Raorchestes tuberohumerus

Raorchestes tuberohumerus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Raorchestes
Species:
R. tuberohumerus
Binomial name
Raorchestes tuberohumerus
(Kuramoto & Joshy, 2003)
Synonyms

Philautus tuberohumerus Kuramoto & Joshy, 2003

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.[2]

Description

This small sized shrub frog (male snout-vent length 22–19 mm (0.87–0.75 in)) 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.[3][4]

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.[4]

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."[5]

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.[6]

Scientists believe the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis can infect this frog. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis causes the fungal disease chytridiomycosis.[1]


Current known localities

Wayanad, Muthanga, Madikeri, Kudremukh, Agumbe, Jog, Kempholey, Anashi, Sakleshpur

  • Raorchestes tuberohumerus in amplexus from agumbe
    Raorchestes tuberohumerus in amplexus from agumbe
  • Raorchestes tuberohumerus eggs laid in moss
    Raorchestes tuberohumerus eggs laid in moss
  • Freshly hatched froglet
    Freshly hatched froglet

References

  1. ^ a b IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Kudremukh Bush Frog: Raorchestes tuberohumerus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T58928A166108920. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Raorchestes tuberohumerus (Kuramoto and Joshy, 2003)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  3. ^ Biju, S. D.; Bossuyt, F. (2009). "Systematics and phylogeny of Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Anura, Rhacophoridae) in the Western Ghats of India, with descriptions of 12 new species". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 155 (2): 374–444. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00466.x.
  4. ^ a b Gururaja, K. V. "Pictorial Guide to Frogs and Toads of Western Ghats." "Gubbi Labs". 2012.
  5. ^ Mitsuru Kuramoto; S. Hareesh Joshy (2003). "Two New Species of the Genus Philautus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, Southwestern India". Current Herpetology (Full text). 22 (2): 51–60. doi:10.5358/hsj.22.51. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  6. ^ Das, I. (2009). "Raorchestes parvulus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
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