Thebicolored frogorMalabar frog(Clinotarsus curtipes) is a species offrogendemicto theWestern GhatsofIndia.[2]Thetadpolesof the species are black and form dense and compact schools in slow movingstreamsin forested areas.
| Bicolored frog | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male in breeding colours | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Ranidae |
| Genus: | Clinotarsus |
| Species: | C. curtipes
|
| Binomial name | |
| Clinotarsus curtipes (Jerdon,1854)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Rana curtipesJerdon, 1854 | |
Description
editThe bicolored frog's vomerine teeth scarcely developed, sometimes indistinct. The teeth are in two slightly oblique series on a level with the hind edge of the choanae. Its head large; snout short, rounded, with well-markedcanthus rostralisand concave loreal region; nostril nearer to the end of the snout than to theeye;interorbital space broader than the upper eyelid; tympanum distinct, nearly as large as the eye. Fingers moderate, first extending beyond second; toes short, nearly entirely webbed; tips of fingers and toes swollen or dilated into very small disks; subarticular tubercles much developed; inner metatarsal tubercle small, oval, blunt; a rather large, flat tubercle at the base of the fourth toe; no tarsal fold. The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the eye. Skin finely granular above; a moderately prominent, rather narrow glandular lateral fold; another told behind the tympanum down to the shoulder.Clinotarsus curtipesis greyish or brown above, with or without blackish dots; lateral fold lighter, edged with black; a blackish oblique spot or band below the eye; upper lip with a blackish margin; limbs dark purplish brown, without cross bands; light brown beneath, the throat sometimes dark brown. Male with an internal subgularvocal sac.[3][4]
The spot patterns on the backs are often distinctive enough to use for population estimation using capture and recapture techniques. Use of this technique in the Bisale Reserve Forest inKodaguduring January 1999 – July 2001 gave a population density estimate of 0.08–0.1 frogs per square metre.[5]
Adult frogs may occasionallyfeign deathto escape predators.[6]
Thetadpolesare large (more than 9 cm (3.5 in) in total length) and form shoals in slow moving streams.[7]They are collected for local consumption.[1]
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Underside of a breeding male -
Upperside of a breeding male -
Shoals of tadpoles in a stream -
A pair inamplexus -
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Malabar frog
References
edit
- ^abS.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Robert Inger (2004)."Clinotarsus curtipes".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2004:e.T58583A11789937.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58583A11789937.en.Retrieved19 November2021.
{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^Frost, Darrel R. (2014)."Clinotarsus curtipes(Jerdon, 1853) ".Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0.American Museum of Natural History.Retrieved4 May2014.
- ^Boulenger, G. A. (1890)The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma:Reptilia and Batrachia.
- ^Desai R.N. & Pancharatna K. (2003). "Rana curtipescoloration ".Herpetological Review.34(1): 53–54.
- ^Krishna, S. N.; Krishna S. B. & Vijaylaxmi, K. K. (2005). "Dorsal spot pattern as unique markers to estimate the population size ofRana curtipes".Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.102(1): 16–18.ISSN0006-6982.
- ^Gramapurohit, N. P.; Shanbhag, B. A. & Saidapur, S. K. (2001). "Rana curtipes(bicolored frog). Death feigning ".Herpetological Review.32(2): 103.
- ^Hiragond, Ningappa C.; Shanbhag, Bhagyashri A. & Saidapur, Srinivas K. (2001). "Description of the tadpole of a stream breeding frog,Rana curtipes".Journal of Herpetology.35(1): 166–168.doi:10.2307/1566044.JSTOR1566044.