Raorchestes tuberohumerus
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Speciesbox
Raorchestes tuberohumerus (Kudremukh bush frog or knob handed shrub frog) 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.[1]
Description
This small sized shrub frog (male snout-vent length Script error: No such module "convert".) is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: Snout sub elliptical in shape; iris golden brown; the humerus bone slightly projects on the ventral region near shoulders; light grey dorsum with spinular projections and prominent yellow patches with brown on the groin region.[2][3]
Ecology and natural history
Raorchestes tuberohumerus are seen on shrubs in forests, plantations, home gardens and road side vegetation between 500 and 1500 m elevation. They are known to face down towards ground and vocalize on dead leaves on shrubs.[3]
Etymology
Scientists believe this is the only frog whose humerus bone sticks out of its body, so they gave it the Latin name tuberohumerus, meaning "knobbed humerus bone."[4]
Threats
Scientists classify this frog as least concern of extinction. What danger it faces is from wholesale conversion of its habitat to farmland or conversion from farmland compatible with its lifestyle to farmland incompatible with its lifestyle, such as ginger farming and other cash crops. Scientists also cite climate change as a danger for this frog.[5]
Scientists believe the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis can infect this frog. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis causes the fungal disease chytridiomycosis.[5]
Current known localities
Wayanad, Muthanga, Madikeri, Kudremukh, Agumbe, Jog, Kempholey, Anashi, Sakleshpur
Gallery
-
Raorchestes tuberohumerus in amplexus from agumbe
-
Raorchestes tuberohumerus eggs laid in moss
-
Freshly hatched froglet
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Gururaja, K. V. "Pictorial Guide to Frogs and Toads of Western Ghats." "Gubbi Labs". 2012.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".