Raorchestes griet is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats south of the Palghat Gap in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states, India. The specific name griet honours Griet Decock, spouse of Franky Bossuyt, the scientist who described the species.[2][4] The common name Griet bush frog has been coined for it.[3][4]
| Raorchestes griet | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Raorchestes |
| Species: | R. griet
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| Binomial name | |
| Raorchestes griet Bossuyt, 2002
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| Distribution of Raorchestes griet | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Philautus griet Bossuyt, 2002[2] | |
Description
editAdult males measure 20–22 mm (0.8–0.9 in)[2][5] and adult females, based on a single specimen, 22 mm (0.9 in) in snout–vent length.[5] The snout is rounded. The tympanum is indistinct, but the supratympanic fold is prominent. The fingers have well-developed discs and dermal fringes but no webbing. The toes have discs and rudimentary webbing. Skin of snout bears small horny spines, and there are horny ridges between eyes, arranged in triangle. Dorsal skin is covered with small horny spines.[2] The dorsum is light greyish brown, light brownish grey, or light-reddish brown. Dark or light red markings may be present.[5]
Habitat and conservation
editRaorchestes griet has been observed in roadside vegetation near isolated forest patches or in plantations near forests at about 600–2,000 m (2,000–6,600 ft) above sea level.[1][5] It is nocturnal[5] and arboreal, which leaves it endangered by logging. Males call from ground level up to two metres above the ground.[5] It has been observed on eucalyptus trees, but scientists do not think the frogs can live on commercial eucalyptus plantings as other frogs can.[6]
This species can be locally abundant, but it is threatened by habitat fragmentation associated with deforestation. Visitors may also disturb this frog during annual pilgrimages to the Western Ghats. Scientists have observed that the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis can infect other frogs in Raorchestes, so they infer the fungal disease chytridiomycosis may also infect R. griet. Scientists also name climate change as a threat to this frog.[1]
The frog's range includes several protected parks.Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Periyar Tiger Reserve.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Griet Bush Frog: Raorchestes griet". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 3.1. p. e.T58849A166107068. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T58849A166107068.en. 58849. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Bossuyt, Franky (2002). "A new species of Philautus (Anura: Ranidae) from the Western Ghats of India". Journal of Herpetology. 36 (4): 656–661. doi:10.2307/1565937. JSTOR 1565937.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Raorchestes griet (Bossuyt, 2002)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ a b Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
- ^ a b c d e f Biju, S. D. & Bossuyt, Franky (2009). "Systematics and phylogeny of Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Anura, Rhacophoridae) in the Western Ghats of India, with descriptions of 12 new species". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 155 (2): 374–444. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00466.x.
- ^ Keith Lui (14 October 2008). Kellie Whittaker; Michelle S. Koo (eds.). "Raorchestes griet (Bossuyt, 2002)". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
