Kingdom Animalia Order Anura Genus Raorchestes Higher classification Philautus | Phylum Chordata Family Rhacophoridae Scientific name Philautus chalazodes Rank Species | |
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Similar Frog, Amphibians, Raorchestes, Raorchestes ochlandrae, Raorchestes ponmudi | ||
Raorchestes chalazodes (chalazodes bubble-nest frog, white-spotted bush frog, or Günther's bush frog) is a species of frog in the Rhacophoridae family. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The specific name chalazodes is composed of the Greek word chalaza meaning grain and odes for the derived adjective, reflecting white granulation of the body. Using 'chalazodes' in the common name, as if it were a proper noun, is probably a misinterpretation.
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Original description and rediscovery
Albert C. L. G. Günther described Raorchestes chalazodes (as Ixalus chalazodes) based on a single female collected by Colonel Richard Henry Beddome from 'Travancore'. There were no verifiable reports of this species, until its rediscovery in 2011 by a team of batrachologists in the Upper Kodayar Region in Tamil Nadu. This secretive frog is found in the wet evergreen forests in and around Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. Males squeeze through small cracks in bamboo from where they attract females which spawn within the hollows of the plant. The male then guards the eggs and tadpoles until they are mature enough to leave.
Description
The original holotype, a female, was 28 mm (1.1 in) in snout-vent length. In life, overall body coloration of Raorchestes chalazodes is green. Ventral region is purplish white and there are dark black-blue spots on the groin region. A unique distinctive trait is its black iris with golden patches.