Megophrys megacephala Mahony, Sengupta, Kamei, and Biju, 2011

Kharkongor, Ilona Jacinta, Saikia, Uttam, Khynriam, Dimos & Saikia, Bhaskar, 2023, Current status of faunal diversity of Siju Cave, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 123 (3), pp. 283-303 : 289

10. Megophrys megacephala Mahony, Sengupta, Kamei, and Biju, 2011 [ Figure 8E ]

2011. Megophrys megacephala Mahony, Sengupta, Kamei and Biju, Zootaxa , 3059: 37.

Material examined: 1 ex., INDIA: Meghalaya, South Garo Hills, inside Siju Cave (25° 21’ 3.528’’ N; 90° 41’ 0.168’’ E, 92 m asl), 22. iii.2018, Coll. Dr. Uttam Saikia & party, V / A/ NERC/1501 .

Remark: A lone individual was spotted about 400m from the cave entrance. The frog was found in the main cave passage on the rocky wall near the stream of water flowing out from inside the cave. The collection spot was far away from the threshold zone of the cave and completely dark.

It is very untypical for megophrid frogs to take refuge in such a dark, resource-scarred cave habitat. However, Kemp and Chopra (1924) reported the presence of tadpoles of Megophrys sp. from inside Siju Cave, which could probably be the tadpoles of M. megacephala . This raises the possibility of this megophryid species adapting to the cave environment.

Nevertheless, this collection is the first report of this species from inside a cave, besides,extending its altitudinal range downward to 92 m asl from the previously known altitude of 145 m (type locality; Mahony et al., 2011).

Figures

Figure 8. Fauna of Siju Cave. A. Hipposideros cf. larvatus, B. Rhinolophus lepidus C. Myotis cf. montivagus D. Miniopterus magnater E. Megophrys megacephala F. Amolops siju.