Raorchestes nerostagona

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Lichen bush frog
Raorchestes nerostagona1.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. nerostagona
Binomial name
Raorchestes nerostagona
(Biju & Bossuyt, 2005)
Synonyms

Philautus nerostagonaBiju & Bossuyt, 2005
Pseudophilautus nerostagona(Biju & Bossuyt, 2005)

Contents

Raorchestes nerostagona is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. It has been called as the Kalpetta yellow bush frog [2] or lichen bush frog for its patchy lichen like patterning that make it cryptic. First described in 2005 based on a specimen obtained in Kalpetta, the species has subsequently been found in many parts of the Western Ghats. This frog has been observed between 900 and 1200 meters above sea level. [1]

Taxonomy

A view of the pattern and texture resembling lichen Raorchestes nerostagona3.jpg
A view of the pattern and texture resembling lichen

The species was originally described in the genus Philautus but has since been moved into the genus Raorchestes. The species name is derived from Greek nero for water and stagona for drop and refers to the call of the frog which is emitted from high up in the trees and resembles the sound of a raindrop falling into water. [3] Like all other members of this genus, eggs are thought to develop into little froglets entirely within the egg-shell, although this direct development pattern was not directly observed in the species at the time of its description. [4]

Description

Calls of the frog (along with that of Sri Lanka bay owl)

This species is distinguished from others in the genus by the presence of webbing between all the fingers and fully webbed toes as well. A fringe of skin is found along the outer edge of the fore and hind limbs. The tongue has a pointed papilla. The snout to vent length varies from about 3 to 3.5 cm and the colouration makes it cryptic among lichen and moss patches on tree trunks. The skin has projections making it appear rough. [3]

The calls made from high in the tree canopy consist of a high-pitched "pluck" sounding like a rain-drop falling into a bucket of water repeating about every 3 to 4 seconds. [3] [5]

Habitat and threats

The species was described as being widely distributed in the Wayanad region between Mananthavady, Sultan Battery, and Kalpetta where its call could be heard easily during the rainy season. [3] It has been found in evergreen forests, high in the canopy. The female frog lays 40 eggs at a time in holes in trees. [5] [1]

This frog is classified as vulnerable to extinction because the habitat within its range is subject to degradation. Human being cut down forests to build or expand roads, for logging, for the illegal harvesting of certain trees, and for agriculture and grazing space. Climate change might also kill this frog. [1] [5]

Scientists have observed the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on other frogs in Raorchestes, so it could infect R. munnarensis as well. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis causes the fungal disease chytridiomycosis. [1]

People call this the "water droplet call canopy bush frog" because its voice sounds like water droplets. [1]


Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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<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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Kalpatta Yellow Bush Frog: Raorchestes nerostagona". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 3.1. p. e.T61885A166112244. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T61885A166112244.en. 61885. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Raorchestes nerostagona (Biju and Bossuyt, 2005)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Biju, S.D.; Bossuyt, Franky (2005). "A new species of frog (Ranidae, Rhacophorinae, Philautus) from the rainforest canopy in the Western Ghats, India" (PDF). Current Science. 88 (1): 175–178.
  4. ↑ Vasudevan, Karthikeyan; Chaitra, M. S.; Aggarwal, R. K. (2007). "Pernicious descriptions of 'new' frogs from the Western Ghats, India" (PDF). Current Science. 92 (3): 281–282.
  5. 1 2 3 Alamelu Natesan (7 May 2008). Kellie Whittaker; Michelle S. Koo (eds.). "Raorchestes nerostagona (Biju and Bossuyt, 2005)". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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