The blueeyed bush frog philautus luteolus is one of the prettiest bush frogs and was recently discovered in the western ghats. The amphibians of the western ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the rainforests of the mountains. Nov 05, 2014 ochlandra a genus of bamboo endemic to western ghats is also home to this ornamentallooking fellow. Why scientists couldnt find this tadpole for 125 years. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats a.
This novel species potentially represents the largest known rhacophorid species in peninsular india, attaining an average male body size of 76 mm, said the authors. It runs, about 1600 km, north to south, along the western edge of the deccan plateau. Mar 31, 2016 one of the indian dancing frogs is listed as endangered, one is vulnerable, and another is becoming threatened due to clearcut logging in the western ghats. Bhupathys purple frog was named in honor of noted herpetologist subramaniam bhupathy, who died from a fall during an expedition in the western ghats in 2014. Mr bijus most fertile huntingground is the western ghats, a mountain range that runs parallel to indias western coast from gujarat to kerala. Several rivers, including the periyar and amaravati. Unfortunately, onethird of the frogs in the western ghats region are threatened with extinction.
The trees grow back their leaves and the leaves go flush, trickling streams flow once again and water holes in the forest get full. Males emit advertisement calls after three or four heavy. The first book published by gubbi labs and authored by dr. A small bush frog, raorchestes chromasynchysi, found in the western ghats of india. The frog has one close relative, the purple frog, n. The discovery of several new species of ancient origin can provide useful insights into the evolution of endemic frog lineages in the western ghats, which is a leading.
The pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats and android application frog find a heavy application by k. Dec 10, 2014 the western ghats is home to many species of frog, including the 14 dancing frogs discovered earlier this year. Development projects pumped into these river basins. The eastern ghats are older than the western ghats, and have a complex geologic history related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of rodinia and the assembly of the gondwana supercontinent. Before being raised to the family level they were classified as the subfamily micrixalinae within ranidae. Frog find is an interactive app on the frogs and toads of western ghats.
The funky designer patches on the legs are however the most striking feature of. Hunting for frogs in the western ghats the economist. I am talking about recently released pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats by dr. What are some interesting facts about the western ghats of. This frog genus is endemic to the western ghats of india and represents an ancient group of frogs that diversified on the indian landmass approximately 7080 million years ago. S onali garg, 29, a phd student from university of delhi, under the supervision of professor sd birju, has discovered four new species of burrowing frogs in the western ghats after five years of extensive research on the amphibians the new species belong to the indian frog genus or group called fejerarya, and are considered unique because of their ability to burrow with their hind legs. Sep 29, 2017 the region of the western ghats mountain range in india has turned up another new species of frog in 2017, and this one is quite bizarre. Four new species of anurans belonging to the genus rhacophorus, polypedates, philautus and bufo have been described from the western ghats. Fascinating frogs found in mudumalai western ghats deep. One of the indian dancing frogs is listed as endangered, one is vulnerable, and another is becoming threatened due to clearcut logging in the western ghats. Research has confirmed that the western ghats have. Gururaja surisehgal centre for biodiversity and conservation ashoka trust for research in ecology and the environment atree, royal enclave, sriramapura, jakkur po.
The amphibians of the western ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the region. The southern end, covered in primary rainforest, is frog heaven. Bhupathys purple frog simple english wikipedia, the. Gururaja kv 2012, pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats pdf in. Book on forest foods of western ghats released april 14, 2016 4. In the western ghats of kerala and tamil nadu, early monsoon offers outstanding reptile and amphibianwatching. This species of frog is most closely related to species found in the seychelles.
The eastern ghats are made up of charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, metamorphic gneisses and quartzite rock formations. Frogs and toads 32 families, 372 genera, 5227 species. Several families of frogs, namely of the genera micrixalus, indirana, nyctibatrachus, are endemic to this region. It can be seen in various colour morphs, a light greenyellow morph is seen here. Somewhere hidden in a tiny patch of forest in the western ghats the precise place i cannot reveal, to protect the endangered species we knew existed one of. Feb 21, 2017 the study, titled seven new species of night frogs from the western ghats biodiversity hotspot of india, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms, was published today in peerj, a peer. Otherwise, they stay hidden underground or under wooden logs.
Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats nhbs. Gururaja titled pictorial guide to frogs and toads of western ghats was. According to journal nature, western ghats are one of the eight hottest hotspots for biodiversity in the world. This book exemplifies presenting complicated scientific information in a very simple manner. Miscellaneous, resources leave a comment this field guide to the amphibians of the western ghats is not just a tool for researchers. Nov 30, 2012 frogs of the genus indirana belong to the endemic family ranixalidae and are found exclusively in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats. Meet the dancing frogs of the western ghats picture. Nov 25, 2015 researchers have discovered a new species of tree frog named as ghatixalus magnus in the western ghats in kadalar high ranges of idukki district, kerala it was discovered by team of researchers comprising of robin abraham and batrachologis anil zachariah during their recent exploration in the western ghats. All birds seen in maharashtra, gujarat, goa, karnataka, tamilnadu and kerala states are eligible for this mission. New android app helps you identify frogs in the western ghats.
The fungoid frog occurs commonly on the forest floor, and sports a beautiful bronze on its back, contrasting with a black body. New findings, such as this frog, indicate that the amphibian inventory of the region is still far. The project to map species of frogs, lizards and snakes in the western ghats has been under way since 200809. Since taxonomy, biology and distribution of these frogs. Micrixalus commonly known as dancing frogs, tropical frogs, and torrent frogs is a genus of frogs from that are endemic to the western ghats in india. Amphibians of the western ghats public group facebook. Matching this incredible biological richness is the ethnic and cultural diversity of the western ghats. Micrixalus frogs are popularly known as dancing frogs due to their peculiar habit. Most of the endemic species have their distribution in the rainforests of these mountains. The endangered malabar tree toad pedostibes tuberculosus gururaja k. Oct 31, 2017 frog find is an interactive app on the frogs and toads of western ghats. Jun 21, 2017 research on frogs species in the western ghats has grown in leaps and bounds over the past decade. The high peaks of the western ghats run along the states western border. Anai peak, at 8,842 feet 2,695 metres in the anaimalai hills, is the highest mountain in.
Let me get you up close and personal with 9 of these spectacular frogs from the western ghatsfungoid frog. Between the years 200615, a total of 1,581 species of amphibians were described globally. Jun 21, 2017 only 78 out of the 230frog species in the western ghats are burrowing frogs. The endangered purple frog was discovered in 2003 to be a living fossil. There is water everywhere, the forest is soakedeven tree holes are full. The region of the western ghats mountain range in india has turned up another new species of frog in 2017, and this one is quite bizarre. Many of these are terrestrial frogs calling to attract females.
New species of tree frog named ghatixalus magnus discovered. The past two decades have witnessed some remarkable amphibian discoveries from the western ghats. Nhbs ka subramanian, kp dinesh, c radhakrishnan, zoological survey of india. The book of indian reptiles and amphibians 11 and pictorial guide to frogs and toads of western ghats 12, photographed using canon 600. On the one hand, we have brought these beautiful frogs into public knowledge. This book takes you on a visual journey through one of the last great places on earth a place to be cherished, a wild heritage to be preserved for generations to come. Feb 21, 2017 although night frogs are quite common across the western ghats, they face considerable threats from human activity. Altas of endemic amphibians of western ghats zoological survey. Jan 27, 2014 the western ghats is a 1,000mile ribbon of mountains running all the way down the western side of the subcontinent, from gujurat in the north to kerala in the south. Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians. Night frogs are found only in southern parts of the western ghats region of india and represent an ancient group of frogs that populated the region about 70 million. The western ghats is home to many species of frog, including the 14 dancing frogs discovered earlier this year. Jun 16, 2018 somewhere hidden in a tiny patch of forest in the western ghats the precise place i cannot reveal, to protect the endangered species we knew existed one of the worlds oddest and rarest frogs. The pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats is designed to help students researchers forest managers photographers and.
The region the western ghats, is a mountain range that runs along the western side of india. So finally, monsoon arrives and with it the forest changes dramatically. With the description of ghatixalus magnus, there are now three nominal species in this western ghats endemic genus of montane frogs. Recently, a team of researchers led by frog biologist ks seshadri found out that this frog and its close relative, the whitespotted bush frog, breed within the hollow stems of bamboos. Rhacophorus malabaricus is endemic to the western ghats of india. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats by dr. Of indias 405 amphibiansincluding frogs, toads, caecilians limbless amphibians and salamanders239 are found in the western ghats, a 150 millionyearold mountain range that hugs the.
Kv gururaja making the simple complicated is commonplace. From this point radiate three rangesthe anaimalai to the north, the palni to the northeast, and the cardamom hills to the south. While new species are being identified, the known ones are moving towards. Mar 21, 2017 mr bijus most fertile huntingground is the western ghats, a mountain range that runs parallel to indias western coast from gujarat to kerala.
A pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats. A group of frogs known as bush frogs are mostly found on sitting on leaves and calling for their mates. Various segments of this mountain range including the nilgiri, anaimalai, and palni hillshave peaks exceeding 8,000 feet 2,400 metres in elevation. Researchers have discovered a new species of tree frog named as ghatixalus magnus in the western ghats in kadalar high ranges of idukki district, kerala it was discovered by team of researchers comprising of robin abraham and batrachologis anil zachariah during their recent exploration in the western ghats. Gururajas popular book pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats, the app has 55 of the 157 known species of amphibians found in indias western ghats. Delhi university researchers discover 4 frog species in.
The outcome is 10 years of research and six months of collating images to form the book that describes 73 of the 157 known species of frogs and toads in the western ghats. Uttara kannada district, central western ghats 1216n 78% forest cover, four west flowing rivers, kali, bedti, aghanashini and sharavathi. Choose an image to view a larger version, then use your back button to return. Frogs of the genus indirana belong to the endemic family ranixalidae and are found exclusively in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. Courtship and nesting behaviour of this tree frog have been studied. Delhi university researchers discover new species of frogs. There are 181 known species of amphibian in the western ghats, 159 of them. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent. Even in this morph, you can see so many colour shades. Adult frogs have purple skins and a thin blue ring around each eye. Although night frogs are quite common across the western ghats, they face considerable threats from human activity.
The book describes 73 of the 157 known species of frogs and toads in the western ghats. As countless frogs sing and breed, many rare, endemic snakes emerge to prey on them. Front calling male of nyctibatrachus jog jog night frog back raorchestes luteolus. Rising like an impassable bulwark of evergreen and deciduous tangle, from north of mumbai to the tip of tamil nadu, the world heritagelisted ghats with an average elevation of 915m contain 27% of indias flowering plant species and an incredible array of endemic wildlife. Welcome to the lush western ghats, some of the most precious heat relief in india. The first frogs appeared on earth during the jurassic period, which lasted from about 200 million years ago to about 145 million years ago. Scientists discover four new species of burrowing frogs in. In the lowland areas of the western ghats of goa and in the hilly tracts of belgaum, its quite common to hear the tinkling 12 to 14note trick, trick chorus call from mud pools, paddy fields and local water bodies in the late evenings during the monsoon. Species are grouped on their habitat preferences, making it easy to use in the field. Ochlandra bush frog ochlandra a genus of bamboo endemic to western ghats is also home to this ornamentallooking fellow. Documenting the reptiles and amphibians with date and location will help scientists and researchers in their work.
The western ghats travel tamil nadu, india lonely planet. Pdf pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats. Buy altas of endemic amphibians of western ghats 97881817490. Location is to be accurately selected in map, this will help others to know where the birds are located. The study, titled seven new species of night frogs from the western ghats biodiversity hotspot of india, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms, was. Fascinating frogs found in mudumalai western ghats. There are 181 known species of amphibian in the western ghats, 159 of them endemic that is, found nowhere else. Bhupathys purple frog looks like its close relative n. Welcome to the india biodiversity portal a repository of information designed to harness and disseminate collective intelligence on the biodiversity of the indian subcontinent. Located in the western ghats range, it rises to 8,842 feet 2,695 metres and is peninsular indias highest peak. Research on frogs species in the western ghats has grown in leaps and bounds over the past decade.
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