Micrixalus kottigeharensis
| Micrixalus kottigeharensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Micrixalidae |
| Genus: | Micrixalus |
| Species: | M. kottigeharensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Philautus kottigeharensis Rao, 1937 | |
Micrixalus kottigeharensis (commonly known as Kottigehar dancing frog, Kottigehar bubble-nest frog or Kottigehar torrent frog) is a species of frog in the family Micrixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in Karnataka, India.[2] It is one of the "Top 100 Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) Amphibians".[3] The specific name means "from Kottigehara". The tadpoles of Micrixalus kottigeharensis are fossorial. Females have been observed excavating egg-laying cavities using their hind limbs, with recorded cavity depths of approximately 32 mm.[4]
Taxonomy
Until 2014, both Micrixalus narainensis and Micrixalus swamianus were considered separate species, but have since been classified as junior synonyms of M. kottigeharensis based on phylogenetic analyses.[5]
Description
Male Micrixalus kottigeharensis grow to a snout–vent length of 22–24 mm (0.87–0.94 in) and females to 28–33 mm (1.1–1.3 in).[5]
Habitat
The preferred habitat of Micrixalus kottigeharensis are fast-flowing streams in primary and secondary forests.[5] It is threatened by habitat loss.[1] The species is most often found in shaded, structurally complex stream habitats and is particularly associated with emergent rocks, riffles and braided sections[6]
Geographic distribution
Endemic to the central Western Ghats of India.[7]
References
- ^ a b SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Micrixalus kottigeharensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T88369128A166156075. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T88369128A166156075.en. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2016). "Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "Kottigehar Bush Frog (Micrixalus kottigeharensis)". EDGE of Existence programme. Zoological Society of London. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ First report on the fossorial tadpole of Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937). Herpetology Notes 13: 645–648. Published online 5 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Biju, S. D.; Sonali Garg; K. V. Gururaja; Yogesh Shouche; Sandeep A. Walujkar (2014). "DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species". Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences). 43 (1): 37–123. doi:10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850.
- ^ Rajiv, N. V.; Sankararaman, Vishnupriya; Ramachandran, Vivek (2025). "Surviving the Patchwork: Habitat Preferences of a Threatened Amphibian in a Fragmented Tropical Landscape". Ecology and Evolution. 15 (12) e72785. doi:10.1002/ece3.72785. ISSN 2045-7758. PMC 12757510. PMID 41487301.
- ^ "Micrixalus kottigeharensis (Rao, 1937) | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 17 January 2026.