Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
smooth except for glandular anal region; with
supra-tympanic fold.
Colouration: Dark brown and marbled with a
reticulation above, immaculate below.
Sexual Dimorphism: Male smaller with dark
brown vocal sac.
Size: Snout to vent length 7.4 cm (female
from Aurangabad, Jamdar et al. 2010 ).
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
Threats
The main threats are the loss of suitable habitat
due to increase of urbanization and the pollution
of both land and wetlands with agrochemicals.
Remarks
Tilak and Husain ( 1977 ) recorded it from Siwalik
Hills near Badshahi Bagh on Timli-Saharanpur
road (in district Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh),
nearly 5 km east of point where river Yamuna
cuts through the Siwaliks. This locality is adjoin-
ing extreme point of Western Doon Valley.
Family: Rhacophoridae Hoffman, 1932
(Tree Frogs)
Subfamily: Rhacophorinae Hoffman, 1932
Genus: Polypedates Tschudi, 1838
Tadpole
Head and body blotched with brown and cream
colour with whitish tail which is vertically banded
with black.
Distribution
Found from sea level up to approximately
1,500 m asl.
Localities in Doon Valley
Eastern Doon Valley: Lachhiwala and Rajaji
National Park ( partim ).
Western Doon Valley: Badshahi Bagh road,
Jhajra and Kalsi.
Polypedates maculatus (Gray, 1830)
English Names
Chunam Frog, Chunam Tree Frog, Common
Indian Tree Frog, Himalayan Tree Frog (as P. m.
himalayensis), Indian Tree Frog, Spotted Tree
Frog, Spotted Whipping Frog and Tree Frog.
Uttarakhand
Dehra Dun and Pauri. Corbett Tiger Reserve and
Rajaji National Park.
India
Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh (Sirmour),
Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra (Aurangabad),
Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh (Agra,
Allahabad and Saharanpur) and West Bengal.
Diagnostic Characters
Adult
Tympanum distinct, shorter than eye, with a fold
from eye to shoulder; tongue bifi d; fi ngers with
rudimentary web and enlarged terminal discs, 1st
and 2nd almost equal, 3rd the longest, 4th slightly
longer than 2nd fi nger, sub-articular tubercles
moderate, elongated; toes with discs, webbing
partial except 5th toe which is webbed up to base
of disc, outer metatarsals separated by webbing
and inner single but distinct; skin smooth above,
fi nely granulated on chin, chest and underside
of thigh.
Colouration: Olivaceous to chestnut/
brownish- yellow/greyish/whitish with scattered
dark patches/spots above, rarely with an
hourglass- shaped fi gure on back of head and
front of back, loreal and temporal regions dark
Elsewhere
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Habitat and Ecology
A completely fossorial species that buries itself in
loose, moist soil, seen in dry forest areas, plains,
home gardens and low-intensity agricultural
areas. The adults surface only during monsoons
but remain under the soil during the dry period. It
feeds generally on termites. Breeding takes place
during the monsoon months. Males call from the
banks of the stream or paddy fi elds and eggs are
laid in masses which fl oat on the water surface.
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