Polypedates maculatus (Gray)

Prasad, Vishal Kumar, Gautam, Kumudani Bala, Gupta, Sandeep Kumar, Murthy, R. Sreenivasa, Ramesh, K., Shinde, Ajinkya Duttatray & Das, Abhijit, 2020, Identification of anuran species diversity of the Panna Tiger Reserve, Central India, using an integrated approach, Zootaxa 4851 (3), pp. 450-476 : 464

Polypedates maculatus (Gray)

( Fig 4O )

Specimens examined: three males (WIIAD 226, WIIAD 250, WIIAD 271), one female (WIIAD 251) and four individuals (sex undetermined; WIIAD 062, WIIAD 063, WIIAD 272, WIIAD 273).

Morphological features: Males SVL 43.3–46.9 mm (n=3), female SVL 60.3 mm (n=1) and individuals (sex unknown) SVL 38.8–51.9 mm (n=4); body flattened and elongated; head longer than wide; eyes large, pupil horizontal; tympanum large and nearly 1/3 of the diameter of eye, supratympanic fold distinct; dorsum skin smooth, ventral side of body granular; tips of fingers with prominent discs, relative length of fingers I <II <IV <III; toes tips with discs, relative length of toes 1<2<3<5<4, webbing formula of toe I1–1II½–1III½–2IV1½–½V. Coloration in life: Dorsum uniform golden brown with dark brown blotches running from dorsal surface of head to rear body; a prominent dark brown streak running from tip of snout to covering tympanum and extending up to mid flank region; color of dorsal of limbs lighter than dorsum surface; limbs cross-bared with dark brown; upper lip white; yellow reticulation on brown background on posterior thigh; ventral side of body white.

Bioacoustics: 20 advertisement calls from two males were analysed in this study. We recorded calls between 17:40–00:30 hours and calling sites air temperature was between 27.1°C–29.7°C. The males were recorded calling from bushes and grassland near puddles in the months of July and August during monsoon. The calls were emitted at irregular intervals. The calls had a mean duration of 132.25 ± 25.54 ms (82–171 ms) with a mean pulse rate of 60 ± 5.9 pulses/second (50–74.63 pulses/s) and mean 5.75±1.12 pulses per call (4–9 pulses/call). The mean dominant frequency was 960.40 ± 125.06 Hz (818.3–1335.10 Hz).

Remark: Common in PTR. Calls from trees and shrub ~ 1m and above ground during July and August. Foam nests were seen in July among Lantana bush ca. 40 cm above water and also on the water surface.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Photos of anuran species in life recorded during the study:A) Duttaphrynus melanostictus; B) Duttaphrynus scaber; C) Duttaphrynus stomaticus; D) Fejervarya orissaensis; E) Minervarya caperata; F) Minervarya pierrei; G) Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis; H) Hoplobatrachus crassus; I) Hoplobatrachus tigerinus; J) Sphaerotheca pashchima; K) Microhyla nilphamariensis; L) Uperodon globulosus; M) Uperodon systoma; N) Uperodon variegatus; O) Polypedates maculatus. Red star indicates new state records for Madhya Pradesh.