Diversity of rhacophorids (Amphibia: Anura) in
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, Kerala, India
K.M. Jobin 1 & P.O. Nameer 2
1,2 Department of Wildlife Sciences, College
of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellanikkara, Kerala 680656,
India
Email: 1 jobinmathew00@gmail.com,2 nameerpo@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Date
of publication (online): 26 October 2012
Date
of publication (print): 26 October 2012
ISSN
0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Editor:Sanjay
Molur
Manuscript
details:
Ms
# o3081
Received
25 January 2012
Final
received 28 July 2012
Finally
accepted 14 August 2012
Citation: Jobin, K.M. & P.O. Nameer (2012). Diversity of
rhacophorids (Amphibia: Anura) in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats,
Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa4(13): 3205–3214.
Copyright: © K.M. Jobin & P.O. Nameer 2012. Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this
article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by
providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.
Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the Kerala State
Forest Department, particularly the Chief Wildlife Warden for granting
permission (study permit No. WL 12-7972/2010) to study the
amphibians at PKTR. We thank the Field Director, PKTR, the Wildlife
Warden, the Assistant Wildlife Wardens, the Wildlife Asst. and other staff of
PTR for making necessary arrangements on the logistics at PTR. We also thank
Dr. Anil Zachariah and Sandeep Das for confirming the identification of the
frogs, Mr. Sreenivasan, the forest watcher at the PKTR for accompanying us in
the field, Sreehari R., Kiran Thomas, Maya T. Joy, Lakshmi, A. Nithin, S.
Sachin, K. Aravind for their support, V.S. Sreehari for helping with the
preparation of the map of PKTR. The Associate Dean of the College of Forestry
is thanked for the encouragement and the facilities during the study. We also
would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for offering very valuable
comments.
Abstract: A study on the rhacophorids of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve was
conducted from April to July 2011. Eleven species of rhacophorids in four genera—Rhacophorus(three species), Polypedates (one species), Pseudophilautus (one
species) and Raorchestes (six species)—were recorded.
Distribution, natural history and biological information is provided including
some recommendations for changes in the IUCN conservation status of the
rhacophorids of Western Ghats have been proposed in the paper.
Keywords: IUCN Red Listing, Kerala, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve,
Rhacophoridae, Western Ghats.
The publication of this article is supported by the Critical Ecosystem
Partnership Fund (CEPF) -- a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement,
Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of
Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank.
ZooBank
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:450A0968-536A-4E4A-9F60-AF0DB8415D01
For
figures, images, tables -- click here
Western Ghats, one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of the World (Myers et al. 2000;
Conservation International 2005) is exceptionally rich in amphibian
diversity. During the last one and
half decades there has been an outburst of publications, including the
description of several new species to science from the family Rhacophoridae
(Das & Ravichandran 1998; Vasudevan & Dutta 2000; Bossuyt 2002;
Kuramoto & Joshy 2003; Biju & Bossuyt 2005a,b; Biju & Bossuyt
2006a; Das & Dutta 2006; Gururaja et al. 2007; Biju & Bossuyt 2009;
Biju et al. 2010; Zachariah et al. 2011a,b). About 68 species of frogs were described
from India in the last one decade of which 32 species,
nearly 50%, were members of the family Rhacophoridae (Dinesh et al. 2011). The rhacophorids are characterised by
their varied microhabitat preferences ranging from ground litter (Biju et al.
2010), bushes and reeds (Gururaja et al. 2007) to high up in the forest canopy
(Biju & Bossuyt 2005a). The
rhacophorids also display varying breeding biology (Patil & Kanamadi 1997;
Krishnamurthy et al. 2002; Biju 2003; Gururaja & Ramachandra
2006). Very little is known about
the amphibians of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PKTR) in general and rhacophorids
in particular hence the present study. The earlier studies on the amphibians of PKTR include Rao (1937),
Satyamurthi (1967) and Radhakrishnan (1996).
Study Area
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
(PKTR) is situated in Palghat District, Kerala, India, within the Anamalai
Hills and borders Nelliyampathy Hills (76035’–76050’E
& 10020’–10026’N). The total extent of the Tiger Reserve is
643.66km2, with a core zone of 390.89km2 and buffer zone
of 252.77km2 (Kaler 2011). The major vegetation types in the core zone are IA/C4 west coast
tropical evergreen forests, 2A/C2 west coast tropical semievergreen forests,
3B/C2 southern moist mixed deciduous forests, 5A/C3 southern dry mixed
deciduous forests, 2/E3 moist bamboo brakes, 8A/C1/E1 reed brakes and IIA/C1
southern montane wet temperate forests (sholas). The altitude of the PKTR ranges from
300–1438 m (Kaler 2011). Major peaks are Karimala (1438m), Pandaravarai (1290m), Vengoli (1120m)
and Puliyarapadam (1010m). PKTR has
three man-made reservoirs namely Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Peruvaripallam
whose cumulative waterspread area is 20.66km2. The PKTR forms the catchment of
Chalakkudy River. Administratively,
PKTR is divided into four ranges, the Karimala Range, Orukomban Range,
Parambikulam Range and Sungam Range (Fig. 1). The present study is primarily confined
to the core zone of PKTR.
Methods
Visual encounter surveys were
carried out at Parambikulam TR from April–July 2011. Efforts were made to cover all the
representative habitats of PKTR. The frogs were searched for in the suitable microhabitats and two
specimens per species were collected. Standard morphological measurements were taken for all specimens as per
Bossuyt & Dubois (2001). These
include, snout vent length (SVL), head width (HW), head length (HL), maximum
distance between upper eye lid (IUE), maximum width of
upper eye lid (UEW), snout length (SL), eye length (EL), forelimb length (FLL),
hand length (HAL), thigh length (TL), shank length (SHL), tarsus length (TaL),
foot length (FoL). The measurements
were taken using a Mitutoyo Digimatic Caliper (to the nearest 0.1mm). The collected specimens were fixed using
5% formaldehyde, preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol and were deposited in the
Kerala Agricultural University Natural History Museum (KAUNHM), Thrissur with
appropriate registration numbers. In this paper the rhacophorid frogs obtained from PKTR were grouped into
“large frogs” (SVL >50mm), “medium frogs” (SVL 30–50mm) and “small
frogs” (SVL < 30mm) based on the snout-vent length (SVL). The frogs were
identified by comparing the standard measurements taken on the frogs with the
published literature.
Results
Eleven species of rhacophorid
frogs in four genera, namely, Rhacophorus (three species), Polypedates(one species), Pseudophilautus (one species) and Raorchestes (six
species) were recorded from PKTR during the present study. All the 11 species of rhacophorids
recorded from PKTR are endemic to the Western Ghats.
1. Charpa Tree FrogPolypedates occidentalis Das & Dutta, 2006
A large
frog (SVL= 55mm) having dark yellowish-brown color with a dark
hour-glass-shaped mark on dorsum. Distinct
marbling on the sides of thigh and belly. Snout pointed with nostrils closer to
snout tip. Supra tympanic fold
prominent, fingers not webbed (Image 1).
One individual was
encountered on a wet rock near a stream flowing through a reed (Ochlandrasp.) patch at Malakkapara, buffer zone of PKTR. This location is about 50km north to the
type locality of this species (Charpa in Vazhachal Forest Division). Polypedates occidentalis is also
reported from Karnataka (Hegde & Bhat 2011). It is considered a ‘Data Deficient’
species, according to IUCN (Das 2008) calling for a reassessment based on new
information available for the species, which is probably adequate with respect
to the distribution range and threats.
2. Kani Bush Frog Pseudophilautus
kani (Biju & Bossuyt, 2009)
A small
frog (SVL= 27.52+1.71 mm, Table 1) with brown to light grayish-brown dorsum. Shank length almost
equal to the thigh length. Canthus rostralis and loreal region dark grayish-brown, prominent
supra tympanic fold, 2/3rd of tympanum including supra tympanic fold
blackish (Image 2). Hind
limbs possess rudimentary webbing while webbing is lacking in the forelimbs.
Calling males were
encountered from bushes and female frogs from ground litter. In PKTR, they are seen from
400–1400 m at the top of Karimalagopuram. P. kanihas been sighted from teak plantations, moist deciduous forests and evergreen
forests and is one of the commonest bush frogs in PKTR.
Biju & Bossuyt (2009) had
reported P. kani only from the Agasthyamala region, south of the
Shengotta Gap in Western Ghats. Thus, the present sighting of this species from the Anamalai region is
of interest. The SVL of the female P.
kani, reported by Biju & Bossuyt (2009) was only 24.4mm, while the
average SVL measurement for the females that we got from PKTR measured 27.52mm.
3. Variable Bush
Frog Raorchestes akroparallagi (Biju & Bossuyt, 2009)
A small
frog (SVL=21.46+0.46 mm, Table 1) with a bright light green dorsum. The snout pointed, canthus rostralis,
loreal, supra tympanic fold and forearm creamy to pale brown with numerous dark
brown spots (Image 3).
At, PKTR it was encountered
throughout from an altitude of 450–1000 m and above, from the teak
plantations, moist deciduous forests and evergreen forests. The locations from where this frog was
sighted include the Parambikulam earth dam, base of Karimalagopuram,
Kuriyarkutti, Orukomban in PKTR and from Thoothanpaara
Estate in Nelliampathies in the buffer region. Biju & Bossuyt (2009) reported this
species from Wayanad and Agasthyamala regions of Western Ghats in Kerala. This is the first report of this species
from the Anamalais of the Western Ghats. There is adequate information
from published sources to assess this species whichhas not been evaluated until now.
4. Anil’s Bush Frog Raorchestes
anili (Biju & Bossuyt, 2006)
A small bush frog (SVL=
24.81+0.51 mm, Table 1), narrow pointed snout, head width
which is more than head length. Light chocolate brown color with a dark inverted ‘V’ pattern on
dorsum. Supra
tympanic fold prominent, canthus rostralis, loreal and supra tympanic fold dark
brown. Metallic
silver colored iris. Blackish blotches on lateral
sides of abdomen, dark chocolate brown bands on both forelimbs and hind limbs
(Image 4).
At PKTR R. anili was
encountered at Poopara region in the core zone and from Malakkapara in the
buffer zone. At Poopara the
calling males were found primarily on the leaves of Curcuma sp. leaves
near an evergreen patch at an altitude of 840m. While at Malakkapara R.
anili was found among the pebbles and leaf litter in a stream. Biju & Bossuyt (2009) reported this
species from Wayanad and Agasthyamala regions of Western Ghats in Kerala. The present sighting thus is the first
report of this species from the Anamalais of the Western Ghats.
According to IUCN red listing
it is a ‘Least Concern’ species (Biju 2006). Taking into account the fact that R.
anili is endemic to the Western Ghats, known only from four locations
within southern Western Ghats, of which two sites are located in nonprotected
areas. And also the fact that the
nonprotected areas within the Western Ghats are facing extreme stress from
various forms of anthropogenic factors, which in turn may adversely affect the
quality of the microhabitat parameters for the survival of amphibians, a is
reassessment recommended for this species.
5. Jayaram’s Bush Frog Raorchestes
jayarami (Biju & Bossuyt, 2009)
Small sized bush frog (SVL=
22.17+0.79 mm, Table 1) with a bright green dorsum. Green
coloration extending to the lower arm of forelimb leaving the upper arm white. Snout pointed, tympanum and supra
tympanic fold not distinct. Lateral
part of abdomen and limbs white or rarely with a sky blue tinge (Image 5).
At PKTR, R. jayaramiwas sighted only above 1000m altitude in the evergreen
patches of Karimalagopuram and several calling male frogs were also sighted in
the tea plantation near the evergreen patch at Shekkalmudi. Biju & Bossuyt (2009) reported this
species from Valparai within the Anamalai Hills of the southern Western Ghats
in Tamil Nadu. Thus, the present
sighting from the Kerala part of the Anamalai Hills is of interest.
This species is not evaluated
and needs assessment by the IUCN Red List.
6. Mark’s Bush Frog Raorchestes
marki (Biju & Bossuyt, 2009)
Small sized bush frog (SVL=
20.71+0.06 mm, Table 1) with dark chocolate brown to dark brown color with
reddish markings on the body, pointed snout, shank longer than the thigh. Eyes protruding with
coppery iris. Supra tympanic fold prominent. Lateral sides of limbs and
abdomen possess small blackish spots or blotches (Image 6).
R. marki were encountered from a
semi-evergreen patch on top of Vengoli Hill, at an altitude of 1120m. Calling males were sighted among bushes
and tree bark at a height of 1–2 m. The type locality of this species is
Kaikatty in Nelliampathies (Biju & Bossuyt 2009) and is known until now
only from the type locality. The
present observation from PKTR thus is a new site record for R. marki. However, both these locations are within
the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats. According to the IUCN criteria B1ab (iii)+2ab(iii) ver 3.1, it is a
‘Critically Endangered’ species (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2011).
7. Kalpetta Bush Frog Raorchestes
nerostagona (Biju & Bossuyt, 2005)
Medium sized (SVL=34mm)
canopy bush frog with skin looking similar to bark of a tree. Toe webbed, dermal fringe present along
outer margin of forelimb and hind limb. Prominent tympanum and supratympanic fold present. Shank longer than thigh and dark brown
bands present. Male frogs will make
a characteristic single noted call from the canopies during the breeding
season.
This species was identified
based on the characteristic call of the frog, which was heard from the canopy
of the evergreen forest patches in Shakkalmudi in PKTR and Thoothanpaara estate
in the buffer region, between 800–1000 m. Biju & Bossuyt (2009) have reported
this species from Wayanad region of Western Ghats in Kerala. Purushotham & Tapley (2011) have
reported this species from Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Agumbe in
Karnataka. The present report from
PKTR within the Anamalai Hills is thus the first record of this species from
south of Palghat gap. According to
the IUCN criteria B1ab (iii) ver 3.1, it is an Endangered species (Biju &
Bossuyt 2006b).
8. Ponmudi Bush Frog Raorchestes
ponmudi (Biju & Bossuyt, 2005)
Medium sized frog (SVL=
35.51+2.52 mm, Table 1) with robust body and protruding eyes. Light chocolate brown or creamy white
color and rarely white spots on the dorsum. Snout round, toe partially webbed,
lateral side of thigh and tarsus possess light grayish-white or orange brown
marblings (Image 7).
Calling male frogs were
sighted from semi-evergreen forests at Poopara and Vengoli in the core zone of
PKTR and also seen from Malakkappara, in the buffer zone of PKTR at an altitude
of 700m and above. Biju & Bossuyt (2009) have reported this species from
Kalpetta, Mananthavady and Sulthan’s Battery from Wayanad District, Gavi and
Vagaman in Idukki District and Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala
and Valparai in Tamil Nadu. Calling
males were seen at a height ranging from 1–6 m from ground in PKTR. However, the individuals from the
Malakkapara in the buffer zone of PKTR were sighted among decayed wood on the
ground and another from a tree hole at a height of 1m in an evergreen
patch. Biju & Bossuyt (2009)
had sighted the species at a height of 8–15 m in Ponmudi and Valparai,
while at Kalpetta it was sighted at a height of 2–4 m height. Purushotham & Tapley (2011) reported
this species from Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Agumbe in Karnataka. The present sighting thus is the first
report of this species from the Kerala part of the Anamalai Hills.
According to the IUCN criteriaB1ab(iii), it is a Critically Endangered species (Biju
2004). However, taking into account
the present understanding on the distribution of the species from across
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, a reassessment of the Raorchestes ponmudiwould probably downlist the conservation status to Vulnerable.
9. Kalakkad Tree Frog Rhacophorus
calcadensis Ahl, 1927
Medium sized (SVL= 37.03+0.81
mm, Table 1) slender frog with dark brown to light reddish-brown color dorsum
with darker patches and possess a tubercles on dorsal skin and on lower
labials. Shank
length almost similar to thigh length. Prominent dermal
fringe along the outer margin of the forelimb and hind limb present. Dark bands in the
forelimb and hindlimb (Image 8).
Four individuals were sighted
among the bushes near a water hole between the evergreen forest and tea
plantation at Shekkalmudi in PKTR at an altitude of 1118m. R. calcadensisis known only from Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu (Ahl 1927;
Vasudevan et al. 2001). The present
record is thus the first report of this species from the Anamalai Hills of the
Western Ghats.
According to the IUCN
criteria B1ab(iii), it is Endangered (Biju et al.
2004b). However, taking into
account the present understanding on the distribution of the species, a
reassessment of the Rhacophorus calcadensis could probably downlist the
conservation status to Vulnerable based on the distribution range.
10. Malabar Gliding Frog Rhacophorus
malabaricus Jerdon, 1870
A large sized tree frog
(SVL=70mm, Table 1) with a green dorsum and a prominent red colored web between
fingers of hindlimb and forelimb. Head width larger than head length. Dermal fold along with
the outer margin of the arm and on hindlimb from tarsus to tip of fourth toe
(Image 9).
This species was located from
Parambikulam earth-dam and Kuriarkutti at an altitude of 565m in PKTR. Rhacophorus
malabaricus is a widely distributed species in Western Ghats from southern
Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
11. False Malabar Tree
Frog Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus Vasudevan & Dutta, 2000
Medium sized (SVL 46.54+2.16
mm, Table 1) frog with green dorsum with dark stripes like venation of leaves
on the green dorsum and on dorsal surface of limbs. Eyes are protruding, distinct supra-tympanic
fold present. Dermal
fold along the outer margin of the arm and on hind limb from tarsus to tip of
fourth toe (Image 10).
Two calling males were
sighted from bushes and among the ground ferns near an artificial water hole
between the evergreen forest and tea plantation at Shekkalmudi, PKTR at an
altitude of 1118m. The type
locality of this species is Andiparai Shola, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary,
Tamil Nadu (Vasudevan & Dutta 2000), and until now it is known only from
the type locality. The present
observation thus is a new site record for the R. pseudomalabaricus. However, both these location are within
the Anamalai hills of the Western Ghats. It is also interesting to note that R. pseudomalabaricus and R.
calcadensis were found in the same pond at Shekkalmudi in PKTR. According
to IUCN criteria B1ab(iii)ver 3.1. R. pseudomalabaricus is Critically Endangered (Biju et al.
2004a).
Conclusion
The present study shows the
significance of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve on the conservation of
amphibians particularly the rhacophorids . Out of the
52 species of rhacophorids in Western Ghats, 11 (21.15%) have been recorded
from PKTR during the present study. Many of these sightings of the rhacophorids are of significance. For example, the sighting of Rhacophorus
calcadensis is the first record of this species outside the
Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Raorchestes nerostagona the
present sighting is the first record south of Palakkad Gap, for R. ponmudi andR. anili,this is the first record from the Anamalai Hills. Raorchestes marki, R. jayarami andRhacophorus pseudomalabaricus are first records from PKTR.
Of the 11 species of
rhacophorids three are Critically Endangered (CR), two
Endangered (EN), and one Data Deficient (DD). Thus nearly 50% of the
rhacophorids of PKTR are threatened with extinction. But if a reassessment of conservation
status of these species is done using the additional
distributional information, the status would change considerably. It thus warrants immediate attention of
the reserve managers on the conservation of the amphibians in their management
prescriptions. It also underlines
the necessity to measure the wealth of amphibians in the Western Ghats in general
and Kerala in particular, as many of the rhacophorids included in this paper
are the first report of those species from PKTR. If detailed explorations are done in Parambikulam and other parts of the Western
Ghats, the results would be rewarding. Moreover, the result of the study also show how important is it to
protect every bit of the biodiversity rich Western Ghats.
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