Raorchestes shillongensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Rhacophoridae |
Genus: | Raorchestes |
Species: | R. shillongensis |
Binomial name | |
Raorchestes shillongensis (Pillai & Chanda, 1973) | |
Distribution of Raorchestes shillongensis | |
Synonyms | |
Philautus shillongensisPillai & Chanda, 1973 |
Raorchestes shillongensis (common names: Shillong bubble-nest frog, Shillong bush frog, Xmas frog) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Greater Shillong in North East India. It is known from the Khasi Hills in the region of Shillong, Meghalaya in north-eastern India. [2] [1] [3]
This frog is widespread in the Khasi Hills and has also been observed in other places, mostly between 1000 and 1600 meters above sea level. This frog perches on shrubs in forests, but it can also live near streams and even in human settlements. Like other frogs in Raorchestes, scientists believe it breeds through direct development with no free-swimming tadpole stage. [1]
Scientists classify this frog as least concern of extinction because of its large range and its tolerance to habitat disturbance. What threats remain come from habitat loss, such as deforestation associated with logging and infrastructure. Scientists also cite climate change as a threat to this species. Because it lives at high elevations, it cannot simply migrate in search of new habitats. [1]
Thumbelina - the story of an Xmas Frog by award-winning Indian wildlife filmmaker Ashwika Kapur is a documentary on Raorchestes shillongensis. [4]
Raorchestes annandalii is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is found in the eastern Himalayas in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It has been observed as high as 2700 meters above sea level. It relies on saltation to move around.
Raorchestes bobingeri is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. It has been observed between 1030 and 1300 meters above sea level.
Raorchestes glandulosus, also known as glandular bush frog, rough-skinned bush frog, southern bubble-nest frog, and with many other names, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and known from the states of Karnataka and Kerala.
Raorchestes graminirupes is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. Scientists know it exclusively from the type locality: Palmudi in the Western Ghat mountains, between 1030 and 1300 meters above sea level.
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.
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 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.
Raorchestes sanctisilvaticus, also known as the sacred grove bushfrog, sacred grove bush frog or Similipal bush frog, is a critically endangered species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.
Raorchestes munnarensis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to Munnar, Kerala, along the Ghat road to Devikulam in the southern Western Ghats, India.
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.
Raorchestes kakachi is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India. The specific name kakachi refers to the type locality from where the species was described.
Raorchestes kaikatti, sometimes known as the Kaikatti bushfrog or Kaikatt's bush frog, is an endangered frogs found in the Nelliampathi Hills within the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. The species is named after Kaikatti, its type locality.
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. It has been observed between 800 and 1500 meters above sea level.
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.
Raorchestes johnceei 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 900 and 1300 meters above sea level.
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.
Raorchestes hassanensis, the Hassan bush frog or Dutta's bubble-nest frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India, including the Western Ghats.
Raorchestes primarrumpfi is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to India and has been observed high in the Nilgiri Massif mountains.
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.
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.