Yet another discovery of a new species of frog from Western Ghats


  
Western Ghats Frog
     A new species of wrinkled night frog was collected in the Shola patch forests of the Dattatreya Peeta, upstream of Manikyadhara falls of ‘Chandra Drona Parvatha’ hill ranges of Chikmagalur in Western Ghats. After scientific scrutiny the species turned out to be new to science and the new species is described and named as Nyctibatrachus dattatreyaensis in a joint effort by Dinesh, K.P., C. Radhakrishnan (Zoological Survey of India, Calicut) and G.K. Bhatta (BASE, Bangalore) in the October, 2008 issue of internationally reputed journal Zootaxa, of New Zealand.

    Nyctibatrachus dattatreyaensis is a medium sized (about 40.0 mm) wrinkled frog, found active during night. On comparison with the other species of the group, this species was found to be unique in having high degree of small corrugations (folds) on the body with prominent three discontinuous lateral folds. Thumb pad and femoral glands of males are found to be prominent in mature males. Due to the specific folding pattern in this species, it is very easy to identify even the young ones in the field itself, which is difficult for other young ones of this group. In life, eyes are golden yellow in colour with black rhomboidal pupil. Upper surface of the body is reddish black to stone black with two yellow lateral bands. The dorsal colour of this species camouflages with the ferruginous substratum of its habitat, which probably is essential for its survival from its predators. Chest, belly and anterior part of thighs are translucent and the internal organs can be clearly seen.
   In day time the frog prefers to hide below small boulders and damp leaf litter along the slow flowing streams of the shola forests in the hill ranges.
    As per the current studies this species is limited to the hill ranges surrounding the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and is not found anywhere else in the World. The genus Nyctibatrachus is endemic to Western Ghats and the species Nyctibatrachus dattatreyaensis is one among the 16 nominal species known in the World. The new species is named as Nyctibatrachus dattatreyaensis after the divinity, Lord “Dattatreya”, a shrine, worshiped by people at Dattatreya Peeta, Chikmagalur.
    The hill ranges of ‘Chandra Drona Parvatha’ are well known for ayurvedic medicines, yet today unauthorized collection of herbs and plants are taking place in the shola forests here. The area is also under immense human pressure due to ecotourism, and the lone water source for Manikyadhara falls can be affected in future. Since narrowly distributed species are at a greater risk of extinction than the more widely distributed ones, the type locality of this species needs to be properly conserved.
    The current discovery of a new species of frog, endemic to Western Ghats has special significance since the year 2008 is declared as ‘The Year of the Frog’, by the Amphibian Ark - a joint effort of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG), and the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG). The main goal of this campaign is to generate public awareness and understanding of the amphibian extinction crisis.

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