Annotated list of anurans from the lateritic plateau of western India with notes on malformations
Author
Mudke, Madhushri
Author
Gururaja, K. V.
Author
Aravind, Neelvara
Author
Singal, Ramit
text
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2020
2020-06-05
16
3
685
698
http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/16.3.685
journal article
10.15560/16.3.685
1809-127X
Sphaerotheca dobsonii
(Boulenger, 1882)
New records.
INDIA
•
Karnataka
:
Udupi
:
Manipal
,
End Point
, site code B (
13.3704°N
,
074.7849°E
), obs. by
MM
and
RS
,
4 Jul. 2017
, 3 individuals.
Fig. 3I
.
Identification.
The SVL is up to
60 mm
. This is a fossorial frog, and we recorded only three individuals,
two males
and
one female
from different sampling points. This species has a prominent metatarsal tubercle (a digging apparatus) on its hind limbs. The body is uniquely rotund, with relatively short limbs. The hind limbs appear to be much stronger than fore limbs. The dorsum is distinctive, light brownish. The ventral side is cream-colored with some brown-black pigmentation on the sides. Webbing is present on the toes of the hind feet. There is no webbing between the fingers (
Gururaja 2012
).
Habitat.
This species was found on leaf litter of secondary forests or on the edges of pools with abundant to no canopy cover.
Distribution.
This frog is endemic to the southern West- ern Ghats.