Kalakad gliding frog
| Kalakad gliding frog | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Rhacophorus |
| Species: | R. calcadensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhacophorus calcadensis Ahl, 1927 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Rhacophorus beddomii Boulenger, 1882 |
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The Kalakad gliding frog, Rhacophorus calcadensis, is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India.
Description
Their size ranges from 20 to 90 mm. Dorsal coloration is pale greenish-brown with mottling on the flanks. The underbelly is fawn to pale green. Webbing of similar coloration exists between the fingers and toes. Skin flaps are found on fore and hind limbs, with a spur on each hind limb.[1]
Habitat and habits
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and rivers. It is observed over heights of 30 m in the forest canopy during the day. They breed before or after monsoon seasons by descending to shallow pools or slow-flowing streams. Groups of four or five males vocalize around females. The call is a moderately loud "chuch-chrrr-chuck-chuck-chuck". They build foam nests on vegetation hanging over shallow pools of water. The nest is similar to, but smaller in size, than that of Rhacophorus malabaricus.[2]
It is threatened by habitat loss.
References
- Biju, S.D., Bhuddhe, G.D., Dutta, S., Vasudevan, K., Srinivasulu, C. & Vijayakumar, S.P. 2004. Rhacophorus calcadensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.
- ^ Gururaja.K.V. Pictorial guide to Frogs and Toads of Western Ghats, Gubbi Labs, India. ISBN: 978-81-924461-0-3
- ^ Seshadri.K.S. pers.obs. 2012
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