 61(10): 305-352. (In the range of the Microhylid Frog the information on this impor- History Society 85(3): 626-627. French) [Uperodon systoma (Schn.)]. Journal of tant component of biodiversity. Daniel, J.C. (1963). Field guide to the 15 frog leg Newsletter of the ANSA & ASG SA 2007 December the Bombay Natural History Society 41 Ravichandran, M.S. (1988). Biodiversity University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Thurston, E. (1888). Batrachia, Sa- (1): 180-181. of the amphibian fauna of Tamil 127pp. lienata and Apoda of South India. Mansukhani, M.R. & T.S.N. Murthy Nadu. Cobra 33: 10-14. Sharma, K.K. & P. Dube (2005). Distri- Madras, 54pp + 13pics. (1964). Fauna of Rajasthan, Part 6. Saxena, S. (1999). Bufo viridis in Jaipur bution pattern of amphibian biodiver- Vitt, L.J., J.P. Caldwell, H.M. Wilbur & Amphibia. Records of Zoological Sur- district, Rajasthan. Journal of the sity in southeastern plateau of Rajast- D.C. Smith (1990). Amphibians as vey of India 62(1&2): 51-60. Bombay Natural History Society 96(1): han, India. Indian Journal of Envl. harbingers of decay. Bio Science 40: Molur, S. & S. Walker (1998). Conser- 151-152. Science 9(1): 35-38. 418–18. vation assessment of the herpeto- Sekar, A.G. (1991). Distribution of the Sharma, K.K., P. Dube, S.N. Khan, S. Vyas, R. (1996). Amphibian fauna of fauna of India - An overview. Hama- amphibian fauna of India. Journal of Ghatak & Y. Bhobharia (2004). Gujarat State: Updated list and re- dryad 23: 169-178. the Bombay Natural History Society 88 “Amphibian biodiversity of some gional distribution. Zoos’ Print 11(5): McCann, C. (1942a). A ‘Bushman’s’ (1): 125-127. specific ecological condition of Rajast- 12-13. holiday in the Abu hills. Journal of the Semlitsch, R.D. (1998). Biological han and conservation strategies”. Waltner, R.C. (1974). Geographical Bombay Natural History Society 43(2): delineation of terrestrial buffer zones Management of Aquatic resources for and altitudinal distribution of am- 206-217. for pond-breeding salamanders. biodiversity maintenance and conser- phibians and reptiles in the Himalayas. McCann, C. (1942ba). The rains come Conservation Biology 12: 1113-1119. vation. Conference held at Jodhpur, Part 1. Cheetal 16(1): 17-25. to the Abu hills. Journal of the Bombay Sharma, K.K. (1982). Investigations on Rajasthan (Abstract). Natural History Society 43(4): 641- limb regeneration in tadpoles and Sharma, S.K. (1992). First record of 647. froglets of the anuran Rana breviceps Uperodon systoma from Rajasthan. Naik, Y.M. & K.R. Vinod (1993). Stud- Schneider treated with vitamin A or Journal of the Bombay Natural History ies on distribution of amphibian fauna electrically stimulated. Ph.D. Thesis. Society 89(1): 133-134. of Gujarat, India. Hamadryad 8: 28- University of Rajasthan. Sharma, S.K. (1994). Effect of sewage 34. Sharma, K.K. (1984). Morphological water on different species of amphibi- Niazi, I.A. & S. Saxena (1979). Rela- improvement and proximalization of ans. Journal of the Bombay Natural tionship between inhibiting influence regeneration on frog tadpoles treated History Society 91: 151-152. of vitamin A and developmental stage with vitamin A. Journal of Embryology Sharma, S.K. (1995a). An overview of of regenerating tail in toad tadpole and Experimental Morphology 82: the amphibian and reptilian fauna of (Bufo andersonii). Indian Experimental 180. Rajasthan. Flora and Fauna 1(1): 47- Journal of Biology 17(9): 866-868. Sharma, K.K. (2005a). Sonotaxonomy: 48. Niazi, I.A. & K.K. Sharma (1981). Hyper sound based taxonomy is a novel and Sharma, S.K. (1995b). Amphibians of regeneration in the hind limbs of Rana environment friendly approach in Phulwari Ki Nal Wildlife Sanctuary. breviceps tadpoles treated with vita- systematics. Journal of Cell Tiss. Re- Journal of the Bombay Natural History frog leg No. 13, December 2007 min A for different periods after am- search 5(3): 1-2. Society 92(2): 271-272. putation. Proceedings of 51st Session Sharma, K.K. (2005b). Wildlife moni- Sharma, S.K. (1997). The occurrence Editor: Sanjay Molur National Academic Science of India, toring by sound analysis system – An of the Polypedates Edtorial Advisor: Sally Walker Cochin. Octobe 5-7, 1981. Abst No. authentic and precise approach in maculatus (Gray, 1834) (Family: ANSA and ASG-SA Co-chairs: 71: 24. wildlife management. National Con- Rhacophoridae) in Rajasthan. Journal Sanjay Molur & Karthikeyan Niazi, I.A., O.P. Jangir & K.K. Sharma ference on Environment and Natural of the Bombay Natural History Society Vasudevan (1979). Forelimb regeneration at wrist Disaster Management, November 28- 94: 580-581. level in adults of Skipper frog Rana 30, 2005. Dept. of Zoology, University Sharma, S.K. (2005a). Distribution of frog leg is the Newsletter of the cyanophlyctis (Schneider) and its im- of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Abstract No. IL- common tree frog Polypedates macu- Amphibian Network of South provement by vitamin A treatment. 10, pp 118. latus in Rajasthan. Frog leg 12: 3. Asia (ANSA) and the Amphibian Indian Journal of Exp. Biology 17(4): Sharma, K.K. & I.A. Niazi (1979). Re- Sharma, S.K. (2005b). Record of bal- Specialist Group-South Asia 431-437. generation induced in the forelimbs loon frog (Uperodon systoma) (ASG-SA) Niazi, I.A., O.P. Jangir, S. Alam, K.K. by treatment with vitamin A in the (Schneider) from Polo Forest Vanaj, Sharma & C.S. Ratnaswamy (1989). froglets of Rana breviceps. Experi- District Sabar Kantha, Gujarat. Cobra frog leg is published by WILD, Vitamin A effect of limb regeneration: mentia 35: 1571-1572. 59: 9-10. ZOO and CBSG-SA as a service studies on the tadpoles of anuran Sharma, K.K. & I.A. Niazi (1988). Vari- Sharma, S.K. & A. Agnihotri (2002). to the amphibian conservation amphibians, pp.355-373. In: Kiortsis, ety of regenerative responses of dif- Occurrence of the common tree frog community as well as conser- V., S. Koussoulakos & H. Wallace (edi.). ferent proximo-distal limb segments Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1834) in vation actioners and enthusi- Recent Trends in Regeneration Re- of young and advanced Rana Banswara district of Rajasthan state. asts of South Asia. search, Plenum Press, New York, xi + breviceps tadpoles with vitamin A Cobra 50(1): 25-26. 501pp. after amputation, pp 355-370. In: H.J. Shivpal & I.A. Niazi (1979). A table of For communication: Parker, H.W. (1934). A Monograph of Anton (ed.). Monographs in Develop- normal developmental stage of the Amphibian Network of South Asia The Frogs of Te Family Microhylidae. mental Biology - Control of Cell Prolif- larva of the toad Bufo andersonii c/o Zoo Outreach Organisation/WILD British Museum of London, viii eration & Differentiation During Re- Boulenger. University Studies in Zool- PB 1683, 9-A Lal Bahadur Colony, +208pp. generation. S. Kanger, Basel. ogy 1: 8-17. Gopal Nagar, Peelamedu, Petranka, J. W.M.E. Eldridge & K.E. Sharma, K.K. & S.N. Khan (2002). Siliwal, M., S. Dhuru, B. Suresh, Y.M. Coimbatore, Haley (1993). Effects of timber har- “Amphibian biodiversity of fluoride Naik & B. Pilo (2003). Amphibians of Tamil Nadu 641004, India. vesting on southern Appalachian rich areas of Rajasthan”. National Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Dangs, Guja- E-mail: [email protected] salamanders. Conservation Biology 7: Seminar on Biodiversity and Sustain- rat. Zoos’ Print Journal 18(7): 1157- 363-370. able Use of Bio resources, Barkatulla 1158. frog leg is available online at www.zoosprint.org 16