Raorchestes travancoricus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raorchestes travancoricus |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Raorchestes |
| Species: |
R. travancoricus
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| Binomial name | |
| Raorchestes travancoricus (Boulenger, 1891)
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| Synonyms | |
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Ixalus travancoricus Boulenger, 1891 |
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The Raorchestes travancoricus, also known as the Travancore bushfrog, Travancore bubble-nest frog, or Travancore tree frog, is a special kind of frog. It belongs to the family called Rhacophoridae. This frog lives only in the southern part of the Western Ghats mountains in India. Its name, travancoricus, comes from the place where it was first found, Bodinayakkanur, which was in the old Travancore state. This area is now part of Tamil Nadu.
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Finding the Travancore Bushfrog
In early 2009, scientists from the University of Delhi announced exciting news. They had found the Travancore bushfrog again in the Western Ghats. This was a big deal because no one had seen this frog since 1891. That's when George Albert Boulenger first described it!
How it was Rediscovered
Finding the frog again took a lot of hard work. Researchers did many surveys in the Western Ghats. In 2004, they found a single male frog in Vandiperiyar. More recently, two more male frogs were found in Vagamon.
Why it's Still Rare
Even after being rediscovered, this frog is still very rare. The few groups of frogs found are in Kerala. They live in places that have been changed by humans, like tea plantations. These areas are not inside protected parks.
What the Travancore Bushfrog Looks Like
The R. travancoricus is a small frog. Male frogs are about 22–25 mm (0.87–0.98 in) long from their snout to their bottom. The one female frog measured was about 30 mm (1.2 in) long.
Colors and Markings
Its back can be light grayish-red or brown. It has clear brown lines that are wide, with thin, light lines in between them. The frog's eyes have a yellowish-brown color. This frog looks a lot like its close relative, the R. luteolus. Sometimes, people might confuse the two.
Where the Travancore Bushfrog Lives
This frog likes to sit on bushes. You can often see it near or between plantations, like tea farms. It also lives in some tropical evergreen forests and vayal habitats (which are wet grasslands). Sometimes, this frog sits on leaf litter on the ground.
How High They Live
The Travancore bushfrog has been seen at different heights. It lives anywhere from 350 meters to 1802 meters above sea level.
Dangers to the Travancore Bushfrog
The IUCN (a group that studies nature) says this frog is endangered. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. It lives in a small area, and this area is breaking up into smaller pieces. Also, its home is getting worse over time.
Human Activities
Many people visit the Western Ghats for religious trips. These visitors can disturb the frogs. The trash they leave behind and fires made to clear space can harm the frog's home.
Climate Change
Scientists also worry about climate change. This frog lives high up in the hills. If the weather gets too warm, it cannot easily move to colder places.
Frog Diseases
Scientists think a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis can make this frog sick. This fungus causes a disease called chytridiomycosis, which is very dangerous for frogs.
Protected Areas
Luckily, some of these frogs live in a protected park. This park is called Periyar Tiger Reserve. About half of all the Travancore bushfrogs are thought to live there, which helps protect them.
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