Description
A small aquatic frog. The male holotype has a lean body (snout-vent length = 37.8 mm). Head width is less than its length with a pointed snout. The tympanum is distinct below a supratympanic fold, which comes close to the eye. Vomerine ridges are present but weak. The tongue lacks papilla and is bifid (grooved down the middle). Forearms are short, robust with long hind limbs that touch each other if folded at right angles to the body, tibiotarsal joint reaches its nostril (Dinesh et al 2022).

Skin is generally smooth with any granularities found near the vent. In life, the dorsal surfaces of the body and limbs are light cream with irregular olive green blotchy patterning. A distinct black or darkened line on its sides separates the patterned dorsum from the cream or white unblotched ventrum (Dinesh et al 2022).

Some sexual dimorphism exists. Males are generally smaller (types ranged from 33.7 mm to 37.8 mm SVL) while females are larger (types ranged from 40.8 mm to 62.1 mm SVL). Adult males also have a pair of black external vocal sacs on either side of the throat. Adult females generally had gray spotting on the ventrum which were absent in males (Dinesh et al 2022).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: India

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Known from the freshwater sources on the western coastal plains of peninsular India (following the Western Ghats), specifically from Thattekad, Kochi, and Mangalore (Konaje, Padil), India. Dinesh et al (2022) posit that the species may be present throughout the foothills of the Western Ghats where freshwater is available. Further surveys are needed to determine its extent especially at the northern and southern ends of the mountain range.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Where this species was encountered by Dinesh et al (2022) it was abundant. They propose the IUCN status of 'Data Deficient'.

References

Dinesh K, Channakeshavamurthy B, Deepak P, Shabnam A, Ghosh A, and Deuti K. (2022). "Discovery of a new species of Euphlyctis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the western coastal plains of peninsular India." Zootaxa, 5100(3), 419–434. [link]

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2022 Euphlyctis jaladhara: Jaladhara Skittering Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/9508> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed May 5, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 5 May 2025.

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