Wayanad bush frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wayanad bush frog |
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Phyllomedusa ? wynaadensis Jerdon, 1853 |
The Wayanad bush frog (scientific name: Pseudophilautus wynaadensis) is a small frog that lives in the Western Ghats of southwest India. It's also known by other names like the common bush frog or Jerdon's bush frog. This frog is endemic to this area, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world! It belongs to the Rhacophoridae family, which are often called "tree frogs" because many of them live in trees.
What Does the Wayanad Bush Frog Look Like?
Male Wayanad bush frogs are about 24 to 28 millimeters long. This measurement is taken from their snout (nose) to their vent (bottom). A female frog that was measured was about 27 millimeters long.
These frogs have a rather thin body. Their color can be different, even for frogs living in the same place! They can be a plain grey, brownish, or reddish-grey. A cool feature is their ear drum, called the tympanum. The top two-thirds of it are dark black. Their back, or dorsum, has tiny spiky bumps on it.
Where Do Wayanad Bush Frogs Live?
You can find the Wayanad bush frog in the southern parts of the Western Ghats. This mountain range is in India. They live in areas from Coorg and Wayanad all the way to the Periyar river. They are found on both sides of the Palakkad Gap, which is a break in the mountains.
Wayanad Bush Frog Habitat and Habits
The Wayanad bush frog likes to live in the lower parts of tropical moist evergreen forests. It also lives in shrubland. You can find it in forests that are growing back after being cut down. It even lives in places where people grow crops, like tea and coffee farms!
This frog is one of the most common bush frogs in its area. It's often seen in plants along roadsides and even in cities. The Wayanad bush frog is nocturnal, which means it is active at night. It is also arboreal, meaning it lives in trees and bushes.
