Kalakad gliding frog

Rhacophorus calcadensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Subfamily: Rhacophorinae
Genus: Rhacophorus
Species: R. calcadensis
Binomial name
Rhacophorus calcadensis
Ahl, 1927
Synonyms

Rhacophorus beddomii Boulenger, 1882

The Kalakad gliding frog or Langbian flying frog (Rhacophorus calcadensis) is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family endemic to the southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states, India. Its name refers to its type locality, the town of Kalakkad in Tamil Nadu.[2]

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.[3]

Habitat and habits

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, montane forests, and rivers.[1] 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.[4]

It is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Biju, S.D.; Bhuddhe, G.D.; Dutta, S.; Vasudevan, K.; Srinivasulu, C. & Vijayakumar, S.P. (2004). "Rhacophorus calcadensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Rhacophorus calcadensis Ahl, 1927". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Gururaja.K.V. Pictorial guide to Frogs and Toads of Western Ghats, Gubbi Labs, India. ISBN 978-81-924461-0-3
  4. ↑ Seshadri.K.S. pers.obs. 2012
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