Uperodon taprobanicus (Parker, 1934)

Deuti, Kaushik, Ray, Sukumar, Bag, Probhat & Dey, Swapan Kumar, 2017, Amphibians of the Duars area of Northern West Bengal, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 117 (3), pp. 221-241 : 227-228

7. Uperodon taprobanicus (Parker, 1934)

1934. Kaloula pulchra taprobanica Parker, Monogr. Frogs Fam. Microhylidae : 86-87.

Size: 40-76 mm (snout-vent length).

Distinguishing features: A medium-sized, plump burrowing frog with small beady eyes. The head is small. Snout is rounded. The nostril is equidistant between the tip of the snout and the eye. The ear-drum is not exposed. Fingers are without webbing. Tips of the fingers and toes are rounded but do not bear discs. The hind limbs are short. Toes are with rudimentary webbing. Two large and shovel-shaped inner and outer pedal tubercles are present. Common Name: Painted Frog, Indian Painted Frog, Painted Kaloula (English) .

Specimens examined: 2 ex: A 12435 from Ramsai, Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°78’403”N, 88°84’692”E) collected on 11.viii.2015 and A 12436 from Madarihat, Jaldapara National Park , Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°65’962”N, 89°31’508”E) collected on 20.viii.2015. The measurements of the frogs collected are given below in millimeters: Skin is soft and soggy above and bears a fold on the rear end of the head that may extend over the shoulder. The skin on the anal region is coarse and may be wrinkled on the belly .

Size: 28-58 mm (snout-vent length).

Distinguishing features: Medium-sized, colourful, stockybuilt, stout-bodied, short-legged frog. Head is broader than long, snout is rounded. Nostril is nearer to the tip of the snout than to the eye. The ear-drum is hidden. Fingers are without webs, the tips of the fingers bear short well-developed triangular discs. Toes are about one-third webbed and terminated with dilated triangular discs. Inner pedal tubercle is well-developed, large and shovel-shaped. Outer pedal tubercle is small. Skin is wrinkled on the belly but granular on the throat and underside of the thighs.

Colour: The upperside is blackish-brown with deep red irregular patches margined with black.These patches form a dark reddish lateral band running on each side from the eyes to the groin. The belly is grayish, finely spotted with brown. In breeding males, the throat is black.

Habitat: Village areas at the edge of forests. Breeds in dirty water ponds and pools near to cowsheds.

Remarks: Uncommon in the duars area. The species is very colourful. They are terrestrial, burrowing and nocturnal, emerging from their burrows during the early monsoon and are often seen to climb up trees,

Common Name: Skittering Frog, Skipping Frog, Skipper Frog (English).

Specimens examined: 8 ex: A 11950 from from Jayanti, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district , West Bengal (26°36’931”N, 89°31’570”E) collected on 07.vi.2014 ; A 11951 from Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°34’632”N, 89°24’276”E)collected on 11.viii.2015 ; A 11952 from CC Line Beat, Chilapata forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°36’847”N, 89°21’086”E) collected on 09.vi.2014 ; A 11957- A 11958 from Mendabari, Chilapata forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°36’687”N, 89°23’996”E) collected on

10.vi.2014; A 12439 from Kodalbasti forest, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal (26°38’023”N, 89°21’927”E) collected on 14.viii.2015; A 12440 from Madarihat , Jaldapara National Park , Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°65’962”N, 89°31’508”E) collected on 19.viii.2015 and A 12468 from Dhupjhora, Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°78’756”N, 88°84’078”E) collected on 09.viii.2015. The measurements of the frogs collected are given below in millimeters :

where they are found in holes in tree-trunks, infested with ants, about one and a half meters above the ground. They descend from these tree holes and hollow trunks climbing down backwards. When dug up, they inhale air and swell up like a ball, keeping the head down and secreting a white slimy fluid through pores in the skin. They hop slowly but swim well. The call is distinctive and seems like the grating of a coconut. Reported earlier from West Bengal ( Sarkar, Biswas and Ray, 1992) and Deuti (1995).