Utham's tree frog (Raorchestes uthamani) is a species of frog of the genus Raorchestes found in Gavi, Pathanamthitta district, in the Western Ghats of Kerala in India. Scientists first observed it near a cardamom plantation in Gavi, 1000 meters above sea level.[2][3] The species is named after two naturalists, bird photographer, P.K. Uthaman, and Deputy Conservator of Forests, K.V. Uthaman.[4][1]
| Raorchestes uthamani | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Raorchestes |
| Species: | R. uthamani
|
| Binomial name | |
| Raorchestes uthamani Zachariah, Dinesh, Kunhikrishnan, Das, Raju, Radhakrishnan, Palot, and Kalesh, 2011
| |
This frog has since been observed among bamboo plants in evergreen forests and on other cardamom plantations, all between 900 and 1100 meters above sea level.[1]
The female frog lays her eggs in bamboo plants.[1]
The IUCN classifies this frog as near threatened because its limited range contains two protected parks, Periyar Tiger Reserve and Anamalai Tiger Reserve. If the frog were to be found in other places or if the treatment of the parks changed, it would be uplisted "immediately." The frog may also be in some danger from the subsistence harvesting of bamboo from its habitat.[1]
Scientists believe the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis may infect this frog. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis causes the fungal disease chytridiomycosis.[1]
Original description
edit- Zachariah A; Dinesh KP; Kunhikrishnan E; Das S; Raju DV; Radhakrishnan C; Palot MJ; Kalesh S (2011). "Nine new species of frogs of the genus Raorchestes (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from southern Western Ghats, India". Biosystematica (Excerpt). 5 (1): 25–48. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Utahm's Bush Frog: Chiromantis xerampelina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T56041055A56041066. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T56041055A56041066.en. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Raorchestes uthamani Zachariah, Dinesh, Kunhikrishnan, Das, Raju, Radhakrishnan, Palot, and Kalesh, 2011". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "Raorchestes uthamani Zachariah, Dinesh, Kunhikrishnan, Das, Raju, Radhakrishnan, Palot, and Kalesh, 2011". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ Manoj, E. M. (7 August 2011). "New species of frogs found in Western Ghats". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
External links
edit
Data related to Raorchestes uthamani at Wikispecies
