Micrixalus elegans

Micrixalus elegans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Micrixalidae
Genus: Micrixalus
Species: M. elegans
Binomial name
Micrixalus elegans
(Rao, 1937)
Synonyms

Philautus elegans Rao, 1937

Micrixalus elegans is a species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, and occurs between the Palakkad Gap and Goa Gap in the states of Kerala and Karnataka.[2][3] Micrixalus elegans is one of the Micrixalus species showing "foot-flagging" behaviour, hence the common name elegant dancing frog has been proposed.[3] Other common names include elegant torrent frog and elegant bush frog.[2]

Description

Males measure 13–15.5 mm (0.51–0.61 in) and females 17.7–21 mm (0.70–0.83 in) in snout–vent length. The dorsum is uniformly reddish brown, with scattered yellowish grey spots. The sides of the head are distinctly dark blackish brown. The dorsal surfaces of the limbs are reddish brown with dark brown bands.[3]

Males of this species show "foot-flagging" behaviour, stretching the entire hing leg away from the body, that they occasionally conduct, along with calling. Males may also engage in male-male combats, kicking each other.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.[1] It prefers damp leaf litter by fast-flowing forest streams.[3]

This species was for a long time only known from the holotype, which is probably lost.[1] However, it was rediscovered in 2010 and found to be relatively common; the small adult size of this species might have led researchers to mistake them as juveniles of another species.[4] Classified as "data deficient" before its rediscovery,[1] the species is now know from several localities, some of them in or near protected areas.[3]

Typical habitat for Micrixalus elegans.
Micrixalus elegans amongst leaf litter and fallen logs near a fresh-water stream.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Biju, S.D. (2004). "Micrixalus elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004: e.T58377A11762591. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Micrixalus elegans (Rao, 1937)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Biju, S. D.; Sonali Garg; K. V. Gururaja; Yogesh Shouche; Sandeep A. Walujkar (2014). "DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species". Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences). 43 (1): 37–123. doi:10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850.
  4. ↑ "Elegant Torrent Frog: Micrixalus elegans". Lost! Amphibians of India. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
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