Hydrophyllax leptoglossa (Cope, 1868)

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 : 233

15. Hydrophyllax leptoglossa (Cope, 1868)

1868. Hylorana leptoglossa Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat . Sci. Philadelphia., 20: 140.

Common Name: Long-tongued Frog (English).

Specimens examined: 9 ex: A 11940-A 11941 from Dima Beat, Buxa Fort, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar district, West Bengal (26°37’410”N, 89°31’328”E) collected on

03.vi.2014; A 11969 - A 11971 from Mendabari, Chilapata forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°36’687”N, 89°23’996”E) collected on 10.vi.2014; A 12452 - A 12453 from CC Line Beat, Chilapata forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°36’847”N, 89°21’086”E) collected on 18.viii.2015; A 12454 - A 12455 from Kodalbasti forest, Jalpaiguri district , West Bengal (26°38’023”N, 89°21’927”E) collected on 15-16.viii.2015. The measurements of the frogs collected are given below in millimeters: the snout tip than the eye. The ear-drum is quite large as big as the diameter of the eye. No supra-tympanic fold but two very distinct dorso-lateral folds run from above the eyes on both side of the body up to the groin. There is a distinct and elongated rictal gland. Fingers and toes are slender and elongated. Fingers without webbing but toes are partly webbed. Tips of fingers and toes are rounded. Sub-articular tubercles on the fingers and toes are large and distinct.

Colour: Dorsal side deep brown with small black dots. The distinct dorso-lateral folds are also deep brown. Lateral sides and flanks blackish-brown. Ear-drum chocolate brown. Eyes with a golden rim but the pupil is black. Upper lip white and so is the rictal gland. Fore and hind limbs brown with chocolate brown spots and patches. Hind limbs with dark brown cross bars. Ventral side white.

Habitat: Found in all the wetlands in the duars area both inside forests as well as around villages and towns. Also seen on the forest floor among leaf litter.

Remarks: One of the commonest species found throughout the duars area.