Nyctibatrachus manalari | |
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N. manalari, with Indian five-rupee coin for scale | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Nyctibatrachidae |
Genus: | Nyctibatrachus |
Species: | N. manalari |
Binomial name | |
Nyctibatrachus manalari | |
N. manalari is only known from the Western Ghats in southern India |
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.
It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, where it is known from the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, although its range is likely larger than currently known. It reproduces by laying eggs, with the only known clutch having eight eggs. The species is currently classified as being data deficient by the IUCN due to a lack of information about it; threats to the species include pesticide usage and chytridiomycosis.
Nyctibatrachus manalari was described in 2017 by the herpetologist Sonali Garg and her colleagues based on an adult male specimen collected from the Periyar Tiger Reserve in southeastern Kerala, India in 2016. The specific name manalari refers to Upper Manalar in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, where the specimens used to describe the species were collected. [2]
The species is one of 34 species in the night frog genus Nyctibatrachus , in the robust frog family Nyctibatrachidae. [3] It is sister (most closely related) to N. robinmoorei, and both of these species are further sister to a clade (group formed by all of a common ancestor's descendants) formed by N. anamallaiensis, N. pulivijayani, and N. sabarimalai . The clade formed by these five species is sister to N. beddomii. [2] [4] The following cladogram shows relationships among these species, acoording to the 2017 study that described the species. [2]
N. manalari is a diminutive frog, with a snout–vent length of 13.1–15.4 mm (0.52–0.61 in) for adult males. The head is wider than it is long, and the snout is longer than the diameter of the eye. The tympanum (external ear) is indistinct, and the feet lack webbing. [2]
In adult males, the upperside is reddish-brown, with two orangish-brown stripes running lengthwise from behind the eyelids to mid-back and an orangish-brown between the eyes; the stripes delineate a paler region on the snout. The sides of the head are light greyish-brown, interspersed with white dots, and the flanks are light orangish-brown with small white spots. The undersides and limbs are light reddish-brown; the limbs are marked with dark brown horizontal lines and white spots. The hands and feet are also light reddish-brown but somewhat lighter than the belly. [2]
When preserved in 70% ethanol, the upperside and upper eyelids are dark greyish-brown, while the lines from the eyelids to mid-back are light brown. The sides of the head, flanks, hands, and feet are grey, while the limbs are light grey with dark horizontal bands. The underside is light grayish-white. [2]
N. manalari can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of its small snout–vent length; the absence of webbed feet; the absence of noticeable wrinkling on the skin of the upperside; weakly developed glandular folds on the upper sides, separated by scattered granular projections; the presence of the dorso-terminal groove on the third finger and fourth toe; a single tubercle on the palm; the thigh and lower leg being shorter than the foot and nearly equal in length to each other; and its reddish-brown uppersides. [2]
The species' calls are single-pulsed and last for 51.1 milliseconds each, with a dominant frequency of 3.6 kHz. [2]
N. manalari is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, where it is known from the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala and Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. [2] [5] Individuals from Kerala were found concealed in undergrowth near a rocky region in a patch of primary evergreen forest at elevations of 1,544–1,584 m (5,066–5,197 ft). In Tamil Nadu, the frogs have been observed inhabiting secondary forest inside a plantation. Its range in the Meghmalai Mountains is probably larger than currently known. [2] [1]
Males of the species have been recorded calling from 7–9 pm and also occasionally during the day, at 2 pm. One of these vocalising males was located next to a clutch of eight eggs laid under vegetation on the ground. Nuptial pads in the species are weakly developed. [2] The species is known to be infected by the amphibian chytrid fungus; however, no deaths from chytridiomycosis have been recorded in the species so far. [1]
N. manalari is currently classified as being data deficient by the IUCN due to the paucity of information regarding its range, population, and ecology. It is thought to be rather common throughout its range, and all known populations of the species reside in protected areas. Potential threats to the species include the usage of pesticides in tea plantations and chytridiomycosis. [1]
Nyctibatrachus is a genus of frogs endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India. Their common name is night frogs. 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. Currently, 35 species belong to Nyctibatrachus.
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.
Walkerana leptodactyla is a species of frog endemic to the southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states of southern India. Precise reports are from Anaimalai hills, Palni hills, Meghamalai, Travancore hills and Agasthyamalai.
Nyctibatrachus beddomii is a species of frog in the family Nyctibatrachidae.
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.
Raorchestes griet is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats south of the Palghat Gap in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states, India. The specific name griet honours Griet Decock, spouse of Franky Bossuyt, the scientist who described the species. The common name Griet bush frog has been coined for it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi, also known as Mewa Singh's night frog or the Peruvannamuzhi wrinkled frog, is a species of frog in the robust 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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