Rare Indian Painted Frog spotted at Telangana tiger reserve

A rare Indian Painted Frog was recently discovered at Telangana's Kawal Tiger Reserve, expanding our understanding of its habitat range.

About the Indian Painted Frog:

1. This narrow-mouthed frog belongs to the Microhylidae family.
2. Its scientific name is Uperodon taprobanicus.
3. Geographically, the Indian Painted Frog can be found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern and eastern India, and Nepal at altitudes up to 1300 meters.
4. While Sri Lanka hosts the highest population, in India, it inhabits the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, primarily in the southern areas of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
5. Physical Characteristics:
   a) Adult frogs can grow up to 75 millimeters (7.5 cm) from snout to vent, with females slightly larger than males.
   b) The species stands out for its smooth, rounded body and distinctive coloration. Shades of brown dominate, adorned with patches of brighter colors like orange or yellow.
6. Conservation Status: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Indian Painted Frog as "Least Concern."

Key Facts about Kawal Tiger Reserve:

1. Located in northeastern Telangana, Kawal Tiger Reserve shares its border with the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other.
2. It is part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
3. The reserve is a catchment area for the Godavari and Kadam rivers, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.
4. Notably, the reserve has connectivity to the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra in the north and the Indravati Tiger Reserve of Chhattisgarh on its north-eastern side, forming an essential corridor for wildlife movement.
5. The reserve boasts diverse habitats, including dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
6. The dominant vegetation type is Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
7. Flora: Teak and Bamboo are extensively found, alongside 673 recorded plant species, including Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, and Boswellia serrata.
8. Fauna: The reserve exhibits a faunal diversity typical of the Deccan Plateau, including wild animals such as nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, tiger, leopard, and the jungle cat.

What are Deciduous Forests?

1. Deciduous forests are characterized by trees that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season, in contrast to evergreen forests where trees retain their foliage throughout the year.
2. In a deciduous forest, there is a complete seasonal loss of leaves followed by the production of new foliage, giving rise to the term "deciduous," which means "temporary" or "tending to fall off."

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