Micrixalus herrei

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Micrixalus herrei
Micrixalus herrei.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. herrei
Binomial name
Micrixalus herrei
Myers, 1942

Micrixalus herrei is a newly redescribed species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. [1] [2] Originally described in 1942, [3] it was synonymized with M. fuscus in 1984. [4] However, morphological differences as well as DNA evidence confirm this species to be valid. [1] It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and occurs south of the Shencottah Gap in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. [2] The common name Kallar dancing frog has been proposed for this species, in reference to Kallar, Trivandrum, its type locality. [1] [2]

Contents

Description

Males measure 16.7–19.4 mm (0.66–0.76 in) and females 24.8–26.6 mm (0.98–1.05 in) in snout–vent length. The head is small and flat above with a pointed snout that is rounded in lateral view. The dorsum is reddish orange with irregular, light brown patches. The tympanum and its surroundings are dark grey. The throat, cheast, and belly are greyish white with some greyish yellow reticulation on the belly. [1]

Male Micrixalus herrei have a single vocal sac and a nuptial pad on the first finger. Characteristic for the genus, they display the foot-flagging behaviour. Male-male combats also involve kicking. [1]

Habitat

The natural habitats of this species are fast flowing streams and rivulets in primary and secondary forests. It is relatively abundant where it has been found. [1]

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 elegans</i> Species of amphibian

Micrixalus elegans 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. Micrixalus elegans is one of the Micrixalus species showing "foot-flagging" behaviour, hence the common name elegant dancing frog has been proposed. Other common names include elegant torrent frog and elegant bush frog.

<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>Nyctibatrachus major</i> Species of amphibian

Nyctibatrachus major, the Malabar night frog, large wrinkled frog, or Boulenger's narrow-eyed frog, is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae, commonly known as the robust frogs. It was described in 1882 by the zoologist George Albert Boulenger, and is the type species of the genus Nyctibatrachus. It is a large frog for its genus, with an adult snout–vent length of 31.5–52.0 mm (1.24–2.05 in) for males and 43.7–54.2 mm (1.72–2.13 in) for females. It is mainly brownish to greyish in colour, with a dark greyish-brown upperside, a greyish-white underside, and light grey sides. It also has a variety of grey or brown markings. When preserved in ethanol, it is mostly greyish-brown to grey, with whitish sides. Sexes can be told apart by the presence of the femoral glands in males.

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

The spinular night frog, also known as the spinular wrinkled frog, is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae, commonly known as the robust frogs. It was described in 2011 as one of 12 new species in its genus by the herpetologist Sathyabhama Das Biju and his colleagues. A large frog for its genus, it has an adult male snout–vent length of 52.9–66.2 mm (2.08–2.61 in). It has a brownish-grey back, a grey underside, dark brown limbs, and dark grey feet. When preserved in ethanol, it is black above with greyish-brown undersides. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, where it is known from the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the specimens used to describe the species were originally collected. It is found under rocks in streams in forests. The species has not been assigned a conservation status by the IUCN.

<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.

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.

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.

<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.

<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>Indosylvirana indica</i> Species of frog

Indosylvirana indica, the Indian golden-backed frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It was formerly considered as conspecific with Indosylvirana temporalis but was found to be a distinct species in a 2014 study.

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

Nyctibatrachus manalari, the Manalar night 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 small frog, it has an adult male snout–vent length of 13.1–15.4 mm (0.52–0.61 in). It is mainly reddish-brown in color, with a pale patch on the snout, lighter undersides, and dark brown horizontal lines on the limbs. When preserved in ethanol, it is mostly grey to greyish-brown, with grayish-white undersides.

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

Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi, also known as Mewa Singh's night frog or the Peruvannamuzhi wrinkled frog, is a species of frog in the night frog family Nyctibatrachidae. It was described in 2017 by the herpetologist Keerthi Krutha and her colleagues. A small frog, it has an adult snout–vent length of 21.4–23 mm (0.84–0.91 in). It is mainly light greyish-brown above and off-white below, with a triangular light brown patch on the snout, light brown limbs with off-white undersides, and dark grey fingers and toes. It has scattered greyish-brown spots on the throat and the underside of the limbs. When preserved in ethanol, it has a more faded colour.

<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 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 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>Microhyla darreli</i> Species of frog

Microhyla darreli is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae, the narrow-mouthed frogs. It is endemic to the Western Ghats south of the Palghat Gap in southern India. It is named for Darrel Frost, an American herpetologist, in recognition of the online database Amphibian Species of the World that he maintains. Accordingly, common name Darrel's chorus frog has been coined for this species.

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

Nyctibatrachus sabarimalai, also known as the Sabarimala night frog or Sabarimala 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 small frog, it has an adult male snout–vent length of 12.3–13.2 mm (0.48–0.52 in). It is mainly brown, with a dark brown back, a greyish-white underside, light brown bands running from the eyes to the middle of the back, light brown limbs, and light grey hands and feet. When preserved in ethanol, it is mostly grey, with greyish-white undersides and light grey limbs.

References

  1. 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 . (M. herrei: p. 70)
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Micrixalus herrei Myers, 1942". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. Myers, G. S. (1942). "A new frog of the genus Micrixalus from Travancore". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 55: 71–74.
  4. Inger, R. F.; H. B. Shaffer; M. Koshy; R. Bakde (1984). "A report on a collection of amphibians and reptiles from the Ponmudi, Kerala, South India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 81: 406–427.