Polypedates teraiensis (Dubois, 1987)

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 : 235-236

19. Polypedates teraiensis (Dubois, 1987)

Specimens examined: A 11939 from Rajabhatkhawa, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district, West Bengal 1987. Rhacophorus leucomystax teraiensis Dubois , Alytes ., (26°36’839”N, 89°31’929”E) collected on 03.vi.2014. The 5: 81-82. measurements of the frog collected are given below in Common Name: Terai Tree Frog (English). millimeters:

Specimens examined: 7 ex: A 11999 from Dhupjhora,

Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal

Size: 45-55 mm (snout-vent length).

Distinguishing features: 1 ex: A medium-sized frog and with a highly pointed snout. The body is flattened above with a flat inter-orbital region. The head is longer than wide. Nostril is very near to the tip of the snout than to the eye. The eyes are large. The ear-drum is distinct and about two-third the diameter of the eye. The fore limbs are long and slender. The fingers are long and without webbing. The tips of the fingers bear rounded discs. The hind limbs are long. The toes are elongated and with webbing but the web do not reach the tip of the fourth toe. The tips of the fingers bear rounded discs. The skin is smooth both dorsally and ventrally.

Colour: Dorsum is deep brown. The pupil is black with a golden rim. Ventral side is white. Webbing on the toes is (26°78’756”N, 88°84’078”E) collected on 10.viii.2015 ; A 12000 from Garati, Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°79’573”N, 88°85’523”E) collected on 10.viii.2015 ; A 12001 from Madarihat, Jaldapara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°65’962”N, 89°31’508”E) collected on 19.viii.2015 ; A 12002 from Sisamara, Jaldapara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°58’581”N, 89°27’781”E)collected on 20.viii.2015 ; A 12003 from Kodalbasti forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°38’023”N, 89°21’927”E)collected on 16.viii.2015 ; A 12461 from Mendabari, Chilapata forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°36’687”N, 89°23’996”E) collected on 11.viii.2015 and A 12462 from Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°34’632”N, 89°24’276”E) collected on

12.viii.2015. The measurements of the frogs collected are given below in millimeters:

chocolate brown as is the ear-drum.

Habitat: Evergreen and semi-evergreen forest floor on the leaf litter and near ponds and streams. The tadpoles are very large and found in the streams.

Remarks: This is the first record of this species from West Bengal.

Size: Snout-vent length: 35-55 mm (male), 50-75 mm (female).

Distinguishing features: Medium to large-sized,slim, narrowwaisted tree frogs with slender elongated limbs and goggling eyes. Snout is somewhat pointed and projects a little beyond the mouth. The ear-drum is distinct and almost as large as the eye. Fingers are with rudimentary webbing. Toes are almost half-webbed with two segments of the fourth toe free. Tips of fingers and toes are dilated into flattened spherical adhesive discs. Skin on the back is smooth but granular on the belly and underside of the thighs. The single vocal sac is clearly visible when the males call.

Colour: The overall colour is dark brown to grayish-yellow with a distinct chocolate-brown band extending from the tip of the nostril on both sides of the head, passing through the eyes, up to the middle of the belly. There are 4-6 longitudinal lines on the dorsum. The ventrum is white. The limbs are cross-barred.

Habitat: On trees, bushes and shrubs and in the breeding season sometimes on the ground beside ponds, ditches etc.

Remarks: A very common tree-frog in the duars area seen on trees and bushes about 1-4 meters above the ground. Lays eggs in pendulous foam-nests over hanging water in which the tadpoles fall and develop.