''Microhyla ornata'', commonly known as the ornate narrow-mouthed frog, ornate narrow-mouthed toad, or ornamented pygmy frog, is a species of

microhylid The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family (biology), family of frogs. The 683 species are in 63 genera and 11 subfamilies, which is the largest number of genera of any frog family. Evolution ...

frog found in South Asia. This

amphibian Amphibians are tetrapod, four-limbed and ectothermic vertebrates of the Class (biology), class Amphibia. All living amphibians belong to the group Lissamphibia. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living within terres ...

is distributed in

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

, Nepal, peninsular India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was previously considered to be the same species as ''

Microhyla fissipes ''Microhyla fissipes'' (commonly known as the ornate chorus frog) is a microhylid frog from East and Southeast Asia, from southern and central China and Taiwan to the Malay Peninsula. It was previously considered to be the same species as '' M ...

''; therefore, the aforementioned common names can refer to either species.

Description

Frogs of the genus '' Microhyla'' are small. They can be identified by the typical arrow-shaped mark on their dorsal side. They are generally of yellowish color with dark brown patch. This species has a small head, no teeth and no discernible

tympani Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally ...

. The fingertips are spathulate and there is little webbing between the digits. The males do not have

nuptial pad A nuptial pad (also known as thumb pad, or nuptial excrescence) is a secondary sex characteristic present on some mature male frogs and salamanders. Triggered by androgen hormones, this breeding gland (a type of mucous gland) appears as a spiked ...

s. The skin on the back is mainly smooth, but there are some granulations. Males are about from snout to vent and females about .

Distribution and habitat

The ornate narrow-mouthed frog is native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is found in grass and leaf litter in habitats ranging from tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands to tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests. In some habitats, this frog may take shelter in the dung of elephants.

Biology

The ornate narrow-mouthed frog lives semi-buried in leaf litter on the forest floor. It is mainly

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

but it is also active during the day during the rainy season. It breeds in ponds and temporary pools that form in the rainy season.

Status

This frog has a wide range and the population seems to be stable so the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

rates it as being of " Least Concern" as it considers that the rate of decline, if any, is insufficient to justify listing it in a more threatened category. It is common throughout most of its range and is tolerant of a range of different habitat types. No particular threats to this species have been identified.

References

External links

Species account
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2715667 ornata Amphibians described in 1841 Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril Taxa named by Gabriel Bibron Amphibians of Bangladesh Frogs of India Amphibians of Nepal Amphibians of Pakistan Frogs of Sri Lanka Fauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands