Zakerana keralensis

Zakerana keralensis (common names: verrucose frog, Kerala wart(y) frog, or Dubois' hill frog) is a species of frog from India. Originally described by Albert Günther in 1876, its present-day specific epithet, keralensis, meaning "of Kerala", was introduced as replacement name by Alain Dubois in 1981.[2]

Zakerana keralensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dicroglossidae
Genus: Zakerana
Species:
Z. keralensis
Binomial name
Zakerana keralensis
(Dubois, 1981)
Range of F. keralensis in the Western Ghats
Synonyms

Rana verrucosa Günther, 1876
Rana keralensis Dubois, 1981
Limnonectes keralensis (Dubois, 1981)
Fejervarya keralensis (Dubois, 1981)

Description

This species has vomerine teeth in two strong oblique series starting from the inner anterior corners of the choanae. The head is moderately sized with the snout appearing pointed. The inter-orbital space is two-thirds the width of the upper eyelid. The tympanum is distinct and is about three-quarters the diameter of the eye. Fingers are moderate, obtuse and the first extends beyond the second. Toes are moderately well developed and nearly entirely webbed. Sub-articular tubercles are prominent and the inner metatarsal tubercle is oval, compressed and less than half as long as the first toe. It also has a small rounded outer metatarsal tubercle. When the hind leg is pulled forward, the tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the tip of the snout. Upper parts have numerous very prominent warts and short glandular folds. Grey or brown above, darker spotted; hinder side of thighs black, white-marbled; sometimes a broad light vertebral band. Male has two internal vocal sacs.[3]

From snout-to-vent length about 2.75 in (7.0 cm).

Distribution and habitat

Zakerana keralensis is found in the Western Ghats in southern India. Its type locality is "Malabar". Zakerana keralensis has also been reported from Gujarat, northwestern India, and possibly from central Nepal and northeastern India, but it is uncertain whether any of the records outside the Western Ghats refer to this species.[2]

In the Western Ghats Zakerana keralensis is a widespread species found in wet evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, and marshlands. It has also been recorded from modified habitats including agricultural land and villages. It breeds in temporary ponds.[1]

References
  1. Biju, S.D.; Dutta, S. & Ravichandran, M.S. (2009). "Zakerana keralensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Zakerana keralensis (Dubois, 1981)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. Boulenger, G. A. 1890. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.
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