The amphibians of the western ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the rainforests of the mountains. Jun 21, 2017 only 78 out of the 230frog species in the western ghats are burrowing frogs. Bhupathys purple frog was named in honor of noted herpetologist subramaniam bhupathy, who died from a fall during an expedition in the western ghats in 2014. The fungoid frog occurs commonly on the forest floor, and sports a beautiful bronze on its back, contrasting with a black body. Matching this incredible biological richness is the ethnic and cultural diversity of the western ghats. The region the western ghats, is a mountain range that runs along the western side of india. Uttara kannada district, central western ghats 1216n 78% forest cover, four west flowing rivers, kali, bedti, aghanashini and sharavathi. Jan 27, 2014 the western ghats is a 1,000mile ribbon of mountains running all the way down the western side of the subcontinent, from gujurat in the north to kerala in the south. Development projects pumped into these river basins. Gururaja kv 2012, pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats pdf in. Choose an image to view a larger version, then use your back button to return. Pdf pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats.
The region of the western ghats mountain range in india has turned up another new species of frog in 2017, and this one is quite bizarre. Kv gururaja making the simple complicated is commonplace. This frog genus is endemic to the western ghats of india and represents an ancient group of frogs that diversified on the indian landmass approximately 7080 million years ago. The amphibians of the western ghats are diverse and unique, with more than 80% of the 179 amphibian species being endemic to the region. Otherwise, they stay hidden underground or under wooden logs. The project to map species of frogs, lizards and snakes in the western ghats has been under way since 200809. This novel species potentially represents the largest known rhacophorid species in peninsular india, attaining an average male body size of 76 mm, said the authors. Altas of endemic amphibians of western ghats zoological survey.
The discovery of several new species of ancient origin can provide useful insights into the evolution of endemic frog lineages in the western ghats, which is a leading. With the description of ghatixalus magnus, there are now three nominal species in this western ghats endemic genus of montane frogs. Before being raised to the family level they were classified as the subfamily micrixalinae within ranidae. The funky designer patches on the legs are however the most striking feature of. Sep 29, 2017 the region of the western ghats mountain range in india has turned up another new species of frog in 2017, and this one is quite bizarre. Nhbs ka subramanian, kp dinesh, c radhakrishnan, zoological survey of india. The trees grow back their leaves and the leaves go flush, trickling streams flow once again and water holes in the forest get full.
Feb 21, 2017 the study, titled seven new species of night frogs from the western ghats biodiversity hotspot of india, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms, was published today in peerj, a peer. One of the indian dancing frogs is listed as endangered, one is vulnerable, and another is becoming threatened due to clearcut logging in the western ghats. Micrixalus commonly known as dancing frogs, tropical frogs, and torrent frogs is a genus of frogs from that are endemic to the western ghats in india. The eastern ghats are made up of charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, metamorphic gneisses and quartzite rock formations. There are 181 known species of amphibian in the western ghats, 159 of them endemic that is, found nowhere else. While new species are being identified, the known ones are moving towards. Night frogs are found only in southern parts of the western ghats region of india and represent an ancient group of frogs that populated the region about 70 million. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent. I am talking about recently released pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats by dr. The endangered purple frog was discovered in 2003 to be a living fossil. The western ghats is a 1,000mile ribbon of mountains running all the way down the western side of the subcontinent, from gujurat in the north to kerala in the south.
In the western ghats of kerala and tamil nadu, early monsoon offers outstanding reptile and amphibianwatching. Various segments of this mountain range including the nilgiri, anaimalai, and palni hillshave peaks exceeding 8,000 feet 2,400 metres in elevation. Why scientists couldnt find this tadpole for 125 years. The pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats and android application frog find a heavy application by k. This species of frog is most closely related to species found in the seychelles. The outcome is 10 years of research and six months of collating images to form the book that describes 73 of the 157 known species of frogs and toads in the western ghats. Oct 31, 2017 frog find is an interactive app on the frogs and toads of western ghats. What are some interesting facts about the western ghats of. A pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats. The high peaks of the western ghats run along the states western border. Ochlandra bush frog ochlandra a genus of bamboo endemic to western ghats is also home to this ornamentallooking fellow. Unfortunately, onethird of the frogs in the western ghats region are threatened with extinction.
The first book published by gubbi labs and authored by dr. All birds seen in maharashtra, gujarat, goa, karnataka, tamilnadu and kerala states are eligible for this mission. The study, titled seven new species of night frogs from the western ghats biodiversity hotspot of india, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms, was. The western ghats travel tamil nadu, india lonely planet. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats. The book describes 73 of the 157 known species of frogs and toads in the western ghats. The blueeyed bush frog philautus luteolus is one of the prettiest bush frogs and was recently discovered in the western ghats. It can be seen in various colour morphs, a light greenyellow morph is seen here. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats nhbs.
Nov 05, 2014 ochlandra a genus of bamboo endemic to western ghats is also home to this ornamentallooking fellow. Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians. Males emit advertisement calls after three or four heavy. Bhupathys purple frog simple english wikipedia, the. The frog has one close relative, the purple frog, n. Front calling male of nyctibatrachus jog jog night frog back raorchestes luteolus. Research has confirmed that the western ghats have.
Mar 31, 2016 one of the indian dancing frogs is listed as endangered, one is vulnerable, and another is becoming threatened due to clearcut logging in the western ghats. The western ghats, also known as sahyadri benevolent mountains, are a mountain range that covers an area of 140,000 square kilometres 54,000 sq mi in a stretch of 1,600 kilometres 990 mi parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula, traversing the states of kerala, tamil nadu, karnataka, goa, maharashtra and gujarat. Book on forest foods of western ghats released april 14, 2016 4. Mar 09, 2017 night frogs are found only in southern parts of the western ghats region of india and represent an ancient group of frogs that populated the region about 70 million to 80 million years ago. Many of these are terrestrial frogs calling to attract females. Adult frogs have purple skins and a thin blue ring around each eye. New android app helps you identify frogs in the western ghats. Since taxonomy, biology and distribution of these frogs.
Frog find is an interactive app on the frogs and toads of western ghats. Located in the western ghats range, it rises to 8,842 feet 2,695 metres and is peninsular indias highest peak. A small bush frog, raorchestes chromasynchysi, found in the western ghats of india. Let me get you up close and personal with 9 of these spectacular frogs from the western ghatsfungoid frog. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats a. While most frogs in the western ghats can be easily spotted during the monsoon, these frogs can be seen for only two to three weeks in june and july. A group of frogs known as bush frogs are mostly found on sitting on leaves and calling for their mates. Recently, a team of researchers led by frog biologist ks seshadri found out that this frog and its close relative, the whitespotted bush frog, breed within the hollow stems of bamboos. Conservation in india froghunters of the western ghats. Bhupathys purple frog looks like its close relative n. Nov 25, 2015 researchers have discovered a new species of tree frog named as ghatixalus magnus in the western ghats in kadalar high ranges of idukki district, kerala it was discovered by team of researchers comprising of robin abraham and batrachologis anil zachariah during their recent exploration in the western ghats. From this point radiate three rangesthe anaimalai to the north, the palni to the northeast, and the cardamom hills to the south. Of indias 405 amphibiansincluding frogs, toads, caecilians limbless amphibians and salamanders239 are found in the western ghats, a 150 millionyearold mountain range that hugs the.
Nov 30, 2012 frogs of the genus indirana belong to the endemic family ranixalidae and are found exclusively in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. Buy altas of endemic amphibians of western ghats 97881817490. It runs, about 1600 km, north to south, along the western edge of the deccan plateau. Welcome to the lush western ghats, some of the most precious heat relief in india. Mr bijus most fertile huntingground is the western ghats, a mountain range that runs parallel to indias western coast from gujarat to kerala. Fascinating frogs found in mudumalai western ghats deep. Frogs and toads 32 families, 372 genera, 5227 species. Mar 21, 2017 mr bijus most fertile huntingground is the western ghats, a mountain range that runs parallel to indias western coast from gujarat to kerala.
Amphibians of the western ghats public group facebook. Welcome to the india biodiversity portal a repository of information designed to harness and disseminate collective intelligence on the biodiversity of the indian subcontinent. Delhi university researchers discover new species of frogs. Several families of frogs, namely of the genera micrixalus, indirana, nyctibatrachus, are endemic to this region. Feb 21, 2017 although night frogs are quite common across the western ghats, they face considerable threats from human activity. Four new species of anurans belonging to the genus rhacophorus, polypedates, philautus and bufo have been described from the western ghats. Hunting for frogs in the western ghats the economist. Jun 16, 2018 somewhere hidden in a tiny patch of forest in the western ghats the precise place i cannot reveal, to protect the endangered species we knew existed one of the worlds oddest and rarest frogs. Courtship and nesting behaviour of this tree frog have been studied. It was while documenting the existing species that the scientists began to find these new varieties, named thumbelina frogs. Even in this morph, you can see so many colour shades.
Delhi university researchers discover 4 frog species in. Most of the endemic species have their distribution in the rainforests of these mountains. Pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats by dr. Gururajas popular book pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats, the app has 55 of the 157 known species of amphibians found in indias western ghats. Nine beautiful new frogs found in indias western ghats bbc. Meet the dancing frogs of the western ghats picture. So finally, monsoon arrives and with it the forest changes dramatically. Frogs of the genus indirana belong to the endemic family ranixalidae and are found exclusively in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. Rhacophorus malabaricus is endemic to the western ghats of india. The pictorial guide to frogs and toads of the western ghats is designed to help students researchers forest managers photographers and. Species are grouped on their habitat preferences, making it easy to use in the field.
The first frogs appeared on earth during the jurassic period, which lasted from about 200 million years ago to about 145 million years ago. Micrixalus frogs are popularly known as dancing frogs due to their peculiar habit. Several rivers, including the periyar and amaravati. New species of tree frog named ghatixalus magnus discovered. There are 181 known species of amphibian in the western ghats, 159 of them. The eastern ghats are older than the western ghats, and have a complex geologic history related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of rodinia and the assembly of the gondwana supercontinent. Dec 10, 2014 the western ghats is home to many species of frog, including the 14 dancing frogs discovered earlier this year. Location is to be accurately selected in map, this will help others to know where the birds are located.
Fascinating frogs found in mudumalai western ghats. This book exemplifies presenting complicated scientific information in a very simple manner. S onali garg, 29, a phd student from university of delhi, under the supervision of professor sd birju, has discovered four new species of burrowing frogs in the western ghats after five years of extensive research on the amphibians the new species belong to the indian frog genus or group called fejerarya, and are considered unique because of their ability to burrow with their hind legs. According to journal nature, western ghats are one of the eight hottest hotspots for biodiversity in the world. Scientists discover four new species of burrowing frogs in. In the lowland areas of the western ghats of goa and in the hilly tracts of belgaum, its quite common to hear the tinkling 12 to 14note trick, trick chorus call from mud pools, paddy fields and local water bodies in the late evenings during the monsoon. The southern end, covered in primary rainforest, is frog heaven. Thousands of species of frogs have evolved developed over time from these early ancestors. There is water everywhere, the forest is soakedeven tree holes are full. Delhi university researchers discover new species of frogs in. Researchers have discovered a new species of tree frog named as ghatixalus magnus in the western ghats in kadalar high ranges of idukki district, kerala it was discovered by team of researchers comprising of robin abraham and batrachologis anil zachariah during their recent exploration in the western ghats. Between the years 200615, a total of 1,581 species of amphibians were described globally.
Rising like an impassable bulwark of evergreen and deciduous tangle, from north of mumbai to the tip of tamil nadu, the world heritagelisted ghats with an average elevation of 915m contain 27% of indias flowering plant species and an incredible array of endemic wildlife. Jun 21, 2017 research on frogs species in the western ghats has grown in leaps and bounds over the past decade. The endangered malabar tree toad pedostibes tuberculosus gururaja k. The past two decades have witnessed some remarkable amphibian discoveries from the western ghats. The western ghats is home to many species of frog, including the 14 dancing frogs discovered earlier this year. On the one hand, we have brought these beautiful frogs into public knowledge. Amphibians comprising of frogs, toads and caecilians are important. Research on frogs species in the western ghats has grown in leaps and bounds over the past decade. The book of indian reptiles and amphibians 11 and pictorial guide to frogs and toads of western ghats 12, photographed using canon 600.
It is an extension to the well know book frogs and toads of western ghats by dr. Gururaja surisehgal centre for biodiversity and conservation ashoka trust for research in ecology and the environment atree, royal enclave, sriramapura, jakkur po. Thats because it is a fragmented landscape, with hills, valleys and plateaus. Although night frogs are quite common across the western ghats, they face considerable threats from human activity. Somewhere hidden in a tiny patch of forest in the western ghats the precise place i cannot reveal, to protect the endangered species we knew existed one of. Anai peak, at 8,842 feet 2,695 metres in the anaimalai hills, is the highest mountain in.
New findings, such as this frog, indicate that the amphibian inventory of the region is still far. This book takes you on a visual journey through one of the last great places on earth a place to be cherished, a wild heritage to be preserved for generations to come. As countless frogs sing and breed, many rare, endemic snakes emerge to prey on them. Documenting the reptiles and amphibians with date and location will help scientists and researchers in their work. Miscellaneous, resources leave a comment this field guide to the amphibians of the western ghats is not just a tool for researchers.