Endemic<i>Indirana</i>Frogs of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot

Nair, Abhilash; Gopalan, Sujith V.; George, Sanil; Kumar, K. Santhosh; Teacher, Amber G. F.; Merilä, Juha

doi:10.5735/086.049.0501

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…This zoogeographical region is rich in amphibian diversity with 159 known species of anurans, of which 137 species are endemic to this region [2-4]. The endemism is also at higher taxonomic levels with eight genera and three families, namely, Micrixalidae, Nasikabatrachidae and Ranixalidae restricted to this region [5-7]. While new species are still being described from this area [8-10], it is suggested that out of the 137 species of endemic anurans, approximately 43% are threatened with extinction (16 Critically Endangered, 28 Endangered and 16 Vulnerable) while another 3% are Near Threatened based on their restricted distribution and threats to the populations and/or habitat [2-4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic Asian Chytrid Strain Infection in Threatened and Endemic Anurans of the Northern Western Ghats, India

et al. 2013

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The Western Ghats of India harbors a rich diversity of amphibians with more than 77% species endemic to this region. At least 42% of the endemic species are threatened due to several anthropogenic stressors. However, information on amphibian diseases and their impacts on amphibian populations in this region are scarce. We report the occurrence of Batrachochytridium dendrobatidis (Bd), an epidermal aquatic fungal pathogen that causes chytridiomycosis in amphibians, from the Western Ghats. In the current study we detected the occurrence of a native Asian Bd strain from three endemic and threatened species of anurans, Bombay Night Frog Nyctibatrachus humayuni, Leith's Leaping Frog Indirana leithii and Bombay Bubble Nest Frog Raorchestes bombayensis, for the first time from the northern Western Ghats of India based on diagnostic nested PCR, quantitative PCR, DNA sequencing and histopathology. While, the Bd infected I. leithii and R. bombayensis did not show any external symptoms, N. humayuni showed lesions on the skin, browning of skin and sloughing. Sequencing of Bd 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and the ITS1 and ITS2 regions, revealed that the current Bd strain is related to a haplotype endemic to Asia. Our findings confirm the presence of Bd in northern Western Ghats and the affected amphibians may or may not show detectable clinical symptoms. We suggest that the significance of diseases as potential threat to amphibian populations of the Western Ghats needs to be highlighted from the conservation point of view.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemic Asian Chytrid Strain Infection in Threatened and Endemic Anurans of the Northern Western Ghats, India

et al. 2013

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“…Ranixalid species have often been misidentified (e.g., [10, 11, 28, 29, 32, 58, 60–63]) due to their highly conserved external morphology resulting in taxonomic confusions and uncertainties. Dahanukar et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A taxonomic review was provided by Nair et al . [32] followed by an integrated systematic revision by Dahanukar et al . [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and Morphological Study of Leaping Frogs (Anura, Ranixalidae) with Description of Two New Species

Garg

Biju

2016

PLoS ONE

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The monotypic anuran family Ranixalidae is endemic to India, with a predominant distribution in the Western Ghats, a region that is home to several unique amphibian lineages. It is also one of the three ancient anuran families that diversified on the Indian landmass long before several larger radiations of extant frogs in this region. In recent years, ranixalids have been subjected to DNA barcoding and systematic studies. Nearly half of the presently recognized species in this family have been described over the last three years, along with recognition of a new genus to accommodate three previously known members. Our surveys in the Western Ghats further suggest the presence of undescribed diversity in this group, thereby increasing former diversity estimates. Based on rapid genetic identification using a mitochondrial gene, followed by phylogenetic analyses with an additional nuclear gene and detailed morphological studies including examination of museum specimens, new collections, and available literature, here we describe two new species belonging to the genus Indirana from the Western Ghats states of Karnataka and Kerala. We also provide new genetic and morphological data along with confirmed distribution records for all the species known prior to this study. This updated systematic revision of family Ranixalidae will facilitate future studies and provide vital information for conservation assessment of these relic frogs.

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“…Description of the new species Indirana chiravasi, and previous suggestions that there are species complexes and undescribed species (Nair et al 2012a(Nair et al , 2012bModak et al 2014), suggests that especially for an endemic and monotypic family such as Ranixalidae, the Western Ghats are subject to Linnean shortfall (Bini et al 2006 Author Details: Anand D. Padhye is an Associate Professor in Zoology. He works on systematics, ecology, diversity, distribution and evolution of amphibians.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indirana chiravasi, a new species of Leaping Frog (Anura: Ranixalidae) from Western Ghats of India

Padhye¹,

Modak²,

Dahanukar³

2014

J. Threat. Taxa

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EndemicIndiranaFrogs of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot

Cited by 11 publications

References 70 publications

Endemic Asian Chytrid Strain Infection in Threatened and Endemic Anurans of the Northern Western Ghats, India

Endemic Asian Chytrid Strain Infection in Threatened and Endemic Anurans of the Northern Western Ghats, India

Molecular and Morphological Study of Leaping Frogs (Anura, Ranixalidae) with Description of Two New Species

Indirana chiravasi, a new species of Leaping Frog (Anura: Ranixalidae) from Western Ghats of India

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