Nyctibatrachus

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Nyctibatrachus
Nyctibatrachus spp.jpg
Unidentified Nyctibatrachus from Phanasad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Nyctibatrachidae
Subfamily: Nyctibatrachinae
Blommers-Schlösser, 1995
Genus: Nyctibatrachus
Boulenger, 1882
Species

See text

Nyctibatrachus is a genus of frogs endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India. Their common name is night frogs. [1] [2] 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. [3] Currently, 35 species belong to Nyctibatrachus. [4]

Contents

Description

Members of the genus Nyctibatrachus are robust-bodied frogs that range in size from small (snout–vent length <13 mm in Nyctibatrachus robinmoorei) [5] to relatively large (up to 84 mm Nyctibatrachus karnatakaensis ). The especially small species are among the smallest of all Indian frogs. [4] They have a concealed tympanum, dorsum with longitudinal skin folds, femoral glands, and expanded finger and toes disks. They occur near streams in hilly evergreen forests [6] and are nocturnal. [7] Most species have amplexus but Nyctibatrachus humayuni does not; in this species the male moves over the eggs after the female has deposited them. [6]

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Nyctibatrachus: [1]

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<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>Indirana</i> Genus of amphibians

Indirana is a genus of frogs in the family Ranixalidae. These frogs are endemic to the Western Ghats of India. They are sometimes known under the common name Indian frogs, whereas members of their parent family are named "leaping frogs".

<i>Nyctibatrachus beddomii</i> Species of amphibian

Nyctibatrachus beddomii is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae.

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

The giant wrinkled frog is a species of frogs in the family Nyctibatrachidae endemic to the Western Ghats of India in the Kudremukh region. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<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.

<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 name is yellow-bellied bush frog.

<i>Nyctibatrachus minimus</i> Species of amphibian

Nyctibatrachus minimus is a species of frogs in the family Nyctibatrachidae. It is the smallest known frog in the genus Nyctibatrachus and was recently discovered from Kurichiyarmala in the Western Ghats or Wayanad, Kerala.

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

The Dattatreya night frog is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae first described in the Shola forests around the Dattatreya Peeta in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka. It is still known only from this part of the Western Ghats, India.

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

Nyctibatrachidae is a small family of frogs found in the Western Ghats of India and in Sri Lanka. Their common name is robust frogs. Recognition of Nyctibatrachidae as a family is fairly recent. These frogs were previously placed in the broadly defined family Ranidae, which was more recently divided into three subfamilies: Lankanectinae, Nyctibatrachinae, and Astrobatrachinae.

<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.

The Jog night frog or Jog's night frog is one of 34 species of nocturnal frogs in the genus Nyctibatrachus. It is found exclusively in the Western Ghats, India, and both sexes share the responsibility of watching over the eggs.

<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.

Nyctibatrachus kumbara, common name Kumbara night frog, is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae endemic to the Western Ghats of India.

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

Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani, or Vijayan's night frog, is a species of night frogs, family Nyctibatrachidae. The frog is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and is only known from its type locality, Pandipath, in the Agasthyamalai Hills, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. Smaller than a human fingernail, it is among the smallest frog species in the world. Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani is part of a genus that evolved in India around 70–80 million years ago. The species of frog was discovered by scientists from the University of Delhi.

<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 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.

<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 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 12.3–13.2 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femoral gland</span> Type of gland found in some amphibians

The femoral gland is a specialised gland found in some male frogs that plays a role in chemical communication and reproductive signalling. Particularly prominent within the frog family Mantellidae, these glands are located on the underside of the hindlimbs, usually on the inner thighs or shanks. Femoral glands can be identified by their swollen appearance and distinct colouration, which differ from the surrounding skin. Femoral glands are classified into four distinct morphological types, varying from minute granular structures to conspicuous patches characterised by large granules and prominent central indentations.

References

  1. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Nyctibatrachus Boulenger, 1882". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. "Nyctibatrachidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. Blommers-Schlösser, Rose M. A. (1 July 1993). "Systematic relationships of the Mantellinae Laurent 1946 (Anura Ranoidea)". Ethology Ecology & Evolution. 5 (2): 199–218. Bibcode:1993EtEcE...5..199B. doi:10.1080/08927014.1993.9523105. ISSN   0394-9370.
  4. 1 2 Garg, Sonali; Suyesh, Robin; Sukesan, Sandeep; Biju, S. D. (21 February 2017). "Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms". PeerJ. 5: e3007. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3007 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   5322763 . PMID   28243532.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Garg, Sonali; Suyesh, Robin; Sukesan, Sandeep; Biju, SD (21 February 2017). "Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms". PeerJ. 5: e3007. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3007 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   5322763 . PMID   28243532.
  6. 1 2 Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. pp. 509–510.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Biju, S.D., Van Bocxlaer, I., Mahony, S., Dinesh, K.P., Radhakrishnan, C., Zachariah, A., Giri, V., and Bossuyt, F. (2011). "A taxonomic review of the Night Frog genus Nyctibatrachus Boulenger, 1882 in the Western Ghats, India (Anura: Nyctibatrachidae) with description of twelve new species" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3029: 1–96. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3029.1.1.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Dinesh, K.P., C. Radhakrishnan, A.H. Manjunatha Reddy and K.V. Gururaja (2007). "Nyctibatrachus karnatakaensis nom. nov., a replacement name for the Giant Wrinkled Frog from the Western Ghats" (PDF). Current Science. 93 (2): 246–250.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Kumar, K.S. Pavan; Vishwajith, H.U.; Anisha, Anand; Dayananda, G.Y.; Gururaja, Kotambylu Vasudeva; Priti, Hebbar (15 November 2022). "A new cryptic species of Nyctibatrachus (Amphibia, Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) with description of its tadpole from the central Western Ghats, India". Zootaxa. 5209 (1): 69–92. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5209.1.4. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   37045404. S2CID   253537588.