Ghatixalus asterops

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Ghatixalus asterops
Ghatixalus asterops.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Ghatixalus
Species:
G. asterops
Binomial name
Ghatixalus asterops
Biju, Roelants, and Bossuyt, 2008

Ghatixalus asterops, the Ghat tree frog or starry-eyed Ghat tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Rhacophorinae. It is endemic to India's Western Ghat mountains, specifically the Palani Hills and south of the Palghat Gaps. [2] [3] [1]

Appearance

The adult male frog measures about 38.8 mm – 44.8 mm in snout-vent length and a single adult female specimen 58.1 mm. Adult frogs can vary in color between individuals. The skin of the dorsum can be dark gray or light gray in color with brown marks or it can be yellow-brown in color with red marks. The skin near the tympanum, which is readily visible, is light gray with brown spots. The sides of the body are yellow with some brown color. The four feet are light blue-white with blue-brown marks on the webbed skin. The upper hind legs are blue-brown in color. The iris of the eye is brown in color with thick gold lines in a shape resembling a star. There is also a gold circle around the outside of the iris. Juvenile frogs can be light green or light brown in color. Adults are never green in color. [3]

Habitat

People have observed this frog in disturbed shola forest habitats high in the hills. People have seen it in the dead leaves on the ground. These frogs spend more time near ephemeral streams than near permanent streams. People have also observed it on tea farms. This frog stays between 1300 and 2000 meters above sea level. [1] This frog is terrestrial, not arboreal like other Rhacophoridae. When disturbed, this frog will hide in the water for several minutes. [3]

Life cycle

The female frog makes a nest out of foam on rocks in the stream, on the sides of the stream, or sometimes on tree trunks near the stream. The eggs hatch into tadpoles that live in rocky streams with briskly flowing water. The tadpoles have substantial oral suckers that they use to anchor themselves in the current. [3] [4]

Threats

Scientists believe this frog is in limited danger of dying out because it lives in such a small place. Scientists cite climate change and habitat fragmentation as threats to this frog. [1] [3]

Taxonomy

Scientists classify this frog is sister species to Ghatixalus variabilis. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple frog</span> Species of amphibian

The purple frog, Indian purple frog, or pignose frog is a frog species of the genus Nasikabatrachus. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in India. Although the adult frog was formally described in October 2003, the juvenile form of the species was described earlier in 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhacophoridae</span> Family of amphibians

The Rhacophoridae are a family of frogs that occur in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, South India and Sri Lanka, Japan, northeastern India to eastern China and Taiwan, south through the Philippines and Greater Sundas, and Sulawesi. They are commonly known as shrub frogs, or more ambiguously as "moss frogs" or "bush frogs". Some Rhacophoridae are called "tree frogs". Among the most spectacular members of this family are numerous "flying frogs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhacophorinae</span> Subfamily of amphibians

The Rhacophorinae are a subfamily of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. They range from tropical Africa and Asia to temperate China and Japan.

<i>Nyctibatrachus</i> Genus of amphibians

Nyctibatrachus is a genus of frogs endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India. Their common name is night frogs. Their scientific name also means "night frog", in reference to their habits and dark color. They are the only extant members of the monotypic subfamily Nyctibatrachinae. Currently, 35 species belong to Nyctibatrachus.

<i>Raorchestes flaviventris</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes flaviventris is a species of arboreal, nocturnal, frog of the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, South India. Its common names are yellow-bellied bush frog and Malabar bubble-nest frog.

<i>Raorchestes glandulosus</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes glandulosus, also known as glandular bush frog, rough-skinned bush frog, southern bubble-nest frog, and with many other names, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and known from the states of Karnataka and Kerala.

<i>Raorchestes griet</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes griet is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats south of the Palghat Gap in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states, India. The specific name griet honours Griet Decock, spouse of Franky Bossuyt, the scientist who described the species. The common name Griet bush frog has been coined for it.

<i>Nasutixalus jerdonii</i> Species of amphibian

Nasutixalus jerdonii is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in the northeastern India, in the West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya states. It range might extend into the adjacent Nepal. The specific name jerdonii honours Thomas C. Jerdon, an English herpetologist. Common names Jerdon's bubble-nest frog, Jerdon's tree frog, and Jerdon's bush frog have been coined for this species.

<i>Raorchestes ponmudi</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes ponmudi is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

<i>Ghatixalus variabilis</i> Species of frog

Ghatixalus variabilis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India. It has a number of common names, including green tree frog, though it is terrestrial rather than arboreal in its life style.

<i>Raorchestes anili</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes anili, known commonly as Anil's bush frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.

<i>Raorchestes dubois</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes dubois or the Koadaikanal bush frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.

<i>Raorchestes</i> Genus of amphibians

Raorchestes is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Rhacophorinae that are found in mountainous regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and southern China. A recent study places Raorchestes as a sister taxon of Pseudophilautus. Before the description of the genus in 2010, species now in Raorchestes had been assigned to genera Ixalus, Philautus, and Pseudophilautus.

<i>Raorchestes akroparallagi</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes akroparallagi is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae.

<i>Ghatixalus</i> Genus of amphibians

Ghatixalus is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, subfamily Rhacophorinae. They are endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India. They are the sister taxon to a larger clade consisting of Chiromantis, Feihyla, Taruga, Polypedates, and Rhacophorus. The name of the genus combines words "Ghats" and "Ixalus". The former refers to the Western Ghats, and the latter to now-abandoned genus name that lives as the suffix in many generic names for rhacophorid frogs.

<i>Raorchestes marki</i> Species of amphibian

The Mark's bushfrog is a critically endangered frog found only in the Nelliampathi Hills within the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. The species is named after Mark Wilkinson of the Natural History Museum, London.

<i>Raorchestes chotta</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes chotta, also known as the small bushfrog or small bush frog, is a species of frog found only in Ponmudi in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. This frog lays eggs attached to the underside of a leaf. They hatch as tiny froglets, skipping the tadpole stage. The frog has been observed between 600 and 980 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes manohari</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes manohari is a species of frog of the genus Raorchestes found in Bonacaud in the Western Ghats of Kerala in India. The species is named after T. M. Manoharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Kerala.

Raorchestes kollimalai, the Kollimalai bush frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India. Scientists have observed it its type locality in the Western Ghat mountains, about 1100 meters above sea level.

Ghatixalus magnus, the large-sized Ghat tree frog, is a species of frog in the subfamily Rhacophorinae. It is endemic to India, in the southern Western Ghat mountains, between the Palakkad Gap and Shencottah Gap.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Ghat Tree Frog: Ghatixalus variabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T161754A166114107. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T161754A166114107.en . Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. "Gracixalus asterops Biju, Roelants, and Bossuyt, 2008". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Jesse Lou (February 12, 2009). Kellie Whittaker (ed.). "Ghatixalus asterops Biju, Roelants, & Bossuyt, 2008". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ Abraham, Robin Kurian; Mathew, Jobin K.; Cyriac, Vivek Philip; Zachariah, Arun; Raju, David V.; Zachariah, Anil (2015). "A novel third species of the Western Ghats endemic genus Ghatixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae), with description of its tadpole". Zootaxa. 4048 (1): 101–113. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4048.1.6. PMID   26624739.
  5. ↑ Biju SD; Roelants K; Bossuyt F (2008). "Phylogenetic position of the montane treefrog Polypedates variabilis Jerdon, 1853 (Anura: Rhacophoridae), and description of a related species". Organisms Diversity & Evolution (Abstract). 8: 267–276. doi:10.1016/j.ode.2007.11.004 . Retrieved April 18, 2024.


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