Raorchestes travancoricus
| Raorchestes travancoricus | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Raorchestes |
| Species: | R. travancoricus |
| Binomial name | |
| Raorchestes travancoricus (Boulenger, 1891) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Ixalus travancoricus Boulenger, 1891 | |
Raorchestes travancoricus, variously known as either the Travancore bushfrog, Travancore bubble-nest frog, or Travancore tree frog, a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, India. Its name refers to its type locality, Bodinayakkanur in the former Travancore state (now in Tamil Nadu).[3]
Rediscovery
For some time, the species was feared to be extinct.[1] In early 2009, University of Delhi researchers announced the species was rediscovered in the Western Ghats.[4] The rediscovery was a result of intense surveying in the Western Ghats. Before discovering a single male from Vandiperiyar in 2004, the species had not been recorded after its description in 1891 by George Albert Boulenger; later on, two males have been found from Vagamon. The species remains very rare, and the known populations, both in Kerala, occur in disturbed habitat (tea plantations) outside protected areas.[2]
Description
Raorchestes travancoricus is a small frog, males measuring 22–25 mm (0.87–0.98 in) in snout-vent length and the single measured female 30 mm (1.2 in). Its back is light-greyish red to brown with prominent brown broad lines alternating with thin faint lines. It has yellowish brown iris. Raorchestes travancoricus is a close relative of Raorchestes luteolus with whom it could be confused.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Biju, S.D. (2004). "Raorchestes travancoricus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
- ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Raorchestes travancoricus (Boulenger, 1891)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ↑ University of Delhi (February 3, 2009). "Dozen New Tree Frogs Discovered In Rapidly Vanishing Habitat In India". ScienceDaily.
External links
Data related to Raorchestes travancoricus at Wikispecies