Abnormal amplexus of a Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) and an Indian Tree Frog (Polypedates maculatus)

Abstract

D espite the importance of mate recognition, misdirected amplexus has been reported in a number of anuran species (e.g., Serrano et al. 2022). The Malabar Gliding Frog, Rhacophorus malabaricus Jerdon 1870, is endemic to the Western Ghats of India (Sayyed 2013). These frogs mate via axillary amplexus and females then choose the leaf of a tree overhanging water for ovideposition (Kadadevaru and Kanamadi 2000). The Indian Treefrog, Polypedates maculatus (Gray 1830), which breeds from June through August in southern India, lays eggs in terrestrial foam nests, which facilitate protection from desiccation, control gaseous exchange, reduce solar radiation damage, and prevent microbial degradation and predation (Girish and Saidapur 1999; Brozio et al. 2021).At 2228 h on 17 June 2023, at Dhamshem Village (15.480 N, 74.129 E), North Goa, we recorded interspecific amplexus of a male R. malabaricus and a female P. maculatus that lasted for about 3 hours (Fig. 1). Dhamshem Village is characterized by semi-evergreen forest and is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats. Foam nests of R. malabaricus were seen overhanging two nearby small concrete water tanks, typically amplexed pairs of both species were present, but the number of P. maculatus exceeded that of R. malabaricus. We suggest that the increased competition for mates was a factor in the male R. malabaricus engaging in amplexus with a female P. maculatus.