Nanorana rarica

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Nanorana rarica
Rara.frog.jpg
Paa rarica [1] from Lake Rara in Rara National Park, Nepal
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dicroglossidae
Genus: Nanorana
Species:
N. rarica
Binomial name
Nanorana rarica
(Dubois  [ fr ], Matsui  [ fr ], and Ohler, 2001)
Synonyms [3]

Rana (Paa) raraDubois and Matsui, 1983 [4] — preoccupied by Rana danubina var. raraFraas, 1903
Paa (Paa) raricaDubois, Matsui, and Ohler, 2001 — replacement name

Contents

Nanorana rarica (common names: Rara paa frog, Rara Lake frog) is a frog species in the family Dicroglossidae. It is endemic to western Nepal. [3] Its type locality is the eponymous Rara Lake [4] [3] located in the Rara National Park. [2]

Description

Adult males measure 37–46 mm (1.5–1.8 in), subadult males 27–30 mm (1.1–1.2 in), and subadult females 26–35 mm (1.0–1.4 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is rounded. The tympanum is not very distinct whereas the supratymapnic fold is prominent. Adult males have enlarged forelimbs. During the reproductive period, adult males have black, horny nuptial spines on their chest and forelimbs. The fingers are not webbed. The toes are long and webbed to their tips, although the webbing is strongly incurved between the toes. Preserved individuals are greyish above and have warts with blackish spots. There are numerous blackish markings on the head. The upper parts of the limbs have crossbars. The lower parts of the body and the limbs are whitish, while the throat is greyish. [4]

The tadpoles of Gosner stage 37 measure about 48–56 mm (1.9–2.2 in) in total length and 16–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) in body length. They have a large oral disc and a muscular tail with not so well-developed caudal fin. [4] Tadpoles are semi-transparent in appearance with dark patches near the tail region. They have a pair of prominent eyes, nares, and developing opercula. The mouth opening, including the upper and lower jaw sheath, is completely black. [1]

Nanorana rarica, also known as Rara Lake frog, was first collected from Rara Lake. Rara.jpg
Nanorana rarica, also known as Rara Lake frog, was first collected from Rara Lake.

Habitat and conservation

The habitat and ecological requirements of this species are poorly known. It is known from the Lake Rara at an elevation of about 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level, and is associated with tropical montane forest. One specimen was found along the outlet stream called Nijar Khola that runs slowly through the Majghatta, Murma village which is the closest settlement to the National Park. [1] Threats to this species are not known.

Related Research Articles

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Nanorana is a genus of dicroglossid frogs. They are found in Asia, from the Himalayan region of northern Pakistan and northern India, Nepal, and western China east to montane southern China and southeast to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and northern Vietnam. Common names of these frogs reflect the complex taxonomic history of the genus and include Yunnan slow frogs and High Himalaya frogs.

<i>Fejervarya limnocharis</i> Species of amphibian

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Scutiger nyingchiensis is a species of toad found in the Himalayas of southeastern Tibet (China), northwestern Nepal, and tentatively, Bhutan. There are no confirmed records from India; earlier records refer to Scutiger occidentalis or Scutiger spinosus. Its type locality is Nyingchi, Tibet. It is also known as the Nyingchi high altitude toad, Nyingchi alpine toad, or Nyingchi lazy toad.

Quilticohyla acrochorda, commonly known as the warty mountain stream frog, is a species of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Mexico and known from the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra Juárez in Oaxaca. Before being described as a new species in 2000, it was mixed with Ptychohyla erythromma. The specific name acrochorda is a Greek word for "wart" and refers to the distinctive white warts on the posterior surface of the thigh of this frog.

Amolops nepalicus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Nepal and is only known from two localities in the Sankhuwasabha District. Common names Nepal sucker frog and Nepal cascade frog have been proposed for it.

Nanorana parkeri is a species of frogs in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in Tibet (China) and in Nepal, but it is expected to be found also in Bhutan and parts of India. It is the second amphibian, and the first Neobatrachian, to have its whole genome published.

<i>Nanorana blanfordii</i> Species of amphibian

Nanorana blanfordii is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in northeastern India, southern Tibet (China), and eastern Nepal, and likely in the adjacent western Bhutan. The specific name blanfordii honours William Thomas Blandford, a British geologist and zoologist.

<i>Nanorana ercepeae</i> Species of amphibian

Nanorana ercepeae is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is endemic to western Nepal. Its type locality is Torrent Jiuli Gad in Bajhang district. This relatively rare frog is found in stream habitats in upland temperate rainforests. One specimen of P. ercepeae was recorded from the still-water habitats of Rara Lake in Rara National Park. It is threatened by habitat loss and degradation caused by small-scale agricultural development and wood extraction.

<i>Nanorana liebigii</i> Species of frog

Nanorana liebigii, also known as Sikkim paa frog, Liebig's paa frog, Liebig's frog, and spiny-armed frog, is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in the Himalayas, specifically in Bhutan, southern Tibet (China), northern India, and Nepal. The specific name liebigii honours a certain "Dr von Liebig Jr.", likely referring to Justus von Liebig, German botanist and chemist.

Nanorana mokokchungensis is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is endemic to Northeast India and only known from its type locality, Mokokchung in Nagaland.

Nanorana polunini is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is found in Nyalam County in southern Tibet (China), Nepal, and possibly Kashmir (India). It is a common species in Nepal but rare in China. It lives in stream habitats in montane forest.

<i>Nanorana rostandi</i> Species of amphibian

Nanorana rostandi is a species of frog in the family Dicroglossidae. It is endemic to western Nepal. It is a rare species found near high-altitude streams, springs, and other running waters within forests and grasslands. It is threatened by habitat loss due to subsistence wood collecting.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rara National Park</span>

Rara National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal and was established in 1976. Covering an area of 106 km2 (41 sq mi) in the Mugu and Jumla districts, it is the country's smallest national park. Its main feature is Rara Lake at an altitude of 2,990 m (9,810 ft). The park was established to protect the unique flora and fauna of the Humla–Jumla Region of Nepal.

<i>Telmatobius chusmisensis</i> Species of amphibian

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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>Feihyla inexpectata</i> Species of frog

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Scutiger occidentalis is a species of toad found in the Western Himalayas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It has often been treated as a synonym of Scutiger nyingchiensis, but molecular data show that these species are distinct. It is also known as the Ladakh high altitude toad, Ladakh pelobatid toad, western pelobatid toad, or Asian lazy toad. It is the most western member of its genus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Shrestha, B.; Suwal, S.; Pandey, B.; Joshi, J.; Manandhar, P.; Karmacharya, D.; Ohler, A.; Dubois, A.; O'Connell, K. (2022). "Molecular and morphological identification of frog species collected at Rara Lake in Rara National Park, Nepal". Zootaxa. 5168 (2): 222–236.
  2. 1 2 Annemarie Ohler, Sushil Dutta, Tej Kumar Shrestha (2004). "Nanorana rarica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2004: e.T58435A11780814. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58435A11780814.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Nanorana rarica (Dubois, Matsui, and Ohler, 2001)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dubois, Alain & Matsui, Masafumi (1983). "A new species of frog (genus Rana, subgenus Paa) from western Nepal (Amphibia: Anura)". Copeia. 1983 (4): 895–901. doi:10.2307/1445091. JSTOR   1445091.
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