Micrixalus kottigeharensis

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

Philautus kottigeharensisRao, 1937
Micrixalus narainensis(Rao, 1937)
Micrixalus swamianus(Rao, 1937)

Contents

Micrixalus kottigeharensis (commonly known as Kottigehar dancing frog, Kottigehar bubble-nest frog or Kottigehar torrent frog) is a species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in Karnataka, India. [2] It is one of the "Top 100 Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) Amphibians". [3] The specific name means "from Kottigehara". The tadpoles of Micrixalus kottigeharensis are fossorial. Females have been observed excavating egg-laying cavities using their hind limbs, with recorded cavity depths of approximately 32 mm. [4]

Taxonomy

Until 2014, both Micrixalus narainensis and Micrixalus swamianus were considered separate species, but have since been classified as junior synonyms of M. kottigeharensis based on phylogenetic analyses. [5]

Description

Male Micrixalus kottigeharensis grow to a snout–vent length of 22–24 mm (0.87–0.94 in) and females to 28–33 mm (1.1–1.3 in). [5]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of Micrixalus kottigeharensis are fast-flowing streams in primary and secondary forests. [5] It is threatened by habitat loss. [1] The species is most often found in shaded, structurally complex stream habitats and is particularly associated with emergent rocks, riffles and braided sections [6]

Geographic distribution

Endemic to the central Western Ghats of India. [7]

References

  1. 1 2 SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Micrixalus kottigeharensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023 e.T88369128A166156075. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T88369128A166156075.en . Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Kottigehar Bush Frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)". EDGE of Existence programme. Zoological Society of London. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  4. ↑ First report on the fossorial tadpole of Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937). Herpetology Notes 13: 645–648. Published online 5 August 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 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 .
  6. ↑ Rajiv, N. V.; Sankararaman, Vishnupriya; Ramachandran, Vivek (2025). "Surviving the Patchwork: Habitat Preferences of a Threatened Amphibian in a Fragmented Tropical Landscape". Ecology and Evolution. 15 (12): e72785. doi:10.1002/ece3.72785. ISSN   2045-7758. PMC   12757510 . PMID   41487301.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  7. ↑ "Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937) | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
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