''Microhyla rubra'' is a species of narrow-mouthed frog

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Earlier thought to exist also in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

, new studies suggested that Sri Lankan population is a different species, now elevated to species level as '' Microhyla mihintalei''.

Description

Habit stout. Snout rounded, a little shorter than the diameter of the orbit ; interorbital space broader than the upper eyelid. Fingers moderate, first much shorter than second ; toes moderate, one-third webbed ; tips of fingers and toes not swollen ; subarticular tubercles very distinct ; two rather large, oval, compressed, very prominent metatarsal tubercles, outer somewhat larger than inner. The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches somewhat beyond the shoulder, never to the eye. Skin smooth. Reddish brown above, sides darker; a dark brown line from the tip of the snout through the eye along the side of the back to the groin ; a dark brown mark across the thigh, beginning on the loin ; limbs with more or less distinct dark cross bars ; sometimes a dark X-shaped marking on the anterior portion of the back, commencing between the eyes ; beneath whitish, immaculate or with a few brown dots on the throat. Male with a subgular vocal sac, and the throat black. From

snout to vent A snout is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw. In many animals, the structure is called a muzzle, rostrum, or proboscis. The wet furless surface around the nostrils of the nose of many mammals is c ...

1.2 inches. Some adults have been observed dwelling in elephant dung.

Tadpole of ''Microhyla rubra''

The

tadpole A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...

of ''Microhyla rubra'' has a transparent body with a long, tapering whip like tail. In dorsal view, body clearly differentiated into two parts, a longer and wider anterior region and a narrower posterior region. Anterior region almost twice as long and wide as posterior region. Eyes small and snout rounded. Head and body posterior to eyes with sides parallel to each other. Eyes directed slightly dorsolaterally, bulbous, and entire eye visible through epidermis due to dearth of pigmentation. Nares closed, narial depressions visible, located immediately anterior to two small concentrated patches of pigment, anterodorsolaterally directed, and closer to snout tip than to pupils. Nasolacrimal duct apparent. Mouth narrow, superior, lower and upper-lips both visible. Tail long, tapering, with a whip-like flagellum. Tadpoles of ''Microhyla rubra'' lack keratinized mouth parts and have a dorsoterminal mouth. They have six papillae (scallops) on the lower lip but number varies with developmental stage. The preferred habitats of ''M. rubra'' tadpoles are ephemeral pools which have less aquatic predators. Since the ephemeral pools dry rapidly after the rainy period tadpoles have to adapt to this condition by having a rapid growth rate. ''M. rubra'' tadpoles live in water close to the surface and feed on plankton and suspended food particles.

References

* Bowatte & Meegaskumbura. 2011. *RAo CRN. 1918. Notes on tadpoles of Indian Engystomatidae. Records of Indian Museum 15:41-45.
Mac iWeb Publications
rubra Frogs of India Endemic fauna of India Taxa named by Thomas C. Jerdon Amphibians described in 1854 {{Microhylidae-stub