| Raorchestes ochlandrae | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Raorchestes |
| Species: | R. ochlandrae |
| Binomial name | |
| Raorchestes ochlandrae (Gururaja, Dinesh, Palot, Radhakrishnan, and Ramachandra, 2007) | |
| Synonyms | |
Philautus ochlandraeGururaja, Dinesh, Palot, Radhakrishnan, and Ramachandra, 2007[2] | |
Raorchestes ochlandrae (common name:Ochlandrae reed frog) is a species of shrub frog in the familyRhacophoridae.[2][3][4] It is endemic to theWestern Ghats,India. This species of the oriental shrub frog was first described from Kakkayam Reserve Forest ofCalicut district,Kerala state, in the southern Western Ghats in 2007 but has since been recorded at many other sites along the Western Ghats.[2] Thespecific nameochlandrae refers to microhabitat of the species, bambooOchlandra setigera.[2]
Males measure 22–26 mm (0.87–1.02 in) and females, based on only one measured specimen, 23 mm (0.91 in) in snout–vent length. The female was observed inamplexus and was larger than the male it was paired with.[2]
This species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of characters such as body small, elongate, squat and flat; head arched, wider than long; snout short rounded, equal or sub equal to diameter of eye;canthus rostralis rounded;tympanum indistinct but visible; eyes protruding, pupil with striking golden yellow dentition like marks; belly granular;vocal sac unpigmented; fleshy brown to cream yellowdorsum with two distinct golden yellow lateral bands bordered by dark brown from upper eyelid to the posterior part of flanks.[2]
The species isendemic to theWestern Ghats mountains, reported from parts of theNilgiris andAnaimalai Hills. It is reported from evergreen forests with bamboos around 600 to 1000 metres above mean sea level.[5]
Genetic studies indicate that the Ochlandra reed frog is part of an evolutionary clade comprising five lineages includingR. ochlandrae,R. chalazodes,R. manohari,R. uthamani, and a lineage described asRaorchestes flaviocularis.[6]
This species inhabits dense stands of the bambooOchlandra setigera, growing on forest edges and in more in open habitats. The frogs reside in the hollow tube of internodal region of bamboo about two to three metres above the ground.[1][2]
The species occurs in the Western Ghats mostly along forest streams and other sites whereOchlandra stands remain.[1]
The Ochlandrae reed frog has a unique breeding habit of nesting within the hollowinternodes ofOchlandrabambooculms. Although they have been recorded in internodes of different Ochlandra species, breeding has been recorded so far inOchlandra setigera.[5] The frogs enter the hollow culms through small holes. Calling males may sit outside the entrance holes. While the entrance holes are towards the bottom of the internodes, eggs are deposited on the inside wall of the bamboo towards the upper side. A clutch size of six eggs has been reported. The presence of frogs in the bamboo indicatesparental care by males in this species as in the similarRaorchestes chalazodes, with both species also showing direct development of eggs into juveniles.[7][5]
