Biology:Pseudophilautus jagathgunawardanai

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Short description: Species of amphibian

Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Pseudophilautus
Species:
P. jagathgunawardanai
Binomial name
Pseudophilautus jagathgunawardanai
Wickramasinghe et al, 2013

Pseudophilautus jagathgunawardanai (Jagath Gunawardana's shrub frog) is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, endemic to Sri Lanka.

Its natural habitats are wet lowland forests of Sri Lanka. It is threatened by habitat loss. Scientists have seen it in exactly one place: Sripada Peak between 1600 and 1750 meters above sea level.[1][2] It is one of the 8 species of rhacophorids that was discovered from Adam's Peak in 2013.[3]

Scientists have seen it in exactly one place: Sripada Peak between 1600 and 1750 meters above sea level.[1][4]

This frog lives in cloud forests. It has been observed from ground level to as high as 6 m up in the trees. It prefers trees with lichen on the bark.[2]

The adult female frog measures 35.8 – 40.4 mm long in snout-vent length. The skin of the dorsum is light brown in color with dark brown color over the eyes and a dark brown triangular mark on the head. The flanks are olive green in color. The legs are light brown in color with some green. The feet have dark brown marks on them. The ends of the toes and the belly are off-white in color.[2]

Like other frogs in Pseudophilautus, P. jagathgunawardanai hatches out of its eggs as small frogs. They never swim as tadpoles.[2]

Scientists attribute this frog's endangered status to habitat loss from urbanization, logging, and increased agriculture and pasturage.[2]

Scientists named this frog after Dr. Jagath Gunawardana, a lawyer and naturalist who made great efforts toward conservation in Sri Lanka.[2]

See also

  • Jagath Gunawardana

References

Wikidata ☰ Q13409365 entry