Amphibians of Doon Valley (Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand) with Their Systematics, Distribution, Ecology, Conservation Status and Threats - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 218

during dry periods. Breeding takes place in
different water bodies.

Breeding takes place during the monsoon season,
when adults congregate at ephemeral rainwater
pools.

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Threats
Habitat loss through the general development of
infrastructure and over collection of adults for
subsistence use might also be a threat and recla-
mation of wet lands in some areas.

Threats
Loss of wetland habitats through infrastructure
development, water pollution by pesticides and
other agrochemicals etc. are the main threats to
the species. Earlier it was heavily collected for
the international frog legs trade which has been
banned since the mid-1990s.

Hoplobatrachus tigerinus
(Daudin, 1802)

Localities in Doon Valley
Eastern Doon Valley: Muni-ki-Reti, Rishikesh
and Rajaji National Park ( partim ).
Western Doon Valley: Asan River.

Remarks
This taxon is now believed to consist of a com-
plex of several cryptic species. Recent ongoing
taxonomic research in Sri Lanka has revealed
that Hoplobatrachus tigerinus does not occur
in this country and that animals previously
assigned to H. tigerinus are misidentifi cations
of H. Crassus .
Genus: Sphaerotheca Gunther, 1859

Uttarakhand
Dehra Dun, Tehri, Pauri and Nainital. Corbett
Tiger Reserve and Rajaji National Park.

India
From base of Himalaya to South India (except
Meghalaya). Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya
Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Tripura, West Bengal and Western
Ghats.

Sphaerotheca breviceps
(Schneider, 1799)

English Name
Band Sand Frog, Burrowing Frog, Clumsy-
looking Burrowing Frog, Dharan Bullfrog, Indian
Burrowing Frog, Maskey's Burrowing Frog,
Olive Frog, Punjab Bullfrog and Short-Headed
Burrowing Frog.

Elsewhere
Bangladesh, China (including Taiwan), Indo-
China, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar (including
Nosy Be), Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal (2,000 m
alt.), Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Maldives and Madagascar (introduced).
Afghanistan (Khyber Pass) and Bhutan (need
confi rmation).

Diagnostic Characters

Adult
Tympanum distinct, oval, shorter than eye; 1st fi n-
ger longer than 2nd, 3rd equal to or slightly longer
than, 4th the shortest, 1st fi nger with a large, round
sub-articular tubercle on palm, other sub-articular
tubercles shorter and almost equal in size, palmer
tubercle elongated; hind limbs short, toes half
webbed, inner metatarsal tubercle large, shovel
shaped, outer absent; skin smooth, with some scat-
tered elongated tubercles above, abdomen, under
side of thighs and anal region glandular.

Habitat and Ecology
Inhabiting mostly freshwater wetlands, paddy
fi elds etc. but rarely in forested areas. It is mostly
solitary and nocturnal, inhabiting holes and
bushes near permanent water bodies and pools.
It feeds mostly on insets and other invertebrates.