Raorchestes akroparallagi

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Variable bush frog
Raorchestes akroparallagi - Davidraju IIMG 1934.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Raorchestes
Species:
R. akroparallagi
Binomial name
Raorchestes akroparallagi
(Biju and Bossuyt, 2009)
Synonyms

Philautus akroparallagiBiju and Bossuyt, 2009 [2]

Raorchestes akroparallagi (sometimes known as the variable bush frog) is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae.

Contents

It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, where it is known from the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Before its description in 2009, it was confused with Raorchestes femoralis and Raorchestes glandulosus . [3]

Description

Raorchestes akroparallagi from Wynaad Raorchestes akroparallagi Wynaad.jpg
Raorchestes akroparallagi from Wynaad

Male Raorchestes akroparallagi are small, 19–22.5 mm (0.75–0.89 in) in snout-vent length, whereas females are larger, 26–27 mm (1.0–1.1 in) long. It is one of predominantly green Raorchestes. However, the colouration of its dorsum (back) is highly variable even within a single location, from almost uniformly green to various colours and markings. Indeed, its specific name, akroparallagi, is derived from Greek words akro, meaning 'extreme' and parallagi, meaning 'variation'. [2]

Reproduction

Raorchestes akroparallagi has direct development, with all growth inside the egg and no free-swimming tadpole stage. Males attract females with their calls. Mating takes place during the night. A pair in amplexus may move around before settling on a leaf and starting to lay eggs on its upper side. Egg laying takes hours and results in a clutch of 20–41 eggs. Eggs are white, about 4.4 mm (0.17 in) in diameter, and hatch after four weeks as fully developed froglets. There is no parental care. [4]

Habitat

Raorchestes akroparallagi is relatively widespread and occurs in a wide range of habitats and can live in disturbed habitats. It is found in evergreen forests to plantations near forest fringes and in roadside vegetation. It has been observed between 180 and 1425 meters above sea level. [1] [5] [6] [2] IUCN does not considered it threatened. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Raorchestes tinniens, also known as the spotted bush frog, black bush frog, and Rao's bubble-nest frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills, a part of the Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, southern India. It has a rather complicated taxonomic history, and there is still an open issue whether Ixalus montanusGünther, 1876 from Kudremukh (Karnataka), now in synonymy with Raorchestes tinniens, is indeed a valid species.

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

Raorchestes travancoricus, variously known as the Travancore bushfrog, Travancore bubble-nest frog, or Travancore tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. The species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, India. Its specific name, travancoricus, as well as its three common names, refer to its type locality, Bodinayakkanur in the former Travancore state.

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

Raorchestes tuberohumerus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, where it is found in Karnataka and Kerala states.

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

Raorchestes anili, known commonly as Anil's bush frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.

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

Raorchestes dubois or the Koadaikanal bush frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.

<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</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.

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

Raorchestes kaikatti, sometimes known as the Kaikatti bushfrog or Kaikatt's bush frog, is a critically endangered frogs found only in the Nelliampathi Hills within the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. The species is named after Kaikatti, its type locality.

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

The Mark's bushfrog is a critically endangered frog found only in the Nelliampathi Hills within the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. The species is named after Mark Wilkinson of the Natural History Museum, London.

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

Sushil's bushfrog is a critically endangered frog found only in the Andiparai Shola in the municipality of Valparai in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India.

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

Raorchestes chotta, also known as the small bushfrog or small bush frog, is a species of frog found only in Ponmudi in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. This frog lays eggs attached to the underside of a leaf. They hatch as tiny froglets, skipping the tadpole stage. The adult frogs are light brown in color.

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

Raorchestes chromasynchysi, also known as the confusing green bushfrog or confusing green bush frog, is a species of frog found in the Western Ghats of Kerala and Karnataka in India.

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

Raorchestes coonoorensis, also known as the Coonore bushfrog or Coonoor bush frog, is a species of frogs endemic to the Western Ghats, India. It is reported from its type locality, Sim's Park in Coonoor, with an additional observation from Kothagiri; both locations are in the state of Tamil Nadu. Its altitudinal range is 1,780–1,850 m (5,840–6,070 ft) asl.

<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, roughly 1000 meters above sea level. Individuals of this species from the genus Raorchestes have morphs that range from plain green to variations with splotches and dots of darker greens and in some cases yellow. Anuran's from the genus Raorchestes, show direct-development while allows them to be independent from a waterbody for the development of tadpoles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Variable Bush Frog: Raorchestes akroparallagi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 3.1. p. e.T186158A166114601. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T186158A166114601.en. 186158. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 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". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 155 (2): 374–444. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00466.x .
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Raorchestes akroparallagi (Biju and Bossuyt, 2009)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  4. Biju, S. D. (2003). "Reproductive mode in the shrub frog Philautus glandulosus (Jerdon, 1853) (Anura: Rhacophoridae)" (PDF). Current Science. 84 (3): 283–284. (N.b. This article predates the description of Raorchestes akroparallagi, and at that point the species was confused with Raorchestes glandulosus — see Biju & Bossuyt, 2009, p. 392.)
  5. Frost, Darrel R. "Raorchestes jayarami (Biju and Bossuyt, 2009)". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  6. "Raorchestes akroparallagi (Biju and Bossuyt, 2009)". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 29 August 2023.