Meet India's starry dwarf frog, lone member of newly discovered ancient lineage

March 12, 2019 by Natalie Van Hoose, Florida Museum of Natural History

The starry dwarf frog is an expert hider. Plunging into leaf litter at the slightest disturbance, it has successfully evaded attention for millions of years—until now.

The thumbnail-sized species was discovered in India's Western Ghats, one of the world's "hottest" biodiversity hotspots. Scientists have named the frog Astrobatrachus kurichiyana for its constellation-like markings and the indigenous people of Kurichiyarmala, the hill range where it was found.

But A. kurichiyana is not only a new species to science. It's the sole member of an ancient lineage, a long branch on the frog tree of life that researchers have classified as a new subfamily, Astrobatrachinae.

"This is an oddball frog—it has no close sister species for maybe tens of millions of years," said David Blackburn, the associate curator of herpetology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "With frogs, there are still ancient lineages out there awaiting discovery. This gives us one more puzzle piece to think about deep time."

Dark brown with a bright orange underbelly and speckled with pale blue dots, the frog camouflages well in wet leaf litter, and only a few individuals have been found.

"The coloration was the first thing that stood out to me, these starry patterns with a blue tinge," said Seenapuram Palaniswamy Vijayakumar, lead author of the species description and now a postdoctoral fellow at George Washington University. "We hadn't seen anything like this before."

But the starry dwarf frog nearly got overlooked in the crush of new species that Vijayakumar and his then-doctoral supervisor Kartik Shanker were finding on a series of expeditions to the Western Ghats, a 1,000-mile-long mountain range along India's southwestern coast.

Vijayakumar and Shanker, associate professor at the Indian Institute of Science, had designed a meticulous study, covering multiple elevations, habitats and hill ranges to record and map the region's frogs, lizards and snakes.

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Wind Farm Predator Effects Ecosystem - via Herp Digest

The team observed an explosion in the raptors' favorite meal - fan-throated lizards - in areas dominated by the turbines.

by James Marshall, 11/8/18, Lancashire Independent News

"We found that people began to settle closer because of birds of prey became less of their population in the area of wind farms fell by 75%".

After testing, the lizards near the turbines were found to have lower levels of a stress hormone - something that must have emerged in the two decades since wind farms were built in the Western Ghats.

In particular, the team observed an explosion in the raptors' favorite meal - fan-throated lizards - in areas dominated by the turbines.

Researchers of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, found that wind turbines can act as top predators in ecosystems by driving down numbers as well as activity of birds of prey and triggering knock-on effects across food chains - it results in an increase in the density of vertebrates like lizards on the ground.

Fan-Throated Lizard 

The study was done in the Chalkewadi plateau in Satara district in the northern Western Ghats which is the site of one of the largest and longest-running wind farms in the region.

Ornithologists already named wind turbines "predators of our time". Researchers found nearly four times more predatory birds in areas without wind turbines than around wind farms. Here are a large number of wind power plants, which provoke the extinction of these birds, and lizards. They suggested similar effects would also probably be found around British wind farms.

In order to record changes in the physiology of lizards, researchers measured hormonal stress reactivity. Blood samples were collected from lizards picked up from both sites - areas with wind farm and area without wind farms.

By now, it's common knowledge that wind turbines reduce the number of local birds and bats, disrupting their migratory paths.

Furthermore, they saw significant changes in lizard behavior and appearance, living as though they were in an essentially predator-free environment. However, the assumption that wind turbines only affect flying species fails to take into account how fewer birds, who are often predators, can change an ecosystem's dynamic.

Two new species of lizards discovered in Western Ghats – via Herp Digest

Researchers said the two new species of lizards had been wrongly identified under the genus Calotes (similar to the common garden lizards) for more than 150 years but they are actually part of a distinct group endemic to the Western Ghats.

Hindustan Times, Mumbai, Sep 28, 2018

In yet another important discovery which proves that Western Ghats is indeed a biodiversity hotspot, scientists have discovered two new species of lizards belonging to two new genera.

A team from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, Bangalore, identified Montane forest lizard and Spiny-headed forest lizard during a revision of taxonomy of the lesser known agamid (lizard group having scaly bodies, well-developed legs, and a moderately long tail) of peninsular India. Their paper was published last week in Zootaxa — a peer-reviewed scientific mega journal for animal taxonomists

Researchers said the two reptiles had been wrongly identified under the genus Calotes (similar to the common garden lizards) for more than 150 years. Genus is a terms used for classifying species.

“Based on large-scale geographical sampling, molecular and morphological studies, we found the two lizards are actually part of a distinct group endemic to the Ghats,” said Saunak Pal, scientist, BNHS.

The scientists named the species Monilesaurus, which means lizards with a necklace, as the new genus has a distinct fold of skin across the neck resembling a necklace.

“This study signifies the lack of understanding of relationship among Indian reptiles and shows we still need a systematic research on Indian agamids,” said V Deepak, co-author of the paper.

While studies have documented biodiversity of highly divergent species of frogs, fish, spiders in the Western Ghats, environmentalists have raised a red flag over a growing number of threats to the area.

“Unregulated mining, unprotected private forest areas, unprecedented rainfall, unregulated dam construction, deforestation and growing number of deliberate forest fires over the past five years are all responsible for destruction of the Western Ghats,” said Madhav Gadgil, ecologist and founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in 2010.

He added, “The forest department of respective states, especially Maharashtra, has further falsified documents to suit their requirements to allow development to creep into these areas.”

Experts said the recent findings highlight the importance of this mountain range as an evolutionary hot spot for diversification.

“Lizards in India are not being studied seriously. The current findings belong to a group (agamids), which is hardly studied. This is one of the first efforts. The highlight is that these are common species not known to science before. These are endemic lineages with a very different evolutionary trajectory,” said Varad Giri, curator, herpetology, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru and former curator, Bombay Natural History Society. “This proves the uniqueness of this landscape and needs to be protected much better.”

A 2014 notification by the union environment ministry made 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats in six states including Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). Declaring the region as eco-sensitive prohibits activities like mining and setting up industries that pollute the environment. MoEFCC will be issuing a second draft notification this year stressing on the area as ESZ due to lack of consensus among states and the Centre.

Group monitoring the amphibians in the Western Ghats, India, records increase of number of rare species found. – via Herp Digest

By Deepthi Sanjiv, Bangalore Mirror Bureau 6/14/17

In an attempt to understand the importance of frogs, the Bisle Kappe Team – a group of likeminded individuals have been organising the Bisle Frog Watch in the pristine Western Ghats for the past six years. The result-they have been observing an increase in the species recorded and with the permission of the forest department hope to explore more places in the future.

Vineeth Kumar from the team as well research scholar at Mangalore University told BM the Bisle Frog Watch was launched in 2012 by two techies, Vivek and Deepika, who moved to the US in 2015. From then on, a group of enthusiasts have taken it forward.

This year, the team organised this event as part of the Citizen Science Initiative in association with the Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation and the Bengaluru-based Gubbi Labs from June 9-11. The aim is to introduce people to the world of lesser known creatures- amphibians. A group of 23 enthusiasts from various fields, including students researchers, doctors and engineers, participated in informal classroom sessions were participants were introduced to the world of amphibians- their taxonomy, ecology and behaviour, along with the talk on conservation and citizen science. In the field sessions, participants learned how to identify different frogs and toads by using key characters and also observed various behavioural aspects.

The core Bisle Kappe team includes Rohit S Rao, CEO Crystal Electronics, Shashwat Jaiswal- a mechanical engineer working in a private company in Bengaluru and Vineeth Kumar.

Resource persons for the workshop included Dr K V Gururaja, faculty at the Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology and batrachologist Dr Sudhira HS from Gubbi Labs, Niren Jain co-ordinator Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation, Madhushri Mudke blogger and conservationist from Manipal and Vineeth Kumar. The workshop was supported by Ashok Vardhan Green enthusiast and the team visited ‘Asoka Vana’and Bisle Beauty Spot.

Vineeth Kumar said, “I have been part of this team, first as a student and now as an organiser. A total of 33 people participated in the frog watch. We observed the behaviour, mating as well as calling patterns and explored of spots around the community hall. We even saw dancing frogs. We also observed endangered species such as small tree frogs in good numbers. Handling of frogs was restricted to prevent the possible spread of fungal infections,” said Vineeth.

Dr Gururaj said the number of frog enthusiasts is increasing. “Despite notification about the event being an internal circulation, about 50 people responded, but we had to restrict the number to 33,” he said.

Species recorded

Family : DICROGLOSSIDAE

* Fejervarya caperata (Common cricket frog)

* Fejervarya mudduraja (Mudduraja’s cricket frog)

* Fejervarya granosa (Granular cricket frog)

* Fejervarya kudremukhensis (Kudremukh cricket frog)

* Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Indian bull frog)

* Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis ( Common skittering frog)

Family: BUFONIDAE

* Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Common Indian toad)

Family: MICROHYLIDAE

* Microhyla sholigari (Sholiga’s narrow mouthed frog)

* Microhyla ornata ( ornate narrow mouthed frog)

* Uperodon mormoratus ( Marbled ramanella)

* Uperodon triangularis ( Triangular narrow-mouthed frog)

Family : NYCTIBATRACHIDAE

* Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis (Kempholey Night frog)

* Nyctibatrachus spp.

Family : MICRIXALIDAE

* Micrixalus saxicola (black torrent frog)

* Micrixalus elegans (elegant dancing frog)

Family : RHACOPHORIDAE

* Pseudophilautus wynaadensis ( Wayanad bush frog)

* Raorchestes luteolus ( Coorg yellow bush frog)

* Raorchestes glandulosus ( Glandular bush frog)

* Raorchestes tuberohumerus ( Konb handed bush frog)

* Rhacophorus malabaricus (Malabar gliding frog)

* Rhacophorus lateralis ( Small tree frog)

* Polypedates occidentalis (Western tree frog)

Family : RANIXALIDAE

* Indirana semipalmata (Small handed frog)

Family: RANIDAE

* Indosylvirana intermedius ( Rao’s intermediate golden backed frog)

* Indosylvirana spp.

Family : ICHTHYOPHIDAE

* Ichthyophis beddomei

Can’t we all just get along – like India’s cats and dogs?

Date: February 16, 2017

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society

A new WCS study in India shows that three carnivores -- tigers, leopards, and dholes (Asian wild dog) -- seemingly in direct competition with one other, are living side by side with surprisingly little conflict. Usually, big cats and wild canids live in different locations to avoid each other.

Yet in four relatively small reserves in India's wildlife-rich Western Ghats region, WCS researchers have found that they are co-existing, despite competing for much of the same prey, including sambar deer, chital, and pigs.

Using dozens of non-invasive camera traps for sampling entire populations, rather than track a handful of individuals, the research team recorded some 2,500 images of the three predators in action.

The authors found that in reserves with an abundance of prey, dholes, which are active during the day, did not come in much contact with the more nocturnal tigers and leopards. But in Bhadra Reserve where prey was scarcer, their active times overlapped, yet dholes still managed to avoid the big cats. In Nagarahole, a park teeming with all three carnivores and their prey, leopards actively to avoid tigers.

Overall, the authors say that these carnivores have developed smart adaptations to coexist, even while they exploit the same prey base. However, these mechanisms vary depending on density of prey resources and possibly other habitat features.

Said Ullas Karanth, WCS Director for Science in Asia and lead author of the study: "Tigers, leopards, and dholes are doing a delicate dance in these protected areas, and all are managing to survive. We were surprised to see how each species has remarkably different adaptations to prey on different prey sizes, use different habitat types and be active at different times. Because of small and isolated nature of these high prey densities in these reserves, such adaptions are helpful for conservationists trying to save all three."

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