Fejervarya syhadrensis (Annandale, 1919)

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 : 230-231

11. Fejervarya syhadrensis (Annandale, 1919)

1919. Rana limnocharis syhadrensis Annandale, Rec. Ind. Mus. , 16: 121-125.

Size: 40-86 mm (snout-vent length).

Distinguishing features: Medium to large-sized flabbyshaped frogs with numerous interrupted glandular longitudinal folds on the back and flanks. Snout is somewhat pointed and projects beyond the mouth. Tympanum is large and distinct, nearly equal to the diameter of the eye. Fingers are without webbing but the toes are almost fully webbed. Legs are comparatively shorter than those of the Indian Bull frog . A large shovel-shaped inner pedal tubercle is present but the outer pedal tubercle is absent. Belly is smooth.

Colour: Greyish or greyish-brown with darker patches on the back. The undersides are white with deep brown stripes or bars on the upper jaw in front of the eyes and on the lower jaw. The legs are cross-barred with deep brown or black stripes or blotches. The vocal sacs in the males are external and turn black at the time of breeding.

Habitat: They spend the day hiding inside crevices on elevated banks of ponds and ditches. They are found during breeding season in temporary rain-water pools.

Common Name: Small Cricket Frog (English).

Specimens examined: 8 ex: A 11948 from South Raidak, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district , West Bengal (26°44’608”N, 89°33’922”E) collected on 06.vi.2014 ; A 11949 from Kumargram, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district , West Bengal (26°43’136”N, 89°34’513”E) collected on 07.vi.2014 ; A 11960 – A 11961 from Mendabari, Chilapata forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°36’687”N, 89°23’996”E) collected on 09.vi.2014 ; A 11963 from Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°34’632”N, 89°24’276”E) collected on 11.viii.2015 ; A 12448 from Kodalbasti forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°38’023”N, 89°21’927”E) collected on 16.viii.2015 ; A 12449 from Lataguri, Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°79’573”N, 88°85’523”E) collected on 12.viii.2015 and A 12470 from Medla, Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°78’441”N, 88°86’386”E) collected on 11.viii.2015 . The measurements of the frogs collected are given below in millimeters:

Remarks: The species is quite common in the duars area. They are terrestrial, nocturnal and also burrow in

Size: Snout-vent length: 27-32 mm (males) and 29-40 mm (females).

Distinguishing features: Small to medium-sized mostly terrestrial frogs. Head is longer than broad. Snout is pointed and projects beyond the mouth. The ear-drum is distinct. Fingers are without webs. The hind limbs are short and the webbing is less on the toes. A prominent skin-fold runs from behind the eye to the shoulder. Some short and interrupted longitudinal glandular folds are present on the back. Belly is smooth.

Colour: Olive-brown above usually with darker markings which assume irregular patterns. A pale yellow vertebral stripe is present along the back and the lips and limbs are barred. The underside is white except on the throat, which is black in breeding males.

Habitat: Prefers vicinity of water without being really aquatic. They can be encountered far away from water-bodies in open grassland, forest floor and plantations.

Remarks: One of the commonest species found throughout the duars area. Partly diurnal but only calls nocturnally. Males call in the evening and night and are easy to locate. Also reported from Assam (Borthakur et al., 2007).