Rapid Fire
Charles Darwin's Frog
- 31 Jul 2024
- 1 min read
Recently scientists have discovered unique tree hole breeding behaviour in Charles Darwin Frog (Minervarya charlesdarwini) species endemic to Andaman Islands.
- Family: It belongs to the Dicroglossidae family, a large group of Asian frogs with over 220 species.
- IUCN Status: The frog is currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red list.
- Key Characteristics:
- They are named in honour of the renowned naturalist Charles Darwin.
- These frogs lay their terrestrial eggs above water, adopting an upside-down position on tree cavity walls during mating, likely as an adaptation to habitat loss.
- Due to fragmented forest habitats, they now use artificial objects like plastic bags as breeding sites.
- Male frogs produce three distinct sounds to attract females, with aggressive calls to deter rivals. If unsuccessful, they engage in physical confrontations resembling human fighting techniques.
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Read More: Monsoon Croaks Bioblitz.
