Kingdom Animalia Family Rhacophoridae Genus Raorchestes Order Frog | Class Amphibia Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Raorchestes, Frog, Raorchestes anili, Raorchestes ponmudi, Raorchestes tuberohumerus | ||
Raorchestes akroparallagi (sometimes known as the variable bush frog) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, where it is known from the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Before its description in 2009, it was confused with Raorchestes femoralis and Raorchestes glandulosus.
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Description
Male Raorchestes akroparallagi are small, 19–22.5 mm (0.75–0.89 in) in snout-vent length, whereas females are larger, 26–27 mm (1.0–1.1 in) long. It is one of predominantly green Raorchestes. However, the colouration of its dorsum (back) is highly variable even within a single location, from almost uniformly green to various colours and markings. Indeed, its specific name, akroparallagi, is derived from Greek words akro, meaning 'extreme' and parallagi, meaning 'variation'.
Reproduction
Raorchestes akroparallagi has direct development, with all growth inside the egg and no free-swimming tadpole stage. Males attract females with their calls. Mating takes place during the night. A pair in amplexus may move around before settling on a leaf and starting to lay eggs on its upper side. Egg laying takes hours and results in a clutch of 20–41 eggs. Eggs are white, about 4.4 mm (0.17 in) in diameter, and hatch after four weeks as fully developed froglets. There is no parental care.
Habitat
Raorchestes akroparallagi occurs in a wide range of habitats, from evergreen forests to plantations near secondary forest fringes to roadside vegetation. As it can live in disturbed habitats and is relatively widespread and common, IUCN does not considered it threatened.