''Minervarya 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
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
, ''keralensis'', meaning "of
Kerala", was introduced as
replacement name
In biological nomenclature, a ''nomen novum'' (Latin for "new name"), new replacement name (or replacement name, new substitute name, substitute name) is a scientific name that is created specifically to replace another scientific name, but only w ...
by
Alain Dubois Alain may refer to:
People
* Alain (given name), common given name, including list of persons and fictional characters with the name
* Alain (surname)
* "Alain", a pseudonym for cartoonist Daniel Brustlein
* Alain, a standard author abbreviation u ...
in 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.
[Boulenger, G. A. 1890. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.]
From snout-to-vent length about .
Distribution and habitat
''Minervarya keralensis'' is found in the
Western Ghats in southern India. Its
type locality is "
Malabar
Malabar may refer to the following:
People
* Malabars, people originating from the Malabar region of India
* Malbars or Malabars, people of Tamil origin in Réunion
Places
* Malabar Coast, or Malabar, a region of the southwestern shoreline o ...
". ''Minervarya 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.
[
In the Western Ghats ''M. 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.][
]
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3024925
keralensis
Frogs of India
Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats
Amphibians described in 1981
Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN