Raorchestes

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Raorchestes
PhilautusLongwood8.jpg
Raorchestes signatus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Subfamily: Rhacophorinae
Genus: Raorchestes
Biju, Shouche, Dubois, Dutta, and Bossuyt, 2010 [1]
Type species
Ixalus glandulosus
Jerdon, 1854
Diversity
See text
Raorchestes flaviocularis in India Raorchestes flaviocularis - Davidraju IMG 3703 - Copy.jpg
Raorchestes flaviocularis in India
Raorchestes chalazodes from the Western Ghats. Raorchestes chalazodes from the Western Ghats.jpg
Raorchestes chalazodes from the Western Ghats.

Raorchestes is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Rhacophorinae [2] that are found in mountainous regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and southern China. [3] A recent study places Raorchestes as a sister taxon of Pseudophilautus . [2] [4] Before the description of the genus in 2010, species now in Raorchestes had been assigned to genera Ixalus (no longer recognized), Philautus , and Pseudophilautus . [2]

Contents

The genus is named in honour of C. R. Narayan Rao in recognition of his contribution to Indian batrachology. [3] The other root orchestes is based on an older genus name for frogs of the Philautus group, Orchestes Tschudi 1838. [5] Extensive exploration in the range of the genus in the Western Ghats of India suggests an under-estimation of the number of species in the genus. [6] [7] [8] A study of the diverse species of the genus show that the separate isolated massifs of the Western Ghats played a major role in the speciation and habitat specificity seen in the genus of bush frogs. [7]

Description

Male Raorchestes luteolus, with its eminent vocal sac Raorchestes luteolus vocalizing.jpg
Male Raorchestes luteolus , with its eminent vocal sac
Raorchestes echinatus in India Davidraju Echinatus (4).jpg
Raorchestes echinatus in India

Raorchestes are largely nocturnal, relatively small frogs with adult body size 15–45 mm (0.6–1.8 in) in snout-vent length. They lack vomerine teeth. Males have a large transparent vocal sac while calling. All described species of Raorchestes thus far, show direct development, that is, their life cycle does not involve a free-swimming tadpole stage. [9] Their eggs hatch-out froglets skipping the tadpole stage making them less dependent on water. [9] Raorchestes tinniens eggs took 36 days to hatch and temperature played a huge role in the development times. [10] Different individuals of a species within this genus can be difficult to identify in the field because of color and pattern variations. [6] Species of the genus Raorchestes also have different variations in their iris and pupil coloration. [3] Difficulties in field identifications are leading to more integrative species description practices within the genus. [11] These difficulties have also led to potential misidentification of species and ranges. [12]

Frogs of the genus Raorchestes are known as bush frogs, and are known to use different arboreal niches. [7] The exception being the short-limbed Raorchestes resplendens that is known to be ground-dwelling and was discovered on the highest peak of the Western Ghats called Anamudi. [13]

Distribution

One group is found in the mountain ranges of southern India (in the Western and Eastern Ghats) and another group ranges from northeastern India to Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos to southern China and Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia. [3] They are most diverse in the Western Ghats of India; in contrast, only eight species from the genus have been reported from southeast Asia and China. [3] [12] [14]

Direct developing eggs of Raorchestes jayarami. Developing eggs of Raorchestes jayarami.jpg
Direct developing eggs of Raorchestes jayarami.

Conservation

IUCN has assessed 38 species of Raorchestes. Many species are Critically Endangered, and one species ( Raorchestes travancoricus ) was already considered extinct, [15] only to be rediscovered in 2004. [15] [3] [16] Of the 38, eight are data deficient and 23 are in the critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable categories. [15] The Amphibian Specialist Group's list of "lost frogs" (frogs not seen for decades) includes 10 Raorchestes species. [16] Since several species of the genus have been described in the last 15 years conservation data is relatively poor as are detailed life-history studies. [3] [6] [11] Several species of the genus are known to have very narrow distribution ranges and are tied to specific niches in the environment which makes it difficult to have blanket conservation policy for the genus. [7] [13]

Several species of Raorchestes have been reported in checklists generated from both protected areas, as well as, agro and plantation landscapes. [17] [18]

Species

Many new species from India have been described since 2000. [19] [20] The following species are currently recognised in the genus Raorchestes:. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

The Rhacophoridae are a family of frogs in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, South India and Sri Lanka, Japan, northeastern India to eastern China and Taiwan, south through the Philippines and Greater Sundas, and Sulawesi. They are commonly known as shrub frogs, or more ambiguously as "moss frogs" or "bush frogs". Some Rhacophoridae are called "tree frogs". Among the most spectacular members of this family are numerous "flying frogs".

<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>Nyctibatrachus</i> Genus of amphibians

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.

<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 names are yellow-bellied bush frog and Malabar bubble-nest frog.

<i>Raorchestes luteolus</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes luteolus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, where it is only known from the state of Karnataka. Many of the known populations are from the Kodagu district, known also by its anglicised former name of Coorg—hence the common name. It is also known from the Shimoga district in the Sharavathi basin where it was described as a new species, Philautus neelanethrus, but this is now considered to be a junior synonym of Raorchestes luteolus.

<i>Raorchestes ochlandrae</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes ochlandrae is a species of shrub frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. This species of the oriental shrub frog was first described from Kakkayam Reserve Forest of Calicut district, Kerala state, in the southern Western Ghats in 2007 but has since been recorded at many other sites along the Western Ghats. The specific name ochlandrae refers to microhabitat of the species, bamboo Ochlandra setigera.

<i>Raorchestes resplendens</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes resplendens, the resplendent shrubfrog, is a critically endangered species of frog belonging to the family Rhacophoridae endemic to the high altitude region around the south Indian peak of Anaimudi. It has extremely short limbs and numerous macroglands and was discovered from the Anamudi summit in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India and is known only from the Eravikulam National Park.

<i>Raorchestes crustai</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes crustai is a species of frog of the genus Raorchestes found in Bonacaud in the Western Ghats of Kerala in India. It has been observed between 600 and 1500 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes jayarami</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes jayarami, also known as Jayaram's bush frog, is a species of frog from the subfamily rhacophoridae found in Valparai in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu in India, where it has been observed between 600 and 1800 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes kadalarensis</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes kadalarensis is a species of frog of the genus Raorchestes found in Kadalar near Munnar in the Western Ghats of Kerala in India. This frog has been observed between 1300 and 1700 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes manohari</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes manohari is a species of frog of the genus Raorchestes found in Bonacaud in the Western Ghats of Kerala in India. The species is named after T. M. Manoharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Kerala.

<i>Raorchestes archeos</i> Species of amphibian

Raorchestes archeos is a species of frog endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It is known from wet evergreen forests in the Agasthyamalai and Devarmalai ranges between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It has been observed between 500 and 1071 meters above sea level.

Raorchestes drutaahu, the fast-calling shrub frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to in India. Scientists have observed this frog in Kodaikanal in the Western Ghat mountains, between 1000 and 1450 meters above sea level.

Raorchestes archeos is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India, where it has been observed in the Western Ghat mountains at about 1524 meters above sea level.

Roarchestes leucolatus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India. Scientists have observed it in the Western Ghat mountains, between 894 and 958 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes blandus</i> Species of frog

Roarchestes blandus or the Anamalai bush frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India. Scientists have observed it in the Western Ghat mountains, between 45 and 806 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes echinatus</i> Species of frog

The spiny bush frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India. It has been observed in the Western Ghat mountains, between 1464 and 1864 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes indigo</i> Species of frog

Roarchestes indigo is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India. It has been observed high in the mountains in scrub tree habitats. This frog has been observed between 1400 and 1700 meters above sea level.

<i>Raorchestes flaviocularis</i> Species of frog

Raorchestes flaviocularis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India. It has been observed between 1459 and 1569 meters above sea level in the Western Ghat mountains. It has been observed between 1400 and 1600 meters above sea level.

References

  1. ↑ Biju, S. D.; Yogesh Shouche; Alain Dubois; S. K. Dutta; Franky Bossuyt (2010). "A ground-dwelling rhacophorid frog from the highest mountain peak of the Western Ghats of India" (PDF). Current Science. 98 (8): 1119–1125.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Raorchestes Biju, Shouche, Dubois, Dutta, and Bossuyt, 2010". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Biju, S. D.; Bossuyt, F. (2009). "Systematics and phylogeny of Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Anura, Rhacophoridae) in the Western Ghats of India, with descriptions of 12 new species" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 155 (2): 374–444. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00466.x .
  4. ↑ Alexander Pyron, R.; Wiens, John J. (2011). "A large-scale phylogeny of Amphibia including over 2800 species, and a revised classification of extant frogs, salamanders, and caecilians". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 61 (2): 543–583. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2011.06.012 . PMID   21723399.
  5. ↑ Tschudi, Johann Jakob von; Agassiz, Louis (1838). Classification der Batrachier : mit Berucksichtigung der fossilen Thiere dieser Abtheilung der Reptilien / von J. J. Tschudi. Neuch©Øtel. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.4883.
  6. 1 2 3 Vijayakumar, S. P.; Dinesh, K. P.; Prabhu, Mrugank V.; Shanker, Kartik (2014-12-10). "Lineage delimitation and description of nine new species of bush frogs (Anura: Raorchestes , Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats Escarpment". Zootaxa. 3893 (4): 451–488. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3893.4.1. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   25544534.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Vijayakumar, S. P.; Menezes, Riya C.; Jayarajan, Aditi; Shanker, Kartik (2016-08-17). "Glaciations, gradients, and geography: multiple drivers of diversification of bush frogs in the Western Ghats Escarpment". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 283 (1836): 20161011. doi:10.1098/rspb.2016.1011. PMC   5013767 . PMID   27534957.
  8. ↑ Priti, H.; Roshmi, Rekha Sarma; Ramya, Badrinath; Sudhira, H. S.; Ravikanth, G.; Aravind, Neelavara Anantharam; Gururaja, Kotambylu Vasudeva (2016-03-02). "Integrative Taxonomic Approach for Describing a New Cryptic Species of Bush Frog (Raorchestes: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India". PLOS ONE. 11 (3): e0149382. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1149382P. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149382 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4774957 . PMID   26934213.
  9. 1 2 Meegaskumbura, Madhava; Senevirathne, Gayani; Biju, S. D.; Garg, Sonali; Meegaskumbura, Suyama; Pethiyagoda, Rohan; Hanken, James; Schneider, Christopher J. (2015). "Patterns of reproductive-mode evolution in Old World tree frogs (Anura, Rhacophoridae)". Zoologica Scripta. 44 (5): 509–522. doi:10.1111/zsc.12121. S2CID   21720173.
  10. ↑ "Development of endemic Nilgiri Bush Frog, Raorchestes tinniens (Jerdon, 1853) (Anura, Rhacophoridae) in the Nilgiris, Western Ghats, India". ISSCA. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  11. 1 2 Priti, H.; Roshmi, Rekha Sarma; Ramya, Badrinath; Sudhira, H. S.; Ravikanth, G.; Aravind, Neelavara Anantharam; Gururaja, Kotambylu Vasudeva (2016-03-02). Joger, Ulrich (ed.). "Integrative Taxonomic Approach for Describing a New Cryptic Species of Bush Frog (Raorchestes: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India". PLOS ONE. 11 (3): e0149382. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1149382P. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149382 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4774957 . PMID   26934213.
  12. 1 2 Yu, Guohua; Liu, Shuo; Hou, Mian; Li, Song; Yang, Junxing (2019-04-05). "Extension in distribution of Raorchestes parvulus (Boulenger, 1893) (Anura: Rhacophoridae) to China". Zootaxa. 4577 (2): 381–391. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4577.2.10. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   31715729. S2CID   133261512.
  13. 1 2 Biju, S. D.; Shouche, Yogesh; Dubois, Alain; Dutta, S. K.; Bossuyt, Franky (2010). "A ground-dwelling rhacophorid frog from the highest mountain peak of the Western Ghats of India". Current Science. 98 (8): 1119–1125. ISSN   0011-3891. JSTOR   24111771.
  14. ↑ "AmphibiaWeb -- Search Results". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  15. 1 2 3 IUCN (2014). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>" . Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  16. 1 2 Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Lost frogs" . Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  17. ↑ Handbook of climate change and biodiversity. Leal Filho, Walter,, Barbir, Jelena,, Preziosi, Richard. Cham, Switzerland. 2018-08-28. ISBN   978-3-319-98681-4. OCLC   1050437289.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. ↑ Murali, R.; Raman, T. R. S. (2012-08-26). "CEPF Western Ghats Special Series : Streamside amphibian communities in plantations and a rainforest fragment in the Anamalai hills, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa: 2849–2856. doi: 10.11609/JoTT.o2829.2849-56 . ISSN   0974-7907.
  19. ↑ Manoj, E. M. (August 7, 2011). "New species of frogs found in Western Ghats". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "26 new species of frogs and insects discovered in India". Hindustan Times. June 15, 2009. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
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