Micrixalus elegans

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Micrixalus elegans
Micrixalus Elegans.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Micrixalidae
Genus: Micrixalus
Species:
M. elegans
Binomial name
Micrixalus elegans
(Rao, 1937)
Synonyms

Philautus elegansRao, 1937

Micrixalus elegans also known as "Elegant Dancing Frog" is a species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and occurs between the Palakkad Gap and Goa Gap in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. [2] [3] Micrixalus elegans is one of the Micrixalus species showing "foot-flagging" behaviour, hence the common name elegant dancing frog was proposed. [3] Other common names are elegant torrent frog and elegant bush frog. [2]

Contents

Description

Males measure 13–15.5 mm (0.51–0.61 in) and females 17.7–21 mm (0.70–0.83 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is uniformly reddish brown, with scattered yellowish grey spots. The sides of the head are distinctly dark blackish brown. The dorsal surfaces of the limbs are reddish brown with dark brown bands. [3]

Males of this species show "foot-flagging" behaviour, stretching the entire hing leg away from the body, that they occasionally conduct, along with calling. Males may also engage in male-male combats, kicking each other. [3]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. [1] It prefers damp leaf litter by fast-flowing forest streams. [3]

This species was for a long time only known from the holotype, which is probably lost. [1] However, it was rediscovered in 2010 and found to be relatively common; the small adult size of this species might have led researchers to mistake them as juveniles of another species. [4] Classified as "data deficient" before its rediscovery, [1] the species is now known from several localities, some of them in or near protected areas. [3]

Typical habitat for Micrixalus elegans. Typical habitat for Micrixalus elegans.jpg
Typical habitat for Micrixalus elegans.
Micrixalus elegans amongst leaf litter and fallen logs near a fresh-water stream. Micrixalus elegans amongst leaf litter and fallen logs near a fresh-water stream.jpg
Micrixalus elegans amongst leaf litter and fallen logs near a fresh-water stream.

Diet and nutrition

The typical diet of Micrixalus elegans is a mixture of crickets,roaches,and mealworms.

Related Research Articles

<i>Micrixalus</i> Genus of amphibians

Micrixalus is a genus of frogs from that are endemic to the Western Ghats in India. They are monotypic within the family Micrixalidae. Before being raised to the family level they were classified as the subfamily Micrixalinae within Ranidae. Micrixalus frogs, such as Micrixalus saxicola, are popularly known as "dancing frogs" due to their peculiar habit of waving their feet to attract females during the breeding season. Dancing frogs are extremely vulnerable as their habitat is severely threatened.

<i>Micrixalus fuscus</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus fuscus is a species of small frog found in dense forested hill streams in the Western Ghats of India. M. herrei was formerly synonymized within this species.

<i>Micrixalus saxicola</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus saxicola is a species of frog in the family Micrixalidae, found in forest streams in the Western Ghats of India.This frog has a brown colored dorsum and a white ventral side with irregular white specks on its dark brown throat and chest. Its smooth skin and cryptic coloration allow it to blend into its surroundings while resting or calling. The males of the species are territorial, and will use calling, foot tapping, and foot flagging to warn off competition. M. saxicolais is described by the IUCN as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human interference.The frog also threatened by infection by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

<i>Micrixalus kottigeharensis</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus kottigeharensis is a species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in Karnataka, India. It is one of the "Top 100 Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) Amphibians". The specific name means "from Kottigehara".

<i>Micrixalus adonis</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus adonis is a newly described species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in southern India, restricted to areas between the Palghat Gap and Shencottah Gap. Common name beautiful dancing frog has been proposed for this species, in reference to its vividly rich colouration.

<i>Micrixalus frigidus</i> Species of frog

Micrixalus frigidus is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and rivers.

<i>Micrixalus herrei</i> Species of frog

Micrixalus herrei is a newly redescribed species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. Originally described in 1942, it was synonymized with M. fuscus in 1984. However, morphological differences as well as DNA evidence confirm this species to be valid. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and occurs south of the Shencottah Gap in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. The common name Kallar dancing frog has been proposed for this species, in reference to Kallar, Trivandrum, its type locality.

Micrixalus kodayari, also known as the Kodayar dancing frog, is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats south of the Shencottah Gap in Tamil Nadu, India; it is known from Kodayar and Kakkachi.

<i>Micrixalus kurichiyari</i> Species of frogs

Micrixalus kurichiyari is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and only known from its type locality, Kurichiyarmala in the Wayanad District, Kerala state. Common name Kurichiyar dancing frog has been coined for it, in reference to the type locality.

<i>Micrixalus mallani</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus mallani is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

<i>Micrixalus nelliyampathi</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus nelliyampathi is a newly described species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

<i>Micrixalus niluvasei</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus niluvasei is a newly described species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

Micrixalus nigraventris is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

<i>Micrixalus sali</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus sali, commonly known as Sali's Dancing Frog, is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. The preferred habitats of M. sali are damp leaf litter, exposed streambeds, and brooks in moist evergreen forests.

Micrixalus sairandhri is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to India.

<i>Micrixalus specca</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus specca is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

Micrixalus spelunca is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

<i>Micrixalus uttaraghati</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus uttaraghati is a species of frogs in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

<i>Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei</i> Species of frog

Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei, also known as Robin Moore's night frog or the Tirunelveli wrinkled frog, is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae, commonly known as the robust frogs. It was described in 2017, along with six other species in its genus, by the herpetologist Sonali Garg and her colleagues. A small frog, it has an adult male snout–vent length of 12.2–13.4 mm (0.48–0.53 in). It is mainly reddish-brown, with a light grey underside, light orangish-brown bands running from the eyes to the middle of the back, light brown limbs, and darker brown hands and feet. When preserved in ethanol, it is mostly brown, with light greyish-white undersides and light greyish-brown limbs.

<i>Nyctibatrachus radcliffei</i> Species of frog

Nyctibatrachus radcliffei, also known as Radcliffe's night frog or the Thiashola wrinkled frog, is a species of frog in the robust frog family Nyctibatrachidae. It was described in 2017, along with six other species in its genus, by the herpetologist Sonali Garg and her colleagues. A medium-sized frog for its genus, it has an adult male snout–vent length of 32.8–38.3 mm (1.29–1.51 in). It is mainly reddish-brown, with a light flesh-red coloured underside, light brown limbs, and dark grey hands and feet. When preserved in ethanol, it is mostly dark grey, with grayish-white undersides.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 S.D. Biju (2004). "Micrixalus elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T58377A11762591. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58377A11762591.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Micrixalus elegans (Rao, 1937)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Biju, S. D.; Sonali Garg; K. V. Gururaja; Yogesh Shouche; Sandeep A. Walujkar (2014). "DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species". Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences). 43 (1): 37–123. doi: 10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850 .
  4. "Elegant Torrent Frog: Micrixalus elegans". Lost! Amphibians of India. Retrieved 21 April 2016.

https://cjsbs.sljol.info/articles/10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850