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Sri Lankan frogs found in Indian Eastern Ghats Suggest Ancient Connection
Context: The Sri Lankan golden-backed frog (Hylarana gracilis) and Sri Lankan shrub frog (Pseudophilautus regius) were found thriving in the Eastern Ghats of India, marking their first documented presence outside Sri Lanka in this region.
More on news:
- Biogeographic Insight: The presence of these frogs suggests a historical connection between Sri Lanka and the Eastern Ghats, potentially facilitated by land bridges that existed during periods of lower sea levels, such as during the late Pleistocene around 10,000 years ago.
- Evolutionary Context: It highlights how geological events, like sea level fluctuations and changes in monsoons, could have isolated populations, leading to their disjunct distribution across the region today.
Significance of Finding
- Scientific Significance: The discovery underscores the importance of genetic studies (DNA barcoding) in confirming the identity of these species, despite morphological similarities and geographic separation.
- Ecological Indicators: Amphibians are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and their presence in the Eastern Ghats suggests a diverse and potentially pristine habitat in the region.
- Conservation Implications: Understanding the distribution and genetic diversity of these species can inform conservation efforts, especially considering the threats posed by habitat loss and climate change.
- Biogeographical History: The rediscovery highlights the complex biogeographical history and the evolutionary history of the land bridge connection between India and Sri Lanka during the Pleistocene period.
Key facts about the Sri Lankan golden-backed frog:
- Scientific Name: Hylarana gracilis
- family-Ranidae.
- Appearance: Slender body with a small head. Iris is reddish-brown with golden specks and dark patches. The flanks are light yellowish-grey. Limbs: Its limbs are light brown with grayish cross-bands, which helps in blending into its surroundings.
- Habitat: Associated with freshwater habitats, found from sea level to 1,250 metres in elevation.
- Distribution: Previously thought to be endemic to Sri Lanka, but has now been discovered in the Eastern Ghats region of India.
- Significance: The discovery highlights the biogeographic connections between India and Sri Lanka, which were periodically connected by land bridges during the Pleistocene era.
Key facts about the Sri Lankan shrub frog :
- Scientific Name: Pseudophilautus regius
- Family: Rhacophoridae
- Appearance: Polymorphic, with morphological colour variations.
- Habitat: Found in Sri Lankan forests and recently rediscovered in the Eastern Ghats of India.
- Life Cycle: Direct developers, meaning they skip the free-swimming tadpole stage and emerge as miniature adults directly from eggs.
